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Randi Sheppard
I knocked on the front door and waited. It wasn’t as though no one was home. I could hear the blaring music even on the front porch. If they were having a party, then they should’ve called me to reschedule, or at least invited me. But I couldn’t just walk away without at least letting them know that I showed up for our appointment, even if it wasn’t going to take place.
When no one answered, I double checked and still didn’t see a doorbell. I knocked, more like pounded on the door, this time. I must have gotten someone’s attention because the music turned off and finally, a man opened the door. Most of my clients were couples, trying to spice up their sex lives, so I wasn’t stunned by a male greeting me. “Hello. I’m Randi,” I said, extending my hand.
He looked puzzled and said, “Sorry, I was expecting the…designer.”
You mean you were expecting a man.I had no idea why he’d have thought that. My website had my photo right next to my name and title. Guess you were thinking of one thing. Sex.
“I am the designer,” I replied, retracting my hand, since he hadn’t offered his in return.
“Thought you were the receptionist or admin who scheduled the appointments,” he stated.
Because a woman isn’t capable of being the boss? Whether he was chauvinistic or not wasn’t about to stand in the way of me doing my job to the best of my abilities. I had built my business by not placing judgement on any of my clients and instead focusing on listening to what their needs were. That didn’t mean I had any control whether he decided to cancel this meeting and send me on my way.
Maybe I can win his wife over.
He finally extended his hand and said, “I’m Bob, but I’m sure you already figured that out. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice. Why don’t you come inside, and I’ll show you the room I’m looking to have…redesigned?”
“I’m not…interrupting anything, am I?” I asked.
“Like what?” he asked.
“I hear music. Wasn’t sure if you had company.”
“Nope,” he replied as stepped away from the door.
With my large tote bag filled with samples of sex toys in hand, I followed him inside. I caught the door jamb with the side of my bag and even though I couldn’t hear it, I instantly felt the slight vibration.
Oh shit.Was this a sign of how the appointment was going to go? Maybe him turning me away at the door would’ve been a good thing. “I’m sorry. I need a moment,” I said, and placed the bag on the floor and unzipped it. I didn’t need to look at Bob to know he was watching me search through a variety of dildos and vibrators. This was far from the most embarrassing situation I’d been in. I hadn’t even been in business for a month when I had gotten pulled over by the local police in my hometown of Pascoag for a taillight being out. I had left my wallet in my infamous tote bag that I had placed in the trunk. The patrolman had tried his best to keep straight-faced, but once I became the talk of the town, I quickly got over any inhibitions and shyness that lingered within me, and it prepared me how to deal with situations like this one.
“That’s one hell of a purse,” he teased.
I wasn’t going to play that game with him. I was a professional and although I enjoyed a good laugh like anyone else, I wasn’t going to allow this meeting to turn…casual.
“Some clients prefer to see samples in person instead of shopping online,” I stated, as I found the little culprit and turned it off. Zipping my bag closed again, I stood up and slung it over my shoulder. “I believe you were about to show me the room you need re-decorated.”
Pushing past what could’ve been an awkward moment, we walked further into the house. Though I wasn’t generally hired to redecorate anything else but one room, I always took a moment to look around and get a feel of the people who were hiring me and see if I could bring the same style into the room I was going to design. The front hall and living room had one color tone, boring. But besides a pop of color missing, the place didn’t feel…lived in. I looked quickly on the walls, searching for family photos, or any artwork. There was neither.
If their sex life is as dull as their decorating skill, then they really need my help.
“Will your wife be joining us for this meeting?” I asked.
“I’m not married,” he replied as he started up the stairs leading to the second floor.
My feet stayed planted on the floor as I hesitated to go any further. Don’t panic. In my line of work, I’ve crossed paths with several people who thought I might be interested in providing a more…intimate service. I would set them straight and then firmly tell them I was not the designer for them. So far, Bob hadn’t given me any indication that he expected me to service any of his needs. This service station is closed.
Bob stopped at the top stair and turned to me. “Are you coming?”
I nodded but opted not to bring my tote bag of goodies upstairs with me. I placed it on the floor at the bottom of the stairway and grabbed hold of the banister rail and slowly made my way up. “Sorry, I was just making some mental notes.” Like where the exit is if I need it.
“Like I said over the phone yesterday, I just want you to make this room someplace a person can have some…fun,” he said as he opened the door to a large vacant room.
The fact he wasn’t blunter with his wording, eased my mind a bit. I stepped inside and the sound of the heals on the wood floor echoed. “It’s a good size, but you haven’t given me much to go on.”
“Not sure what you need to know.”
