Charming Co-Worker - Jeannine Colette Page 0,24
to Branson Ford, CEO of Empire Media.”
“Charming—CEO. I think it’s important you add that,” he kids, and I have to look away as I laugh.
“Very charming.”
“Continue, please.” He sits back and crosses his foot over his knee, giving me his rapt attention.
I take a deep breath and continue, “Every day, Nielsen Media Research provides a ratings report on every show that aired the day before. I have been tasked with analyzing the data and reporting my findings.”
Branson’s face is now void of amusement as he has gone into boss mode and is actually listening to what I’m about to say. This close, I notice he smells like the aftershave I adore. It has a hint of cinnamon, reminding me of my favorite holiday.
He looks up at me and raises his brows.
Realizing I should be speaking instead of staring at him, I fumble with the binder and open it up to my color-coded categories. “Last night, for example, four Empire Media–produced programs aired on various networks. Three were on cable networks, and one was on a basic cable channel. As you can see, all programs are performing well within their targeted demographics, except for one.” I point to a show about socialites living in the Midwest for a summer.
“It’s performing very well.” Branson looks at the graph that has a line in an upswing.
“It is, and it’s bringing in a profit. But based on production costs and the underreach of the modest-sized cable network it airs on, I think you should consider halting production and putting the money into creating another show, like On the Sidelines.”
“Hunter’s show?” Branson sits up and looks at the graphs.
“Its performance is doing incredible in the market it’s in, keeping a consistent audience after commercial breaks, and it’s holding the audience for back-to-back episodes. Viewers enjoy watching the grit and determination of athletes off the field. They want something to believe in. That’s why, I think, Empire Media shouldn’t renew the contract with its distribution channel and instead shop it around for a bigger deal.”
“Frio TV pays us a hefty sum to air this show. When the deal was made, we thought we’d oversold it.”
“You undersold it. Give them the reruns since the audience is there, but sell the new episodes to a basic television channel with ad potential.”
He shakes his head in disagreement. “They’ll never buy it without rerun rights.”
“They will when you give them the spin-offs. Branch out into female competitive sports or even the obscure. Watching the underdog become a champion is exactly what viewers need right now.”
He touches his hand to his cheek as he looks back at me and smiles. “Your goal shouldn’t be research, Katherine. You should be in sales.” With a slap of his knee, he leans forward and grins. “It’s fascinating, what you’re suggesting. I’ll talk it through with the shareholders. Or better yet, you’ll be presenting this to them next week, right?”
“Right,” I say as sure as someone who is really anxious about this awesome opportunity.
A calmness overcomes Branson as he rests an arm on the desk and stares back at me. His piercing blue eyes hold mine steady, and I have to swallow with how unnerving his smoldering stare makes me feel. “I always knew you were special.”
“Thank you. You’ve been a great boss.”
“You say that like you’re leaving me.” He sounds offended. I open my mouth to correct myself, but he laughs and places a hand on top of mine. It’s smooth, like silk. “I’m teasing. You’re ready for the next opportunity that opens up.” He pauses, and with the sincerest of tones, he says, “I only want the very best for you.”
“That means the world to me.”
In slow, languid movements, he sits back fully and looks at me. His hand lifts a pen from the desk, and he twirls it between his fingers. “Do you remember the first time I asked you for tea? You called every teahouse in the city until you found one that could run up a teakettle and china within the half hour, so you could present me with a proper English tea. It was the kindest thing anyone has done for me since I moved to America.”
“Well, you didn’t seem like a Starbucks kinda guy,” I joke.
“I could be, you know. I might come off as all prim and proper, but I like to relax sometimes. Work can be quite stressful, and you are always there to make me feel at ease.”
His words are like warm honey, and I