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I picked up a rocket-shaped tube of lipstick A bold shade of pink called "One Large Step for Wo I hoped Lukas did

"Who’ll be the lead?" I asked Lukas couldn’t pull his democratic office bullshit when a client such as this was at stake We needed to focus, bring our A ga Frank would say

"There should be a lead," Jackie said, nodding in my direction "Frank would have chosen one" As the words left her ood idea," she muttered

"Let’s sit down," Lukas said, and my stomach sank to my knees Lukas had a plan The set of his brow, the way his lip curled in when he was deep in thought, the slow push of his forefinger against the glossiness of the conference table, leaving a et into ere really in this room

"Quite simply, the e present to Landon needs to be exemplary in every way There needs to be no question that not only are we the best, we offer soy and dated in co I felt like one of us should say so to defend ourselves "We can do it," I said, and Glynnis nodded "Whatever it takes"

"Ah, but we’ve never been challenged like this," Lukas said, offering a s "When I left Miss Trinka’s office, I told myself we’d need to approach this in an unusual way She’s absolutely unique and deserves a ca now, though by habit What was he getting at?

Lukas stood, placed his hands on the table, and leaned in "By the tiured"

"Again?" Jackie said

"Temporarily," Lukas responded "The computers will be set in pairs, and so will you Each duo will have teeks to design a can for Landon At the close of the coe the winner It’s a bit unorthodox, but I’ve discussed it with her, and she’s thrilled"

"Doesn’t it make us look indecisive?" Rhiannon blurted

"Not in the ne creative workplace," Lukas intoned, quoting the ever-present Petra "To Miss Trinka, it appears that we’ve devoted our entire staff to her con to run with and a backup if she changes herto be divided in twos"

"Which also works for us The third-place duo will be teretic "As you recall, competition should be--"

"Friendly and fierce," Glynnis said miserably

"Exactly," Lukas said

"You said we had until the end of the su to keepadvantage of an opportunity," Lukas responded "I think this is a very fair way to handle the disue with that"

I could, but I wouldn’t I stayed silent

Lukas shifted his attention to Byron "Rhiannon and Byron, you’ll be working as a team"

The undercurrent to his words was, you’re the A team Byron winked at Rhiannon Seth, Jackie, Glynnis, and I all shifted in our seats, wondering where we should place our allegiance