CHAPTER 3
1089 Words
A waiter was passing near them, and Lance took two glasses of champagne and handed one to her. She didn’t like champagne, but she accepted it anyway.
“Lance,” Annalise replied, greeting him with a slight nod. “You finally freed yourself from your adoring fans. You were having so much fun…”
“Yeah, I was having the time of my life,” he replied in a sarcastic tone. “Come on, Annalise! You know very well I’m not into these gatherings.”
“Do I?” she asked and raised an eyebrow. “Even so, you are the ‘New King’ in town. This is just one of the many social events you will have to attend from now on. So, prepare yourself, ‘Your Highness’. Every important person in this town will request your presence.”
Lance smiled, and his eyes locked with hers for a few seconds, then checked her from head to toe, lingering way too much on her curves. Annalise started to feel a bit uncomfortable under Lance’s intense scrutiny.
“The new King…” he said.
He was practically undressing her right then and there, in front of all those people. Annalise felt nude and vulnerable under his gaze. His dark brown eyes were devouring her, and for the first time during that evening, Annalise wished she could have worn a suit instead of that ridiculous, sparkling cocktail dress.
“Talking about socializing… Why aren’t you there with the rest of the adoring crowd, talking my ears off with proposals on upgrading 'HL Sportswear'? Helena Christiansen has already explained how her agency will take my pet company straight to the top. She even talked to me about making 'Hamilton Inc.' number one in the world.”
“Your main company is already well-known internationally,” Annalise answered, and a smile appeared on her red lips. “But your sportswear brand… your ‘baby’… Well, that’s a totally different thing. It’s doing well in the States, and the sales are way above the forecast. That is quite good. But you need excellent, mind-blowing! With the right push, you will get it. That’s why you need 'S&W Advertising'. I can take you higher than you ever dreamed of.”
“Such a clever answer, Miss Walsh… 'Take me higher…' Such an… interesting idea… Such an emphatic speech… This is exactly what I was expecting from you,” Lance said.
Annalise felt cold shivers down her spine, realizing that he was right. She was kinda… flirting with him. Okay, this wasn’t the right way to do business. Otherwise, she would’ve been part of the adoring fan club that was gathered around him earlier. She looked quickly across the ballroom and saw that all the other AEs were looking at them with suspicion and malice.
“Lance, allow me to be clear with you. I love my job, and I’m excellent at it. Choosing our agency is going to be the best decision you can make.”
“Really?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Absolutely! I already have some suggestions on how to make 'HL Sportswear' a universal success. Am I arrogant for thinking this way? Maybe I am. All I need is one opportunity to show you what 'S&W Advertising' can do for you.”
“What can your agency do for me?! No, Annalise… It’s more like what ‘you’ can do for me,” Lance said slowly.
Suddenly, Annalise felt extremely warm inside. Her eyes widened.
What was Lance saying?
Was he suggesting that they…? That she…?
And then he went on to correct the wrong supposition she’d just made.
“Well, correct me if I’m wrong. If the ideas you’re telling me about are yours, and they are as good as you’re presenting them, it means that I won’t be hiring the agency… I’d be hiring you… right? You and only you will take care of my every need, right?”
She swallowed hard and looked at him, a little stunned. His behavior was making her feel at a disadvantage. And Annalise hated that feeling.
Was he flirting?
Was he being serious?
What the hell was going on?
What was Lance trying to say to her?
Annalise tried not to frown that much. She didn’t want to show him how uneasy his words were making her feel. But Lance was way too clever. The grin on his lips let Annalise know he was well aware of her thoughts.
“Stop frowning, Miss Walsh. It wasn’t a proposal. When it happens, you will notice the difference, trust me!”
In a daring move, Lance traced a fiery line on her arm. His fingertips burned her skin, and Annalise felt her stomach churn.
“I only meant that IF your pitch will be as wowing as you’re implying, and I decide to sign with your agency, you won’t disappear… Because it is you that I want, not another AE. I’d expect you to oversee every single detail of the campaign.”
“I won’t disappear and abandon the campaign,” Annalise replied, looking straight into his eyes. “You will be my top priority… Are you thinking of signing with us?” she asked, trying not to pay attention to the people gazing in their direction.
“I might… if you are as good as you’re saying and your ideas are better than all the others I’ve heard so far.”
There was a glimpse of amusement in his dark brown eyes while Lance was looking at her lazily.
“I feel like I should warn you… Helena Christiansen from 'Empire Promotions' came up with some interesting propositions. For now, she is in a poll position.”
“Well, wait to hear mine,” Annalise said and placed the half-empty glass on the table. “Prepare to be won over by 'S&W Advertising' and by me.”
“So full of confidence! I’m impressed! I like this in a person, especially in a woman. I hate false modesty. I think that people should learn how to own their true selves. I’m quite curious to see what you have in mind, Annalise,” Lance told her and smiled.
That smile… The same smile that already melted her bones earlier.
“Does this mean that we have a meeting in the next few days?”
“Dance with me, Annalise, and by the end of this dance, I’ll give you a date,” Lance urged her, putting away his empty glass.
- Writer
