Required for Business
By Robert Ranes
*****
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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This is a work of fiction and any characters, names, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, businesses, establishments, events, etc are entirely coincidental. This work is intended for the enjoyment of adult readers.
Copyright 2009 by Robert Ranes
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*****
Calvin once complained that there was not enough love in the world. And, he was probably right. I had just gotten back from my trip to Memphis, where I had met perhaps the most obnoxious man in my entire life. After all that work, the deal hadn’t gone through, and I was thoroughly disgusted. Calvin wouldn’t be pleased, either.
Still, he understood that sometimes the customer refused to purchase our products, even when they’ve been reliable in the past. It was all part of doing business. Also, we’d done well during the last quarter, even expanded our line, so I wasn’t really worried that we would go under or anything. Once Calvin even said he had plans for expansion, and with his contacts, a company that delivered the goods was always in demand.
So I stood there at the airport terminal trying to hail a taxi, when Calvin pulls up in a limo, no less! “Nothing’s too good for you, hun,” he says, and gives me a great big hug as I jumped in. Calvin was evidently in a good mood, as he didn’t seem at all disappointed over my botched business deal. But, I had hardly slipped into the back seat, when he told me about the big meeting this evening. I just groaned.
“Calvin, do we have to?”
“You know it,” he replied with his million-dollar grin and the diamond glinting in his front tooth. “Deals like this you have to jump on immediately. No time to waste.” So we cruised out of the airport, and made our way to an upscale residential area. I guess I looked presentable enough, but I just wanted to go home and indulge myself in a warm bubble bath. Oh, well, I understood.
“Honey,” he said. “You know in this business we all have to work twenty-four seven if we’re going to make ends meet.”
I sighed. “I know, Calvin. But this constant work. Maybe we should take a vacation for a while? Jill’s competent. She can run the business.”
“Jill doesn’t have the business expertise,” he pointed out. “You know that. Besides, I need you to handle our top clients.”
I laughed. “What would you ever do without me?”
“I don’t know,” he replied in all seriousness. “I don’t know.” The limo was slowing down.
“Here we are,” he said. We’d pulled up in front of some type of condominium complex. They were pretty fancy apartments, with good lawn work—probably high rental properties.
He handed me the client information, and I tucked it in my purse. I was tired, but best to get this deal over with as quickly as possible. Fortunately it didn’t take long. The client was a fifty-six year old man, attending a convention for the weekend. He paid well, even gave a hefty tip.
Calvin was pleased when I returned to the limo and handed over the two grand. But he was right. In this kind of business, there was never enough love in the world.