A Whirlwind...Makeover. Nancy Lavo

Paul said, “show me what you’ve got.”

      Unfazed by the curt command, Colton grinned. “Ahh. A man who knows how to cut to the chase. I like that. Let’s talk shoes.”

      For the next forty-five minutes Colton was in his element. He paced, he gestured, he varied the pitch and intensity of his voice like a seasoned evangelist. When the formal presentation was over and he opened the floor for questions, he fielded each with dazzling competency. Even the most hardened critic would have to admit he was amazing. Maddie had to sit on her hands to keep from breaking into applause.

      “So, Paul,” Colton said at last, “when can we implement this new campaign?”

      Paul, whose noncommittal expression hadn’t varied since Colton began, looked to his two colleagues then rose to his feet. “I’m sorry. It didn’t grab me. I think we’ll have to pass.”

      Maddie couldn’t hear Colton’s response for the roaring in her ears. They’d just lost Swanson Shoes. Her father and Jack had built Cue Communications from the rock-solid foundation of the Swanson Shoe account. The two companies had been together since the beginning. And now they were ready to call it quits.

      Without being aware of moving, Maddie stood. She heard herself saying, “Not knowing the direction you wanted to take, we took the liberty of preparing another approach. Perhaps our alternate campaign will be more to your liking.”