He knew what she wanted to say, but he let it go. “I’m the boss,” Staffan reminded her casually. “They don’t have a say even if I’m hours late.”
She knew he knew what she had meant, but like him, she pretended it didn’t matter. Saffi said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Even so…it’s you who hate being late. But don’t worry – I’ll keep that un-rock star-like quality of yours a secret.”
Silence.
Unable to leave it just like that, not after everything had been going so well between them, Staffan heard himself offer, “How about you come with me to the meeting? I think as my #1 fangirl you’ll have something precious to share.”
****
Yep – it was official. New York still hated her.
Saffi could see it on every person’s face inside the room. They didn’t want her there, period. And she wasn’t even attending the meeting as “H”. She was just Sapphire March, now Mrs. Aehrenthal, and it didn’t matter.
She kept quiet for the most part, not wanting to antagonize them even more. It was clear on all their faces that they were just waiting for her to put her foot in her mouth. But then the talk moved on to marketing and promotion, and Saffi sat up in her seat.
Staffan knew the moment Saffi started paying attention. He knew her well enough to recognize the signs when she was ready to do battle. Her eyes would shine like it did now – they weren’t so much as stars as a fighting glint that told him she would be her usual outspoken fangirl self. Her shoulders were squared, as if she was ready to carry the whole world on her shoulders if that was what it took for her fangirls to be treated well.
He loved seeing her like this.
It reminded him of the Saffi he had fallen in love with – the Saffi who still had an unbreakable hold on not just his f**king body, but everything else. She owned him, heart, body, soul and all.
Saffi bit her lip hard. Everything the executives were saying made business sense, but they were all so very cold-blooded. There should be a personalized touch coming from Staffan, didn’t they realize that? It was the only way – the best way – for Staffan to show how much he cared about his fans.
“So if that’s all---”
“I have a suggestion.” The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
Impatience greeted her, but out of respect to Staffan, one of the male executives grunted, “Sure, sweetie, speak.”
Staffan stiffened at the endearment, but Saffi quickly laid one soothing hand on his leg, willing him to relax. “All those prizes are really great, but I think you’re forgetting something – these people aren’t going to watch Staffan’s concert in 3D because they want to win a trip to Hawaii. They can afford to pay for that trip themselves with the amount of money it costs to buy a VIP ticket. And how much are you willing to bet that it’s the VIP tickets that would be the first to sell out?”
“Nice emotional speech,” another executive retorted, “but if you could get to the bottom line please?”
She pointed to Staffan.
He choked.
“What the f**k does that mean?” a lady executive burst out.
Of course it had to be a girl against her, Saffi thought with a sigh. This one reminded Saffi too much of what’s-her-name back when she had participated in a similar meeting. This NYC version had a fashionable bob, beautifully cut bangs, and steel blue eyes glowering at her behind stylish-looking glasses.
“Staffan is the bottom line,” Saffi said simply. “Every girl, woman, person – everyone who would pay money to watch a 3D concert would only do so because it is another way of getting closer to Staffan. So if you want to offer the kind of prize that would convince more people to go, then you must offer more of Staffan.”
“Oh, you mean, have Staffan Aehrenthal offer himself up on a silver platter to crazy fangirls?” the older woman bitched. “That’s a great point, but you’re not considering the logistics. We can’t have Staffan grace every premiere in every country---”
“And I’m not asking you to do that. It would be too tiring for him, and as you say, logistically speaking, it would only make sense for Staffan to visit those where he’s strongest and maybe, if his schedule permits, the places where he’s weakest so that he can build a bigger fan base.”
She pointed to Staffan, gesturing to his entire body with a flourish.
This time, Staffan choked.
“Every fangirl wants a piece of this even if he’s married, he’s cranky, or he’s---” She tried to think of a way that would make Staffan appear less “godly” in his fangirls’ eyes. “They would still like him even if he’s a…lousy kisser.”
Staffan slowly turned to look at her.
She pretended not to notice Staffan’s what-the-fuck gaze. “What I propose instead is for Staffan to have a special video created for each country where his fan clubs are organizing premiers. Even a short five to ten-minute interview would do. That means so much. As for the prize, it could be a 5-minute call with Staffan. That’s what he does to raise funds for his charities and it really works. So why can’t we duplicate it?”
When she finished speaking, no one wanted to look at her.
Saffi’s shoulders slumped. How could they not realize that those kinds of gifts rather than expensive impersonal prizes would work so much better as an incentive for fangirls? Did she have to hold a Fangirls 101 class for them to see the truth?
“Bravo, bravo.” It was the girl again.
Saffi bit back a sigh. Of course – of course they would need to have a showdown, just like before.
“But you’re forgetting one thing. Staffan Aehrenthal’s time is more precious than a trip to Hawaii and we would never be so insensitive and conceited---” She paused, looking at Saffi pointedly.
She flushed in response, realizing where this was going. She wanted to look at Staffan and ask if what the girl was saying was true. Had she been asking for too much? Had she been thinking too much as a fangirl that she had forgotten she was now…Mrs. Aehrenthal?
“---well, we won’t be so unprofessional as to overtire our most prominent star with such antics.”
There was a pause.
Saffi prepared herself to apologize.
“Now, are you all done?”
All eyes shot to Staffan at his words.
“You’ve all made your points. Now I’m going to make mine. This is my f**king project to be made with my funds. I asked all of you to be here because you were supposed to be the f**king experts. But all I can see is a group of the worst idiots I’ve ever had the misfortune to work with.”