As I sit at my desk I am filled with indescribable guilt for what I did just over an hour ago. In a moment of weakness and lapse in judgement I let a client step over the line and I found myself in a very compromising situation. Not only did I do something totally out of character and grossly unprofessional, but I also betrayed my fiancee. My name is Abby and I am an insurance agent for a big firm. I joined the firm 6 years ago straight out of college. I didn't always want to be an insurance agent obviously, but it was the first job I got and I grew to like it. It also allows me to plan my own day and I can still do some modelling gigs from time to time, which is what I also enjoy doing.
The guilt and remorse eating away at me causes me to pick up the phone. I have to speak to Mark to arrange to see him tonight. I have to tell him. I don't know what it will mean for our relationship but I cannot keep the secret; it would kill me. I hate myself for what I have done. I should have resisted more. I should have ran out Todd's house. But I didn't. And I had let him have his way with me. Before I can dial Mark's number, my assistant, Anne, comes over to my desk. She's waving a document and says, "Mr Smith didn't sign the declaration." My heart sinks.
"What? Impossible!" I say as I take the piece of paper to examine it.
"Shit!" I sigh. There it was, unsigned. There is a lot of paperwork in what I do. And I always check and double check everything before leaving a client. But with Todd Smith I was in a no state to do that. I am not going back to get his signature though. First of all, I know he will try to fuck me again. Secondly, I don't think I will be able to stop him. I have already failed once.
So instead of calling Mark, I now dial Todd's number. Though it's still going to be extremely uncomfortable talking to him, it's infinitely better than going to his house. It's going to be uncomfortable, not the least because he will probably think it is all an excuse to see him again. As that thought crosses my mind, Todd answers the phone. I decide it is best to be extremely professional as I talk to him. I explain to him that there was one signature that we omitted and ask if I could email the page to him so he can sign and send it back. He says he would but he doesn't have a printer or a scanner at home. He then calmly adds, "Not a train smash though. Come by when you get a chance and I'll quickly sign the document. I'm here until tomorrow."
Let me take a step back and explain how in the world we got here. Everyday I get a handful of leads from the firm. It is usually people who called in or enquired online and they need advice from an agent. Todd Smith was a lead that I got this morning. I called him and tried to set up an appointment with him at our offices. But he said he was quite busy preparing to leave the country in a couple of days to start a new job in Europe. I reluctantly agreed to meet him at his house after establishing that he was married and his wife was a housewife. I figured I would be safe.
I got to his house at 11am exactly. Before I even knocked he opened the door. He was average height but well built. He was wearing shorts and a golf shirt. He had a gorgeous smile. He greeted me and asked if I minded if we have our discussion in his front porch. Even better, I thought.
"No I don't mind at all Mr Smith," I said.
"Todd. Please call me Todd. I'm only 30. You'll call me Mr Smith in 20 years time if you're still my advisor at that time," he said, and we both laughed.
He was very warm and I felt relaxed. I asked him if his wife would be joining the discussion and he said, "No, actually you missed her literally by minutes. She has a spa appointment."
He asked me if I wanted anything to drink and I politely asked for water. We then started our discussion, which went well. I was actually surprised at how much assets he had at 30. And the commission I was going to make was quite handsome. About an hour and a half later we were winding up. I had completed all the paperwork and I marked all the places where he needed to sign. While he was doing that I asked to use the bathroom. After about 4 glasses of water I needed to relieve myself before I took the 30 minute drive back to the office. He escorted me inside and he pointed me to the bathroom and said, "I'll be outside signing my life away," and we both laughed.
About 3 to 5 minutes later I was done and got out of the bathroom. He was standing in the hallway with one piece of paper in his hand and as I walked towards him he said, "I think I'm done. Tell me, can I change the beneficiary on this anytime I want to?"
"Yes, the beneficiary clause is actually on this page," I said, and took the page to turn it over so he could read our beneficiary clause. But as I took the paper from his hand it fell to the floor. And we both bent down to pick it up.
