Post by Mirsada Anezka on Mar 4, 2006 22:20:00 GMT -5
I settled myself into the chair behind the large desk. I took a deep breath to settle my nerves as well, not due to fear of failure but due to excitement. I knew that a successful conclusion to this meeting would lead to my parents handing over control of the businesses to me. There were no thoughts of not succeeding, just anticipation for the next stage in my life.
There was a soft tap on the door. "Come in," I said, my voice steady.
A large figure entered and approached my desk. Sidig was an exporter from Umaiyyat with whom my father had been doing business for years. I had been sitting in on meetings between them for awhile and knew that Sidig did not like dealing with women in matters of business. That was something he was just going to have to come to terms with if he wanted to continue to export his goods into the City.
Rising, I smiled and looked him in the eyes. "Greetings, it is so good to see you again. Please, sit," I said, motioning to a chair across the desk from me.
"Hello," he said, looking around as he took his seat. "Your father is joining us soon?"
"No, my father has other matters he is attending to," I said as I took my seat again. "I will be handling this meeting."
I could see his jaw clench and his eyes narrowed. "I would prefer to wait for your father," he said.
"Perhaps you would prefer to find another city in which to export your goods?" I replied.
"I have been doing business with your family since before you could dress yourself… girl," he fairly spat at me. "Your father will not turn me away."
"Perhaps, but it is no longer my father's decision. If you wish to do business in the City of Elua you will deal with me," I said, my voice never changing in volume or pitch. "There is no other merchant within these walls who will buy your goods once it is known that Anezka Collections has severed ties with you. You can deal with me, or you can try to establish your reputation somewhere else."
I sat still, my eyes never leaving his. I could feel the resentment rolling off him as he tried to figure a way out of this situation. He dropped his gaze and looked away first.
"I have twenty crates of pottery, in new colors and designs," he said.
"Wonderful," I answered. "We can hardly keep your items on the shelves they are so popular." I opened a drawer and began filling out an invoice. I would not insult him by bargaining over price or inspecting the wares. He was a trusted associate with a spotless reputation. I slid the invoice over for him to look at and when he signed I pulled out the coffer and handed him a bag heavy with his fee.
He took the bag and tucked it into his cloak. He turned and began to walk out but stopped just inside the door. Looking back over his shoulder he met my gaze again, I didn't flinch. "I will see you in three months," he said, nodding slightly.
"May your journeys be filled with sweet water and clear skies," I told him, giving the traditional blessing my father had always ended meetings with.
He nodded again before exiting and closing the door behind him. I felt a rush of pure accomplishment course through me. Putting the coffer back in place I locked the drawer and went to find my parents.
I handed my father the invoice, not saying a word. He looked at it, smiled, and handed it to my mother.
--------------
A month later I was seeing them off as they began the journey to Illyria. As they passed out of sight I turned back to look at the shop. My shop. This one and two others within the City. My lips moved into the smile that my father had dubbed 'feline' and I allowed myself a moment of unfiltered joy.
A customer stopped on his way into the store and looked at me. My smile became more gentile and I went to see what I could help him with. There was business to attend to.
There was a soft tap on the door. "Come in," I said, my voice steady.
A large figure entered and approached my desk. Sidig was an exporter from Umaiyyat with whom my father had been doing business for years. I had been sitting in on meetings between them for awhile and knew that Sidig did not like dealing with women in matters of business. That was something he was just going to have to come to terms with if he wanted to continue to export his goods into the City.
Rising, I smiled and looked him in the eyes. "Greetings, it is so good to see you again. Please, sit," I said, motioning to a chair across the desk from me.
"Hello," he said, looking around as he took his seat. "Your father is joining us soon?"
"No, my father has other matters he is attending to," I said as I took my seat again. "I will be handling this meeting."
I could see his jaw clench and his eyes narrowed. "I would prefer to wait for your father," he said.
"Perhaps you would prefer to find another city in which to export your goods?" I replied.
"I have been doing business with your family since before you could dress yourself… girl," he fairly spat at me. "Your father will not turn me away."
"Perhaps, but it is no longer my father's decision. If you wish to do business in the City of Elua you will deal with me," I said, my voice never changing in volume or pitch. "There is no other merchant within these walls who will buy your goods once it is known that Anezka Collections has severed ties with you. You can deal with me, or you can try to establish your reputation somewhere else."
I sat still, my eyes never leaving his. I could feel the resentment rolling off him as he tried to figure a way out of this situation. He dropped his gaze and looked away first.
"I have twenty crates of pottery, in new colors and designs," he said.
"Wonderful," I answered. "We can hardly keep your items on the shelves they are so popular." I opened a drawer and began filling out an invoice. I would not insult him by bargaining over price or inspecting the wares. He was a trusted associate with a spotless reputation. I slid the invoice over for him to look at and when he signed I pulled out the coffer and handed him a bag heavy with his fee.
He took the bag and tucked it into his cloak. He turned and began to walk out but stopped just inside the door. Looking back over his shoulder he met my gaze again, I didn't flinch. "I will see you in three months," he said, nodding slightly.
"May your journeys be filled with sweet water and clear skies," I told him, giving the traditional blessing my father had always ended meetings with.
He nodded again before exiting and closing the door behind him. I felt a rush of pure accomplishment course through me. Putting the coffer back in place I locked the drawer and went to find my parents.
I handed my father the invoice, not saying a word. He looked at it, smiled, and handed it to my mother.
--------------
A month later I was seeing them off as they began the journey to Illyria. As they passed out of sight I turned back to look at the shop. My shop. This one and two others within the City. My lips moved into the smile that my father had dubbed 'feline' and I allowed myself a moment of unfiltered joy.
A customer stopped on his way into the store and looked at me. My smile became more gentile and I went to see what I could help him with. There was business to attend to.