“I know. Listen, I told him the team can handle it and that you’re on vacation, but he said if he doesn’t hear back from you personally, he’s walking. Layla and I are torn here. What do you want us to do?”

The rush of adrenaline and satisfaction hit me like a familiar buzz. I’d left my prospective partners in charge, and I was still the only one who could keep one of our staple clients. I’d earned his trust and he refused to work with anyone else.

It should have been a sweet victory. A reminder I’d been right all along—there was no way my company could remain the best without me involved in every step.

“I’ll call him now.”

“Call me right back,” Kate urged.

I charged into my bedroom and clicked open my laptop. Thank God the Wi-Fi connection was strong, and in minutes, I’d brought up his original campaign. I bet “more punch” meant he wanted edgier. He believed he could use sex to sell workout clothes, but I knew for a fact that would be a disastrous campaign. I needed to convince him to keep the flirty edge because women bought fitness outfits to feel good about themselves and get the job done—not to pick up guys for some hot sex.

Unbelievable. First, Perry wanting less sex to sell jeans. Now, Anthony wanting more sex to sell athletic wear. Both demanding new campaigns within twenty-four hours.

I needed to work with more damn women.

Groaning, I brought up my contact list and called. He picked right up. “Hi, Anthony, it’s Francesca. I heard from my team you’ve got some concerns about our campaign?”

He did. He laid them out in detail and basically said he wanted more skin, sexier models, and lots of water and sweat. Did he think we were filming a Flashdance movie? For God’s sakes, why had he suddenly changed his mind?

“Tony,” I said, using his nickname for bonding purposes. “I’m on your side. I want to sell your sportswear, but every test and statistic comes back with one result: women buy the clothes and they’re offended if it’s marketed to them like a pickup line. I’ve seen the sales numbers and they’re solid. Good engagement, steady growth. I’d be happy to freshen up some social media ads, though, if you’d like.”

“Well, tell that to Victor over at Sunny Days Marketing,” he said with a bit of stiffness. “Victor created an ad for their newest account and it’s blowing up everywhere. It shows a naked woman with roses covering her privates. I keep seeing it shared all over social media—it’s practically going viral. That’s what I want.”

“Your product is different. Victor is selling perfume and that’s where sex truly does sell.”