8. A Hustler At Heart
8
A Hustler At Heart
W ith William’s return hanging over her head, Nicole wanted to keep things business as usual. She was already in the middle of planning a charity event for a client. She wasn’t about to let William interfere with her plans to make a name for herself. If she continued as if things were normal, the issue with him would eventually fade.
His plans for revenge would subside when he realized there was no proof of her having a hand in his downfall. Or any other man’s, for that matter. It wasn’t as if he could pause his life indefinitely to find proof that didn’t exist. And it definitely didn’t exist. People could call Nicole many things, but sloppy wasn’t one of them.
So she put William to the back of her mind when she arrived at her office. It was Thursday, and she had a meeting with a prospective client that required her full attention. She couldn’t afford for William to ruin her reputation before she could even cement it.
“Good morning, boss lady,” Reggie, Nicole’s assistant, secretary, and only employee, greeted her. He stood from his modern curved workstation. One of the office’s most expensive purchases. The first thing people saw when they entered her business should reflect the image she was after.
Reggie’s station, a high-end, modern, black-topped piece of art, sat front and center. Equipped with its own spotlight and dedicated cooling unit. Nicole’s own office desk didn’t have its state-of-the-art features. She met with clients in the conference room, so they never saw her second hand desk and chair.
The entire front section of her office was an open floor plan. Navy blue carpeting stretched from the lobby to the back. A brown Italian leather couch sat near the door. Interior Design, Architectural Digest, and other design magazines stacked the sleek coffee table. The lone exception being The Wilder Way magazines. What could Nicole say? Something about hideous couture trends, advice from armchair psychologists, and fashion scandals kept her coming back for more.
She designed the front to welcome and impress people. The back of the office held the conference room, a small bathroom, and her office. Nothing in the back could compete with the front, but it got the job done.
“How many times have I asked you not to call me boss lady?”
“Not enough times for me to take you seriously.”
Nicole rolled her eyes, but she wasn’t annoyed. “Do you have the information for my meeting?”
“Right here.” Reggie handed her the files. She handed them back.
“I already reviewed the digital copies. I asked because I need you to quiz me.”
“On?”
“Him.”
Back in her con artist days, Nicole would have Maya quiz her on their latest mark to ensure she didn’t forget important details. It was a different industry, but the system still worked well in event planning. With Maya now busy with her own schedule, Nicole would need to turn to Reggie with these sorts of things now .
“Okay,” he dragged out, shuffling the papers around. “What is the prospect’s na-”
“Mr. Aiden Spencer. 30 years old. A tech genius who sold his fitness app for millions. Loves his sports. Favorite teams are the Knicks, the Rangers, the Giants.”
“Ew, sounds like he’s an aged up frat bro.”
“With computer skills that have gotten him far. His now defunct Instagram showed him with a lot of women from his college days.”
“So what, you’re going to flirt with him until he signs on?”
“No,” Nicole said firmly. “I’m going to point out he’s a man—”
“I’m sure he already knows that.”
“Who needs my womanly touch,” Nicole said over Reggie’s comment. “To plan a fantastic party for his five-year-old niece.”
“How’s your knowledge of kids’ parties?”
“I’ve thrown my fair share.” When Maya was younger, she made sure every one of her birthdays was memorable. She didn’t want the absence of her father or lack of money to be felt. It got easier when Maya got older, but Nicole kept the same effort to this day. “I know what kids like, Reggie.”
“You just need to know what this one kid likes. And to keep it professional with Mr. Spencer. Don’t let your perception of him ruin your chances of landing him. If this goes well, we could be in a good spot moving forward.”
“You’re acting like we aren’t already.”
“It’s true we’re in a good spot for an up-and-coming business. But we aren’t the first name people think of when they’re looking to throw a party. Charm this millionaire and he might put in a good word for us with his other millionaire friends.”
Reggie’s advice was sound, as always. She had hired him for a reason. Treading carefully with Mr. Spencer was key. A balance of professionalism and charm would secure not only his business, but could open doors to a whole new clientele. “When he gets here, send him in. I’ll be ready.”
Nicole sat in the conference room, looking around at the small space. Compared to the conference rooms Mr. Spencer was used to, this one was modest. The size of the room wasn’t grand like the lobby. The furniture was minimal with discounted swivel chairs and a table from Wayfair. A fake ficus and shelves from Family Dollar made up the rest of the room. The décor reflected her company’s success. Or lack thereof.
