Third Time's a Charm (6 page)

Tori straightened in her chair. Dan Farrin, one of the firm’s founders, had intimidated her since her second day on the job, when he reamed out an executive in front of the entire staff. She was pretty certain he liked her, or at least she’d never given him a reason to dislike her. Actually, she stayed out of his way as much as possible. Not hard the past few months, because Mr. Farrin had spent more time out of the office than in. Rumors had been doing the rounds about health problems, but Rita, his longtime administrative assistant, remained tight-lipped.

“That’s great,” Mitch said.

Tori nodded. “Terrific news, Kate.”

The account must be a really big one. Potential new clients weren’t all that unusual at Connolly and Farrin, certainly not enough to justify a Sunday meeting. The firm handled a large number of marketing campaigns for various businesses around Kentucky. When a business owner wanted to run an ad, or film a commercial, or design a new logo, Connolly and Farrin almost always got the job.

When a new account came along, the competition among the firm’s three account executives to sign the client could get fierce. For Dan to hand Kate a new prospect was a feather in her cap.

It also meant a lot of work for her staff. Tori couldn’t imagine how she could squeeze one more client into her workload. But she did have a couple of projects that were nearly wrapped up. As long as the deadline wasn’t too tight, she’d find time.

“Tell us what we can do to help,” Tori said.

A secretive smile hovered around Kate’s mouth. “You two are not going to be helping me this time.”

That made no sense. Kate had no other staff. “But you just said the prospect was yours.”

“It is.”

Mitch cocked his head, his expression cautious. “Are you transferring us to another AE?”

“No.” Her lips twitched. “Well, in a way. One of you will be transferred.”

Tori refused to meet the startled glance Mitch shot in her direction, but kept her gaze fixed on her boss. Irritated words rolled around in her brain, and the only way she managed to keep them from shooting out of her mouth was to clench her jaw. She was not in the mood for Kate’s games today, not when she’d only had a couple of hours’ sleep working on a report that apparently wasn’t as important as she thought it was. But she knew better than to express her frustration in front of her boss. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap, leaned against the padded seat back, and waited.

Kate held her gaze for a moment, then relented with a brief dip of her forehead. “This is confidential, so please keep this news close to your chest. Dan is going to announce his retirement next month, and I’ve been asked to take his place as a full partner in the firm.”

Tori managed not to gasp, while beside her Mitch’s head jerked upward, his eyes round. Kate Bowman, a full partner with Mr. Connolly. This news would rock the office to its foundations. Most wouldn’t be happy about it, either. Kate’s single-minded focus and workaholic tendencies hadn’t made her a favorite of the office staff.

“Congratulations, Kate,” Tori said when she could speak without stuttering. “A partner. That’s terrific.”

“Yeah, wow.” Mitch actually rubbed his hands together. “Just imagine what Osborne’s going to say.”

Kate’s promotion would be a public slap in the face to Phil Osborne, one of the other two AEs. He’d been around from the early days, when the firm was just a start-up company with offices in a strip mall, or something like that. Without a doubt, he would assume he’d be tapped to step up if one of the founders left. Tori felt sorry for him when he found out.

“That’s one reason you need to treat this news with the utmost confidentiality.” Kate’s gaze hardened as she held Mitch’s. “Dan and Stephen want to sit down with him and explain the situation.”

“Do you think he’ll quit?” Tori asked.

Kate shook her head. “He’s been with Connolly and Far-rin since the early days. He’s got too many years in with this company to bail out now.” The secretive smile returned as she rocked backward in her chair. “But my promotion presents an interesting opportunity for one of you.”

Tori widened her eyes as the impact of Kate’s words hit her. The firm had more than enough work to keep three account executives busy. They’d have to replace Kate, and there were two ways to do that. Either they’d hire someone from outside the company to take over her accounts, or they’d promote someone inside. Tori stole a sideways glance at Mitch. The only two who knew Kate’s clients inside and out were sitting right in this room.

Mitch had obviously reached the same conclusion. The narrow-lidded glance he gave Tori held a note of speculation that hadn’t been there a moment before. She returned it without flinching.

