Max had pitched this bank because he thought their ads were stale and old-fashioned. He believed their image needed a face-lift, especially when two national banks with big budgets had opened branch offices in Port Clara in the past year.
He showed them some ideas for new logos, expertly drafted by Jane, and then some ad concepts featuring young, hip-looking people.
But those people dont look like our customers, the marketing manager complained.
Ah, but they could be your customers.
Older people are the ones with money, the woman pointed out.
True, but in a few years, younger people will be older, and theyll have money, too. When they start thinking about retirement funds, or college funds for the kids, wouldnt it be nice if they were already loyal to Coastal Bank?
But that logo, the older man complained. Its just too modern. I wouldnt trust a bank with a logo that would be more at home on the front of a video store.
Were certainly not married to that idea, Max said smoothly.
Jane cleared her throat. So what youre looking for is a logo that says, Were safe, were secure, weve been around a long time, but also something that says, Were progressive, were not stodgy or old-fashioned.
Max shot her a warning look, but she studiously avoided looking at him.
Well, yes, young lady, thats exactly right.
What if we took your current logo and modified it slightly. Keep the type, keep the colors, but clean up that ship and make it more abstract. Give everything a 3-D look.
Im not sure what you mean, the older man said uncertainly.
Jane whipped out her sketchpad, which she brought with her everywhere. Had she foreseen that the client wouldnt like Maxs concept?
She flipped to a page that already had the beginnings of her concept. When she and Max had discussed this, he had nixed the idea. She added a few lines to the drawing. He couldnt believe how quickly the logo took shape. Rough still, but easy to visualize the end result.
The banks team studied it. They studied it a long time.
Finally the older man looked up. I like this. You fix this up and put it in the new ads, and I think we can do business. Butthat kid with the beard. I dont want him in my ad.
Thats no problem, Max said. You can approve the models before we move forward.
There were handshakes all around. Max agreed to meet with the team again in a week, and he and Jane walked them to the door.
Once the door to the hallway was closed, Max took a deep breath. He waited until he was sure the bank people were safely on the elevator. Then he turned to a beaming Jane.
What the hell did you think you were doing back there?
Chapter Eight
Janes stomach plummeted. Here shed been feeling on top of the world, so pleased by the successful outcome of the meeting.
But one sharp word from Max, and she was crushed.
She straightened her spine. I was saving your bacon, what do you think I was doing?
Your instructions were to smile and nod.
I smiled and nodded for six years when I was married to Scott. Ive decided I wont do that anymore. Are you saying you wish I hadnt said anything? Because those three people were getting ready to bail. Youd lost them.
I hadnt lost them. Listen, I can persuade anyone to do anything. Its my gift.
So you think the right thing to do was persuade them to go with a logo they didnt like?
That bank needs to step into the twenty-first century.
Are you saying my ad doesnt do that? Its bold, its modern-
And I told you yesterday it wouldnt work.
But they like it, she argued.
My job isnt just to land accounts. My job is to create advertising that pulls in business.
Carol looked on from her desk, obviously fascinated.
Jane pushed up her sleeves. My logo is going to drive people away? Is that what youre saying?
You might know a lot about art, but you know nothing about marketing.
So educate me. What, in your expert opinion, is wrong with my logo?
Well, itsits too much like their old logo.
Jane took a step back. She walked to the coffeemaker and poured herself some in a foam cup, giving herself time to think. He was her boss, and she was obligated to do what he said. But he was also being pigheaded here.
I think you dont like it because you didnt think of it. You want to be the boy genius behind everything. Its why you didnt show KidznStuff the sketch I did with my own concept. You want to keep me in my place.
Whoa, girl, Carol said, a cautionary note in her voice.
Max stomped around the reception room. There wasnt much room to stomp, so he ended up right next to her again. The frond from an overhead Boston fern tickled his hair, and he brushed it away, annoyed. That is so utterly not true. I believe in teamwork.
Then why did you tell me I should just smile and nod during the meeting?
Carols jaw dropped. Max, you didnt really say that, did you?
Because each person on the team, Max said steadily, needs to work to their own strengths.
Fine. Ill stick to my colored pencils and I wont say a word. But dont ask me to any more meetings. Do you want me to work up that logo or not?
Were committed to it now.
I guess thats a yes.
Work it into the ads. Ill see if I can find some stock photos of young people without beards. Ill need it all by the meeting next week.
