Her Prada Cowboy: McCulloch County Series #1 (6 page)

Chris took a deep breath and glanced
at his cousin, who seemed extremely relaxed.

“That would be quite a prize, Miss
Davis.  What guarantee do I have I will reap any benefits from such a
competition?”

“Everyone has to purchase the sector
that we segregate specifically for the smaller groups.  I have already put out
some feelers.    I have not come across one firm, big or small, that is not
excited about the release of your new systems.  The teaser campaign we have
been running for the past two months, has caused quite a stir in the Industry. 
The de facto is, you being seen as the one that share his passions and skills
of Architecture with everyone.”

She has been walking back and forth in
front of the desk as she spoke and winced every time she turned around.  The
man on the screen cleared his throat.  His voice even raspier than before.

“Are you okay, Miss Davis?  You seem
to be in pain?  Do you need a pain tablet by chance?”

She cursed, feeling the dark blush
spread over her cheeks.  Drat the man!  Hopefully he could not see the effect
his question had on her.

“Ehm … I’m fine, thank you.”

He asked a number of questions,
specific to the advertising campaign, which areas she proposed to segregate and
her cost projection.

She showed him detailed spreadsheets
and another presentation she prepared specific in regard to the segregation. 
She wanted to be prepared if he was interested in pursuing it.  Now she was
glad she did.

Jarrod was immensely impressed with
Shannon.  She was thoroughly prepared and was clearly a specialist in marketing
campaigns of this nature.  Her knowledge on the overall software program
impressed him the most.  The areas she suggested they segregate were exactly
the ones that flashed through his mind when she first suggested it.

She was most definitely a lot more
than just his doll face!

“Who do you propose will head up the
project here in Houston, Miss Davis?”

“Damien here, is the sector manager
and he will be in charge.”

“Hmm … that might have to change.”

“I can assure you he is more than
capable.”

“I am sure he is, but you need to
understand, Miss Davis.  This is a multimillion project we are discussin’ here
and I want the best.”

Shannon sat down with trepidation
running down her spine.  She was afraid she knew what was coming.

“I am well aware of that, Mr. Parker,
but with my assistance from LA, Damien will be …”

“Is there a reason why you can’t do it
yourself, Miss Davis?”

“I … ehm … I live in LA and head up the
Global division.  I can’t possibly drop everything and move here for a year. 
But again …”

“I understand.  I need to think about
this.  My understandin’ from your CEO was that all my requests will be given
serious consideration.  I want you runnin’ the campaign from here.  I suggest
you start considerin’ that possibility.”

“I … you want me to do it from here?”

“Yes.  David, please ensure I receive
the full proposal and files Miss Davis just discussed.  You and I can discuss
this further in the mornin’.  I’ll be there around ten.  Mr. Stuart and Miss
Davis, thank you for your time.  I appreciate all the work you have put into
the project to date.  I trust it was not all in vain.  I expect a phone call
from your CEO before the end of the week, Miss Davis.”

The veiled threat was clear.  Either
she moved here and head up the project, or they lose the opportunity.

Damn the man!  I have responsibilities
and a job that entails running an International Division.
 

Shannon, let’s not forget that just
this morning you had thoughts about being willing to give up just that for a
certain Prada Cowboy!

This is different!

How exactly?

Shannon seriously considered firing
her conscience.  She was becoming highly annoying.

Shannon
went directly to the airport after the meeting.  Still highly annoyed at the
damn Billionaire, Jarrod Parker.  The audacity of the man.  He reminded her of
one certain Cowboy that annoyed her to no end as well.

She took a seat in the first class lounge
and sighed when her cell phone rang.  She took it out and looked at the
flashing name with a wry smile. 

“You are becoming an annoyance!”

“So much so that you saved my number.”

“Only so that I am prepared.”

“I assume the meetin’ did not go as
planned.”

“Let’s just say I came across another
demanding, self-absorbed Texan!  He reminded me quite a lot of you.”

“Parker can be quite demandin’.”

“I see you left yourself out.”

“Me self-absorbed?  Never!  Besides, I
am not a full blood Texan … nor is he for that matter.”

“You seem to know a lot about him.”

“Ehm … our paths have crossed once or
twice.”

“Don’t you have some cows to milk or
something?”

“Cows?”

“Or … cattle?”

“On a horse breedin’ farm?”

“Well don’t you have some horsey thing
to do instead of wasting my time?”

 “Nuhuh … I am sportin’ a slight
headache this mornin’.  Can’t seem to stand the sun.”

“You mean you have a hangover?”

“You are damn clever, doll face.”

“So … did you also indulge in some
other … activities?”

“Such as?”

Shannon gnashed on her teeth.  Anger
shivered down her spine.  She still battled to walk normally and he was already
going around …

“Where did you go?”

