The space I walked into immediately struck me as I have money. High ceilings and a mostly open-concept design made the already spacious rooms feel massive. A wall of windows offered a magnificent view of the city, and all the fixtures and appliances that had been installed during the remodel were brushed aluminum. The floors were tiled and snow white, and the walls had been painted a light dove gray.
While it wasn’t my kind of vibe at all, I could see it working really well with what he’d described he wanted to do with it. As he gave me the tour, ideas started buzzing through my mind. I mentioned some of them, making notes in my trusty folder of the ones he liked and immediately discarding the ones he didn’t seem too excited about.
We hadn’t even reached the main bedroom when he turned to me again, smiling from ear to ear after the conversation we’d just had about artwork for the walls. “I’ve heard enough. If you’re available to start immediately, I’m hiring you right here and now. Just send me your banking details, and I’ll have my assistant transfer whatever your retaining fee is later today.”
“I haven’t even quoted you a price yet,” I said. “Are you sure you want to hire me on the spot without seeing the quote or hearing the rest of my suggestions once I’ve seen the whole place?”
“Money is no object,” he said. “You came very well recommended and I’d be happy to consider any suggestions you may have, so yes. I’m sure I want to hire you on the spot. Quality services come at a price and someone with your reputation will be snapped up fast if I don’t book your time first.”
“Someone with my reputation?” I was a bit surprised to hear that I’d been recommended to him since he hadn’t mentioned it before. “If you don’t mind me asking, who passed on the reference?”
“A business associate of mine,” he replied happily. “Jeremiah Williams. Do you know him?”
“Yes, I do.” I also realized right away that Tanner must’ve had something to do with this. He and Jeremiah, possibly even Steph, had to be the reason I’d been getting contacted by so many well-off clients over the past few days.
I was touched by them putting in a good word for me, but I was also a bit unsure how I felt about the idea that all these people were reaching out to me just because of them. I wanted to succeed on my own merits, not because I was sleeping with a billionaire who had well-connected friends.
Mike rocked back on his heels and smiled at me. “This may be too forward of me again, but would you like to go out with me some time? Jeremiah only had good things to say about you, and when I looked you up and saw how pretty you were, I realized I’d have to take my shot fast or risk losing you to somebody else. Otherwise, I might’ve waited a few days to call, but you’re here now, so I’m seizing the day.”
As flirtatious and forward as he was, I was also realizing that he was a pretty sweet guy. Under different circumstances, I might have considered his offer, but with things being as they were, I wasn’t the least bit interested.
I gave him an apologetic, polite smile. “I’m sorry. Thank you for asking but I’m going to have to decline. I’m seeing someone.”
He shrugged, snapping his fingers but not seeming too surprised. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Whoever he is, he’s a lucky man. He must be proud to have a girlfriend who’s both gorgeous and skilled.”
“Thank you,” I repeated. “Do you still want to hire me?”
“Of course.” He laughed and motioned for me to follow him. “I knew it was a long shot. You don’t have to worry about me hitting on you while you’re working for me. I mean, if things don’t work out with you and this guy you’re seeing, let me know, but in the meantime, I won’t let something silly like you turning me down stand in the way of hiring the best interior designer out there.”
I was flattered, but his compliments were also making me realize that I had to stop doubting myself. Jeremiah wouldn’t have been putting the word out there about me unless he really believed in me, regardless of whether Tanner had asked him to do it, which I was about ninety percent sure he had.
Tanner wasn’t supporting my work just because he liked me. He liked me partially because of my work. He’d said as much before. He liked me because I was driven, skilled, and passionate about what I did. He even wanted to do the housing project with me because he wanted to support my passion.
They’d also all seen what I’d done with his house, and every last one of them had raved to me about it the last few times I’d seen them. I’d earned his referral, and Jeremiah’s, on merit and not just because I was sleeping with one of them.
Later, once the tour was over and I was leaving, I pulled my phone out of my purse and sent Tanner a sweet message. If everyone could decide how to react in every situation, I was choosing to be appreciative and grateful for the recommendations instead of being angry that he hadn’t discussed it with me.
Besides, if all these new clients didn’t like what I did, my supposed reputation wouldn’t last long. All he’d done was get me a foot in the door with these people. What I did with it was up to me.
Me: I’m looking forward to dinner later. Heard you guys have been talking about me. Thank you. Can’t wait to see you. X