“Either of you would make an excellent AE.” Kate’s words drew their attention back to her. Tori straightened, her senses suddenly more alert. “Which is why I’ve decided to give you an equal shot at the promotion. I want you to design a campaign.” She picked up the papers she’d printed a moment before. “You’ve heard of Maguire’s Restaurant?”

“Sure. Who hasn’t?” Mitch’s voice held more than the usual level of suck-up, the weasel.

Tori ignored him. “It’s an upscale restaurant over in Twin Creek Center. They have a small menu that features mostly steaks and signature sauces. Prices are moderate to high.” She’d been there on a date last year with an attorney she met through a client.

Kate’s forehead dipped in acknowledgement. “They’re expanding, and looking for a marketing firm to design a campaign to help them launch their new location.”

“They’re building?” Mitch asked.

“Renting. They’re negotiating to rent a building not far from downtown. The opening is projected at six months out.”

Tori did a mental calculation. “Is December a good time for a restaurant opening?”

“That’s your job—to make sure it is.” Kate’s smile stretched wide. “The Maguire people are ready to sink some money into their business, and they’re looking for a firm to help make this launch a success. So we need to wow them. I want to see a situation analysis, strategy, a multifaceted ad campaign, even branding recommendations.”

“So, how are you dividing the work between us?” Mitch asked. “Is one of us going to take lead on this?”

Kate tapped the papers’ edges on her desk with a loud crack. “You didn’t understand me. You won’t be working together. I want each of you to come up with a plan for Maguire’s independently. That’s the job of an account executive. You’ll make your presentations to me, Dan, Stephen, and the other AEs. Whoever comes up with the most effective and comprehensive plan will become Connolly and Farrin’s new AE.”

Tori swallowed. She’d studied all of those things, and of course she’d worked with Kate long enough to know what the firm expected in terms of deliverables for a client marketing plan. But she’d never developed an ad campaign on her own. And branding a restaurant? She slid her eyes sideways toward Mitch for a split second. At least he didn’t have any more experience than she did.

Only one of them would get a promotion out of this. Which meant the other one . . .

She cleared her throat. “What happens to whichever of us isn’t promoted?”

Kate peeled off two of the pages and extended them across the desk toward her. “That person will report to the new AE.”

Her, report to Mitch? She turned her head to lock gazes with him, and her confidence slipped a notch. He wore one of those stupid smirks she was accustomed to seeing from him, but his eyes glinted with something new. Determination.

Tori set her jaw and took the papers from Kate’s hand. Hard work didn’t bother her. She’d throw herself into this project and produce the best darned marketing plan this company had ever seen.

“When’s it due?” she asked.

“You’ll make your presentations on July 11.” Kate handed a set of papers to Mitch. “Now, let’s go over the information I’ve put together on the Maguire account.”

Tori stared at the printed page without seeing the words. July 11 was only one month away, not much time to put together a full-blown marketing plan for a business she knew nothing about. Her mind reeled with all the work she had to do. Where to start? She might as well forget about sleep until after the presentation. It would take every minute of every day between now and then to get this project done. She wouldn’t have time for anything else.

And then something hit her.

Joan’s wedding was July 19. Her sister was getting married eight days after the biggest presentation of her life. The next few weeks were jam-packed with pre-wedding stuff, especially since she’d promised to help with the food and decorations. No way could she get out of those things, not and keep her place in the Sanderson family.

Good thing she didn’t need much sleep, because she wouldn’t be getting any for at least five weeks.

Tori bit back a sigh as she forced her attention to the details Kate outlined.

4

The chairs surrounding the long table in the young adult Sunday school room at Christ Community filled up quickly. Ryan sat next to an empty one, his arm casually draped across the back in an unspoken claim. When Tori arrived, maybe she’d sit beside him, and he could get the coffee question out of the way.

When Joan and Ken appeared in the doorway, he straightened and craned his neck to see behind them. Instead of Tori, he caught sight of the oldest Sanderson sister. Allie’s head moved as she scanned the room and when she saw him, she crooked a finger in his direction to beckon him into the hall. He stepped past Ken, who entered the room to grab a couple of chairs, and joined Joan and Allie outside.

“She’s not coming,” Joan said as he stepped through the doorway. “She called Mom this morning and claimed to have a meeting at work.”

