don’t want to waste time on a campaign that’s not even ours to begin with. It’s yours, Harris, and that pisses me off!” He fell silent and conducted his predictable ritual of shuffling papers. “So here’s the deal. An unbelievable pitch for UPS by the end of the week with storyboards. Got that, you two?”
“Yes, sir,” Nick answered.
“Got it!” Jerry responded, almost saluting. “If it means anything, we have gotten some good PR for our firm, sir.”
“We make PR for our customers, not ourselves. And I will not
have my employees telling me how to run my company!”
Nick and Jerry nodded their heads in unison.
“I might add, as pissed off as I am at the two of you, I hear you did pull off a pretty damn good show yesterday.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Jerry.
“Well, thank my wife. She’s the one who said it.”
“At this point, we’ll take a compliment anywhere we can get
one,” Nick rose from his chair. “Gotta get back to work.” “I mean it, you two. By the end of the week!”
“Got it!” repeated Jerry, closing the door behind him.
“I really hate that SOB,” said Nick. “I really think …” His thought was interrupted by Bella, announcing that an important call from a woman named Julia was waiting on hold.
“Julia? Who’s that?” “World News Tonight.”
“ABC? Oh, God, that’s just what I need.” “Want me to take a message?”
“No, I’ll take it. Just keep Bongero away from me.”
*****
Nick let out a big sigh following the ABC interview at St. Teresa’s. He unknotted his tie and tried not to appear as weary as he felt.
“You know, you’re really good at this stuff.” Shelly smiled and helped him with his tie. “Anybody ever told you that?”
“I’m the one who’s supposed to be behind the camera where you were, not in front of it.” She had watched the interview from the shadows of the conference room.
“You’re a better spokesperson than you think. It’s a gift.”