Bossy Fiance Mistake
By: Roxy ReidI reach over to the coffee table to snatch up the bottle of wine. I pour myself a hefty amount and start drinking. It’s the best way to clear him from my mind until I have to face him Monday morning.
6
ETHAN
It’s been a week since Alyssa started working for me, and it’s been one of the most interesting weeks I’ve experienced since I started Voss Consults. She’s smart and organized with a range of ideas and influences. If I didn’t offer her the job, I know that someone else would’ve picked her up in a heartbeat. However, I’ve also never argued with an employee so much before.
“Clients want to know who exactly they’re working with. They want to know you and the people who work at this company.” Alyssa tells me as we gather in her office.
A large whiteboard is covered with scribbles and notes on various tactics to wow Red Light Media and its owner, Alexandra Banning. A lot of the ideas are ones that have never crossed my mind and seem a little out there. They’re ambitious, but are they effective?
“I feel like we’re getting a little too emotional. This is business. I just want them to know that we’ll get them where they need to be,” I point out to her.
I prefer logical approaches, ones that can be measured. I can’t measure emotions. They’re messy and unpredictable. I want her to make my meeting with Red Light Media predictable and smooth. I want to wow them, not play a get-to-know-you game.
“Emotional? Why would they do business with you if they don’t trust you? They need to learn to trust you,” Alyssa replies as she circles a point on the board that says “trust.” She then taps the end of the marker against the word.
I perch on the edge of her desk as a sigh breaks from my lips. It’s hard arguing with her. Once she’s decided on something, it’s like taking a bone away from a dog. I’m not looking forward to getting bitten, but I also don’t want Rafael to outdo me.
“Don’t do that,” Alyssa grumbles at me as she crosses her arms over her chest.
“Do what?” I ask her as I give her a confused look. I didn’t even say anything and she’s already getting at me. Is it just me or am I sensing déjà vu?
“The sigh. You do that when you’re about to explain something to me in a demeaning way,” Alyssa bites out at me as she narrows her eyes.
I scoff at her. I don’t even know what she’s talking about. I don’t explain things in a demeaning way to anyone. At least, I don’t think I do.
“I was just going to say that a straightforward presentation instead of some sort of meet and greet would serve our purposes better,” I tell her calmly as I try my best to not sound demeaning in any way. We’re supposed to be working, not arguing.
“See! It’s your tone,” Alyssa groans as she turns back to the board and puts her back to me.
I almost sigh again, but I stop it. Slowly, I move off the desk and walk up behind her. I peer over her shoulder at the whiteboard. I know she’s working hard, and I know it’s frustrating her that I’m not jumping on board with her ideas.
“I don’t want them to think we’re wasting their time,” I say. I know she wants Alexandra to get to know me and my company to build trust and a relationship, but what if Alexandra isn’t even interested in that? What if she thinks I’m wasting her time? I don’t want to be embarrassed.
Alyssa turns to face me. She seems surprised at first at how close I am to her. Then her expression snaps back to a serious one.
“You’re not. You’re building a relationship that can last years. Show them that you care to help them and that you believe in their goals,” Alyssa says in a softer voice. “It’s more personal than what you’re used to, but it can make all the difference.”
I cross my arms over my chest as I gaze down at her. If I even move an inch forward, I’d crash into her. She doesn’t seem the slightest bit affected by the close distance. Her focus is on the task at hand. That’s where my focus should be too, not her lips or her wide eyes.
“You know that I’m trusting you with something very important, right?” I say. I hope she knows how much trust I’m putting in her. I don’t know if I’d do that with anyone else. When it comes to her, I know she delivers on her promises. She’s true to her word, even if it’s harsh.
