He nods, but offers no clear response. No smile. No lifted brow. No fingers tapping along the coal-coloredtabletop.
Nothing.Rien. OrNiente…sincehe’s partItalian.
So, once again, I continue, internally praying the words spring out of my mouth as I melodically rehearsed this morning in the shower. There, I was confident this would all play out superbly. Everything sounds better in theshower.
Including pitches to lingeriedesigners.
“My vision forHC Magazine’sfirst advertising partner is of a brand that is not only chic and stylish, but a brand that is rich in form and elegance.CraveMelingerie isallthat. And more. We can pairCraveMepieces with some ofHaute Couture’s. A woman wearing a signature HC pant suit, and under the open blazer, aCraveMebustier. An HC sheer blouse, with a stylishCraveMebralette underneath it, forexample.”
An eyebrow liftemerges.
Yay, we are gettingsomewhere.
“Here’s the thing, Antonio. WithCraveMetrying to penetrate more of the international markets, this may be an ideal way to see that into fruition. I plan to launch the first edition in a fewweeks.”
He sits up tall in his seat before he asks, “And how much is the advertisingspace?”
André opens the file folder labeledHaute Couture Ad Space, removes the cost sheet, and slides it over to Antonio, who is now wearingeyeglasses.
He still looks yummy, by theway.
Antonio’s eyes breeze over the cost sheet, then he slides it back over to André, removes his eyeglasses, looks at me, and says, “I want four whole pages, the middle of the magazine, and my beautiful wife, Daniella, to be in charge of theshoot.”
My mouth flies open—awed by his quick response. “Uh, sure, that all seems quite reasonable”—I beam not only internally, but I’m pretty sure externally as well—“and Daniella is the one I had in mind to help spearhead this project. She’s got an impeccable eye, so yes, she can be in charge of theCraveMeshoot for the magazine. One more thing”—I raise my index finger—“are you okay withCraveMepieces being paired with HC’s for eachspread?”
Antonio looks to the ceiling for a brief moment before he says, “How about three pages with the HC/CM collaboration and then one page with a solo feature. I have a new campaign launching in a few weeks—the introduction of my men’s underwear line calledALLMe. I was planning to purchase a spread inAlpha Male Magazine,with someone who was named that magazine’s Most Eligible Bachelor of the Year, wearing a pair of the sexy men’sunderwear.”
André clears his throat. “I subscribe to that magazine. Love, love, loveit.”
Antonio looks at him and smiles. “Right.” He looks back at me. “Anyway, if you can agree to those terms, I say we have adeal.”
I’mOMGgiddy.CraveMe’smy firstrealadvertiser. And to have him debut his new lineALLMe? That is a dream bonus. I wonder who thisAlpha Male Magazine’smost eligible bachelor of the year is? I’ve never bothered reading that magazine. It’s not really mything.
“Absolutely. I’ll have my legal department draw up the contract and email it over to you thisafternoon.”
André grins and claps, then we all rise from our seats, exchanging handshakes.
Haute Couture Magazine.I didit!
