A/N: Okay, I know this is a long chapter, but I wanted everyone to get the sense of how Genevieve is in business. She's a shark, and I really wanted that to come out. Hope you enjoy! Next chapter starts at the party!
Stepping into the Voulez office, I found myself flashing back to the magazine office I used to write at. The offices, the pictures pinned to cork boards, it was all the exact same. Except instead of seeing my cubicle mate Isabelle come out and ask if I had finally settled on a way to write about the stuck up model I had been sent to interview in a way that made her come across as human, I saw a man rush out looking a little panicked as he tried to get ready for the party.
I quickly side-stepped him, knowing better than to get in any intern or journalists way, watching as he scurried off towards an open area things were being set up in, while I followed the source of the busy workers to Margaux and Daniel, standing quietly and observing the article they were looking at. My sister's smiling face with Daniel almost made me ill, though not as much as their conversation was making me. Daniel talking about how he didn't know much about my sister's childhood, it made me want to vomit and scream that was his family's fault. Yet I knew I couldn't do that, by doing that, I'd be undoing all the work that Amanda had done. Instead, I bit my tongue as Margaux said that clearly Daniel had something to learn about my sister.
I glanced at the phone in my hands, sending a quick text to Amanda about what I just heard before knocking on the wall nearby.
"Knock, knock," I said, giving the pair my best impressed look. "The place looks great," I said, watching as Margaux looked to Daniel in confusion. Apparently, Daniel had forgotten to fill in Margaux as to my new position with them, if I could call it that.
"Genevieve," Margaux said, her voice slow and confused, while I was astonished she remembered who I was. The last time I had seen Margaux, I think had been at a wedding a few years back for an advertising executive that both Voulez and Ainsley Media used on a regular basis. She had attended as her father's date, while I had attended with Alex. I hadn't spoken with her much, but I had evidently made an impression for her to remember my name. "What are you doing here?"
I glanced at Daniel, suggesting that he needed to explain, as I didn't think it was my place to. He had come to me to invest, I hadn't planned on investing otherwise.
"Margaux, Genevieve has agreed to be an investor," Margaux looked wary, and I could understand why. Pascal had probably taught her to be cautious with other media companies, or his personality and business had made her cautious of the rest of us, it was hard to tell. But I knew she was smart to be cautious, the media world was full of sharks ready to destroy any competition and she was starting a competing magazine.
"You have?" Margaux asked looking at me. I held up the contract I had picked up from the inn, one detailing what exactly an investment with Ainsley Media Corporation looked like. It wasn't as simple as a check with us, it was a complete business deal with quarterly meetings, full disclosure, and a right to pull the investment at any breach of the extensive contract. Every investment Ainsley made had a contract, and this would be no different. The only difference was a clause I had our lawyers throw in, one stating that if the company heads began to show any lack in morals outside of the Ainsley Media Corporation ethics policy, then Ainsley had the right to abandon ship with no questions asked. It was a different policy than the other companies had, as we never really cared what the board of directors or editors did so long as there was money coming in, but with Daniel Grayson, I wanted an escape clause. More than that, I knew I needed one.
"I have," I said, tapping the contract lightly. "Your father was happy to hear I was interested, said it was a great idea," That was a lie. Pascal told me I was crazy for thinking this was a good idea, but that he'd let me invest my own money if I wanted to. He didn't have a problem with it, just a problem with his daughter deciding to start the magazine in an environment she didn't understand. His exact words had been something along the line of; she's out of her league and isn't even playing the same ball game as everyone else. I hadn't been exactly sure as he had been speaking fast and injecting some French words I wasn't sure I was translating right given that they didn't seem to fit in with the conversation. Then again, knowing Pascal, he might have been talking to someone else while on the phone with me, so those words could have been directed at someone else, it was hard to say. All I knew was, Pascal had approved me investing, though at my own risk.
However, the words great idea seemed to have Margaux very upset as she looked at Daniel. "You didn't tell me about this," I glanced between the pair, starting to feel as though I had stepped into something I shouldn't have.
