good … I’m glad to hear it,” Phyllis said, a pained smile on her face. “But I don’t have three months to wait. We’re launching a new product line in six weeks, and I need a big campaign to introduce it to the marketplace.”
Nick’s heart plummeted. “New product line? Well. That’s interesting.” Thinking fast, he continued, “That’s not much time, but I’m sure my team can handle it. We’ll have to work night and day, but I am confident we can have some concepts for you to review within the week.”
“No need, no need. Jessie already has it figured out. Her team has come up with a dynamite campaign.”
Nick glanced her way, his blood boiling. She had just made his life—and his plan to get the agency back on track—a great deal more difficult. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Okay—good. You’ve got digital handled. But we’ll still need to get the print ads going, and TV, and probably some direct mail. You can’t launch a product without investing in traditional advertising.”
“All in good time,” his client said, leather creaking as she leaned back in her chair. “But there’s no need to rush. We’re going to put our entire marketing budget in the digital space for the launch. Then, after we’ve gotten a foothold there, you guys can do your stuff.”
Nick swallowed, unable to believe what he was hearing. “So you don’t want Thornton involved in the launch at all?”
“I think what she’s saying is that Roar is in charge and you should follow our lead,” Jessie said, squirming in her chair.
“You’re trusting Roar with this? No offense, but I think that’s a huge mistake.”
“Be that as it may, Jessie’s got the helm on this one,” Phyllis said, getting up from her chair. “Make sure whatever materials you eventually present are in line with what she’s doing. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to move on to my next meeting. I’m sure you two have plenty to talk about, so feel free to stay as long as you like.”
And with that she was gone.
Nick stared at his adversary, wishing she wasn’t so damn attractive. And that his hands didn’t itch to hold her.
Channeling the haughty air that was his birthright as a fourth generation advertising executive, he looked calmly across the table.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve gotten yourself into?”
Jessie blinked. How dared he address her like some sort of troublesome child?
He’d been driving her crazy since the second he walked in. That haughty sneer hadn’t left his face for more than two seconds. He certainly wasn’t acting anything like the man she met at Becky’s wedding.
And now he questioned her abilities?
“I think I just got a hold of a branch on your money tree—that’s what I think. And you don’t like me shaking it.”
He snorted.
“Don’t kid yourself. This is a drop in the bucket for my agency. Besides, Phyllis will wise up and come running back in no time. You don’t have what it takes to keep an account like this happy.”
Jessie stalked across the room until she stood directly in front of him.
“How do you know what I can handle? You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know I’ve never heard of an agency called Roar,” he said, leaning back in his chair with his arms behind his head, one side of his mouth curling up in a sneer. “And, since I pride myself on being familiar with every agency worth knowing in this city, I’m guessing you haven’t done much worth talking about.”
For the first time Jessie understood the expression “seeing red.” It was all she could do not to reach up and strangle him with his tie. But since getting mad was probably exactly what he wanted her to do, she did the opposite. Putting her hands behind her, she hopped up on the giant mahogany table and crossed her legs, making sure he got an eyeful of thigh.
Nick’s eyes widened and he swallowed loudly, his body giving away his sudden interest.
“That’s a very interesting theory,” she said. “But I think if you ask around you’ll find plenty of people talking about us. Perhaps you’re just out of touch? Like your agency.”
Nick looked at her with a predatory gaze and it was her turn to swallow loudly. Even knowing he was now the competition, a part of her still wanted him.
“Careful, Jessie. I might be ‘out of touch,’ as you say, but I could still crush you and your little agency without breaking a sweat.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he growled.
She slowly slid down off her perch, letting her skirt ride up in the process, and watched as he caught a ragged breath.
“Oh, I’m very good at tempting men. In fact there’s only one thing I do better,” she said as she sauntered back to her laptop.
“Which is …?”
She threw him a smile as she snapped the lid shut. “Kicking their butts with my advertising.”
She quickly stowed the computer in her bag, anxious to get away before her disappointment had a chance to catch up with her. It was just her luck that Prince Charming had turned out to be King of the Schmucks.
But when she turned to leave she found her way blocked by a solid wall of muscle. Damn, she hadn’t remembered he was so tall … or so deliciously built.
She tried to move past without touching him. “Excuse me. You’re in my way.”
“We haven’t finished our conversation. About what you’re getting into.”
She looked up at him, a retort on the tip of her tongue, but when he caught her gaze the words died in her throat. His eyes burned into hers, silently communicating an encyclopedia’s worth of knowledge about want and need and straight-up danger.
She stared at him helplessly, trying to think of something that wasn’t, Kiss me now, you hot, sexy—
“Getting into?” she asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep the squeak from her voice.
“Yes. You’re in the big league now. The stakes are bigger. The sharks are hungrier. You sure you’re up for the challenge?”
Forcing herself to step back, she swallowed, then answered, “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
He opened his mouth to answer, but before he could Phyllis bustled in.
“Oh, good, you two are still here,” she said, oblivious to the mood in the room. “As Nick already knows, Goddess is sponsoring a charity ball tomorrow. Two seats have just opened up at my table and I’d like you to take them.”
“I’d be happy to take them off your hands,” Jessie said quickly. “I’m sure I can find someone to come with me.”
“No, you don’t understand,” Phyllis said. “I want you to attend the ball together. The higher-ups are worried about the direction we’re taking our advertising in. The two of you presenting a united front would go a long way toward allaying their fears.”
Jessie looked at Nick, unsure of what to say. While going to a ball with him had seemed like a dream come true just a couple of hours ago, now it seemed nightmare-worthy.
“I’d be happy to accompany Jessie to the ball,” Nick said with a smooth smile. “After a couple of glasses of champagne she might tell me the secrets of her success.”
Jessie conjured up a hollow laugh. “Not likely, but it’ll be fun to see you try and get them out of me!”
Phyllis nodded. “Great. It’s all set, then. I’ll see you two tomorrow