The Prescription Playboy

By Grayson Reyes-Cole

Mix a little chemistry with a dash of publicity and love is in the air.

Huntington Lewis, a smart, sexy, PR phenom, is trying to land the account of her life with pharmaceutical company Med Solutions. When the devastatingly attractive CEO, Kevin Carter, makes an enemy of a very important FDA inspector, Huntington flies to the rescue the playboy chemist.

With suspicious expiration dates and a poor image with the 36-55 female demographic, Kevin is sinking fast. All of Huntington's skills are needed as the duo battle their way to love, in spite of the paparazzi, old flames, focus groups, and family.

34,000 Words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lyrical Press
• Release date: Dec 21, 2009
• ISBN: 9781616501037

Book preview

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/

To Pam Skochinski – Thanks for your help on this project.

Chapter 1

Huntington Lewis’s nerves were snapped. Snapped and crackled and popped. They were frayed. They were more than frayed they were—her eyes sprang open, and she let out a very unladylike growl of frustration.

All Hunny knew was that she was exhausted, and she was rambling in her head in a silent but aggressive mutter. Lying back as far as her office chair would allow, she flung her arms out wide and stared at the ceiling. Slowly, she shifted pressure from one foot to the other gently swinging herself in the chair. Her mouth moved to the questions in her mind. Why? How? When? That one she could answer: eight months and four days ago. That was when she had accepted the assignment to a new account.

Now she was sitting in her office all day long waiting, just waiting, for The Client to call her back. That’s what everyone at Gentry & Associates Advertising had come to call the multi-million dollar pharmaceutical company they’d been courting for some time: The Client. The biggest account she’d managed since being promoted to Strategic Account Executive—a fancy title for elevated Sales Rep—this was Huntington’s baby. Unreal. Seven months, she’d been attempting to land this account for G&A. Since then, she had completed one small project after another, changed this, modified that. She ate, slept, and drank this account to the exclusion of all else, which would have been fine… in her old job. Now she was supposed to sell, and so far she hadn’t sold a thing.

Whatever the exasperating client wanted, she produced, all with the hope of getting a long-term contract and moving on to something new. There was an entire award-winning staff chomping at the bit to get their hands on Med Solutions. They were paid well to execute Hunny’s vision. That was the way it should have happened. She should have done some mockups, landed the contract, and moved on. But oh no, this client seemed to want this project to drag out forever, and Hunny was wondering if she would ever stop feeling like a child with its head trapped between the rails on a staircase.

She was pretty sure she would be deemed clinically insane before it was all said and done. She was convinced of it. That last round of meetings to select a new logo for the company had left her boiling mad and with a stress rash on her neck. Even in her dreams, she found herself painstakingly selecting and submitting options only to have them all summarily rejected. She never wanted to see another Med Solutions emblem on a letterhead, an envelope, or a sticky note again. And, even when they had selected the emblem, there had been an entire jury elected to decide whether to emboss or not to emboss. She had thought herself a perfectionist before this company had come into her life; she didn’t think it anymore.

Hunny, at one point, told her boss she wanted him to bring in someone else to close the deal. They had at least three awesome sales reps who could do the job. That way, she could succeed at what she did best. She would gladly run around like a chicken with no head each time Med Solutions asked for something new. She would—as she always had—tailor her entire life to the beck and call of clients as long as she didn’t have to—shudder—schmooze. Why Arthur had ever thought she’d be successful at this was beyond her.

One day, while on a long torturous conference call, Huntington had taped a paper napkin to a pen and waved the white flag. Arthur had just laughed and carried on as if she weren’t in mortal danger.

Kill me now, she groaned to herself as she swayed dejectedly in her chair, her head lolling back against the headrest. It was her own fault. She’d let Arthur sucker her into thinking she needed more, she needed to progress in her career. At that point, it seemed like a good idea to put her short-waisted, wine colored blazer over her head. It was warm and smelled nice, and Hunny could pretend for a moment that she was home in bed. Why had she let the man talk her into this?

Think of the devil. Arthur Gentry knocked lightly then proceeded into Huntington’s office. Hunny lowered her blazer and watched warily as he sauntered in. Arthur was a fiftyish gentleman who had been born and raised in London, though his father had been a transplant from Zimbabwe and his mother a globe-trotting Swede. He could easily have been described as a distinguished gentleman with his deep-voiced, British eloquence. It didn’t hurt that he sported a complexion of browned cream and had dark curling hair laced with attractive silver streaks. His comforting dark gray eyes were lazy and frequently described as bedroom by other women in the firm. Huntington had often tried to see it and failed, though she could not deny he was handsome.

As usual, he was impeccably dressed in a black, tailored Italian suit. Beneath it, he wore a deep blue shirt making his eyes even more vibrant over his patrician nose and flat lips. He slipped one hand in a pant pocket, and purposefully struck a nonchalant pose like a bored model. Though he refuted the charge that he was a snooty Brit, Arthur Gentry’s main characteristic was that he was unimpressed and looked it.

