The Heiress's Secret Baby Read Online Free PDF Page B

way this was going to work was if he behaved himself in thought and deed. But he was a mere man after all and better souls than him would find it hard to stop their gaze skimming over the long willowy figure and the neatly crossed legs. Incredibly long, ridiculously shapely legs. Of course they were.
    ‘You’ve got a pretty impressive CV,’ she said finally. ‘Why Rafferty’s?’
    ‘That means a lot coming from you,’ he said honestly. ‘Oh, come on,’ as her brows rose in surprise. ‘Polly Rafferty, you set the standard, you must know that. I came here to work with you.’
    ‘With me?’
    ‘Don’t misunderstand me, there’s a lot you can learn from me as well. In some ways Rafferty’s is stuck in the Dark Ages, especially digitally. But, you have done some great things here over the last few years. I have no problem admitting there are still things I need to learn if I am going to be a CEO by the time I’m thirty...’
    ‘Here?’
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘Would you let me?’
    ‘You’d have to kill me first.’ She shook her head, her colour high.
    ‘That’s what I thought. No, maybe a start-up, or even my own business. I’ll see nearer the time.’
    ‘You’re ambitious. It took me until I was thirty-one to make it.’ Her eyes met his coolly, the blue of her eyes dark.
    ‘I know.’ He grinned. ‘A little competition keeps me focused.’ He shrugged. ‘Rafferty’s is possibly the most famous store in Europe if not the world. It’s the missing piece in my experience—and I have a lot to offer you as well. It’s a win-win situation.’
    She leant back. ‘Prove it. What would you change?’
    He grinned. ‘Are you ready for it? You only just got back.’
    The corners of her mouth turned up, the smallest of smiles. ‘Don’t pull your punches. I can take it.’
    ‘Okay then.’ He jumped out of the chair and began to pace up and down the room. It was always easier to think on his feet; those months of being confined to bed had left him with a horror of inaction.
    ‘Your social media lacks identity and your online advertising is practically non-existent—it’s untargeted and unplanned, effectively just a redesign of your print advertising. I suggest you employ a digital marketing consultant to train your existing staff. Emily is very capable. She just needs guidance and some confidence.’
    He looked across for a reaction but she was busy scribbling notes. Gabe rolled his eyes. ‘This is part of the problem. You’re what? Writing longhand?’
    ‘I think better with paper and pen. I’ll type them up later.’ Her voice was defensive.
    ‘
Non
, the whole company needs to think digitally. The sales force need tablets so they can check sizes and styles at the touch of a button, mix and match styles.’
    ‘We have a personal touch here. We don’t need to rely on tablets...’
    ‘You need both,’ he said flatly. ‘But what you really need is a new website.’
    There was a long moment of incredulous silence. ‘But it’s only three years old. Do you
know
how much we spent on it?’
    Polly was no longer leaning back. She was ramrod-straight, her eyes sparkling, more in anger than excitement, Gabe thought. ‘Too much and it’s obsolete. Come on, Polly.’ His words tumbled over each other, his accent thickened in his effort to convince her.
    ‘Do you want a website that’s fine and gets the job done or do you want one that’s a window into the very soul of Rafferty’s? You have no other stores anywhere—this is it. Your Internet business
is
your worldwide business and that’s where the expansion lies.’
    ‘What do you have in mind?’
    This was what made him tick, made his blood pump, the adrenaline flow—planning, innovating, creating. It was better than finishing a marathon, hell, sometimes it was better than sex. ‘A site that is visually stunning, one that creates the feel and the look of the store as much as possible. Each department would be organised by gallery, exactly