Taylor For You Event Planning started from the money Nicole made from her cons. Yet Nicole didn’t want to invest more of its money into it. It was there for safe keepings if times got tough, but she wanted to build the company on her own. Without her ex-husbands’ money. They might have helped her lay the foundation, but she would make it successful on her own.
Nicole wondered if Mr. Spencer would be put off by her modest operation. Their website and Instagram were of photos of the parties and events they planned, not of their office. Mr. Spencer could walk in and be immediately turned off by them before Nicole even got to say a word.
What they lacked in money, they made up for in potential. If Nicole was going to get her company where she wanted, she would need more clients like Mr. Spencer. She would have to get him to see past their humble office space and recognize the talent and passion that fueled their business.
A knock on the door stopped her from thinking more negative thoughts. She collected herself before calling out, “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal the man himself. Aiden Spencer was as handsome as his pictures suggested. His honey brown skin tone glowed and his hair was kept low in a natural look. His tailored tan suit emphasized his broad shoulders and trim waist .
The prescription glasses he wore made him look more studious than he probably was. He walked with the swagger of a man who was used to getting whatever he wanted. Nicole hoped his arrogance wouldn’t affect their chances of scoring a deal.
She rose to greet him. “Mr. Spencer, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person,” Nicole said, extending her hand for a handshake.
He took it, flashing her a charming smile. “The pleasure is all mine.”
“Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you,” he said, sitting across from her. He glanced around like he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“When you spoke to my assistant, you said you were interested in working with us for your niece’s birthday party. May I ask what you’re thinking of?”
“Well, I’m thinking about something big. Something that will amaze her. Something she has never seen before.”
“What have her parents planned for her past parties?”
He shifted in his seat, a crack in his facade briefly appearing. “My sister used to hold her parties at Chuck E. Cheese with a princess themed cake. Now with her out of the picture and Nessa’s dad never having been around, I want to do something extra special for her.”
“I’m sorry to hear your sister isn’t around.”
He nodded. “Last year, I tried to lift her spirits by taking her to an amusement park, just the two of us. It didn’t help the way I thought it would. I could see how sad she was her mom didn’t bother to show. This year needs to be different. I want her to have fun and know she’s loved and has a family that will always be there for her.”
Nicole’s reservations about Mr. Spencer were still there. Yet she believed the words he spoke about his niece. So many wealthy men she met in both her lines of work cared little about their families and showed it. It was a pleasant change to meet one who seemed to genuinely care. “We can do something special. You told my assistant that Nessa was turning six. Does she have the usual six-year-old girl’s taste?”
“I mean, she’s super artistic. She spends her free time either reading or drawing flowers on her sketchpad. Or on me.” He pulled back his sleeve, revealing a colorful daisy drawn on his forearm. “This is from this morning. She has some imagination, so I want the party to be like a dream come true for her.”
“And how do you envision that?”
“I have no idea,” he admitted with a self-deprecating chuckle. “I’m clueless about stuff like this. That’s where I was hoping you could help.”
Nicole smiled, pleased to be working with someone who wanted a creative event. She didn’t get many opportunities like that, so she was eager to put her own spin on it.
Mr. Spencer continued, “I want this to be the best birthday party she’s ever had.”
“I want that for her too. She’s lucky to have an uncle like you.”
“I’m blessed to have been gifted a niece like her. She’s changed my life in more ways than I can count. She makes me want to be better.”
“She sounds special.”
“She is,” he agreed with a fond smile. “Her party should reflect that.”
“I understand, Mr. Spencer. This is my area of expertise. Leave it to me. I have a few ideas already forming in my head.”
“I would love to hear them. Over lunch if you’re free.”
Nicole analyzed his tone. His expressions and body language revealed nothing. Normally, she would decline such an offer, not wanting the client to get the wrong idea, but he wasn’t a normal client. Hell, he wasn’t even officially a client. She still needed to convince him to hire her.
“It’s almost noon,” she stated, standing up. “How about we grab sandwiches from the deli next door and we can go over the details there?”
“That works.”
They made the short trek in silence. Nicole was busy thinking about whether the meeting was going well. He was open when he didn’t have to be about his family life, which was a good sign. But there were two things that worried her. One, he was withholding hiring her. Two, he moved things out of the office when they could’ve been drafting a contract right about now.
His excuse for being quiet on their walk? Nicole had no idea, and that bothered her. She read people well, even when they didn’t want to be. The fact she couldn’t tell if he was taking her to lunch to let her down gently or not was concerning. She dealt with closed off people before, but this was different. Mr. Spencer’s next move could make or break this opportunity for her.
