It was 6:45 PM, and they were stumped, with 15 minutes left to come up with one final tagline. 

The office looked like a bomb of snacks had gone off--empty cans of diet coke, ripped bags of candy, pretzel crumbs, and apple cores littered the room. Everyone was exhausted--and they weren’t done yet.

They sat on the floor staring at each other, willing each other to manifest that last, perfect idea. All three of them had put all of their creative energy into the other six tags over the last nine hours, twisting and molding each word into the perfect, sellable soundbite. What could possibly be left?

The door swung open and Henry entered, cheerfully. “Hey, how’s it going--” he stopped and took in the detritus. Katie, Grace, and Tyler all immediately stood up, brushing bits of food from their faces and laps, trying to look like professionals.

“Almost there?” Henry asked, cautiously. “I promised we’d have something to them by 7 PM. Do we need more time…?” He eyed them all.

“Nope!” Katie answered quickly. “We’re just getting everything together for you. I’ll have it emailed over in the next 15.” She flicked a potato chip crumb off her skirt.

“Great,” Henry breathed a sigh of relief. “Because I also have a dinner reservation at La Scala in 45 minutes. I’d hate to miss it.” He turned around to head back to his own, much cleaner, and better smelling office. “I’ll expect to hear from you in 15.”

Everyone nodded, smiling. The minute the door closed, however, panic set in.

“We’re screwed,” Grace lamented. “We’ve thought of every word in the English language to say ‘buy this’ without being overbearing, or on the nose, or--”

“Or ‘buy this,’ I know.” Katie sighed. “But Henry needs us, and I know we can do it. C’mon, what haven’t we tried yet?”

“What about…’buy this’?” Tyler looked at them from the corner of the room.

“Ha ha, very funny,” said Grace, slightly annoyed.

“No, I mean it--why not be direct. Aren’t these clients Swedish?” Tyler asked. 

“Danish,” replied Katie.

Tyler rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Our best bet is not to try and hide the ask in some indirect, flowery language. We just have to say it--and mean it.” 

Tyler grabbed the crumpled pad of paper off the desk and started furiously scribbling. Katie watched him, in awe--she always loved watching Tyler chase an idea out of his brain. There was something thrilling about watching someone at the top of their game--especially when he was this good looking. Tyler had rolled up his shirt sleeves, and she loved the way the muscles in his arms moved as he wrote. I shouldn’t be looking at him like this, she thought. But she also couldn’t stop looking.

“Nothing like a man who takes control,” muttered Grace, only partially meaning to keep it to herself, saying exactly what Katie was thinking. Katie swatted in Grace’s direction, motioning for her to be quiet.

Tyler held up the legal pad and gave an awkward flourish. “Ta da,” he said, like a magician at the end of a grand trick. Katie and Grace looked at the pad and then at each other.

“So...what do you think?” Tyler asked, his confidence beginning to waiver.

“I think…” Katie began, turning it over in her mind. “I think...this is great.” She smiled broadly, diffusing the tension in the room. 

And it was. They had spent hours avoiding the actual marketing language. Why not give them one option with it directly included? It seemed so simple when she saw it spelled out. 

“I knew you’d think of something,” Katie said to Tyler, taking the pad to her desk and starting to compose the email to Henry with all of their work.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Tyler said back. “Especially since I’m still new around here.”

“Oh, I just meant…” Katie trailed off as Tyler and Grace looked at her. 

Uh oh, Katie thought. When she was tired, she had a hard time keeping things to herself. Like her knowledge of Tyler’s past.

“I meant you seem like that kind of guy--quick on his feet,” Katie hoped that was a good enough half truth.

“Thanks,” Tyler said back, and left it at that. 

“Yeah, we’re super lucky to have you,” Grace started in again. “Wherever you were before doesn’t matter, because you’re ours now--and don’t think about going anywhere.”

“Ok, will you both look this over before I hit send?” Katie gestured for them both to join her at the desk. Grace looked over her right shoulder, while Tyler took her left. His breath hit just at the back of her neck, which made her shiver with memory.

“Are you ok?” Grace asked, noticing.

“Fine,” Katie said, covering, simultaneously wanting Tyler closer and also farther away so she wouldn’t give herself away. “I’m just ready to turn this in and get out of here.”

“Looks good to me,” Tyler said.

“Me too,” said Grace.

“Ok...I’m hitting send!” Katie couldn’t help feeling excited. 

They took a breath, waiting for a response. One second, two seconds, three seconds…

The office phone rang. Katie grabbed it.

“Hi Henry. Yep, this is it. Uh huh. Yes. I’ll let them know. Ok, have a good night.” Katie hung up.

She smiled broadly. “He loves it,” she told them.

“Yessssss!” Grace did a little happy dance. 

Katie couldn’t help but hug them--Grace first and then before she could stop herself, Tyler. She realized she was holding on a bit longer than normal, breathing in the smell of his familiar cologne, when Grace aggressively cleared her throat.

“I know I’m not going to clean this place up myself,” Grace said, narrowing her eyes at them.

They made quick work of the wrappers and cans, dumping it all in the trash. “I’ll take the recycling out,” Tyler offered. 

They gathered their things. “You coming?” Grace asked Katie. Katie was relaxing in her office chair, feeling relief. “Just a sec,” Katie replied. 

“Alright, see you at the elevator,” Grace exited, with Tyler following behind. 

“Hey Tyler?” Katie started. 

“Yeah?” He replied, eagerly, turning around.

“Good work today,” she said, sincerely. 

“Thanks, boss,” he winked at her. “I promised to dazzle you, and I never break a promise.” He left the office as she smiled to herself, knowing it was true.