"She totally trashed what we already had set up for the line. She suggested some sort of Beach Boy surfer theme. She may have even added cowboys. I don't know. All I know is that it’s not what this campaign needs." I didn't mention the part where she seemed to suggest that the campaign we already started was staid or stale, nor the part where I was concerned that maybe she was right. I could readjust the campaign on my own with the team we had and the new person we hired that wouldn't be Natalie.
"Having an infusion of new and different ideas could help," Ryan said. "And she needs to learn to be open to what we need as well. It’s called compromise, Hunter. It's called teamwork."
"I'm trying really hard not to resent you coming in here and telling me how to do my damn job. If you like Natalie so much, you hire her."
"I'm not trying to bust your balls, Hunter,"
I laughed derisively. "Really? Because that's exactly what it feels like. Do you ride Carter like this? How about Noah? If anybody could use their balls busted in this company, it's him. So why are you here?"
Ryan let out a long sigh. "Natalie has the skills, she's smart, she's creative—"
"And she's your wife’s, sister. Surely you can find another way to make your wife happy without thrusting her on me."
"Making Kellie happy is a nice side benefit, but not the reason I'm pushing for this. We don't have a lot of time and Natalie can do the job."
I scraped my hands over my face.
"We need this done soon, Hunter. You know we’re under a time crunch. Surely you can figure out a way to bring her on board, even if it's just for this one campaign."
"And what if she wants to stay and we continue to butt heads?"
Ryan arched his brow. "Do you really see her staying in a corporate situation?"
No, I didn't. "The thing is, even if I offer her the job, I doubt she'd ever take it." This I was sure of.
"So, you have to sweeten the deal for her."
"What the fuck, Ryan? I can't make her take a job she doesn't want." I wasn’t a miracle worker and to be honest I didn’t want her here. Why was that Natalie and my opinions on this didn’t matter?
"Maybe you can offer her something that will entice her to reconsider. All I'm asking is that you try." He stood.
"Before you ask if I interviewed her, well I did." I said, standing up as well.
"We need this done, Hunter. Get it done. Please." He turned and left my office. I had half a mind to quit my job and go ride motorcycles with Noah. But as much as I resented Ryan acting like he was the boss of the world, I knew that what he was saying was right. We were on a time crunch and we could use an infusion of new ideas. While I wouldn’t admit i
t to her, Natalie did have good skills and a mind towards marketing.
It felt wrong in every bone in my body as I picked up the phone to call Natalie. I prayed that she wouldn't answer.
But two rings in she picked up the line. "Are you calling to apologize to me Hunter Strong?"
I don't know how I managed it, but I kept the few choice words I had in response from spewing out of my mouth. "No, I've called to see if you will meet with me."
"No."
I wished I could accept that answer and hang up the phone. But I knew that Ryan would ride my ass again if I let it off all that easy.
"Let me buy you a meal and say what I have to say."
"I'm not interested in what you have to say."
I wanted for a moment, thinking maybe she’d hang up. Then I could blame her. But, she didn’t hang up.
"You don't know that, do you, because you haven't heard what I have to say. Let me buy you a meal because I think you're going to like what I have to say. If not, we part ways. No harm no foul." I pinched the bridge of my nose, willing the headache that was coming to stay away.
She was quiet for a moment and then she said, "I could always use a free meal.”
"Good. Meet me at Cesare’s at seven." Because there wasn't anything more to say, I hung up the line. I sat back in my chair and let out a breath. How was I going to work with this woman? I'd stroke out or have a heart attack before our time together was done. That's how much she agitated me.