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30
Annie
“I’m so nervous.” I pace Enzo’s office.
“You’ll do great. I love the campaign.” He leans back at his desk, his fingers steepled in front of him.
“You know nothing about tampons.”
“I like the direct approach you took. It’s honest, which is different than anything out there right now.”
“Different isn’t always good.” I fall back onto his couch, picking up my notes and sketch pad. Enzo gave me little direction on the campaign, letting me carry it through all the way to the end.
He rounds his desk before sitting next to me. His hand lands on my knee. I pick it up and move it back to his side.
“We’re at the office,” I remind him.
Not that I hold it against him. It’s hard not to cross the line when outside of this building, we’re constantly touching and kissing. I’m actually impressed with us, but I don’t think Mr. Jacobson is going to grade on a curve for our willpower if we’re caught.
“Remember when I told you no excuses months ago?”
I nod.
“You’re going to go in that room with your shoulders back, head high like this is the best idea and you are the ass they need to kiss for delivering it to them.” He taps my sketchpad. “This is a great campaign. I can’t relate, but that’s okay, because it will speak to women. The testing group raved about the approach and laughed at the truthfulness of it.”
“But Coddle has wanted heartfelt for all their other products.”
He picks up the sketchbook, puts it on the table, and grabs my hands, squeezing harder when I try to retract them. “Relax. There’s nothing heartwarming about a woman sticking cotton up her vagina.” He tips his forehead to mine. “It’s a fact of life.”
I nod. He’s right. Why can’t I have an ounce of his arrogance?
“Listen, if it makes you feel better, I threw up before my first pitch. Twice.” He holds up his fingers. “But you’ve got me, and I’m your biggest cheerleader. I’ll be there, and if that doubt creeps in, look at me and think, he’s the most talented guy in the world, he’s a legend in advertising, and he thinks it’s a knock-out-of-the-park pitch.”
I laugh, wanting to be in his arms.
As though he reads my mind, he stands. “I have to go to the bathroom.” He walks into his small bathroom and leaves the door ajar.
I look out his door like an idiot. Everyone is busy on their computers. Following him, I shut the door behind me, and he opens his arms. I step into his embrace and feel all his words of encouragement in the strength of his shoulders and arms.
He rubs my back and kisses the top of my head. “You’re going to do great. I promise. You were made for this.”
I nod into his shirt, drawing back before I leave a makeup stain. “You want to hear something funny? Well, not funny, but…”
“If it means getting your mind off the campaign, I’m all ears.”
“My first day at work here, I walked into the bathroom and you were in there.”
He laughs and kisses my forehead. “I know.”
“You know? Why didn’t you say anything?”
He uses his body to cage me against the wall. “It’s not every day a gorgeous girl follows me into the bathroom and stares like she’s going to watch me pee. You remember that sort of thing.” His hands rub my hips.
“Why not say anything before now?”
“I’m sure it was embarrassing, and you’ve come so far from that girl who didn’t know what to say.”
My head falls to his chest, and he kisses the top of my head again.
