Page 93 of Breaking All The Rules
“I…” Bea’s heart hammered so loudly through her ears, she could barely hear herself talk. “I don’t know what to say.”
Kim grinned. “Yes would be nice.”
A few months ago, this would have been everything Bea had ever wanted. Back before she knew better, before she knew there was a life outside advertising. Sure, she’d had a great time dabbling this past month, but running one ad campaign for one product was one thing—being solely responsible for multiple campaigns was another entirely.
Was she up to it? Could she do it? And where did that leave her art?
Wait…Bea blinked. Her what now? Where the hell had that come from? She was being offered something far more concrete and tangible, far more her, and she was worrying about something completely intangible. Something not her.
Cranky Bea had been an enjoyable distraction when she’d made her giant leap into the unknown. Fun and frivolous. Like a holiday fling. But vacation time was over.
Shaking off the anxiety those two words—her art—had caused, Bea forced herself to get back on track. “And the others? Nozo and Mal, they’re on board with this, too?”
Kim nodded enthusiastically. “Mal said if I didn’t persuade you to join us, he was going to go into a year of mourning.”
“Oh, Kim.” This was just too damn big. “I’m not sure—”
Kim raised her hands in a placatory manner, cutting Bea off. “I know this isn’t the kind of corner office you craved. I know we’re not Jing-A-Ling. But think about it, Bea. You’ll be getting in on the ground floor with us, we’re on the cusp, and we want you to come with us. We want Greet Cute to be up there challenging Hallmark’s supremacy, and we want you to help us build that. You’d be part of creating something, not just helping maintain the status quo.”
Kim’s enthusiasm and belief in her company were not only palpable but justified as she went into detail about what exactly they were offering. Bea didn’t think for a moment that Greet Cute wouldn’t be the powerhouse Kim was portraying. And she couldn’t deny that was exciting.
Except…there was Credence. And Austin.
She opened her mouth to decline, but, as if she could sense the answer, Kim jumped in first. “Look, don’t give me an answer yet, okay? Take the night, think about it. The money’s good, the team’s great, the challenge is exciting. And we want the best damn ad executive in LA to be part of it all.”
Bea gave a half laugh. Kim sure knew how to both turn a screw and flatter at the same time. But the thing was, she wasn’t in LA anymore. “I don’t need the night,” Bea said. “I’m sorry, Kim, but the answer is no.”
“Oh, Bea, really?”
She nodded. “Really. I’m sorry. And I’m very flattered. I can’t thank you enough for the offer, but I like my life right now.”
“Come on, Bea,” Kim cajoled. “I know you. You must miss the energy of a new ad campaign. I’ve been watching you this week and, pardon the pun, but you’ve been buzzing.”
Bea laughed. “Yes. I’ve enjoyed it very much.” It would be so easy to step back into her corporate shoes. “And I am tempted. But…I line dance now. And I’m learning how to ride a horse.”
And Austin…
But no. She couldn’t let him be a reason. She couldn’t let a man be a reason to not take a job. Or to take a job, either, for that matter. This had to be about her. She and Austin were not officially anything. He was ten years younger than her, for crying out loud. Sooner or later, some pretty young thing was going to come along and turn his head and she was going to be toast.
Old toast.
Her decision to decline this offer had to be based on how much she liked the new life she’d carved for herself. And she liked it very, very much.
“Well.” Kim laughed. “I guess line dancing and horses are hard to compete with.”
Bea knew Kim didn’t understand. She wouldn’t have understood a few months ago, either. But Credence was…home now.
It was where she wanted to be. Right?
…
Bea didn’t bother to tell Austin on the phone that night about the job offer. What was the point when she hadn’t taken it? She’d tell him tomorrow when she got home and she was wrapped around his body and he could see she’d chosen Credence.
Then they could laugh about the crazy turns of her life.
Still, as she walked through the deserted open space of Greet Cute early on Friday morning to get a head start on the things she needed to do before she caught her plane, there was an undeniable kernel of temptation. Maybe there always would be any time she was sucked into the orbit of LA, because LA was advertising for her and she’d loved her job.
But there was something about here, about Greet Cute’s office, that was extra tempting. The kind of place she’d never imagined existed when she’d been cloistered behind the high-rise steel-and-glass of her old-school ad agency. The kind of place that reeked of inclusion and collaboration and diversity. It was evident in the people from all walks of life who worked here. And in every potted plant, every piece of funky art and stick of modern furniture.
