Book 27 in the Wrong Bed series, 2003

Winning a one hundred million dollar ad campaign. Now that would be one hell of a Christmas present.

Adam Terrell, CEO of Maxximum Advertising, pressed the button to disconnect his call, rose from the chair behind his curved granite desk, and barely refrained from indulging in an undignified end-zone type victory dance.

The chance for Maxximum to represent ARC Software in its new ad campaign was definitely not a bad way to start off the day. The account wasn't yet in the bag, but as he'd just learned during his phone conversation with Jack Witherspoon, ARC's CEO, Maxximum was one of the agencies on the short list.

"And it's my job to make sure Maxximum is the only agency left on that list," Adam murmured to himself.

Unable to remain still, he crossed the wide expanse of pale blue carpet to his huge office windows. From the vantage point of his tenth-floor, Madison Avenue office, he stared down at the busy street below. Pedestrians, their collars pulled up against the blustery winter cold and lingering snow flurries, trudged along the busy Manhattan street, many laden down with colorful holiday shopping bags, vaguely reminding Adam that only ten days remained until Christmas. There was no doubt about what he wanted sitting under his tree-a contract with Jack Witherspoon's signature.

But since Maxximum wasn't the only firm vying for the account, he needed an edge. Something to make Maxximum stand out. And he didn't have much time. Witherspoon wanted an ad campaign in place before his next shareholders meeting. Adam needed his best and brightest on this.