Yes, sir. She clicked her heels and stalked out of the room. Okay, maybe shed gone too far. He was the boss. He signed her paychecks. But she couldnt sit by and let that account slip out the door.
She wanted a career that allowed her to use her brain as well as her creativity. Shed thought Max valued her opinions. But apparently shed been wrong.
Maybe she would get to work on that portfolio for the agent. She would need the portrait thing to fall back on when Max fired her.
THAT WASNT PRETTY, Carol said, clearly amused.
Dont start on me. You didnt see it-she took over the whole damn meeting.
And that wounds your male ego.
Its not that. Its just
You landed the account. Arent you happy about that?
Sure, but now I have to deliver results. Im not sure I can.
Becausewhy, exactly?
He didnt know. Janes logo was fine. More than fine, it was good. She had sensed exactly what the client wanted, and shed delivered it in a way that should have made everyone happy.
So why wasnt he happy? Was it simply because theyd liked Janes idea better than his? Was he that shallow?
Im going to lunch.
Okay.
Maybe while Im gone you couldunruffle some feathers?
I can try, but she was pretty steamed.
Just dont let her quit, okay? I need her.
And he wanted her, worse than ever.
He thought about heading to Old Salts for a burger. But instead he called Reece. Want me to bring over some takeout?
Be still my heart. Sara has me eating so much salad and baked chicken its coming out my ears. Id kill for a greasy burger and fries.
Ill get us chicken sandwiches. He wasnt going to risk Saras wrath. Reece had been on the fast track to a heart attack before Sara had gotten hold of him, and Max wasnt going to be an enabler. He could probably stand to improve his diet, too, since it was his father whod had the heart attack a few years ago.
To what do I owe the honor of your presence? Reece asked a few minutes later. They were sitting at the B and Bs kitchen table, digging into their sandwiches. Youve been so wrapped up with work, weve hardly seen you.
Im trying to turn a profit. Its not going too well.
Sounds like something I should know about.
He couldnt meet Reeces steady gaze. I lost the KidznStuff account.
Damn.
But thats not what I came to talk about. I have a bigger problem than cash flow.
Reece looked confused. Is there a bigger problem than cash flow?
Jane.
Ahhhhhh. We all saw that one coming, dude. All of us but you, anyway. Did you cross the line?
No. I havent touched her. But its killing me. Seeing her every day, smelling her perfume or shampoo or whatever it is. And even if she didnt work for metheres Kaylee.
Reece nodded. He, if anyone, would understand. Hed been around during the Max and Alicia breakup fiasco. You dont want another Hannah situation on your hands.
Exactly. During the trip to Houston, when I was pretending that Jane and Kaylee were my familyit felt good. Incredibly good.
Really?
Of course Reece would be surprised. Max hadnt acted like a man ready to settle down, especially over the past few years. After Alicia he had played the field like a madman, never dating the same woman more than a month or two.
I could never see myself married to Alicia. But Jane is different.
So you might bend your no dating single moms rule for her?
He thought about Kaylee, about how shed pushed him away after shed seen him bring her father down. It still stung. How much worse would it be if they truly bonded and then things ended badly? I dont want to hurt Kaylee.
Its not like you to be fearful of risk. Cooper and I have spent half our lives pulling you back from the brink of one disaster or another because you are fearless.
Max pondered that as he sucked down the last of his root beer. Hed risked all of his personal wealth on a business venture. But one little blond girl and her mother scared him to pieces.
Even if I wanted to go for it, he finally said, I cant. Shes my employee. And dont tell me to fire her.
Find her another job, then.
I cant. I need her.
You could find another artist. Didnt you have three or four panting for the job a couple of weeks ago?
Jane is more than an artist. Shes brilliant with the clients. She comes up with concepts. I landed Coastal Bank today because of her.
Youve answered your own question, then. You cant date her.
I know that. Maybe hed just wanted someone else, someone he trusted, to confirm it.
Or maybe youre just using the boss-employee thing as an excuse because youre afraid.
Max didnt dignify that observation with a response.
Reece polished off his sandwich and wiped his mouth. Thanks for lunch.
Thanks for being a sounding board. I think.
Any time. What else can I do for you?
Can you get me an extension on my business loan?
I told you you spent too much on the remodeling.
I dont need a lecture, I need cash. Payroll is coming up. Ive hired two new account executives and a media buyer.
Ill try to get the extension. But you can always borrow a little from me or Coop.