They haven’t called yet? Even his voice, a lilting tenor with an atrociously proper British accent, seemed wholly blasé.

Of course not, Huntington answered dryly.

Now, now, Ms. Lewis, Arthur admonished. That’s our client towards whom you’re directing those derogatory tones.

Arthur, Huntington implored in a voice that sounded a whole lot like a whine. For some reason, her boss wanted everyone to call him by his first name though he called all of them by their surname. These people are driving me crazy. The guys in Finance and Accounting are no longer taking bets on how long it’s going to take to land this account. Now it’s ‘How long before Hunny snaps?’ It’s embarrassing. I am not cut out for this, Arthur. No one takes this long to close an account. I’m still doing all the work anyway so why can’t we just forget this sales business? I’m waiting for you to come in here and fire me any day now. I can just see it now, ‘How’s it going today Ms. Lewis? Don’t you think three years is a little long to be closing a deal, Ms. Lewis? I’m sorry. I’m going to have to let you go, Ms. Lewis.’

Patience, Ms. Lewis, Arthur told her. Huntington huffed and rolled her eyes. Seven months is nothing. Perfectly respectable for an account this size. I’ve asked you to rely on the team to do most of the design and individual projects, but you’re the one who won’t let go.

Yeah, so don’t you think that means my heart is in the work, not the sales?

I know all too well where your heart is, Hunny. But I believe this business should be yours one day. If you don’t learn all aspects of it, how will you run it?

And there it was. That’s what had brought her to Gentry and Associates, what had kept her there, and what would keep her trying to get this new position. Like a proud and attentive father, Arthur had faith in her, he supported her, and he wanted her to learn as much about the business as possible. He respected her enough to want her to follow in his footsteps, and having a man treat her that way in business had been something Hunny had not experienced before.

Arthur tried to reason with her. Contract negotiation should go quickly since you’ve primarily lined out everything they want already. Besides, I think we’re in our final decision-making stage, and we’ve already had one red-lined copy of the agreement. Once you meet with the client on some outstanding items, it should be a piece of cake.

I regularly burn cakes.

Don’t get cheeky, Ms. Lewis, Arthur warned. Kevin Carter can’t say enough about the work you’ve done to date. I have no reason to believe we are in any danger of losing this opportunity.

That name. It sent a chill up her spine and down it again. That chill turned into a full on shudder. Huntington didn’t know why, but every time she heard the name Kevin Carter, she felt that way. She had always been shy around new people, but she’d never truly been intimidated by the people she helped on a daily basis and most were VIPs at some incredibly influential companies. Still, that name…

Arthur watched her with an eyebrow raised, so she rushed on, I can’t help it. This is taking too long. Please, please, Arthur, let me go back to Operations. I’m unfit to sell. I can recognize my own weakness. She clasped her palms in the desperate gesture of pleading.

Not at all possible, Ms. Lewis, Arthur answered, picking up an amber paperweight from her desk and testing it in his hand. Besides, they like you. They send you Christmas cards and fruit baskets and tickets to the Opera in Paris. By the by, I still don’t understand why you didn’t go. As we are providing a service and attempting to woo them, it is truly our duty to treat them—

They can’t accept gifts from vendors, she pointed out.

Arthur ignored her. And let us not forget, they have paid us generously for the various projects you have already completed. The contract will soon be a moot point.

Contracts are never a moot point, she returned mimicking his accent and the very way he’d said the same thing to her on many occasions before. Arthur smiled, acknowledging the quip. Hunny’s eyes grew wide for a moment as something he said finally registered. Did you just say final meeting? Carter is ready to sign this thing? Arthur nodded. Huntington breathed a little easier. She rolled her eyes toward heaven and sighed. Please let this be it.

Kevin Carter was the CEO of Med Solutions and frequently referred to as The Chemist in tabloids. Sometimes that was coupled with ‘international playboy’, but always The Chemist because of his amazing history as a pharmaceutical genius. Hunny had yet to meet the man who’d requested her services in the first place. That was perfectly normal. She didn’t typically meet CEOs anyway. Usually public relations people, communications specialists, image consultants, marketing directors were the sort of people with whom she spent her time, and who made decisions. The problem was that Carter wasn’t that kind of CEO. He’d set up standing conference calls with her and wanted final word on even the smallest of projects. Extremely hands on. Truth be told, Huntington had enjoyed working with him, over the phone at least. She’d found him to be smart and funny and approachable. And… damn it, she’d come to kind of like him. Which was a very bad thing. She tried to remind herself that although he did seem like a great guy professionally, in every magazine or in spots on the entertainment channel, he was something altogether different. Could he really be that attractive in person?

