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Ship of Dreams
Dreams Come True # 2
Dreams Come True # 2
By: Rebecca Heflin
Released February 11, 2015
Soul Mate Publishing, LLC
Advertising Diva,
Laura Armstrong is after Imperial Cruise Lines, the biggest account of her
career and the one that will lead to the next step in her Life Plan of becoming
one of the most powerful women in advertising. That winning the account will
also prove her father wrong is a bonus.
Sexy Southern
Gentleman, Nathan Maxwell, is after that very same account, but for completely
different reasons. Landing the account means a sizeable bonus just in time to
save his family’s farm, and the only stable home his sister’s ever known, from
foreclosure.
When the two end
up on the same ship in the middle of the Mediterranean for a clandestine reconnaissance
mission, Mt. Vesuvius isn’t the only thing that could erupt.
Will Nathan sink
her ship of dreams before it ever leaves port, or will the way to love be
smooth sailing?
Nathan sat down at his
desk, as his assistant followed him in with phone messages and meeting
requests. He'd only been at Hawk Media a week and already had a full schedule.
“Mr. McCutcheon would
like to see you when you get a moment, and I need you to sign these forms for
your corporate credit card.” Cassie placed the stack of messages on the desk
and handed him the forms.
“Thanks, Cassie. This
credit card can't come soon enough. I need you to book a trip for me. Here's
all the information.” Nathan handed her a brochure with the ship circled. He
didn't care what itinerary, as long as he got on that ship. He'd already
completed the company's travel profile so Cassie would know his preferences.
“And I need it booked first thing.”
Cassie took the
brochure, lifting a brow. “Is this business or pleasure?”
“Oh, this is business,
but who says they're mutually exclusive?” He gave her a wink as he rounded his
desk.
The corridors of Hawk
Media were hushed, the plush carpeting lending a soft touch to the otherwise
glass and brushed chrome ultra-modern office space. The account executives
whose offices lined the halls were hard at work, studying spreadsheets, talking
on phones, tapping out emails, or meeting with members of their teams. A group
stood in front of an oversized digital white board in what served as the
agency's idea space, throwing suggestions up on the board.
The nimble mid-size
company had only been around a little over ten years, but they were making a
splash in the ad biz, especially after they'd snatched the Kensington hotel
chain right out from under Concept Advertising.
They'd done the same
thing with him.
Hawk Media had wooed
his biggest account away from him, but while the CEO preferred the New
York-based agency's philosophy, he'd told Hawk that Nathan was part of the
package. So after almost ten years with the same boutique agency in Atlanta,
first as an account coordinator, before working his way up to senior account
executive, Hawk had come calling. And Nathan had listened. In the immortal
words of Don Corleone, “they'd made him an offer he couldn't refuse.”
Though it broke his
heart to leave behind his Buckhead home and the proximity to his sister, the
siren song of the Big Apple couldn't be ignored, and the position, Vice
President of Business Development, the salary, and the bonuses were too good to
pass up. Especially now when he needed the money.
He'd make a name for
himself in the big city. Not bad for a boy from the hills of North Georgia
who'd once been told he'd never be more than a whore's bastard.
First order of business
– get the Imperial Cruise Lines account.
“You needed to see me?”
Hawk looked up from his
sleek computer, “Yes. Have a seat.”
At only forty-six, Hawk
McCutcheon was on a high-speed trajectory to success. His blond locks lent him
a devil-may-care surfer look, but those who judged the book by its cover did so
at their own peril. A former All-American quarterback, he played by the rules,
but that didn't mean he didn't play a tough game. And while he had an easy
smile and a generous nature, he expected one-hundred-ten-percent from his
employees.
Family photos ranged
the credenza behind his immaculate Lucite desk, including one of him and his
father, U.S. Senator Mitchell McCutheon, at the President's inauguration ball.
Star-studded lifestyle notwithstanding, according to his employees, Hawk was a
tried and true family man.
“Where are we on
Imperial Cruise Lines?” Hawk eyed him over a pair of reading glasses.
“Cassie's booking my
trip as we speak – on the Nave dei Sogni – the first availability.
Research team is pulling demographics, financials, and current marketing
collateral, and the same information on Imperial's three closest competitors.
Word on the street is Imperial is looking to lower its age demographic, attract
younger, more dynamic clientele, with lots of sports and entertainment dollars
to spend. And they're building a smaller liner with an eye toward
uncompromising quality and an even higher staff-to-guest ratio to do it.
“We already have the
data on the spending habits of this demographic,” Nathan continued, “we just
need to do some number crunching. Imperial is looking for interactive marketing
services for the digital space. They fired Kendall-Monroe because the agency's
ideas were ... 'antediluvian,' to use the Junior Jeffries' term.”
“Well, we'll deliver fresh,
innovative ideas that will blow any competition out of the water. Pun
intended,” Hawk finished with a grin. His expression grew determined as he
tapped the desk with his finger, “I want this account and you're just the man
to get it for me.”
Rebecca
Heflin is an award-winning author who has dreamed of writing romantic fiction
since she was fifteen and her older sister snuck a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss'
Shanna to her and told her to read it. Rebecca writes women's fiction and
contemporary romance. When not passionately pursuing her dream, Rebecca is busy
with her day-job as a practicing attorney.
Rebecca is a member of Romance
Writers of America (RWA), Florida Romance Writers, RWA Contemporary Romance,
and Florida Writers Association. She and her mountain-climbing husband live at
sea level in sunny Florida.
thank you for hosting today! ~gaele ( for Lisa)
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