“I took Noah and Dan out for some grub
and we ended belly up at the bar.”

“Noah is a very nice man.  You should
send him my regards.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I ask you to.”

“Like hell I will.  He’ll up and
suppose you have the hots for him … then I’ll have to box his ears for him.

“Why?

“Because the only one you are allowed
to have the hots for, is me, doll face.”

“You do realize I am at the airport on
the way back to LA?”

“Yeah, I figured as much.”

“Therefore I sincerely doubt we will
be seeing each other again.”

“Oh, doll face.  I have no doubt in my
mind that you will be back … and a whole lot sooner than you think.  Enjoy the
flight.”

Shannon stared at the phone. Two men
who seemed to think they have the right and moreover the ability to pull the
strings of her future.

I
have news for both of them!  I am a city slicker, a Corporate chick and I will
not be bullied by two … burly Texans!  

A
week later, Shannon was not so sure anymore.  She knew that Gregory Bart, the
CEO of Global Media received a phone call from Jarrod Parker earlier in the
day.  She has seen the Operations, Communications and Human Resources Directors
go to his office immediately thereafter.  They only left two hours later.

She sighed and forced her attention
back to the discussion her team was having on the project plan for Perfecto
Architects.  They were in the middle of a debate on the time span for the next
teaser shot, when Daphne, Gregory’s executive assistant walked in.

“I am sorry to interrupt.  Shannon,
Mr. Bart would like to see you now, please.”

She excused herself and walked briskly
to his office.  Her face and body tense. The fact that it was the CEO and not
her immediate Communications Director that called her, gave her a fairly good
idea on what was coming.

“Shannon, I am sorry for interrupting
your meeting, but this is very important.”

She nodded and took the chair he waved
her to.  He cleared his throat and looked down at some notes on his iPad.

“I want to thank you once again for
the fantastic job you did at Perfecto Architects.  Jarrod Parker was very
impressed and is prepared to sign the contract.   He … has some provisos
however. He said he already made it clear to you that he wanted you to head up
the campaign in Houston.  Why did you not mention it to us?”

“Because I was hoping he would change
his mind after he worked with Damien for the week.”

“Well, he hasn’t.  He has now made it
a definite condition on signing the contract.”

“You are not serious?”

“I’m afraid I am.  We’ve had a very
long discussion around this issue, Shannon.  It is not something we would ever
give in to, but you know yourself, it is a multimillion dollar contract for
us.  He is even prepared to add an additional clause for an extension every
three years.”

“What are you saying, Mr. Bart?”

“We want you to transfer to Houston
permanently.”

“Permanently!  Why?”

“With this contract, it will open many
new doors for us in that area. We have not managed to service the whole of
Texas from our Dallas offices.  We want you to open and head up the Houston
office for us.”

Shannon stared at him with a gaping
mouth.  Good Lord!  She never thought to reach such a level in her career at
her age.  She was only twenty eight.  In the Media industry that never happens
until you’re close to forty!

“What happens if I don’t agree to head
up the project?”

“He’ll find another agency.”

“But that is ridiculous!  We are the
best and he knows it.  That is why he approached us in the first place.”

“Yes, and now he wants the best
Campaign Specialist to head it up.  It is not that uncalled for,  Jarrod Parker
did not get where he is today by sitting on his laurels waiting for success to
come to him.  He is a hard, but highly professional business man.  Anyone that
ever had dealings with him knows, you either give him what he wants, or you
lose out.  He does not ask.  He demands.”

“May I ask you this Mr. Bart?  Had he
not demanded I head up this project, would you have considered offering me a
Regional Branch Manager position at this stage?”

Gregory Bart pressed his lips
together.  Shannon Parker was a brilliant Campaign Manager.  She was very
clever and thought out of the box.  Every single project she has ever worked on
has been a success and brought them millions.  He sighed heavily.

“Shannon, I am going to be honest with
you.  This business is hell out there, even for the best of us.  You are
brilliant at what you do and have added tremendous value to this Company over
the years.  Could I honestly say I believe you are ready to start up and run a
region?  No … not yet.  Purely because you have not had the exposure to full
operations as yet.  I know once you do, given a two or three year’s mentorship,
hell yes.  Then I would not hesitate.  But we need this now, and I am willing
to take the change.”

“But I am not.”

“What are you saying, Shannon?”

She sighed and ran her hand through
her long, loose hair.

“I know I am not ready, Mr. Bart, even
though I would have loved the challenge.  I am not prepared to take two steps
back in my career should I fail.”

“If you say no to Jarrod Parker, we
lose the contract, Shannon.”

“I … am not saying no … yet.  May I
please have tonight to think about this?  You are asking me to uproot my whole
life.  Leave my family and friends behind to go and live thousands of miles
away.”

