Read Online Gray Quinn's Baby by Susan Stephens - Free Book Online Page A

in.’
    â€˜There is no time to settle in if you want to launch in the New Year.’
    â€˜So you’re suggesting I accept a campaign designed by a woman?’
    â€˜Is that so crazy?’
    â€˜You’ve forgotten the natural order of things, Magenta. Men lead at work so that women can enjoy a certain lifestyle.’
    â€˜Women can do that for themselves, given half a chance.’
    â€˜And I don’t let them—is that what you’re saying?’
    â€˜Maybe men feel threatened—’
    â€˜Not this man.’ Quinn cut across her.
    She took her courage in both hands and went for it. ‘Then prove it by allowing women to play a part in your campaign.’
    His lips curved; he took it well. ‘How do I know that there’s anyone working for me, other than you, that has this flair?’
    â€˜You’ll never know until you give everyone an equal chance to prove themselves.’
    â€˜If there’s so much latent talent here, why has no one put themselves forward before now?’
    â€˜Because women want to keep their jobs, so they keep their mouths shut. Is there any reason good enough to make you ignore a possible seam of in-house talent? I think we must consider our female audience when we design a campaign.’
    â€˜What do women want?’ Quinn didn’t even pretend to think about it. ‘Who cares when men pay the bills? This is business, Magenta, not some feel-good society for you to float around in. Men earn the money women spend—remember that. So men are our target audience.’
    She hated herself for trembling with awareness of Quinn when he was preaching this heresy. But Quinn was a product of his time, Magenta remembered, which made what she hadto do while she was a visitor in this dream world all the more important. ‘But you’ve just admitted women do the shopping, so they have control of the finances.’
    â€˜Nonsense. Are you the most argumentative woman I’ve ever met?’ he demanded. ‘Who tells a woman what to buy, Magenta? Her man.’
    â€˜Not this woman.’
    Quinn looked at her and almost laughed. He controlled it well, but at least he’d lightened up. That was a small victory of sorts, Magenta supposed, wondering if her heart would reach some critical point where it would have to slow down.
    â€˜All I’m asking you to do is to tune in to your audience, Magenta, but sometimes, I think your head’s elsewhere—like another century, maybe.’
    Close. But she couldn’t stop now. ‘If you go on with this belief that we only have to sell to one sector of the community, then this company will sink like a stone, taking your investment with it.’
    There was silence, and then to Magenta’s relief Quinn’s face relaxed as another idea occurred to him. ‘Why don’t you illuminate me on the correct way to reach every member of our target audience?’ Challenge turned his steely gaze to fire.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    â€˜I ’D BE pleased to explain ,’ Magenta said, facing up to Quinn. She had to look up at him; he towered over her. ‘There are plenty of women in the workplace trying to keep a family afloat.’
    â€˜You think I don’t know that?’
    How attractive was that crease in his cheek? And how determined was she not to be distracted by it? ‘Women have always been fighters, Quinn—they’ve had to be—and if you want to know what appeals to them you capture the whole of the market—their men and the next generation, too.’
    â€˜And if I want to know how to appeal to women I should ask you?’
    Like Quinn didn’t appeal to every woman he met. But he didn’t face up their ads. ‘You could ask any of the women who work here for their opinion. Use the resources you have, don’t ignore them. Ask them what they like to buy, to use, to experience.
    â€˜You’re suggesting we run a series of