The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2)

“I’m not very anxious, but I will be when this is real. And I won’t have wine there, so I’ll take it now. Absolute honesty, Cleo.”

“I’ll never give you anything less.” Cleo took a seat on the sofa, lifted her glass. “When you’re ready.”

“I did the voice-overs myself. I needed to time them, coordinate them. And if Ryder goes for it, they can hire their own voice actor. But tell me if that part fails, and I’ll contract a pro.”

Too revved to sit, Sonya stood with the wine in one hand, her remote in the other.

“I’m going to start with the visual of the logo, with the changes I made. And with a collage I want to add to a drop-down History tab on their website.”

The logo flashed on-screen, and yes, she thought, she liked the hint of motion.

“For three generations, Ryder Sports has stood for excellence and innovation.”Her voice flowed over the logo, and continued as the images changed to public domain shots of the Boston flagship store, and the Ryder family.

She’d blended images of the Ryders and athletes, more of their philanthropic work, sports camps for disadvantaged and disabled children, scholarships, sponsorships.

“Ryder excels,”she ended,“so you can.”

She paused the screen.

“Too much, not enough?”

“I think you hit it, Son. Who doesn’t want to hear about their good works, their longevity, their successes? And anyone clicking on that tab wants to learn about the history.”

“I’m torn between starting there, or with the website itself. Or one of the ads.”

“The history’s not the big bang, but it builds to it. Keep going.”

“Okay.” She put up the website. “No voice-overs here. I’ll do my pitch.”

“Let’s hear it.”

With a nod, Sonya took a sip of wine. Then one more.

“While I headed the team that designed Ryder’s website, I feel it needs some updates and refreshes.”

She used her tablet to demonstrate the drop-downs, the links, the streamlined review section. Then the flash to the new store in Portland.

“As work progresses on the new store, this section will update, and include the countdown to opening.”

She wound up all the hows and whys of that area, paused again.

“Too technical?”

“A little bit.” Legs crossed, Cleo tapped a finger on her thigh as she considered. “I can see the site’s user-friendly. It always was, since I’ve used it—and that’s you again. I’d save the tech stuff because people who aren’t into tech will just tune out. Since you don’t want that, you go into it if someone asks a tech question.”

“You’re right. I got caught up in the tech,” Sonya realized. “I’ll cut that down, and that should, hopefully, shorten all this so I can get to that bang.”

She brought up the next. “Digital ads.”

“Yes! Hot guy pumping iron,” Cleo said as Owen’s picture came on-screen.

“Whether you’re pumping iron,”the voice-over streamed as the photos scrolled,“or shooting hoops, Ryder’s got you covered. If you’re fielding a ball or riding to work, Ryder’s got you covered. Whether it’s yoga, tai chi, your first time on two wheels, or throwing a spiral, Ryder’s got you covered. Because…”

The visual ended on the field where Ryder equipment spread, with the tag beneath.

Game On!

“In work, in life, Ryder’s got you.”