“Of course, but he expects an answer
tomorrow before the end of business.”

She nodded and walked back to her
office in a haze.  She expected to be asked, she never expected to be forced to
go!  She read between the lines of what Gregory Bart said very, if they lost
the contract because she refused to relocate, they would have no further need for
her.

Shannon went home just after four. 
She stopped at her sister’s on the way and was delighted to see her four month
old baby girl.  She cooed and played with her and as always, longed for one of
her own.  She was nearing thirty, had no man in her life, might either be
jobless or heading to Houston - where she knew no one.  The chance  of  having
a baby of her own anytime soon, appeared bleak.

“What’s the matter, Nonnie?”

Shannon smiled when she used the same
name Rosa called her.  Dear, sweet Rosa.  Rosa whose boy Jay has stopped
calling her.  The last call she had from him was when she was at the airport. 
It seemed he found someone else he had the hots for.  A band squeezed around
her heart and she bit her lip.  Who knew it would hurt so much?  She hardly
knew him … scrap that … she did not know him … at all!

“I might be permanently transferred to
Houston.”

“What!  No!  You can’t leave!  Not
permanently!”

“I’m afraid I might not have a choice. 
Apart from that, it is a terrific opportunity.”

She quickly filled her in and Sheila
was angry alongside her.  They have always been very close.  Well, that was no
surprise.  Twins usually were.  They were not identical twins, but they had
similar features, were the same height and built, but Sheila was blond with
green eyes.

“Have I told you that Mom now lives
somewhere in Texas?”

“No, I did not know that.  Sheila, you
know I have not seen or spoken to Mom since we turned … eighteen.”

“But I though … she always talks about
you.  How much she misses you!  The two of you need to sort out your issues!  It
is ridiculous that you fought over a break-up with a boyfriend.”

“I told you, she was looking for an
excuse to alienate me.  You know she has always pushed me away, even when we
were younger.  I just could not do anything right.  I don’t know, I always felt
as if she resented me, hated me even.  That last fight, the things she said …
I’m sorry, but she made it clear I was no daughter of hers. She expected me to
marry Thomas, even though we were still children ourselves and he cheated on me.
When I refused, she totally ripped into me.  Called me immoral, useless and accused
me of having no honor.  She said that I destroyed any good memories she had of
Dad with my actions.”

“What did she mean by that?”

“I have no idea.  She seemed spaced
out.  She had been drinking and took some pills as well. She … well, let’s just
say that was the end of our relationship.

The distress, hurt and pain still
throbbed inside her.  Her mother tried so hard all the time she was growing
up.  But once their Dad passed away, she changed.  It was as if she resented
Shannon for his death.

“When did she move to Texas?”

“She got married.”

“She what?”

“Yes.  I was just as shocked and we
are on very good speaking terms.  She invited us to the wedding, but it was on
the same weekend as Beatrice’s baptism. I spoke to her last night.  They’re off
on a trip somewhere.  She asked about you.  I got the impression that she misses
you.”

“Yeah … she has always given that
impression. Let’s be honest, Mom wants you to be happy and would tell you what
you want to hear.”

“I know.  Maybe her new husband is the
cause of the change in her.  She seems a lot more open and loving since she met
him.”

“Good for her.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.  I will miss you guys
so much.  I don’t know if I have the strength to go and only see you all once
or twice a year.”

They sat in silence for a long while
until Shannon eventually got up to leave.  Sheila hugged her tight.

“I will support you, no matter what
you decide.  If you go, we will make a plan to come and visit often.  We will
get through this, sis.  We’ve always managed … you and me.  We might even move
to Dallas or Houston.  Things aren’t going so well for William at work.   They
are talking about layoffs.  I get so mad!  He is a brilliant Architect, but
everywhere he goes, they say his ideas are just too modern and out of the box.”

Shannon smiled at the sudden thought
that flashed through her mind.  Maybe, just maybe there might be a solution. 
Apart from Sheila and her family there was nothing to keep her in LA.  If they
could all go …

The moment she got home she contacted
Perfecto Architects and asked to speak to Jarrod Parker.  His executive
assistant answered and buzzed Jarrod.

“Jarrod, Miss Davis from Global Media
is on the line.  Are you available?”

Jarrod’s heartbeat increased and he
took a deep breath.  He pushed his chair back so the he sat a distance from his
phone.  He did not want her to recognize his voice.  Ronda transferred the call
and he pressed the speaker phone button.

“Miss Davis.  What a surprise.”

“Somehow I doubt that Mr. Parker.”

“Ahh, you had a discussion with your
CEO it seems.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I believe I explained my reasons well
enough to Gregory Bart, Miss Davis.”