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“What about you? How did you get into the furniture business?”
Finally, his turn to shine and sell himself. He took a deep breath thinking about his opening line. “My dad is a contractor and my mother liked to sew. They taught my brother and me both crafts. My brother took what he learned and became a heart surgeon. I stayed a little closer to home and started designing furniture.”
“Wait a minute, you design the furniture in your showroom?”
“Some of it. The rest I source out.”
“Impressive.” She sat back in her chair with her arms crossed, absorbing everything he said.
“I built my business the old-fashioned way…walking the streets with my portfolio.”
“Wow! I had no idea.”
“And you, how did you get into Interior Design?”
“My mother.”
“Your mother?”
“My mother loved going to designer show houses looking for ideas. It was fun seeing how other people would make up pretend lives for the empty house. I thought it would be wonderful to do that for real people. And I saw how much power and control the designers had and I wanted that…to be the one calling the shots, orchestrating someone else’s life.”
He nodded his head thinking how could she not be in charge. He imagined every aspect of her life was probably well organized.
“We should do this again,” he suggested.
“I don’t know.” She took another sip of coffee smiling.
“What if I throw in a cookie along with the coffee?” They both smiled.
“A cookie? Somehow I think I’m getting the short end of the stick.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’d be bringing you a nice piece of business and in exchange, all I get is a cookie and coffee. I don’t know.”
“Okay, what if after each room you complete, I step it up?”
“I don’t follow.”
“The next room, it’s coffee and cookies. The one after, appetizers and…”
“I have six rooms, a kitchen and four bathrooms to finish. According to your proposal, I’ll be as big as a house.” They both chuckled. “What if…”
When she countered his proposal, he took it as a sign. Now all he had to do was seal the deal. “Okay, how about this…. if your client buys everything you select from me, you have to take me to dinner.” He finished his sentence with a beautiful smile.
“Me, take you to dinner?” She laughed. “That’s funny.”
“What? You’re the one with the client with an endless budget.”
“Tell you what. If my client selects everything I pick from your showroom, I will allow you to take me to dinner.”
He smiled and shook his head. Thinking if this is the only way to take her to dinner, then so be it. “Okay.” He reached his hand across the table to shake hers, sealing their agreement.
She looked at her watch. “This has been fun, but I have to go.” She stood up and he raced to his feet.
“Here let me help you.” He picked up her coat and helped her slip it on, being careful not to get too close. He couldn’t help inhaling her parfum. She smelled spicy and sweet, like a confident woman absorbing all the attention in the room.
“Thank you,” she said, lifting her hair and placing it on the collar of her coat. When she lifted her hair, it grazed his face. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she quickly apologized.
