A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

Frank owned Creative Edge Promotions, and according to Evan, not only had Frank lured away a few of Standard gate’s top clients in recent months, he’d also launched a PR campaign against Standard Gate. Evan said that Frank was ruthless, and he’d do anything to win.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Well, yes,” Nina murmured. “His ad execs are busy working Julian over.”

“Any reason you aren’t?” Evan asked her.

She laid her hand on his forearm. She knew how important this account was to Evan-to everyone at Standard Gate Communications. It was important to her too. She wanted to prove herself, both to Evan, and more importantly to herself.

“I need you to trust me, Evan. I know Julian Martin and I have studied him extensively. He knows I’m interested. He’ll come to me eventually. I’m sure of it.”She said.

“Are you fifty million dollars sure, Nina? Standard Gate is small, and this kind of deal means our employees keep their jobs whereas if we continue to lose clients and accounts, I can’t make any guarantees.”

“I know I’m asking a lot,” she said in a low voice. “But I can’t walk over there and pull out the seductive wiles.” She gestured toward the women standing around Julian. They weren’t making any bones as to how far they’d go to sign him, and it kinda made her feel sick… And a little jealous. “It’s what he expects, and I can’t do that. I can land this account on the ideas, Evan. I’ve spent every waking minute putting this pitch together. There’s no way he won’t go for it.”

Evan Banks studied her for a long moment, his eyes gleaming with what looked like respect. She loved working for him. He was hard. He was demanding. But he made her work hard and that was what she needed right now.

“I never expected you to land the account on anything less than your brilliance, Nina,” Evan said softly. “I hope I never gave you any other impression.”

“I know. I appreciate your confidence more than you know. I won’t let you down. I won’t let Standard Gate Communications down.” She replied.

Evan ran a hand through his hair and glanced once more across the room. He looked tired. It was true he worked hard. The agency was everything to him. More than anything Nina wanted to be able to hand this account to him. He had believed in her and given her this job even when she didn’t believe in herself.

She glanced up to see Julian threading his way through the throng of people.

“Don’t look now, but he’s headed our way. Maybe you should take Camille and go dance or something.” Nina said to Evan.

As quickly as he’d approached, Evan Banks turned and melted back into the crowd.

Nina sipped at her wine and practiced nonchalance as she literally felt Julian close in. It was impossible to miss him. Her body always seemed to heat up about five degrees whenever he was anywhere near.

And his smell. Even amid the hustle and bustle of the crowded room, the mix of so many feminine perfumes, she could pick out his unique scent. Rough. Masculine and mouthwateringly sexy. It made no sense to her, but she was attuned to his every nuance, and that had nothing to do with all the studying up she’d done on his company.

Julian was a completely different man from the one she knew when she was in school, and her reaction to him was also completely different now. These thoughts she was having were definitely not good for her career and for her friendship with his sister. There was no way getting involved with him wouldn’t cause her any problems.

“Hey, Red,” he murmured as he reached her.

She turned with a welcoming smile. “Hi, Julian. You should stop calling me that, you know.”

“Ermmm, I don’t think so. It suits you, and it’s always amusing to watch you blush.”