"Genevieve is the owner of a giant media firm. She owns dozens of magazines and online publications. Her investment shows people that there is confidence in what we are doing," I inwardly groaned. A dozen magazines, really? I owned at least six times that plus newspapers and online publications, and hearing Daniel speak made me feel very underestimated. It was annoying, and the whole reason that I hated being a girl sometimes. Any male Daniel would of oversold, but me he seemed to be underselling, which had me finally stepping in before Margaux could respond.
"If I could interject," I said, taking a step forward as I felt my phone go off in the bag nestled against my side. "I don't own dozens of magazines, I own hundreds of magazines, at least fifty online publications, and too many newspapers to count correctly. My family has turned Ainsley Media Corporation into a world-wide success from one newspaper in a small town near Chicago. We are currently worth north of a few billion, and continue to turn a profit every year in a time when people don't always trust the media. Every year, Ainsley continues to be people's first choice for all types of information. We were the first to crack into social media as a tool for news stories, and we are continually striving towards being the best source of information, any sort of information. You want to start a magazine that features both fashion and human interest right?" I didn't wait for a response before continuing. "Sounds like most magazines that are on the market here in the United States. You want to know how to be successful in the American market? You have to be different, you have to know how to cater to an audience that doesn't care about politics until their tax bill stops them from being able to afford the newest gadget on the market. You know how I know that? Because our best selling magazine, a magazine I started, targets that audience specifically. Now, I could easily walk away with my investment and watch you crash and burn, because believe me you will. The European market and American market are completely different, something your father at times fails to grasp." I said, watching as Margaux's face went from surprised to intrigued and Daniel began to look flustered. "But, I don't think you want that. I think you want to succeed and prove your father wrong about this being successful. My investment doesn't just come with a check, it comes with my guidance and experience. I have turned dozens of magazines with potential and naïve management around into successes and I can make you one of them." I said, knowing this speech was the same I gave a lot of men who thought letting a woman into their company was a bad idea. I had learned the speech from my mother, and perfected it with my father when I was a kid. He taught me to be confident and never let my gender hold me back. That was what Pascal likely saw in me, the fact that I wasn't about to let having boobs hold me back from doing what I wanted.
"So, shall I walk out this door? Or should we sit down and discuss a future of working together?" I asked, watching as a smile came to Margaux's face.
"Let's sit." Margaux said, ignoring Daniel as he started to protest.
"Wait, I thought this was just going to be a check," I took a seat across from Margaux, knowing she was the one to have this meeting with.
"Ainsley doesn't just hand out checks unless it's to charity. Do you wish to be a charity, Mr. Grayson? Or do you want to be a business?" I said, sliding the contract towards Margaux. "It's our standard investment contract. To hit the highlights," I said as Daniel snatched the contract up from the desk and started flipping through it. "You and I will have quarterly meetings either in person or as a phone conference. Our investment isn't a one-time deal; it's a stipend of sorts. Every issue, we give you a certain amount of money to use to get the issue out. You can use the money as you see fit, but all money spent has to have receipts given to one of Ainsley's accountants to make sure it's not frivolous spending. You'll also be appointed a personal liaison with Ainsley media who will be available to you at all times should you need advice." I said as Daniel started reading part of the contract out loud.
"Ainsley media reserves the right to pull articles as they see fit, and make cosmetic changes per their company policy," I waved my hand in dismissal.
"We only pull articles that might be deemed offensive such as articles supporting terrorist activities. We've never used that clause. And cosmetic changes are mostly color changes. You don't know how many people try to use blue and green to make things pop while forgetting that some people are color blind. A change of color can create a change of profits." I said looking at Margaux. "I only need your signature. You are the boss, Margaux. Are you going to make a decision or should I give you some time to confer with Daniel?" I asked. I watched as Margaux's eyes looked to Daniel, and I knew the answer.
"Fine. I'll be at the party tonight. If you wish to sign, just give me the contract tonight. If not, well that's your decision." I said, taking a business card from my bag, noticing the way it was flashing with a text from Amanda. I quickly shut my bag, giving the card to Margaux. "Call me if you have questions." I said, giving the pair both a smile before turning to leave. Already, I could sense I had put a crack in the relationship between Margaux and Daniel, and it was a great success in my mind. I just hoped Amanda would see it that way too.