Executive Decision

I knew as I was walking out the door, bare assed naked with my clothes in hand, that I was going to have hell to pay. This was a major account. Ryder would not be happy at all that I hadn't gotten it.

"What will you tell Ryder when he asks why you didn't get the account?"

"That we couldn't provide the services you required," I answered. It was the truth. I didn't go through all that work of putting together a major campaign just to have my skills in bed determine whether or not I got the account. I was at a point in my career where I could afford to be stubborn about certain things. As I got dressed in the elevator, I hoped that I wouldn't have to explain the truth to Ryder.

When I got to work the next morning Ryder was already standing outside my office door. This was going to be fun. I simply nodded to him as I walked into my office, leaving the door open so that he could follow me in. He closed the door behind him and waited for me to get situated before he began.

"Well?"

"Well what?" I made sure to keep my expression completely blank and unreadable. Even though I wanted to smirk at the irritation growing on the man's face.

"You know what. Did you get the Telson account?"

"No." I began to look at the files on my desk.

"This was a major account. I told you to do whatever it took to make sure he went with us."

"It was obvious that he didn't want to go with us from the very beginning. It's hard to change someone's mind."

"I find that extremely hard to believe, especially for you, Brian. You may be a liability at times but you could sell ice to an Eskimo so what the fuck happened?" It always amuses me when Ryder swears like that. It's so not him.

"We couldn't provide the services he needed." I was hoping that would drop the subject but it obviously wasn't going to happen.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" The more irritated Ryder got with me the angrier I got about the situation.

"Trust me, you don't want to know." I was trying to remain calm but it was starting to get harder to do.

"Yes, I do Brian. This was a multimillion-dollar account that just walked out the door. I don't think I have to mention to you the size of the bonus you just lost by not getting this account. So, I want to know. Why didn't you get this account? What was it that you didn't do?"

"And why the fuck does it have to be completely my fault?" Trying to remain calm was suddenly becoming very overrated.

"Because this account was your baby. You've headed the team during the whole campaign process. You've personally had a hand in almost every aspect of it. It's your fault because you are the advertising executive in charge of the account."

That was it. That was the last straw. I couldn't hold it in anymore. "I wouldn't fuck him," I practically yelled. I wondered how many people walking by heard that. The look on Ryder's face was classic and I tried to keep from laughing.

"What?"

"He wanted me to fuck him. He's a closet case, Marty. He's got the wife and kids for an image. You wanted me to show him a night out so I did. He wanted to go to Babylon so I took him. Then he wanted to fuck me, or more accurately he wanted me to fuck him. You said do whatever it took to get the account and I was going to do just that. But then I just couldn't do it. I'm too good at what I do to let something like that happen. Fire me if you want, I don't give a shit, but I will not lie about why I didn't get the account. And if anyone asks me why I was fired I will tell them that it was because I wouldn't fuck the client to get the account. That ought to do wonders for your reputation."

Ryder was silent for several minutes. I didn't realize until just then that I had risen to my feet. He looked extremely uncomfortable and I reveled in it. There were few things more satisfying than watching Marty Ryder squirm. After a few minutes he just nodded.

"Very well then." He turned and walked out of my office.

I stood there trying to figure out what just happened and then I sat down and just started laughing. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my entire life. My stomach was hurting by the time I calmed down enough to breathe normally. Cynthia came in and couldn't help but smile.

"What just happened?"

"I think I just put Ryder in his place." I was still suffering from the residual giggles produced by my laughing fit.

"Good job. Not everyone can say that." She smirked and I nodded. What I thought was going to be a completely shitty day actually became one of the best days I've had in a while.

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