No Strings__ - By Janelle Denison Page 0,55
the campaign.
She gathered up her laptop and retrieved Aiden’s flash drive and made her way down to conference room C. The door was already closed, and she heard male voices from inside, indicating that the boys were already presenting their campaign ideas to Luca.
She paced the carpeted floor in the hallway, tension tightening across her chest. She didn’t usually get nervous before a meeting, but she and Aiden each had so much riding on this deal. She didn’t want to blow it for either one of them. Knowing she had to shake off her anxiety, and fast, she leaned back against the nearest wall, closed her eyes, and took the Zen approach. She inhaled deep, tranquil breaths, until a peaceful calm cleared her mind and relaxed her body.
She could do this, she told herself, feeling more in control and focused. She loved to pitch to clients, and she was damn good at it. Today would be no different.
After a short while the door opened, and Edward’s voice drifted out into the hallway as he spoke, “I do have to say, your advertising and marketing ideas are solid.” Chloe smiled to herself, knowing she and Aiden were still in the game.
She’d been an ad executive long enough to know when a client used a bland word like solid to describe a marketing approach, they were being more diplomatic than complimentary. Edward hadn’t been all that impressed by what he’d seen. If he had used terms such as unique or innovative, Chloe might have had a cause for concern, but his lack of any obvious enthusiasm filled her with a much needed surge of confidence.
Darryl and Ken strolled out of the room first, both of them wearing smug expressions...until they saw her standing there in the hallway, her laptop tucked under her arm, ready to present her campaign, too. She wanted to laugh at the shocked, oh shit looks on their faces, but managed to maintain her composure.
“Darryl. Ken,” she acknowledged politely. “Mr. Luca, I’d also like the chance to pitch our company’s campaign ideas today.”
Edward arched a brow, amusement in his eyes. “By all means, come inside,” he said, motioning for her to enter the conference room.
She walked inside, and he closed the door securely after her, watching as she set her laptop on the table and turned it on. He was dressed casually in a pair of khaki pants and a collared shirt, and she had to admit that for a man in his late fifties he was very good-looking. His hair was still thick and dark, though there was some silver at the temples that gave him a distinguished appearance. His body was still trim, his skin tanned, and there was a charm about him that put her at ease.
“You came prepared.” He sat down in a nearby chair, then tipped his head curiously. “How did you know that the other agency was presenting their campaign?”
“I overheard them speaking with you down in the lobby, being more than a little insistent about pitching their presentation to you today,” she replied honestly as she prepared her PowerPoint slides. “I wasn’t about to leave the island without you seeing our campaign ideas, too.”
He leaned back in his seat, admiration flickering in his gaze. “I have a lot of respect for a woman with such determination and fortitude.”
She accepted his praise with a smile. “Oh, I have plenty of that, Mr. Luca.”
“Where is Aiden?” Edward asked. “Shouldn’t he be here, as well?”
Yes, he should have been there, but she’d never throw her partner under the bus for her own personal gain. Yes, she wanted this account badly, but she just didn’t operate that way. She’d cover for him the best she could. “He had to leave the island early this morning.”
“I hope everything is okay?” Edward asked, clearly concerned.
“Yes, everything is fine.” She didn’t offer details, because they weren’t necessary. Besides, she wasn’t about to share the real reason why Aiden had left...her. “In fact, I have his presentation with me, which is a different concept than my own, so I’m all set.”
Edward gave an approving nod. “Excellent. Let’s see what you’ve come up with.”
She remained standing and positioned the laptop so that it faced Edward, but she could see the screen, as well, and control the speed of the slide show as she added her commentary to the presentation. She clicked the start button, and the program began to play.
As the slides clicked from one to the other, providing Edward with