Here is the latest installment of CITD. I want you guys to know that reading your comments really inspires me. Also, pay close attention: things are going to get shaken up! I will also be posting one (possibly two) teasers for other stories I've been working on. Let me know what you think!
xxo Mickey
*
His charm was debilitating. Sure, she tried to fight him off, but soon she was submersed in his scent and his smile. He knew exactly how to manipulate her. He knew her buttons and exactly how to carress- no- push them.
The truth was, she could avoid him like flies could avoid shit. Not at all.
She had been working on this new ad campaign, and today, for the first time, she would present in front of the higher ups in the company. Usually, she spoke only to the clients, but this case was different because the CEO of the company had taken a particular interest in the client. Perhaps that was because signing this deal meant ten million dollars of extra revenue for the next three years. Yea, she'd be cautious too.
After everything with William, she had felt so unsure about herself. The man had preyed on her. And she had simply stood there and let him take her. But that night with him, when he held her in his arms, so strong and sure of himself, so protective and...sweet? Well that night made her wonder if he meant what he said. It made her think that maybe he really did want more than just her body. For some reason, that scared her more than if he had only wanted sex.
~*~*~
She finished the last of her notes, and headed to the boardroom. She was always the first to arrive. Getting there twenty minutes before a presentation started didn't hurt. Grabbed some tea, set up her notes, brought up the slide show...
click
She turned around to see that the president of the company, along with the VP, CEO, and their secretaries had all decided to be early as well.
"Mister Campanelli, so nice to finally meet you!" She practically ran over, her hand extended, beads of sweat threatening to appear noticeably on her forehead.
"You must be Miss Benson. I've heard great things about you young lady. I'm not sure you've met Greg Pierce, our CEO, and Henry George, our VP."
She shook their hands, and smiled the biggest smile she could bare, until her cheeks ached. "Such an honor to meet you all, really."
"I hope you've got something great for us, Benson. This account could be the best deal we've ever signed. And if you're the reason, well, there could be amazing things in your future." Greg smiled and winked at her, causing her light brown skin to redden.
She cleared her throat as they took their seats, and soon others began to fill the room. It was strange for her to see so many people in the room. More than five was very abnormal. There was only one seat left, in the room that could house twenty, just moments before the presentation.
"Is everyone here? Shall I begin?" She looked around, unsure of which faces were of the most important.
A woman spoke up- "The CFO of the company is running late. He said to start without him."
Jenifer nodded. "Well then. Welcome, and thank you for coming. My name is Jenifer Benson, and I'm the head of marketing here at CPG. Each of you will find a packet in front of you that explains, in detail, everything we will go over here today, as well as a flash drive with all of the slides and animations..."
~*~*~
William pressed the button for the elevator for the third time in less than a minute. He was anxious. He couldn't wait to see her face when he walked in to view her presentation. He heard the dinging, and the doors open. He smiled as he entered and pressed the button for the fifth floor.
~*~*~
"Criag Cosmetics will be an innovator because selling cosmetics, for you, is not about making women beautiful, but rather enhancing the beauty that each woman already has. By using women who are not celebrities or supermodels, you can appeal to the everyday woman and give her more confidence than a catchy tag line. She doesn't have to spend all of her money on foundation and a special name- she gets a favorable product for a reasonable price."
click
That must be the CFO, mister Craig, she thought. She turned toward the back of the room to see a shadowy figure entering. With the lights off, it was impossible to see all the way back there.
"Please, continue," was all he said.
"Actually, that about sums up the presentation. Lucy, will you hit the lights for me? We will now have some time for questions and response."
The lights came on, and as her eyes adjusted, she made out the last arrival.
"Yes. Just from scanning through this packet, I can see that a lot of work has been done to show us something new and exciting. How do we know this will work? I mean, it sounds lovely, but where is the proof?"
Jen stood silently, watching the ocean in his eyes wash over her repeatedly. All eyes were on her, but his burned straight through her. She wanted to answer the woman's question, but she was frozen. "Uhm," she cleared her throat, "starting on page thirteen there is a series of studies and surveys. Many of the surveys were taken by a third party company that we often use for projects such as these. On page seventeen, one survey in particular points of that middle class women, ages 25-40, especially those with children, would prefer to see women that look like them in television ads. They want to see women of all shapes, sizes, and colors presenting them with a product that can be bought and used with ease."
She nodded.
"You've done your homework." William nodded and rose from his seat. He walked over, as if he was gliding on air. "There is something about you, and this company, that makes me think I can trust you. He reached her, and took her hand in his. "I'm sold."
If her jaw had dropped any further, it would have rolled under the table.