She groaned and uncrossed her legs. None of it makes any sense, and I guess that doesn’t matter. Her thoughts were traveling down a very, very bad path. And that was a problem, too. She hadn’t even met the man. Yet, as of late, she had found herself obsessing over him. Hunny needed to get over this inexplicable mini-infatuation she was developing. Maybe this was a result of the whole sales thing. Maybe she felt this strange attraction because this process really was a little bit like courting. I’m going home, Arthur. As soon as Med Sol lets me know the travel arrangements, the time frame, and how much material they want presented, I’m outta here. I’ve got a million things to do.

The first of which is taking a breath, Ms. Lewis, Arthur admonished.

If only, Huntington breathed as she reached to answer her phone. Gentry and Associates, this is Huntington. She listened for a moment and her brow creased slightly before she hung up.

What is it, Ms. Lewis? She heard what sounded like concern from above her.

My good friend Gina Morrow was shrieking at me. Seeing as I am not of the canine persuasion and her pitch was rather high, I didn’t quite catch it all. There is obviously something up. I’m going to Tampa. She answered without moving.

Yes, I thought that was the plan, Ms. Lewis. Though dead pan and serious sounding, the man had humor in the air around him. Certainly no need for dramatics.

Now. Hunny narrowed her bright gaze at him.

Now?

* * * *

Now.

Arthur knew better than to say another word to her or to let her see his grin. Instead, he turned and headed out of the office tossing a, Good Luck, over his shoulder. That was a statement born more from habit than true sentiment. Huntington Lewis knew what she was about.

From the very beginning, he had been amazed by her work. Ms. Lewis had a way with preserving the integrity and history of a company, yet providing a campaign that was vibrant and youthful. After her five years with the company, Gentry & Associates was actively sought out by established companies struggling to maintain and grow their market share in the Cyber Age. This had established G&A as more than just an ad firm. Still, this company, Med Solutions, was different. It was less than ten years old, already a Fortune 1000 company, and growing faster each day. It was Ms. Lewis’s job to provide them with a stable, professional image. She’d pounced on the job from the very beginning, seeking a new challenge. Unfortunately, that desire to grow had somewhat backfired. She’d expanded her knowledge base, certainly, however she’d also shrunk her portion of sanity. Still, Ms. Lewis persisted in her genius, and Arthur knew that wouldn’t change.

* * * *

Huntington had lived in Alexandria, Virginia, for the past three years. She’d liked the city because it reminded her of her hometown in Alabama, and she could get away from the hustle and bustle of life in Washington D.C. whenever she needed the quiet. Which was why any resident in the row of neat townhouses would have been shocked to see the low-key, amicable all-around good neighbor at that very moment.

She stomped around in her townhouse mumbling to herself about the injustice of client-vendor relationships. She packed exactly one suit, one set of traveling clothes, one additional pair of shoes, and one change of underwear. This trip was not going to take more than one day. She was absolutely certain this trip was not going to take more than one day. This was not going to take more than one day. Huntington exhaled raggedly. This was going to take more than one day.

Gina had been downright vague when discussing her return flight. She didn’t like that. Weekends. That’s what Gina Morrow told her. They were more than willing to pay her travel back on weekends if need be. If—as Arthur had reassured her—they were in the final stages of negotiation, why would she need to be in Tampa long enough to come home on weekends?

And just how much of that time would be spent with Kevin Carter?

Hunny strode back to her closet and packed enough clothes for two weeks...or two months. She packed a formal, a swimsuit, and country club wear. Then she studied her overstuffed bag and frowned. She started taking the additional clothing back out. In mid-stride back to her closet, Hunny turned and threw the clothes back in her bag. Hunny repeated this ritual until she threw the clothes in the middle of the floor and screamed. In a mark of frustration, she fell back on her bed and lay down with her hands over her eyes.

Maybe a few breathing exercises would calm her nerves. She breathed deeply and tried to focus on the vacation she was going to take to the islands once all this was over. Unfortunately, she couldn’t remember for the life of her what that silly yoga instructor had told her last month. Arthur had suggested she start the class when he found her yelling at the copy machine for being uncooperative. She’d been furiously brandishing a coffee mug, and Arthur commented that she seemed dangerously close to assaulting the great hulking machine. Now, just breathing increased her frustration. That damned chemist had turned her into a lunatic.

A loud ring interrupted her episode. Hunny growled and opened her eyes. Murder contorted her expression as she glared at her telephone. She didn’t feel like talking to anyone. She wasn’t going to answer it.

Hello?

Hey, Hunny, baby. It was her mother Jackie Faye’s voice.

Hey, Mama. Hunny sat up in the middle of the bed. This was probably the only person in the world she really didn’t mind talking to at that moment.

I was just calling to check up on you. Jackie Faye told her. For some reason, you were on my mind today. What’s going on?

Not much, Mama, actually you almost missed me. I’m going to Tampa tonight to meet with some clients over the next few days. And, before you even say it, yes, I know that’s down your way, but this is strictly business.

You could come here, Huntington. Florida is just a hop, skip, and a jump.

I know. She really did want to see her family, but she couldn’t take