I was driving down Monterey Rd. through the parts of the city I had never been before. On my left started a tall brick wall reminiscent of those of medieval times. At the end of it I saw the sign of a machine rental company.
"What a strange place," I thought. "I hope they did not send me to another blank shot!"
When I first started going on calls three weeks ago, all went smoothly. I closed more than half of the calls. I didn't even have to put pressure. After nine days, however, things started to cool off. I later learned that they gave easy leads to newcomers to get them motivated.
Last ten calls I had closed just two. The lead quality was terrible. The first of the last three was a pothead who took our sales campaign literally and wanted 90% of the house for free. The second was some guy who didn't have the money but lots of time to waste, and the third one was a sale but only 1 room with $40 in commission.
I took this odd, commission-only job with Zumpire Today because for one I needed cash, and two I thought it would help me get over my social fear. They pumped us up during training but that was no use with what I received. By now I could be considered seasoned already but this part of town made me uneasy again. The last mile and a half was like an industrial zone.
When my GPS told me I was approaching my destination I started seeing some two to three-story apartments. They looked pretty nice for that area. Usually, it is useful to be able to predict who I would be dealing with, a hipster, a CEO, a middle-aged divorced woman, a newlywed couple, a laborer, a drug dealer, another salesman, etc. In this case, I had no clue.
I pulled into the parking lot of a two-story, ultra-modern-looking building, got out of my car, located, and walked towards the door. The entrance had a big window next to it. Behind the window could be seen the antechamber that was separated from the living room by a wall of frosted glass.
Just when I was about to ring the doorbell, a beautiful but somewhat irritated woman's voice said, "Hello! Are you David?"
I turned around to look. A tall, somewhat chubby, very beautiful lady in black office attire with knee-high skirts was hurrying towards me.
She was energetic and appeared to be in her early 30s. Her countenance bore a seductive allure that stirred the senses. Like a pair of red rose petals, her lips beckoned to be touched, promising a sweetness that could intoxicate the soul. Their fullness, a testament to natural beauty, hinted at whispered confessions and stolen kisses, evoking a sense of longing in all who gazed upon them.
As she smiled, her lips parted like a blossoming flower, revealing a radiant warmth that could brighten even the darkest of days. The curve of her cupid's bow, delicately traced by the hands of seraphic artists, lent an air of mischief and playfulness to her countenance. With each gentle press, they spoke a language of passion, leaving a lingering impression upon the hearts of those who dared to taste their enchantment.
Her long black hair, a tangible manifestation of midnight's allure, bestowed upon her an irresistible magnetism. Her eyes, a crystalline vista of celestial enchantment, shimmered with an ethereal hue that defied definition. Her legs, a sculpted masterpiece of divine proportions, were a testament to elegance and grace. From the arch of her dainty feet, as curvy as a vase for beautiful red roses, to the sculpted curves that formed the foundation of her form, they exuded an allure that defied description.
To summarize what ChatGPT said: she was hot! Her height was around 5'10" and she had a very warm demeanor.
However, despite her very friendly smile, she was in a quite pushy state: "Go inside, take off your shoes there. I will lock the car and be right there. Here, let me open the door," she said.
I was losing hope on this sale. I went inside and did what she told me, leaving my shoes at the antechamber and walking into the living room with my socks. The room was modest, with few cabinets, two medium sofas, and a beige carpet that felt like nylon packaging. The main cabinet was to the left and sofas were across from it. The dining room and kitchen were united with the living room next to the entrance. The other end of the living room had a big sliding door that looked out to a small lawn, the rear parking lot, and an empty field beyond that.
As was the custom, I immediately tried to find something to talk about. On top of a small cabinet I saw pictures. In one I found what I was looking for: herself in a beautiful belly-dancer outfit. She looked sexy as hell.
The bralette, a shimmering canvas of cobalt blue, embraced her torso with intricate patterns and delicate beadwork that glimmered like stars on a moonlit night. Swirling tendrils of silver and violet adorned the edges, adding a touch of whimsical elegance. Jewels in shades of amethyst and sapphire adorned the center, reflecting the light with an otherworldly gleam, captivating all who beheld them.
From her hips cascaded a sheer veil of royal purple, ethereal and weightless, rippling with every subtle sway. Embroidered in delicate patterns of azure and lavender, the fabric seemed to dance on its own, an extension of her graceful movements. At the hem, silver and indigo tassels hung like droplets of stardust, catching the light and casting a spellbinding aura of celestial beauty.
I was shaken by the beauty of the picture. As I stared at it in trans, she opened the door, entered the antechamber, closed back the door, and got to the edge of the carpeted floor with brisk movements.
My jaw dropped as she took off her shoes, revealing her shapely bare feet, and stepped on the carpet with elegant moves. Then she turned around and bent down to pick her flats to place them on the shoe rack. As her back was turned to me I had a good look at her smooth soles and heels, savoring the few seconds. My pants started to bulge.
After putting the shoes on the rack, she hurried towards me, panting but positively excited. "I came here from work. Have to return soon. Let's make it quick," she said in a hurry.
That lowered my expectations further. She looked like a white-collar professional. I didn't want to irritate her with small talk but had to start somewhere. Taking my chances I started, "That is a really nice outfit!"
She took the bait, or appeared to. "Yes, I belly dance. Like professionally," she replied with a smile. "I put on shows during birthdays and stuff."
"Anyway, let's get going. What have you got?" she added after a brief pause during which we admired her picture together.
"I have a couple of samples here," I told her showing her the few laminate sample boards I was holding like a briefcase. "What were you looking for in particular?"
She explained to me that the carpet cleaner had messed up her carpet by putting too much detergent, hence the nylon feel. She wanted to turn this into an opportunity to renew her floor with a warm-colored laminate. "Okay, show them," she said bluntly.
We sat on the sofa. "Here is my first sample," I said, "Auburn by Mohawk. Really sturdy. It has a scratch-proof surface. The backing is plastic. Most importantly, the edges are beveled. That is very important because it does not accumulate dust. Otherwise.."
"Okay, set it here," she said cutting me off rudely but tapping her toes on the floor playfully. I leaned down and put it on the floor, slightly upset by her attitude. I wasn't sure what to make of it. However, she seemed delighted.
"Ohh, I like it!" she said beaming. "It is a nice color. I like the patterns!".
She looked at me with her beautiful dark blue eyes that had friendly sparkles and a big smile with inviting lips. She seemed ecstatic in a strange way. Maybe she was too busy with work and this was entertainment for her.
"Okay, show me the next one," she said.
"This is walnut. It is engineered wood. A little more expensive but it is super sturdy, water and scratch-proof. The edges lock in together such that it does not allow water to seep in," I said holding the sample in front of her.