Read Online Dial Om for Murder by Diana Killian - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Diana Killian
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the time, and backed out of A.J.’s office.
A.J. dropped her head in her hands. This was the last kind of publicity she wanted for herself or the studio. And instinctively she knew it wasn’t going to do wonders for her relationship with Jake, either.
She waited until the first classes of the day were in session before she went down to Lily’s office and tapped on the door.
“Come in.”
A.J. pushed open the door and Lily looked up from her laptop without pleasure. “Yes?”
Somehow Lily always made her feel defensive. It didn’t matter what kind of pep talk A.J. gave herself before approaching the other woman, Lily managed to push all A.J.’s buttons with the uncanny accuracy of a crazy person in an elevator.
“You wanted to talk on Saturday?”
“Right,” Lily said, as though it was so insignificant it had skipped her mind. “Have a seat.”
A.J. pulled a seat out in front of Lily’s desk. She started to fold her arms, remembered that such body language might imply she was closed off to Lily, and tried to find a comfortable way to sit without actually relaxing—because one thing she always felt was the need to keep her guard up with Lily.
Lily said, “I’ve been thinking—and before you instantly shoot down my idea, just hear me out.”
Could there be a more annoying start to a discussion? A.J. smiled—she hoped—and said, “Shoot.”
“I think Diantha has been gone long enough that it’s time to reconsider our direction. Our mission, if you will.”
As every single molecule of A.J. objected to each and every word of that statement, she was very proud of herself for her calm, “All right.”
“We don’t have to start remodeling right away, but one of the most symbolic changes we could make is our slogan. That’s fundamental. It’s our philosophy.”
“You don’t like our philosophy?” A.J. inquired politely.
Lily’s expression grew cold. “I was here when ‘our’ philosophy evolved. I was part of that process with Diantha, so don’t you dare take that tone with me.”
“I’m asking a question.”
“You’re making a judgment.”
A.J. took a deep breath. She recollected a quote from an ancient samurai text, A Book of Five Rings , one of Andy’s favorite business strategy books:
In strategy, timing is all.
“Go on,” she invited. She could see her calm response caught Lily by surprise. That alone recommended it for future use.
“I think it’s time for a new slogan. A new direction. A new focus. Frankly, I always thought ‘It Could Happen’ was . . . corny.”
“I disagree,” A.J. shot back. So much for timing. “I think it’s optimistic, promising—which is what I think Sacred Balance is all about. It’s about opening your life to the possibility of amazing chances and terrific surprises.”
Lily’s mouth curled. “I know your background was marketing, A.J., but you don’t have to sell me on Sacred Balance. And I think we’re about a lot more than fluffy, sentimental platitudes. Yoga is serious. Yoga is not a trend or a fashion. Yoga is not for everyone.”
Now there was a slogan: Yoga Is for Nazis!
A.J. said mildly, “You’ve obviously given this some thought. Did you have a new slogan in mind?”
Lily smiled. “I’ve been jotting down ideas as they come to me. I was thinking of something along the lines of ‘The Time Is Now.’ Or ‘The Time Is Right.’”
A.J. said dryly, “How about ‘The Time Is Right Now’?”
“Nnn.” Lily wrinkled her nose, dismissing that one. “I think ‘Now Is the Time’ is quite good.”
“‘Now Is the Hour’?” suggested A.J., tongue in cheek.
Lily said grudgingly, “ That’s not bad.”
Oh boy. That was enough fun for one morning. A.J. said, “Lily, let me think about it. I have to be honest; I hadn’t given any thought to changing our philosophical direction.”
“I’m sure you hadn’t. I know you’re still . . . getting up to speed. I’ll jot the possibilities down and e-mail them
A.J. dropped her head in her hands. This was the last kind of publicity she wanted for herself or the studio. And instinctively she knew it wasn’t going to do wonders for her relationship with Jake, either.
She waited until the first classes of the day were in session before she went down to Lily’s office and tapped on the door.
“Come in.”
A.J. pushed open the door and Lily looked up from her laptop without pleasure. “Yes?”
Somehow Lily always made her feel defensive. It didn’t matter what kind of pep talk A.J. gave herself before approaching the other woman, Lily managed to push all A.J.’s buttons with the uncanny accuracy of a crazy person in an elevator.
“You wanted to talk on Saturday?”
“Right,” Lily said, as though it was so insignificant it had skipped her mind. “Have a seat.”
A.J. pulled a seat out in front of Lily’s desk. She started to fold her arms, remembered that such body language might imply she was closed off to Lily, and tried to find a comfortable way to sit without actually relaxing—because one thing she always felt was the need to keep her guard up with Lily.
Lily said, “I’ve been thinking—and before you instantly shoot down my idea, just hear me out.”
Could there be a more annoying start to a discussion? A.J. smiled—she hoped—and said, “Shoot.”
“I think Diantha has been gone long enough that it’s time to reconsider our direction. Our mission, if you will.”
As every single molecule of A.J. objected to each and every word of that statement, she was very proud of herself for her calm, “All right.”
“We don’t have to start remodeling right away, but one of the most symbolic changes we could make is our slogan. That’s fundamental. It’s our philosophy.”
“You don’t like our philosophy?” A.J. inquired politely.
Lily’s expression grew cold. “I was here when ‘our’ philosophy evolved. I was part of that process with Diantha, so don’t you dare take that tone with me.”
“I’m asking a question.”
“You’re making a judgment.”
A.J. took a deep breath. She recollected a quote from an ancient samurai text, A Book of Five Rings , one of Andy’s favorite business strategy books:
In strategy, timing is all.
“Go on,” she invited. She could see her calm response caught Lily by surprise. That alone recommended it for future use.
“I think it’s time for a new slogan. A new direction. A new focus. Frankly, I always thought ‘It Could Happen’ was . . . corny.”
“I disagree,” A.J. shot back. So much for timing. “I think it’s optimistic, promising—which is what I think Sacred Balance is all about. It’s about opening your life to the possibility of amazing chances and terrific surprises.”
Lily’s mouth curled. “I know your background was marketing, A.J., but you don’t have to sell me on Sacred Balance. And I think we’re about a lot more than fluffy, sentimental platitudes. Yoga is serious. Yoga is not a trend or a fashion. Yoga is not for everyone.”
Now there was a slogan: Yoga Is for Nazis!
A.J. said mildly, “You’ve obviously given this some thought. Did you have a new slogan in mind?”
Lily smiled. “I’ve been jotting down ideas as they come to me. I was thinking of something along the lines of ‘The Time Is Now.’ Or ‘The Time Is Right.’”
A.J. said dryly, “How about ‘The Time Is Right Now’?”
“Nnn.” Lily wrinkled her nose, dismissing that one. “I think ‘Now Is the Time’ is quite good.”
“‘Now Is the Hour’?” suggested A.J., tongue in cheek.
Lily said grudgingly, “ That’s not bad.”
Oh boy. That was enough fun for one morning. A.J. said, “Lily, let me think about it. I have to be honest; I hadn’t given any thought to changing our philosophical direction.”
“I’m sure you hadn’t. I know you’re still . . . getting up to speed. I’ll jot the possibilities down and e-mail them
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