Disappointment deflated Ryan’s tense muscles. Disappointment, and maybe a touch of relief. Tori probably wouldn’t go out with him anyway. Embarrassing situation avoided.

Allie scowled. “She didn’t even have the nerve to call one of us, not after she promised to be here. And of all the lame excuses.”

Ryan cocked his head. “You don’t think she really had a meeting?”

She grimaced. “On Sunday?”

Joan plucked at his sleeve to move him out of the way so someone could enter the Sunday school room. “I believe her about the meeting. Tori’s boss is a real slave driver. Mom said she sounded upset at having to go into the office this morning.”

Allie folded her arms. “Still. She could have called me.”

Ryan hid a smile. Seeing the fierce grimace on Allie’s face, he didn’t blame Tori one bit for wanting to avoid her oldest sister.

In the next instant the grimace faded, replaced by a calculating smile. She patted Ryan’s arm. “But this doesn’t change anything. She’s still coming to Gram’s for dinner. Just call the house this afternoon to ask her out.”

Ryan scuffed his heel on the thin carpet, doubt nagging at him. It was one thing to sit beside a girl in Sunday school and casually suggest a cup of coffee later. If she said no, he could always act like it was no big deal. But if he called her on the phone specifically to ask her out and she turned him down, that cranked the humiliation factor upward a ton.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I sort of promised my brother I’d help him work on his house this afternoon. Maybe I should just wait until next week.”

Allie’s hand gripped his forearm. “No. Today’s the perfect day. We’re going to be working up in the attic, so she’ll be here all afternoon.”

Joan nodded. “Call the house around four. By then she’ll be ready for a break.”

“We’ll make
sure
she’s ready for a break.” Allie grinned. “By the time we finish with her, she’ll be begging you to rescue her.”

He looked from one intense face to the other. They wore nearly identical expressions that put him in mind of his sister-in-law when she was trying to convince him to go on a blind date with that girl at the restaurant. Joan and Allie were playing matchmaker, trying to fix him up with their sister. Even though he shared their goal where Tori was concerned, the feeling of being manipulated didn’t rest easy with him.

He narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on here? Why are you two doing this?”

Both pairs of eyes went round.

“What do you mean?” Allie asked. “We thought you wanted to ask our sister out.”

Joan nodded. “We’re just trying to help.”

Actually, he was feeling the same reaction he’d had to Loralee. The harder they pushed, the more he wanted to dig his heels in. In fact, maybe asking Tori Sanderson out wasn’t such a good idea after all. He edged toward the classroom. “Well, thanks, but I’ve got it covered on my own.”

Allie stepped in front of him. “So are you going to call her or not?”

Irritation flickered in the base of his skull. “I’ll think about it.”

Joan moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with Allie, blocking his path. “Ryan, please don’t be upset with us. We’re just trying to look out for our little sister.”

By manipulating him into asking her on a date? He cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

“Like we said yesterday, she’s working too hard,” Allie said. “She needs to go out, relax, have a little fun.”

“And not only that, but there are some pretty unscrupulous men out there.” Joan’s smile was soft. “We know you’ll treat her well.”

“And besides,” Allie said, “I think she likes you.”

Ryan’s back straightened. “She does?”

Their nods were enthusiastic.

Just then their Sunday school teacher, Mr. Carmichael, shuffled down the hall toward them, a stack of books in his hands. He stopped long enough to peer first into Ryan’s face, and then Joan’s. “If you’re ready to get started, Mr. Adams, Miss Sanderson.” His gaze slid to Allie. “Are you joining us this morning,
Mrs.
Harrod?”

The disapproval he managed to pour into the title let them know exactly what he thought of a married woman attending the singles Sunday school class.

Allie awarded him a broad smile. “No, sir. I’m just on the way to my class with my husband.” Before she stepped away, she looked at Ryan and mouthed,
Call her
.

Ryan ignored her and gestured for Joan to precede him into the classroom. He liked Tori, but being the object of a pair of scheming women’s plans was a bit unnerving. He wasn’t sure he was willing to play along, even if it meant a date with the youngest and, in his opinion, the prettiest Sanderson sister.