.
though she’d asked if he’d ever traveled off planet.
Iris’s eyebrows knitted in confusion. “You sell computer games. Your audience is on the internet. Anderson Adventures needs to get on the social media bandwagon—Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram—”
“Slow down.” Tyler held up a hand. “We don’t have the staff to maintain those sites.”
“I can get us started for now.” Iris watched him lower his hand. “We’ll discuss your hiring college interns to maintain the sites once I’m gone.”
“All right.” But he didn’t sound happy about it.
“You’re a computer gaming company.” Iris swallowed back her growing agitation. “It’s critically important for you to be active on social media. Your customers are there.”
“We’ve never had a marketing consultant tell us any of this before.” Tyler stared down at the meeting agenda as though it was a death warrant. “This partnership is going to change the company in ways I’d never imagined.”
“That’s a good thing.” Iris surrendered to her indignation. “Your previous marketing consultants should have set up your social media platforms. They should have given you a plan on how to run it. What were you paying them for?”
Tyler was silent for several rapid heartbeats. His ebony eyes searched each of her features as though he was looking for something. “You’re right. I’m glad you’re here, Iris.”
A slow blush warmed her cheeks. Iris’s unsteady gaze dropped. He was glad she was here for the product launch. She knew that’s what he’d meant. Then why did she want him to mean something more?
* * *
Tyler’s caller identification screen displayed Kimball & Associates’ phone number. So, his former marketing consulting firm had decided to return his messages. It was after five o’clock on Friday afternoon, more than a week after the proposal deadline.
Where had they been this morning, before he’d signed the contract with Iris—and barely survived their first project meeting? Better yet, where had they been a week ago, when he’d called to ask for their proposal? He swallowed a sigh and picked up the phone.
“Tyler Anderson.” His voice was tight.
“Ty! It’s Pete Kimball. How are you?”
“Fine, Pete. How can I help you?”
Peter must have keyed into Tyler’s cool tone. He pumped up the energy and enthusiasm in his voice as though hoping to break through the ice. “Hey, thank you for giving us an opportunity to submit a proposal for your launch. I’m getting ready to send it over to you now.”
Tyler rubbed his eyes. “It’s March twentieth. The deadline was more than a week ago.”
“I know, Ty. We’ve just been so lousy busy around here lately.”
“Is that the reason you didn’t return my messages? I left several.”
“Yeah, it’s just been crazy. I’m really sorry about that.”
“I’m sorry, too, Pete.” Tyler went back to the summary he was drafting on the latest test results for “Osiris’s Journey.” They were dismal. And he was running out of time. “There’s no point in your submitting a proposal. I’ve already awarded the contract.”
“You have?” Peter sounded stunned.
What had he expected, that Anderson Adventures would sit and wait forever for their proposal?
“Yes and we’ve signed a contract.” Tyler typed in the date and time of the next game test and recommendations for improvements. “As I explained in my request for your proposal, we’re on a very tight time frame for the launch. That’s one of the reasons I left so many messages for you.” Pity you never responded to any of them.
“I see.”
“Goodbye, Pete.”
“Wait! Do you mind if I ask who won the contract?”
Tyler hesitated but didn’t see any harm in telling Peter he was working with Iris. “The Beharie Agency.”
“Iris Beharie?” Peter sounded as though Tyler had contracted with an alien life form.
“Do you know her?”
“Yes, I do.” The consultant’s tone was grim. “Listen, Ty. There’s something you should know about her.”
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