Page 32 of The Enemies With Benefits Deal

I’ll have to talk to Dad about it, but I doubt that he’s going to like the idea of sending more journalists to other countries when we’re already deep in the hole.

Although, I didn’t think he would go for the app either, and he proved me wrong on that front.

Mac hums and pulls up another file on his tablet, turning it around and showing it to me. “I think these are going to be the most likely people to advertise for you, but you also need to start appearing more on social media.”

“How much are you going to charge me to get your firm to handle the social media and then train someone to do it when I eventually hire them?”

Mac sighs, leaning back in his chair and crossing one leg over the other. “More than you can afford, honestly. But I could give you one of my interns. Tobias is smart, and he’s already secured a position with my company once he’s finished with school.”

“Okay, how much are you going to charge me for Tobias for the next two months?”

“Ten thousand. He’ll take care of up to five social media platforms, posting two to four times a day on each. He’ll check analytics and put together weekly reports on both the statistics and the trends for you.”

I groan, running a hand over my jaw. “I don’t suppose there’s any way you could come down another thousand. Four figures will sound a lot better to the board than five figures.”

Mac presses his lips together before nodding. Nine thousand for two months, but after that, if you still need my help, the rates are going to have to go up.”

“Of course. Thank you, I know you’re already doing me a huge favor with all of this. I don’t think this would be possible without you.”

“I think you underestimate Jade.” He nods to the office through the wall. “Her space looks like the first thing she did was come in here and try to start updating things, while yours looks like it’s from the nineties. You need to lean on her and her connections more.”

“I know.”

The corner of his mouth twitches. “But those aren’t the words you wanted to hear. You were hoping that I was going to tell you everything would be fine.”

“I can dream, can’t I?” I look down at the list of people who might be willing to advertise for us. “All right, who do I talk to and where do I start?”

Mac spends the next hour going through the people on the list and what they’re like. He gives me insider information I wouldn’t have gotten on my own — like the right people to ask for in the advertising departments.

By the time he leaves, I have a list of tasks I need to get done first thing Monday morning.

Dad walks into my office as Mac is walking out, giving him a slight nod as they pass each other.

He looks down at my desk, eyes widening slightly when he sees all the papers laid out there. “What’s all of this?”

“We’re going to advertise with some of the companies listed here. Mac was telling me how to charm them into taking less than their going rate for ad placements. With a couple of them, we might be able to exchange ads to offset the cost.”

Dad sits down in the chair Mac just vacated and grabs one of the sketches I have on a scrap sheet of paper. “Is this a mock-up for the ad?”

“Yes. At least for some of the print and digital. When it comes to the television ads, Mac is going to work on something. I just have to get our designs to Paloma and see if she can make them look good enough to run.”

He hands the sketch back to me. “I’m impressed.”

His words knock the air from my lungs.

“You are?”

“Yes, I am.” Dad gestures to the work spread in front of me. “You’re in here and working on a Sunday. You’re putting in the extra hours. You clearly care about this company more than I thought you did.”

I bite my tongue, not wanting to rock the boat by reminding him that I’ve always worked hard for the company.

It wouldn’t do any good to remind him of the countless long nights and jobs I’ve done for him over the years.

As I gather the papers in front of me, there’s a small voice in the back of my mind that asks if this is all still worth it.

It is.

Dad gets up and heads to the door, pausing to look back at me. “Once we get back in the black, I’m going to be stepping down fully and looking to appoint a new CEO. There are a few different people in the running.”

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