--- 01 ---
Reba was so frustrated walking out of her boss's office. He followed her out.
"C'mon Reba. He's one of our biggest clients. He said he'd give you 6% commission if you can help him sell his house."
"And for the tenth time, no! I don't care if he would give me 50% commission. He harassed me! And the only reason why I don't report him to the police is because you begged me not to. There's no way I'd go into his house, wait, his mistress' house again!"
"Reba, I'm your boss. I'm asking you to help him sell his house."
Yes, I know you're my boss, that's why you should look out for me, not to send me to a client that shows more of an interest in having me in his bed. Why can't you sent someone else? Joe could help him sell his house without having to worry about his busy hands."
"But he specifically asked for you, please Reba... He's one of our biggest clients."
"No."
"Reba..."
"No! Go get someone else! And a word of advice, don't send a woman agent to that dirty old man's house. She might not have a swift leg like I do." She continued to mumble to herself and walked away to the lunchroom.
"Who was that?" Questioned one good-looking businessman sitting in her regional manager's office. He was listening.
"That's Reba Hart, she's one of our agent. Very stubborn woman."
"Why wouldn't she sell the house for that client of yours?"
"I'm not sure sir." Ted, her regional manager went to the door and peaked his head out asking Matt, her immediate manager to come in and explain what was going on.
"Mr. Johnson wanted to sell one of his houses, and specifically asked for Reba. When she went to study the house and gather up information. Mr. Johnson tried to show her his bed. Reba warned him a number of times, but he grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her. So she kneed him."
"Ouch!"
"Yeah, and he calls again and is willing to increase her commission if she would sell his house."
"Why would he still want her? Is she your best agent?" The man questioned.
"Well, she is sir, one of our best." Ted was thinking if he should tell the man that maybe it wasn't her selling skills that Mr. Johnson wanted.
"Okay good. Then I want her to be my agent."
"Er..." Ted and Matt glanced at each other.
"Why?" The guy asked, noticing their glances.
"We have someone else with an easy going attitude that maybe-"
"I want her to be my agent." The guy repeated.
"Yes sir." Ted reluctantly nodded. This client was a potentially big client that was looking for several places for his own employees. Ted knew him; he was a famous businessman who worked with a lot of Hollywood stars and was very well known in the fashion world. He also owned several businesses and he was looking to expand his business to Houston. Ted was a little afraid that Reba's stubborn attitude might affect several sales if she worked with this arrogant businessman. Ted knew that this client always got everything his way, and Reba, despite being one of the best agents, was very opinionated. "Matt can you please go get Reba." Matt returned few minutes later with the redhead.
"Yes?" She peaked her head in.
"Come in. This is Mr. Paul MacIntosh, he wants you to help him look for several houses in Greater Houston Area."
"But that's not my area."
"It is now." Ted glared at her. Paul just had a good look at the redhead when she came in and got the list of the houses in her 'new' territory. He heard her voice; she had a beautiful voice even when she was shouting. He didn't expect her to be stunning as well.
"Alrighty then." Reba took the file from her boss' hand and stepped in front of her brand new client. "Hi Mr. MacIntosh, I'm Reba Hart. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand to shake his. She flashed him a stunning smile.
"Please call me Paul." Paul was astonished by her smile, her eyes sparkled as if she had million little twinkles dancing inside her intense blue eyes.
"Paul. What can I do for you?" She led him to her office. Paul discreetly checked out her backside. She had a great body, he only wished she would wear something that showed off her figure. The office clothes she wore only disguised her perfect curves. She panned her hand to the seat in front of her desk; he waited until she got to her chair before sitting down.
"I need two townhouses, two condos, and a bungalow for my employees. Plus a condo for myself." He stated. He eyed her every move. Reba wrote down the information. Her thick eyelashes flapped like butterfly's wings when she blinked.
"Any preferences?" Asked Reba still looking down on the paper as she continued to write. She noticed he was checking her out. She got used to some male clients checking her out, so she didn't show any emotion. As long as they kept their hands away, she didn't mind.
"You'd look much better in a sleeveless shirt and a skirt that's slightly above your knee. And-"
"I'm sorry Paul, I mean the preference of the houses that you're looking for. Not the way I dress." Reba put her pen down and cut him off. Paul joined his brows together.
"You know, woman will pay a huge amount for me to criticize the way they dress and ask for advice. And I'm giving you it for free and you don't even appreciate it?"
"I will keep that in mind if I need fashion advice. Now can we stick to the houses that you're looking for?"
"Fine. I'm expanding my business to Houston and looking to relocate some of my valued employees here. I always give them option of staying in a house, condo or even hotel.
"Then I suggested a townhouse near the work place, a townhouse a little far away from work, and condos in down town. As for the bungalow, you need this for an employee with a family?" He nodded. "Then we should look for one that's near a church and school." Reba wrote down all the ideas. "As for your own condo, any particular place you're looking for?" Reba was so serious about her work. Paul started to grow uncomfortable. Normally a woman would be all over him by now, he was one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood. Reba didn't even show any sign that she recognized him.
"Why don't we talk about my condo over dinner?"
"Paul, I hope you're not under the impression that I would do anything for a sale," said Reba in a serious tone.
