An Ocean Apart by Robin Pilcher

Author:Robin Pilcher
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Adult
ISBN: 9780751523898
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 1999-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter TWENTY

Sam Culpepper chucked the briefing document onto the boardroom table and sat back in his high-backed leather chair. He glanced down the table at the pensive looks on the faces of his two main account directors, who, in turn, stared at him in silence.

“Okay, so it’s not that big, but I really want us to win this contract.” He bent forward and picked up the cigar that was smouldering in the ashtray, and took a deep inhale of smoke. “Why? Because there are rumours that both Bates and Young and Rubicam have also gotten hold of this.” He slapped his hand down on the document. “… And it would be one hell of a feather in our caps if we got it. I’d make damned sure that Media Week found out about it anyway!” He let out a loud laugh which immediately gave way to a crackling cough.

Russ Hogan was the first to comment. “To be quite honest, Sam, I don’t think we stand a chance. We’ve never handled a liquor account before, let alone one based in the UK. I mean, the amount of research that we’re going to have to put into this is enormous. I really wonder if it’s worth it.”

Sam slowly nodded. He could have bet a hundred bucks down flat that it would be Russ who’d come out with such a statement. Granted he was a good account director and excelled in smarming up his clients, but more often than not this was counteracted by his ability to sound off on a subject without giving much thought to what he was actually saying—and here was a perfect example.

Sam pushed himself out of his chair and walked over to the window, dragging on his cigar as he stared down at the clogged traffic far below on Fifth Avenue. He turned and looked at Russ.

“I think you’re wrong, Russ. I think it is worth it.” He returned to the table, flicked ash off into an ashtray, and leaned on the back of his chair, swinging it from side to side. “It took us over twenty years to build up Culpepper Rowan to the size that it’s now, but I think we’ve hit a peak, and for the first time I’m concerned about the underlying strength—or should I say, lack of strength—of the company. Now, I may be wrong, but I think that we may have become just a little too complacent with the work that’s ongoing. Our accounts may be numerous, but the majority are small. We don’t have one big fish to fry.”

“You’re not trying to tell us that you think Tarvy’s Gin is a big account?” Russ interjected, rankled by Sam’s slanted accusation, and too thick-skinned to realize that it would be more diplomatic to allow his CEO to finish making his point. “I mean, you read out the UK sales figures just then, and I wouldn’t say they’re over-impressive. Okay, I grant you, these are probably indicative of the fact that it is

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.