Page 99 of Ask Me Something

Chapter Twenty

The meeting with Tryon Pharmaceuticals was set for this morning. Brian thankfully had been back to his old self by the time he’d returned from the pool at the hotel yesterday and we’d packed up, taking an evening flight back to New York. But now I didn’t know what to expect. Getting ready with him back in my condo was throwing me off my game. It was getting harder to draw professional lines when we’d spent the last few days being intimate, carefree, and a couple. Then this morning we woke up, showered, and ate breakfast together ready to go to work.

“What’s wrong?” Brian asked on the cab ride over to Tryon’s offices.

“Nothing,” I murmured, smoothing down my long black skirt. Once again, I was covered from head to toe courtesy of the profile sheet, this time in the skirt with a blue long-sleeve blouse. The look was crisp and professional, but I’d mixed it up a bit with my black four-inch heels. A girl had to preserve some personal style.

“Lie to me again and see what happens.” He’d repeated the words I’d said to him in Aruba.

When I met his eyes, I saw amusement and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. “Okay, for a pitch I can prepare, rehearse, and definitively know that I’m ready. For straight-up meetings, it’s more difficult to know what to expect.” I was careful not to say anything about my confidence level or insecurity. He wouldn’t expect that from me, and I wasn’t going to share it.

His eyes softened, and he took my hand. “There’s never been a time where I haven’t seen you handle your own. Keep in mind this is business, and that means swallowing your pride. You may have to defer to the client even when you don’t want to. Vanessa is the alpha, but it’ll help to have the chairman, Michael, there today. Considering he practically lit up during the second presentation when you walked in, it’s clear the old man is a fan. You’ll do great.”

As usual, he could make me feel better by laying out the facts in a way that eased my mind. I smiled tightly and took a breath. Unfortunately, though he might have a gift for smoothing things over, he couldn’t predict the future.

* * *

We metin the same conference room at Tryon Pharmaceutical’s offices that we had the previous two times for the pitches. Michael Dobson greeted me warmly. Maybe this meeting wouldn’t be too bad, after all.

Vanessa kissed Brian’s cheek, and I had to carefully mask my expression at her enthusiastic greeting. Clearly, she was happy to see him, but her glance toward me was downright frosty.

“Brian, you look tanned. Did you get back from vacation? Actually, Sasha, you look like you got some sun, too,” Vanessa commented with a brow raised.

Before I could register what she was implying, Brian covered smoothly. “One of the perks of working for Gamble Advertising would be the Gamble Properties’ hotels and the fact that we have retreats in Vegas and other sunny locales. All of the vice presidents came back last week.”

Brian could do improv full time; he was so exceptionally good at it.

Vanessa smiled, and Michael got down to business.

“We wanted to go over some specifics and, of course, sign on the dotted line today,” Michael started out. “Vanessa will be your point of contact, and she’ll keep the board up to date. I’m assuming, Sasha, you’ll be our client care representative at Gamble Advertising?”

I smiled. “Yes. I’ll be the account manager.” My eyes met Vanessa’s and saw the challenge.

“You know, I spend quite a bit of time out of our North Carolina plant these days. Might be easier if Brian was the lead on the account since he’s located in the Charlotte office,” she reasoned.

Oh, she’d like that. “It’s not a problem. I’m down in the Charlotte office often and will ensure that I make arrangements to be there whenever we need to meet.” I tried to keep my voice friendly.

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Fine. I’ll get the best of both worlds with the two of you.”

Brian didn’t miss a beat. “I assure you, you’re in the very best hands with Sasha. However, it would be my pleasure to attend meetings when possible.”

I tried not to let it make me feel jealous. This was business, and I’d seen Brian charm women young and old. Vanessa was not the exception, and yet her smile toward him made it clear she thought she was.

Michael launched into a few specific details, and forty minutes later we had the signed contract in hand. He turned and looked toward me. “Are you counting the days toward pre-season yet, Sasha?”

I nodded, but before I could answer, Vanessa interrupted.

“Michael, I would think it would be obvious that Sasha read you were a Cowboys fan and came prepared to flatter you with regurgitated details of your favorite team. I highly doubt she’s truly a fan of football.”

Michael blushed slightly, and Brian nudged me under the table. He undoubtedly knew which direction this was heading.

I smiled tightly. “In the interest of full disclosure, Mr. Dobson, I did know you were a Cowboys fan. However, I could recite the same type of information on any team in the league or on any Super Bowl dating back the last thirty years. I’m unequivocally a diehard football fan.”

He brightened and then looked thoughtful. “Super Bowl thirty-four,” he challenged, sitting back in his chair.

I grinned. “The Rams beat the Titans that year. It was quite the game when the Titans came back to tie it after being down sixteen points. McNair was the quarterback for the Titans, but it was Curt Warner for the Rams who would complete his Cinderella story and earn the MVP for the game. Personally, it was one of my favorite Super Bowls in recent history.”

He slapped the table. “I tell you something, Sasha. If your boss wasn’t sitting right here next to you and it wouldn’t be considered highly inappropriate, I’d either try to hire you on the spot or try to set you up with my grandson. But because I’m old, my filter fails me from time to time, so I’ll say it even knowing I can’t act on it.” He looked toward Brian. “I hope you don’t allow her into your fantasy football league, else she’d most likely clean up.”

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