Before I Knew (The Cabots #1)(30)
If reminding her of old times made her smile like that, he’d find a million other ways to be the friend she remembered fondly.
Chapter Five
“Sorry I’m late.” Gentry waltzed into A CertainTea and lobbed her brown leather Miu Miu satchel on the table where Colby had been impatiently waiting.
At five feet ten inches tall, Gentry commanded attention. Factor in her auburn hair and green eyes, and no one could deny her sister’s striking, if not beautiful, appearance. Her quirky fashion sense—today in a heavily patterned, short layered skirt and an intricate mesh top—only enhanced her eye-catching looks. The outfit looked like something she’d cobbled together from a secondhand store, but it probably bore a Gaultier label.
Gentry glanced around the space she hadn’t once visited during the renovation. “Looks nice. Love the gray floors and all the taupe and cream accents. The wood beams and live plants are a nice touch. Classy yet Zen.”
“Thanks. I’m shooting for hip yet pretty enough to be a wedding venue.” Colby particularly loved the floor-to-ceiling retractable glass doors that offered guests beautiful views of the lake.
“You nailed it.” Gentry collapsed into one of the leather-covered chairs. “So why’d you call me here?”
Colby held her breath. Here goes nothing. “I need your help.”
“My help?” Gentry’s disbelieving smirk pricked at Colby’s conscience. “With what? Dad?”
“No, not with Dad. With all of this.” She gestured around the restaurant.
Gentry sat forward, her long legs lazily sprawled to the sides, and rested her chin on her fist, causing the dozen bangles on her arm to jangle. “How can I help?”
How indeed?
“I’m overwhelmed by everything on my plate. You know I hate social media, so I thought maybe you might take the lead on keeping the website and media pages fresh and appealing. Between your photography background and your online presence, it seems like a good fit.”
Gentry’s pretty eyes narrowed. “Did Dad put you up to this? Is this his way of keeping me busy so I don’t have time to hang out with Jake?”
Colby could lie, but she suspected Gentry would know it. Maybe if people started treating her sister like a responsible grown-up, she’d start acting like one. “Okay, yes. Dad asked me to consider it, but he didn’t force me. After thinking about it, I realized you could help. You’d do a better job than I would with using apps to drive business our way.”
Gentry sat back, lips pursed. “What about my classes?”
“We could work around those. A lot of the work could be done on your own time. I’d only need you here a few half days each week to help me with other things in the office.”
“Why are you really doing this?” Gentry cocked her head, clearly untrusting.
“I just told you; I could use help. And it would be nice to work with my sister—someone who has my back—instead of an employee who doesn’t care if I succeed or fail.” That part was true, even if Colby had exaggerated the rest. “It’ll be a nice way for us to reconnect, too. I know I haven’t been the best sister these past few years.”
Gentry’s expression softened. “It’s okay. You’ve been grieving.”
“I still could’ve been better.” Colby hated that Gentry gave her a free pass. If anything, hadn’t Mark’s suicide reinforced the dangers of not paying attention to the people you loved? “So, will you help me?”
Her sister flashed the quick, eager grin Colby remembered from the days when Gentry had desperately tagged along behind her and her teenage friends. “Okay.”
“Good.” Colby slid a report across the table. “Read this market demographics report and think about how we might best reach our target audience. Take a stab at crafting some press releases, and we’ll meet back here in a few days to discuss your ideas. Initially I’ll retain oversight just to make sure we’re on the same page in terms of the brand image, but once I’m comfortable, you can run the show.”
Gentry wrinkled her nose. “Reports are so boring.”
“But necessary. Preparation is key, okay? Promise this won’t sit on your dresser until ten minutes before we next meet.”
“I thought you trusted me to have your back.” Gentry’s smile faded.
“I do. But don’t pretend you’re not easily distracted, especially by guys. Speaking of that, what’s the deal with Jake?”
“What did Dad say?” Gentry’s green eyes sizzled despite the cool, clipped tone of her voice.
“He’s eager to see you settled with something, and someone, stable.”