He looks at me with such penetrating eyes, I start to sweat. His onyx eyes have yellow cat rings around them. I think he must be part Chinese but his pigment is pure Caucasian. Still, somewhere in his family there has to be a Chou or a Ming Fu. Those eyes glare. They are doing their best to look down my blouse. Straightening my back, I sit erect across from his huge desk.
Would I want to work for him, with him? Perhaps too quickly I am telling myself no. Still, I am here and don’t want to mess up what may be a super opportunity to be bigger than I am. There is no other way so I go for it, lean over his mahogany desk to hand him my bulging dark green portfolio. With a decent smile on my face, I say, ‘Look this over, Mr. Danson,’ and instantly regret it as he looks down my blouse. ‘Mr. Danson, I am referring to my portfolio. If you look where you should be looking, you will find that I have an excellent record of jobs I have completed, with references, of course.
My art school credits are listed, there are photos of rooms, houses, club houses, even restaurants I have furnished from bare walls to opening splendors. It wasn’t easy but I am good at what I do. With money no object I can put you in a palace fit for the King of Siam or simply re-do your wife’s bedroom.’
Mr. Danson looks at me strangely and asks, ‘Ms. Genovese, how did you know my wife sleeps in her own bedroom?’ I didn’t know, Sir. I was only making a presumption. But now I do know and can re-do the room for her if she wishes.’
The man before me is an entrepreneur, has his hands and expertise in many areas, areas I’d like to work on. Danson Construction has started building motels in Georgia, N. And S. Carolina and Virginia. They will have to be decorated, furnished and I am going try my best to get the contract. ‘Mr. Danson, I want to make the motels you have started into showplaces with handsome, furniture, bright, happy colors, none of the rusty browns and cheesy carpets. I can do this at less cost to your firm than anyone you are considering. Will you let me have a rough lay-out of your plan so I can present you with my ideas?’ My face and attitude , and maybe my low blouse, seem to be reaching him.
The sun shines into the big window behind his desk. He ruffles much too fast thru my portfolio. My heart is pumping hard. There is a long silence. ‘Ms. Genovese, do you have any idea at all how many young, anxious, artistic people like you come to me almost daily? I seldom make errors in judgement. Leave your portfolio with me for a week and I promise you my secretary will call you one way or the other.’I thank him, shake hands and start to leave.
As I reach the door, he calls me back. ‘I am ready now to take a small chance. Would you like to look over my wife’s bedroom to draw up a plan? She is into art deco this season and will be thrilled with a re-do.’
‘Of course, I would like that opportunity to prove myself but I tell you now, looking over your wife’s bedroom does not include my visiting yours. Deal or no deal?’
‘Of course, I would like that opportunity to prove myself but I tell you now, looking over your wife’s bedroom does not include my visiting yours. Deal or no deal?’
Two weeks pass and no call from Danson Construction. Sobeit! I throw some more kindling into the fire that burns my very being and have an appointment for tomorrow with Crenshaw Decorators.
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