When they got to the front of the deli, he held the door open for her. The smell of fresh baked bread wafted through the air as they walked in. “Come here a lot?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“Sometimes. It’s convenient, and I like their sandwiches.”
“I used to have a go-to place in New York. Now that I’m in Philadelphia, I haven’t found a new place.”
“If you’re not a fan of their selection, we can go somewhere else.”
“No, no. I trust your taste.”
Nicole smiled. She could work with that. She ordered a grilled turkey brie cranberry sandwich. Mr. Spencer followed her lead. He paid, waving off her attempts to pay him back. They sat in a booth by the window, the view of the street showing pedestrians and cars going about their day.
As they unwrapped their sandwiches, Nicole noticed how Mr. Spencer’s eyes lit up at the first bite. It was an insignificant detail, but one that gave her hope. Maybe this lunch meeting wasn’t a lost cause.
“So, about those ideas you mentioned earlier,” he began, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Yes, well, I had a few. We can’t decide on anything for certain until we see what your budget is, and I have to meet Nessa. But I had a few things in mind that would fit your parameters. By the looks of it, Nessa likes nature,” she said, looking again at the drawing on his arm.
“One option would be to have a garden party. Picture this - a canopy of twinkling fairy lights hanging over rows of tables. Fresh-cut flowers scattered throughout. Tea sets fit for a princess. A face painting station where her friends can transform into butterflies and fairies. There can be a petting zoo with her favorites, within range. A dessert bar, filled with Nessa’s favorite treats. And, of course, a pi?ata.”
Nicole could have kept going, but she would’ve felt like she was rambling. She paused and checked how her prospective client was feeling about her idea. He was silent and not giving enough away for her liking.
“That doesn’t sound all that different from the parties my sister threw for her. Just in a garden with actual mice instead of animatronics.”
Nicole fought to keep a straight face. Her idea was a good one. Maybe too good. “Is this the kind of event that would impress Nessa? Or would she want something bigger?”
“She’s not a materialistic kid. Unlike kids her age and even some adults, experiences are more important to her than extravagances my money can buy her.” His tone was light, but Nicole sensed an edge to it. Like his comment was supposed to be a jab at someone. His sister, perhaps?
“So, maybe what would really make her happy is just a normal birthday party. Like, a sleepover with pizza, board games, and movies.”
“If I wanted to give her that, do you think I would be sitting across from you right now?”
Her frustration mounted at his dismissive tone, but Nicole kept her cool. This was all part of the job, dealing with difficult clients who had their own vision. She had to step up her game. “What I’m gathering is you want her party to be extra special. Not in the sense of spending thousands on decorations or food or entertainment. But something truly special. Not because it’s extravagant, but because it’s meaningful to her.”
“That’s exactly what I want.”
“In that case, I have one final idea. We transform a local venue into a gallery celebrating her love for art. We can set up different stations around the space for hands-on projects. One station will focus on painting. Nessa and her guests can try finger-painting or working with acrylics. Another area can explore clay sculpting. There could be a mixed media collage station. Easels will be available throughout. Professional local artists will be on hand to help her and her guests. It would be like wonderland for an aspiring artist like Nessa.”
Nicole stopped to watch Mr. Spencer. He was taking in her proposal. She could see the gears working in his head. After a beat, he said, “How are you going to pull something like that off?”
“I have my connections like I’m sure you do.”
He finished his sandwich and leaned back in his seat. “You may have stumbled onto something. What would you need from me?”
“Everything. I’ll need a guest list. The budget. Your input at each stage. To be officially hired.”
“Right.” Mr. Spencer grinned and extended his hand. “We have a deal.”
“Excellent. We can go back to the office and settle the details.” She beamed, shaking his hand. “And I’ll have to meet Nessa soon to make the party as personalized as possible.”
“How about tomorrow? She’s due for a skip day from school.”
Relief flooded through Nicole. Making headway with him felt like a weight lifted from her shoulders. “Tomorrow it is, Mr. Spencer. ”
They stood, but he stopped her before she could make a move towards the exit. “My friends call me Spencer. Something tells me we’ll be thick as thieves by the end of this. You can get a headstart by calling Spencer now.”
Yet another thing she didn’t do with clients, but she was willing to make an exception for him. “Spencer it is, then. Feel free to call me Nicole. Now, shall we return to the office and finalize the details?”
“Absolutely. Lead the way, Nicole.”