Marketing and branding are my specialty, working with companies to develop their product's image. Branding can be used to enhance a corporate image or the image of an individual. Most clients approach us to do work for them. Other times we meet potential clients at trade shows or industry events.
I met Charles at a trade show cocktail party, he was introduced to me by a current client. Charles was handsome, sophisticated, very polite, and charming. What one would expected from a successful CEO he was interested in my company's services. He also seemed very interested in me personally, which was not at all uncommon. I have always had the ability to turn heads and I have refined it to an art form. Dressed in a classic little black dress, a pair of fuck me heels, a string of pearls, classy but alluring.
Playing hard to get, I apologized saying that I had a previous meeting set up with a client, it was nice to meet him. We exchanged business cards, we need to talk he said. I let him know that I would reach out when time allowed.
An hour or so later, I received a texted from the client that introduced me to Charles. "Wow, you left him standing there with a hard on, ready to do anything to get you onboard."
"Hopefully, he was whimpering a little also," was my reply.
The following morning one of my executive assistants informed me that Charles' company reached out to set up a meeting.
A few weeks later, I arrived at Charles' corporate offices for an initial meeting. Knowing his late image of me was in a little black dress, I choose a very professional suit with pants to wear. Charles tried to hide his disappointment in my overly professional look. For the next hour we discussed business, his needs, our requirements. Running my fingers across his hand telling him that I would look forward to working closely with him. All that was needed was the half of million dollar retainer. The hook was set.
Standing up, I shook his hand, let me know your decision.
"Will you join me for dinner, to celebrate the agreement?" jumped out of his mouth.