If he wanted to meet every person he did business with, then so be it. Some people were old school that way. Flying someone to New Zealand would certainly be worthwhile for me in the long run if it convinced him to stay on with us.
“You would do that?” His tone dripped with doubt.
“Absolutely. You and I can arrange a time when it will be convenient for you, and I’ll have one of my best people fly out there.”
Dave sighed. “I wouldn’t have a choice in who you sent?”
For. Fuck’s. Sake. “I could prepare a brief for you on our available people, but like you said, you don’t know them. I do.”
“Yes, but you see, this goes back to my first issue. I’m not being given a choice in who I do business with.”
I scrubbed my hands over my face and sent a piercing glare at the ceiling. “I’ve run the numbers, and you would actually save money by sticking with us. The person you would be working with would mostly be communicating with you by way of correspondence anyway. That’s real money saved versus the person on the other side of the screen.”
There I go again. I’d been told that I had a silver tongue and could sell ice to an Eskimo. My problem was that blades could also be formed from silver and ice could impale a person. My temper took those gifts I supposedly had and turned them into weapons too often, which was why I needed someone like Addy to balance me out.
“I don’t do business with screens, Mr. Ricci.” Fuck. It was Mr. Ricci now, not Marco anymore. “You might not understand the value of knowing the person on the other side of that screen, but I do.”
Addy’s warm hand suddenly gripped my arm. When I glanced over at her, there was a thoughtful expression on her face.
She didn’t look at me or wait for my permission. She just squeezed her fingers around my forearm in what I guessed was a warning and then sent her own smile at the phone.
“Hi, Dave? This Adaline Tidwell. I work with Marco. Do you mind if I jump in here for a minute?”
“Who are you?”
“Adaline Tidwell,” she repeated calmly. “I’m a client liaison for the company, and I’m new to it, too. It can be scary working with new people.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” he grumbled, but I could hear him softening under the spell of her warm, kind tone.
“I’m talking about not knowing who you’re going into business with. Especially when you feel like you don’t have a choice. I was in very much the same boat not so long ago, but let me tell you something about Marco. He’s an honorable man who keeps his word. If he says he can save you money, I’m confident he really can do it.”
“How do you know he can save me money? He doesn’t know what other people might charge me for the same services.”
She met my gaze, her blue ones calculating as I arched a brow at her and rolled my eyes. The tiniest hint of a smile twitched at the corners of her lips.
“I believe he does know, Dave. He didn’t rise to the top of this game by accident. If he can save you money, wouldn’t it be best to stay with us? Saving money in any area is beneficial for any business. Marco can fly your new account manager out to meet you before the first shipment, and that way, you’ll know who you’re dealing with from here on out. That sounds like a win-win to me.”
“Can the new account manager be you?” he asked after a long pause.
Addy brought her hand to her chest and let out a quiet, melodic laugh. “I’d love to meet you, Dave. I’ve heard New Zealand is beautiful. Maybe one day, I’ll come out there to you, but I’m afraid that’s not my role in the company right now. Like I said, I’m still very new. I doubt you want me running your account.”
There was another long pause, but then laughter came from his end of the line. “No, it’s probably not a good idea to let a newbie handle our account. Some of the countries we do business in are bastards with their regulations. Maybe one day, though, huh?”
“Maybe. So what do you say, Dave? Are you sticking with us?”
“Yeah, I think so. Provided that he does what you said and sends our new manager out before the first shipment. I also want to see those numbers he ran.”
“I’ll send you the estimates I’ve done before the end of the week. If you let me know when you can fit in a few days to get to know our representative, I’ll make sure they’re there.”
“Very well. You’ve got yourself a deal then. I’ll be happy to keep my business with you for as long as we can keep this kind of transparency going.”
“That’s how we operate, Dave,” I assured him, even as I rolled my eyes again. “If you’ll allow me to be frank, I truly have no interest in fucking anyone around.”
The man chuckled. “That’s what I like to hear. Right, you two, you have yourself a deal. We’ll be in touch.”
We said our goodbyes, and when the call ended, I lifted my palm for a high five. Addy’s eyes widened in surprise, but she slapped my offered hand.
“Well done. That was one hell of a score for your first client meeting.”
“I’m sorry I jumped in, even when you said you’d take the lead.” Her cheeks flushed pink. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I just—”
“No apology necessary. You did great, Addy. I’m glad you stepped in. That’s exactly what I need you for.”
“You needed me to go against your instructions?” she asked, her tone teasing. Laughter shone in her eyes, even though she was trying to suppress it. “Why
