Carolyn Forbes checked herself over in the full length mirror. “I look damned good” she thought to herself, before heading out the door to visit clients in her role as a Sales Representative for a large Pharmaceutical company.
At 28 years of age, with a firm and lithe body, constantly worked on in the gym and with yoga, yes, everyone thought she looked good. Today, in her new white silk blouse, over her tight black business skirt and standing in her high heels, with her dark hair flowing to her mid back, to any man, she looked more than just good.
Unfortunately, underneath the glamour, her head was in turmoil. It was almost the end of the month and the business quarter. She was still behind on her sales target and wasn’t sure if she was going to reach it.
Across the country, several of her colleagues had lost their jobs recently and she didn’t want to be the next. She loved her job, travelling around the city and several regional locations, meeting people and the freedom of not having a boss constantly looking over her shoulder. But she also knew her, or more correctly, her results were constantly being monitored by her Sales Manager and the Head Office bean counters.
The morning went well enough, calling on several smaller outlets and Carolyn added some more average sales to her results, but at 2pm she had coming up the appointment that she dreaded each month. Phillip Robertson owned a string of drug stores across the city and made all the buying decisions. He was one of her toughest clients, mainly because he liked to use his business size to negotiate cheaper wholesale prices for himself and wasn’t adverse to switching suppliers at the drop of a hat if it suited him.
As she pulled her car into a parking spot outside his office, which also had his home on the first floor, she felt herself getting sweaty and her mouth drying up, which often happened when she got nervous.
“Pull yourself together Carolyn” she breathed to herself as she alighted from the car and walked in through the front door, her I pad in her hand, hoping today that Robertson would be in a buying mood.
Entering through the door, he was standing there, his back to her talking to a young clerk at her desk.
Mid forties, tall and well-built, he turned around to see who had entered.
“Carolyn” he greeted her “right on time as usual and for once I are on time as well. Let’s head right into my office.” With that he gestured for her to lead the way and followed her to his large office towards the rear of the building.
Once there, he offered her a seat at the board table which occupied one half of the spacious room, with him sitting, as always, at the head of the table.
After pleasantries, Carolyn got down to business, detailing the few monthly specials her company always had on offer, before Robertson abruptly interrupted her. “Carolyn, every month you offer me these specials as though I am just another of your own man businesses – I probably buy more off you each month than all the others put together. I don’t want monthly specials – I want the best price all year round. Times are tough and I need to know I can buy my supplies at the best price always. Give me that and I’ll give you guarantees in advance of large purchases month after month.”
Carolyn thought quickly to herself, knowing that her Company would not do that. Whilst Phillip Robertson was a large client to her, in the worldwide operations of her employer, he was a small fish. She had tried to achieve this in the past many times without success.
“Phillip, you know I’ve tried but we can’t do that, your business is very important to me and try my best for you…” Phillip again cut her off.
“Then give me something else Carolyn and I’ll guarantee you my business”
“I’m not sure what else I can give you Phillip, perhaps some new marketing stands….”
“Give me yourself Carolyn” Phillip calmly said “and I will give you your largest order every month.”
Carolyn looked straight back at him, their eyes locked on each other’s, her mouth agape with shock, as she tried to comprehend what he was talking about.
“Every Tuesday night, from 6pm to 7am, I want you with me as mine. 13 hours per week and you’ll barely even need to work the rest of the week. I’ll buy exclusively from you on all the products that your company offers.