I got lucky the other women didn’t flock to accompany me, and I managed to scurry around to the front and find a sheltered corner to check my phone. Dammit. It was Kate. I quickly returned her call and vowed I’d tell her I was officially on vacation for the next few days and couldn’t be disturbed.

“We have a huge problem,” she said quickly. “Remember consumers didn’t like the social media campaign?”

My heart beat faster. “Yes, but I fixed it before I left. He was happy with the revised ads.”

“Not anymore. Now he wants to scrap the entire campaign—not just social media. He’s insisting on a new option. Said our direction was too edgy.”

I sucked in a breath. “Are you kidding? He told us that’s what he wanted. Shocking. Sexy. Vintage Brooke Shields rolling around in front of the camera. We booked that new model who’s hot right now.”

“I know, but now he’s panicking and changed his mind. He wants classy. Less skin and youth—more elegance and movie-star focused. He nixed the hip-hop music.”

My brain began clicking furiously for other options. “Okay, get me all the notes and I’ll find time to brainstorm in the next few days. Tell Perry we can get him a new plan on Monday.”

“Fran, it’s too late. He wants it in twenty-four hours. Said he needs to make a decision ASAP.”

My breath felt trapped in my lungs. “Did you tell him I’m away?”

“Yes, but I told him you were on call and we’d give him what he needs. Let me pull in a few team members and pull an all-nighter if we need to. Adam and Layla can step up. I have some rough ideas—we can sketch some out and I’ll get them to you for approval.”

“No.” With a growing dread, I realized I had to do it. I couldn’t lose this account just because I’d decided to spend a few weeks in Italy. I knew exactly how to deliver a new campaign Perry would love, but I needed hours in a room alone with my laptop. Already, my mind spun with the possibilities now that I had to switch gears. “I’ll do it, Kate. You don’t know the jeans market and I need you full-time on the Lexi account. I can get it done with the time difference. You’ll have it in the morning.”

“Fran, this is ridiculous—let me get back to you. Sarah is fabulous with pivoting on a deadline and she’s got great ideas.”