"Reba, I hope you're not under the impression that I'm asking you out." Paul mocked her. He believed he had just met the world bluntest woman. "Don't flatter yourself, it's just time for me to eat." Reba glanced at her watch.
"At 4 pm?"
"It's lunch time in LA."
"But you've just ask me out to a dinner."
"Let's just say I'm hungry. Are you going home to get change first? I can send a limo to pick you up from home."
"Paul, what do you have against the way I dress?" Reba couldn't help it.
"You look like you're going to church." Paul criticized. She had a great body and it bugged him that she didn't show it off.
"Can you please excuse me for a minute? I have to tell my boss that I'm leaving. And yes, I'm going like this, I'm not going home to change." Reba was trying to control her temper. She didn't know who this guy was, but her boss seemed to be intimidated by him, so she didn't want to snap back the way he criticized the way she dress. Paul nodded, allowing Reba to leave. She told her boss that she was taking Paul out to 'his lunch' to discuss the condo he wanted to buy. On her way back to her office, she stopped at the lunchroom to get a bottle of water.
"Why does Reba always get lucky?" Reba overheard one of her colleagues say as she was walking into the lunchroom.
"What do you mean get lucky?" Reba asked walking past the person to the fridge.
"I mean, you always get big clients, like Mr. Johnson, and now Paul MacIntosh?"
"Tell me how being kissed by a dirty old man could be called 'getting lucky'?" She shuddered "And who is this Paul MacIntosh anyway?"
"You don't know Paul MacIntosh?" Questioned another colleague, surprisingly. Reba shook her head.
"The name rang a bell, but couldn't put my finger on it."
"He's the founder of the clothing brand MACI," explained one of her colleagues
"Ah no wonder I don't know him; right up there with Prada, can't afford it."
"Not just that though, he has a lot of business in Hollywood. An entertainment tycoon you could say. Like Donald Trump, Hugh Heffner, but better looking. Last year he was tied with George Clooney for the most desirable bachelor of Hollywood.
"He is?"
"Yes, he's charming. He could make the ugliest woman feel sexy and attractive. I own a top and a skirt his brand, and every time I wear it, I always get lucky."
"I thought I was the only one! My boyfriend loves the way I look in his dress, he said I look darn sexy and it turned him on."
"He just made me feel old and unpretty!" Reba's comment just made her co-worker glance at her. "He said I dress like I'm going to church. Who is he to criticize?"
"He's one of the world's famous designers. Yeah he has right to criticize. When you really look at it, I think he's right though, you do look like you're going to church."
"I don't care who he is. I think he's a butt!"
"Shall we get going?" Reba almost jumped out of her skin when she heard his voice behind her.
"Yes we should." She glared at her friends for not telling her that he was right behind her.
"You know, if you want to talk behind someone's back, you should lower your voice a little." He was a little annoyed that Reba called him a butt. "I'm still waiting for an apology."
"Sorry you heard me calling you a butt."
"That almost sounded sincere," quipped Paul walking next to her to the parking lot. He insisted on taking his limo to a restaurant, he would drop her off at the office to pick up her car later.
"Well I'm sorry, but I really don't like the way you criticized how I dress. How would you like it if I said you look..." Reba studied the way he looked. He wore a nice tailored suit. He was almost 6'4" his hair was nicely groomed, and he was cleanly shaved. "Dang you look good!" Reba muttered getting in the limo. Not to mention he smelled so good too. Paul laughed scooting in the limo sitting next to her at the back seat.
"Well, thanks for the compliment." Paul told the limo driver where he wanted to go, and turned his attention back to Reba who was pouting. "Look I'm sorry I criticized the way you look. It's just that I'm a designer, and it bugs me that someone who has a great body like you, wears the clothing that disguise your God given gift.
"Can we talk about something else please, like where would you like to buy your condo?" Reba cut him off. Again, Paul wasn't used to some woman cut him off when he was about to compliment her.
"And you called me a butt?" Paul snapped a little "Do you think every man has a crush on you or something? Man you're so full of yourself." Paul was never used to any woman standing up to him before.
"Full of myself? At least I never called myself the most wanted bachelorette in Houston."
"I didn't buy that title you know, people voted for me. And believe me lady; you're not the most desirable bachelorette in Houston. You're not even one in this car. Like it or not, I'm still your client, can't you at least be nice?"
"Alright, let's settle down and be professional about this. We're here to talk business, not about the way I dress. Can we keep it that way please?"
"Fine." Just then the driver stopped at an Italian restaurant. He rushed over to open the door for them. "I hope you like Italian food."
"My favourite."
"Ah, well at least we have one thing in common." He tried to give her his arm, but Reba walked straight to the table without taking his arm. He sighed, once again, no woman treated him like this before. They usually took his arm the moment they stepped out of the limo as if to announce that they were with him. The host pulled the chair out for her, and Paul waited until she sat down before sitting down. "Did you say you're single?"
"I said I'm a real estate agent" Reba tried to stir the conversation to business.
"Will you lighten up? I like to know the people I work with."
"Fine then why don't you tell me about yourself? I could use that information to help you look for a home."
"I ask you first." Reba discreetly rolled her eyes. 'This sale would take forever'. She thought.