BUSINESS ACCOUNT by Barbiebnympho

BUSINESS ACCOUNTChapter one

Business Meeting

This started as many things do in the business world…with a phone call. The woman on the other end introduced herself as Miss Sunny Starr. I was immediately struck with the unusual name. Seemed like a name fit for a movie queen or, frankly, a hooker: however, something about her voice and the way she put things together in the conversation; quickly put those thoughts away. She was organized, direct and very knowledgeable. Clearly, she had done her homework about me and my company. I was impressed.

Sunny was responding to an advertisement I had placed in a business journal seeking assistance with a promotion campaign. My company was growing at an unprecedented rate and I needed help. Like many small business owners, I had founded the company, and then tried to do way too much on my own as it grew. Promotion and advertizing were areas where I could really use outside help in a hurry.

She presented some information on her company. They were a local firm…for some reason…I was surprised; I had assumed all such outfits were located in the big cities; New York, Chicago. She asked for an appointment, and I agreed. She was to be in my office the next day at three.

Our meeting came off without a hitch. She was on time; dressed in a slim black business suit which was very appropriate for a sales call. What an attractive young woman; dark brown hair, big brown eyes and a smile that was absolutely disarming. She presented a very professional image that provided a big “foot in the door” for whatever she had to say.

Sunny moved directly into a well prepared, sales presentation with very little preliminary conversation. She was convinced that her company was the appropriate agency for me to use, and she knew so much about my business that her sales arguments were very persuasive. Three hours later we were busy pounding out the details of a working relationship, and committing our thoughts to a draft contract.

She was a smooth talented ambassador. Things had moved very swiftly, and I was delighted. Her company had the talent I needed. They were local and that helped in many ways, and she added such a element of confidence to the package.

Our first meeting ended at seven o’clock. She asked if I would walk across the parking lot with her, to a small restaurant for a bite to eat. She disliked eating alone.

One phone call home and a quick stop at the men’s room, and we were on our way.

Even in the casual setting of the restaurant, Sunny never stopped as an ambassador for her company. Skillfully, she moved the conversation from business to my other interests. By the time we got to the restaurant she had me talking about my family and home life.

I knew what she was doing. She realized that there was no better way to firm up a good business relationship with me, than to gain an appreciation for my family and outside interests. He questions were polite and she seemed to provide as much information about her life as she gained about mine. What a conversationalist.

Two drinks and a light dinner later it seemed like we were old friends. She had given me a good understanding of her life as a single, professional woman; and she now knew considerable about my home life; my family and our busy urban life style.

As our conversation had progressed, she, at one point, centered her interests on my wife and how our relationship worked. She seemed to have an unusual interest in the topic which was a bit uncomfortable at first; but soon I realized it was just the curiosity of a single woman in a very different life style. It was particularly insightful how she paralleled her life as a single professional woman, with my wife life as a married stay-at-home mom. The comparisons she drew were nonjudgmental; she could find the advantages and disadvantages in both roles.

What a delightful conversationalist. What a logical thinker; what a quick mind; I was sold on Sunny’s company as the provider I needed for my advertising campaigns.

Three days later she called late in the afternoon to let me know she had contracts in a final form. She suggested that I join her to review them. She would gladly bring them to me, but it would be much easier to make any necessary changes if I came to her office.

Things were moving ahead of schedule…I was delighted. I agreed to come over to her offices late in the day for a meeting.

After a call home to explain my plans, I arrived at Sunny’s address about six that same evening. The address she gave me was not the office environment I expected, but instead a very attractive, very large, upscale stand alone condo. She answered the door immediately and ushered me into a stunning front room…modern, professionally decorated in black leather and chrome furniture. The marble floors, textured wall coverings, draperies; all carried a black and white theme…very different…very modern and gorgeous. Everything connoted the life style of a young single successful business person.

Sunny was dressed in a long black gown. It accented her dark hair and eyes in a very mysterious fashion. The gown flowed to the floor moving very sensuously as she walked with me from the door back through her condo to an office. My first thought was…what an unusual garment to wear to a business meeting…but her mannerisms were all business and her opening comments the same.

We ascended an open set of stairs to the second level; black marble with chrome railings. Everything was modern with exotic foreign art work to add just the right touch. Her decorator had to be one very talented person.

Down a hall for a short way and we arrived in her office. Sunny seated me at a small conference table and placed a contract folder in front of me. She busied herself preparing drinks while at the same time enjoining me in a warm thoughtful conversation about my business and my goals for the promotional program. What an impressive lady. Her conversation skills were exceptional. I could tell she was informally accumulating business information that she would need later as she put together our corporate advertising and publicity program. This woman knew what she was doing.

As she quietly talked I began to leaf through the draft contract she had placed in front of me…impressive. Within the first four pages she had captured the essence of what I had hoped we could achieve working together. It was clear she understood exactly what I had in mind for the promotion program.

I must admit, looking back that it was at this point I made my first mistake…her preliminary work on the draft contract was so complete, so clear, and so to the point that my guard quickly dropped. This was the woman I wanted to contract with…no question. My search had ended. Sunny’s firm was going to get the business for sure.

I had been reading the contract and listening to her comments for about an hour when she suggested we take a short break…she would like me to see more of her condo. She was obviously quite proud of her place. Everything about the evening thus far had been so above my expectations; I was honestly anxious to get away from business for a moment and learn more about this woman. She seemed so interesting yet she had learned so much about my world while revealing much less about her own.

Room by room she began a tour…accompanied by interesting comments. Many of her decorative items were foreign things found or her trips abroad. It was obvious that Sunny was a woman of wealth. Her decorations, art work, and collectables exuded money.

The condo seemed enormous. It was on three levels with long halls and a good many rooms on each level. The third level was dominated by a large bar area. It looked like a very high end sports bar, complete with three high definition wide panel televisions over the bar. What an attractive interesting room. Sunny indicated that her work required a good bit of entertainment so the bar area was used a good bit.

Our tour eventually took us to the lower level where her bedroom was the first big room to the right off a long hallway. She opened the door.

What an interesting room…fascinating paintings and art work…a large king sized four poster bed covered with a black satin spread. It struck me that the room was unusual…black and chrome…beautiful…but certainly not feminine. The furniture was heavy; carved out of a very hard dark black tropical wood.

Even from the doorway, I had become so aware of a subtle, exotic fragrance that permeated the entire condo. I had heard of the term “a captivating fragrance” well that was exactly what this was. It was a pleasant scent throughout the condo and it grew even more obvious as we entered her room.

She stepped into the room first, talking continuously. I followed; the only polite thing to do. Her bedroom was so much more than just a place to sleep…it was like a display of her personality; a place where she spent a good bit of her private time. We strolled around the room stopping at various items as Sunny gave me interesting antidotes about how she acquired some of the more unusual things. She had a way of telling enough to keep the listener very interested and yet holding back enough to peak one’s curiosity. Where previously I had been impressed with her business approach, now I was equally fascinated with the woman and her life style.

Our drink glasses were empty when we returned to her office, and I was feeling the effects just a little; enough that it precluded further business conversation. I suggested that I take the draft contract with me for my attorneys to review and she agreed. With that I returned the contract to its file folder and turned our conversation to other areas…there were so many things about this woman that interested me.

Our conversation was easy, natural, but I found that very soon she had me talking about my world, again. She was so skilful at moving to subjects that interested her and avoiding my curiosities. Sunny had quickly turned our conversation back to my personal life. She had such interest in my family and our aspirations for the future.