295 Mr. Reynolds, the new client 2 (1/2)
”Are you sure that it's a good idea to let her drive this deal?”
”Objections?” Joseph asked without looking at Thomas.
Thomas was unable to suppress his displeasure with the current situation. ”Bri joined only two days ago. Does she know what she is supposed to do? You saw how lost she was when she arrived here. I'm surprised that Mr. Reynolds didn't mock us for incompetence. These three transactions are less than a hundred thousand, but we both know that future deals might be in millions. If she messes up this, it will be a big loss for the company.”
Joseph didn't deny it. Thomas' logic makes sense, but… ”You heard the man. He came here because Bri recommended Harper Investments to him. That tells me that when she stopped in Seattle to spend some time with her two girlfriends, other than partying, she was thinking about work. I believe that such dedication should be rewarded.”
Thomas' frown didn't ease up. ”Are you sure that you are not giving her this customer only because she is your daughter? Or because you feel guilty that she left?”
Joseph turned to look at Thomas in slow motion and his icy glare told Thomas that he crossed the line. ”Tom, Mr. Reynolds from Reynolds publishing is Bri's customer. She brought him in. If one of us handles the deal, or I give it to one of the other advisors, it might fly this time, but if Mr. Reynolds becomes one of the regulars, he will end up meeting Brianna sooner or later. Do you think that she will be pleased to find out that Mr. Reynolds came here asking for our services on her recommendation and I didn't inform her? If that is you and I give your customer to someone else, would you take it calmly?”
Thomas pressed his lips into a line. He wanted to shout and to tell Joseph how this is injustice, and that Brianna is a fickle girl who abandoned her family and her promising career in order to party and travel and write online articles! Why is she not being punished? But Thomas can see that Joseph is irked by Tom's previous remarks, and whatever he says will only enrage Joseph further so he decided to be quiet.
It's obvious to Joseph that Thomas is not willing to accept the outcome, and he only hopes that Tom will let it go.
”Tom, I appreciate your zeal when we are facing a competitor, but here, we are a team. Brianna's deal is for Harper Investments, just how yours are. I am aware that you have much more experience than Bri, and I hear your concerns. However, she is smart and I'm confident that she understands the importance of her first deal since she returned, and she will do her best to show good results to all of us. I hope that you can support her, but if you are unable to do so, then at least do not hinder her work.”
…
In Brianna's office…
As soon as the door closed behind them, Brianna found herself in Quentin's embrace.
She lifted her head and her lips parted, silently asking to be kissed and Quentin fulfilled that request eagerly.
The kisses and hugs intensified and when Bri felt that Quentin is lifting her skirt, she broke the kissing frenzy.
”Not here…” She breathed.
Quentin frowned in protest.
”My cousin Tom would love nothing more than to catch me in a compromising situation. Let's get out of here…” Brianna said while squirming out of Quentin's hold. ”Where do you want to go for lunch?”
”Do you have your place?” Quentin asked. The two of them spent some time looking online listings before she left Seattle, and Brianna narrowed down choices to three apartments.
Brianna bobbed her head happily. ”Yes. I signed the lease on the second apartment we checked online, the one with three bedrooms. But the furniture is not there yet so it's quite empty. There are one bean bag and an inflatable mattress… The rest of my stuff is in suitcases and boxes...”
Quentin listened to Brianna and observed while she straightened her clothes and got her purse.
”Do you want to go to my new place and see it? I have the keys.” Brianna asked when she realized that Quentin is silent.
Quentin would love that, but his time in San Francisco is limited. ”No. Let's go to my hotel. We can eat there as well.”
Brianna smiled. ”Sounds like a plan.”
While walking down the hallways toward the underground parking, Brianna gave Quentin a mini-tour of the building.
”When did you arrive?” Brianna asked when they got inside Quentin's rental car.
”This morning.”
”Why didn't you tell me you are coming? Don't try to sell me the story of how it was a sudden decision and you didn't have the time to call or text.”
Quentin smirked. ”I love your expression when I show up unexpectedly.”
Brianna remembered that when he came to her apartment in New York, it was also without an announcement.
”Q, I love it when you surprise me, but next time please let me know. What if I left for the day? Or if I was stuck in a meeting?”
Quentin took Brianna's hand in his and kissed the back of her palm. ”I would wait, come back another day… or tell your father that unless I see you in five minutes, I will take my business elsewhere.”
Brianna looked at Quentin in disbelief. He is so domineering. She likes it.
…