All's Fair in Lust & War Read Online Free PDF Page B

topics.”
    She walked around the room, grabbed the marker out of his hand and began to write down ideas. “Like instead of men it could be openmouthed business associates admiring her. Or cyclists left in her dust.”
    “Oh, I see where you’re going,” he said. “That could be cool.”
    She grinned at him, and for the first time since they’d returned to New York he got a glimpse of the happy, gorgeous girl he’d shared a night with in Vegas.
    He grinned back. “So, what if—?”
    David cleared his throat.
    “I like where this is going—but, Becky, didn’t you have a concept to present, as well? This is a competition,” he said.
    Becky blinked, and the laughter in her eyes disappeared.
    “Right. Of course. Mark, can you clear your stuff out of the way? I’ll grab my boards.”
    * * *
    A few moments later Becky took center stage. And when she did she was magnetic.
    “So, on my team we got to thinking about what women really want. And we think it goes deeper than just being skinny or attracting the right man. That’s what our mothers wanted. But we want more. We want to be recognized as the strong, independent beings we are. We want the superhuman feats we accomplish every day to be recognized. After all, today’s woman works like a dog at her corporate job, putting in twice as much effort for half the pay, then heads to the gym to ensure she stays model-thin, then goes home to run a household. Today’s women are incredible. We think it’s time for a marketer to sit up and acknowledge that.”
    Then she flipped a board over.
    It showed a business-suited woman standing in a superhero pose on top of a conference table as her colleagues clapped.
    “‘You save your world every day before lunch. Choose the only yogurt high-powered enough to keep up with you,’” she said.
    She flipped more boards. One of a soccer mom pulling a dirt-covered boy from a vat of quicksand. One of a runner flying ahead of the pack, cape billowing out behind her. And another of a lab-coated woman punching an oversize germ in the mouth so her patients could get away.
    After she presented the last board she looked up and smiled. “Every woman deserves to feel like a superhero. Because she is one.”
    Her team applauded.
    Mark had to stop himself from joining in.
    David looked at Mark, seeming to be waiting for something. Oh. Right. He was supposed to be shooting holes in her concept.
    “What about all those young hipsters who don’t feel like they’re accomplishing anything yet?” he asked.
    “Well, we could have smaller situations. A woman stopping a cab before it can get away,” she said.
    “Or wowing a crowded club with her dance moves?” he suggested.
    “Or saving a cat from a snarling dog?” she chimed in.
    “Or what about—?”
    “I hate to break this up, but we’re not in a brainstorming session,” David broke in. “We’re supposed to be making a decision about which concept to present to the client.”
    Mark snapped his mouth shut. Damn it . He’d gone from shooting her down to making her case for her.
    Thinking fast, he smirked in David’s direction. “I think the choice is clear,” he said. “Superheroes are great—if you’re seven. I think most women would rather fantasize about a good-looking man than dress up in a Spandex suit.”
    The look Becky shot him was murderous. But before she could open her mouth David held up his hand.
    “You have a point, Mark,” he said. “But there’s something in Becky’s idea, too. Let me think for a minute. Everybody be quiet.”
    Instantly the conference room was deathly quiet.
    David moved to the front of the room. “Mark, put your boards back up.”
    “Sure,” he said, reaching for them.
    “Just do it. Don’t talk about it,” David snapped.
    Mark blinked, then did as he was told. This man could give any dictator a run for his money.
    David paced back and forth, picking up boards, shuffling the order, then shuffling them again. After what seemed like