The Love Game

“I’ll make the introductions.” Tyler sat beside Iris on one side of the large sterling silver–framed Plexiglas conference table. He gestured toward the distinguished older gentleman at the head of the table. “Foster Anderson is our CEO. He founded this company with his brother, Gray.”

Foster inclined his head. “Good to meet you.”

“You, as well.” Iris recogni

zed Tyler’s father from photos she’d found on the internet. Those images hadn’t done him justice.

In person, Foster Anderson was an attractive, charismatic figure. Father and son bore a close resemblance: perfect sienna skin; square, chiseled features; long, broad nose; full, sensual lips. In fact, all of the Anderson Adventures men were easy on the eyes. They looked more like classic Hollywood heartthrobs than stereotypical computer nerds.

Focus, Iris.

Tyler gestured toward the opposite end of the table where the only other woman in the room sat. “My aunt, Kayla Cooper Anderson, is a member of our executive team.”

Kayla’s large onyx eyes twinkled. “Thank you for coming, Iris.”

“Thank you for the opportunity.” Iris admired the timeless woman’s grace and style. She wore an ice-blue skirt suit. Her glossy, still-dark hair was swept up and back in a chignon, displaying understated but expensive pearl earrings that matched her necklace.

Tyler continued the introductions. “Xavier Anderson is our vice president of finance.”

From her research, Iris knew Kayla was Gray Anderson’s widow and Xavier was their only child.

“Good morning.” Xavier had his mother’s eyes, minus their warmth. Instead they were onyx laser beams, trying to bore their way into her mind.

“How do you do, Mr. Anderson?” Iris returned the finance officer’s steady gaze.

“We’re all on a first-name basis.” The final member of the team interrupted the introductions.

Tyler grinned, waving a hand across the table. “And, of course, Donovan ‘Van’ Carroll, our vice president of sales.”

Iris inclined her head toward the sales executive. “Good morning, Van.”

“Hi.” With that simple greeting and a killer smile, Donovan settled back onto his chair. His broad shoulders were relaxed beneath his long-sleeved garnet-colored shirt. His demeanor gave the impression he was spending the evening with friends at a jazz club rather than sitting through an early-morning business meeting.

All eyes were on Iris. She took a breath and wished for a little of Donovan’s calm. Instead her efforts to ease the butterflies battling in her stomach were futile. There was a lot riding on this account: her self-image, her sisters’ respect, her livelihood.

Don’t think about those things right now...

She straightened in her chair and returned the gazes of the other people around the table. “I want your thoughts regarding Anderson Adventures’ next product launch. As I explained to Ty, I strongly believe we should first host an internal launch to support your external campaign.”

“Why?” Xavier’s question wasn’t unexpected. Like most finance officers, his first concern was the budget.

Iris met Xavier’s gaze. “Every Anderson Adventures employee is an unofficial member of your sales team.”

“We prefer the term associates.” Donovan sat forward. “But you’re right.”

“Associates. Excuse me.” Iris made a note of the term, then resumed her explanation. “Imagine that, shortly after ‘Osiris’s Journey’ is introduced to the media, Sherry’s neighbor asks her about it. Without the internal launch, Sherry couldn’t tell her neighbor anything he didn’t already know about the game. With the internal launch, Sherry would find out about the game directly from you and could ask her own questions. She’d then have insight her neighbor wouldn’t have read in the media. As a result, he’d be even more enthusiastic about the game.”

Donovan added to her narrative. “And, if her experience with the internal launch was positive, her neighbor would pick up on her excitement.”

“Exactly.” Iris smiled at Donovan. With his sales background, he understood her point. “Your associates also could help create a buzz about ‘Osiris’s Journey’ on their social media sites.”

Foster gave her a considering look. “We’ve never had an internal launch before, although Van has suggested associate meetings.”

“But I was outvoted.” Donovan shrugged good-naturedly. “Instead, we sent a company-wide email.”

Iris winced. “That strategy is well-intentioned. But it lacks the personal touch. And not every associate reads the email.”

“Well, Iris, no one has ever explained the impact to us so clearly. Thank you,” Kayla added.