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Chapter 23
Achime sounded through the air as Gen pushed through the door of February Breeze Heating and Air Conditioning Repair. The cheerful sound seemed like an omen to her. She was finally back on track. Visiting vendors, getting things done. It was all coming together.
This was her sweet spot. This was where she felt alive– talking to people, persuading them that her way was the right way, getting cooperation. She felt a thrill in her body at just the prospect of it, like an athlete who senses that they are just about to enter “the zone.”
The best part? She could finally have one day– just one day, please God! – that was about something besides Gavin. He’d been taking up far too much mental real estate for her lately, and it was high time she got back to focusing on herself and the things she was good at.
She squared her shoulders and walked up to the counter. The clerk greeted her with a smile. “Hi, Genevieve. How are you?”
“Good, thanks, Kit. How are Marc and the kids?”
“They’re doing good. Jimmy’s looking good to start on the varsity team this year, did you hear?”
“Oh, that doesn’t surprise me one bit. He’s got his dad’s strength and speed and his mom’s quick thinking and leadership skills. The perfect combo.”
Kit flushed with pleasure at the compliment, giving Gen a small twinge of satisfaction. Small talk like this was common in a town the size of Valentine Bay, of course, where everyone knew everyone else. But Gen secretly considered herself the master of it. She could take the most common exchange of pleasantries and turn it into a memorable conversation that would leave someone feeling good about themselves– and her.
As an event coordinator, a big part of her job was selling. Sure, there was selling the celebrants on choosing her venue, but it went so much deeper than that. She had to sell the vendors on giving her good rates, sell the staff on doing a stellar job night after night– the list went on.
Everything was sales, as far as she was concerned. And, in her mind, sales wasn’t about “closing.” It was about relationship building. About mutually beneficial arrangements and “win-win” situations. It was about seeing what the other person needed underneath what they were saying that they wanted. Sales started from the first hello and continued on long after the contract had been signed.
It was more than just her job. It was her calling, and she’d been distracted from it for far too long.
“I’ve got an appointment with Mr. Finn,” Gen said, and Kit looked down at the notepad sitting in front of her.
“Oh, yep, you sure do! Go right in.”
As Gen walked down the hallway to the back offices, her stride strong and confident, she was struck by a thought that caused a small hitch in her step.
Oh, God. Is that what I haven’t been doing with Gavin? Have I been distracted by what he’s saying he wants and not looking below that to give him what he really needs, instead?
As soon as the connection came together in an explosion of firing synapses in her brain, she recognized the truth of it deep in her bones. But, she also recognized that right before going into a pitch meeting was no time to deal with that particular revelation.
For God’s sake, Gen! Just put Gavin on your mental back burner for One. Freaking. DAY!
Gathering herself, thrusting her shoulders back, and pasting on her best “trust me, I’m the expert and I wouldn’t steer you wrong” smile, she stepped through the door to Mr. Finn’s office, determined to put Gavin and his mystery issues out of her mind– if not for the length of the entire day, then at least for the length of this meeting.
Gerald Finn looked up from the papers he was reading as she entered his office. His face brightened with a wide smile immediately and Gen was filled with a deep sense of satisfaction. This was what relationship-based marketing was all about– the client was happy to see you, even when they knew they were about to be pitched.
“Genevieve! So great to see you. To be honest, I’ve been looking forward to this appointment all day. Have a seat, have a seat.”
Wow, this could not be off to a better start!
Gen sat in the chair he’d gestured to, her confidence about the appointment building by the second.
“Mr. Finn, I’m so glad to hear you’ve been looking forward to talking about the Fall Festival. I feel exactly the same way.”
He waved his hand as if brushing that idea away. “Oh, sure, we can get to that. But what I really wanted to talk to you about was you and Gavin Valentine.”
Gen closed her eyes, doing her level best to collect herself.
“Oh, not for me, of course,” Mr. Finn rushed on to explain. “It’s my wife. You understand. She made me promise to ask you about it. I’m under threat of sleeping on the couch for a month if I don’t come home with some tidbit or another. So, come on, Gen. Can you help me out?”
Oh, God. Well, I guess that’s Valentine Bay for you. Upside– you’ll never meet a stranger, only friends you haven’t gotten to know yet. Downside– you may as well just forget about putting Gavin Valentine out of your brain for even one measly day. Or, you know. Hour.
She opened her eyes, back in full sales mode, and let a mischievous smile play on her lips. “Well, Mr. Finn, I think that depends. How committed are you to making the Fall Festival a success? It seems to me that we’re in a unique position to help each other out. I hear sofa sleeping can be very lumpy and lonely.”
He burst out laughing and extended his hand across the desk for her to shake. “You drive a hard bargain, Genevieve. But you have yourself a deal.”
