wasn’t just a pretty face. I wanted to prove to my coworkers that while I was young and inexperienced, I could be just as good as they were.
When I got to the office, everyone else was already there doing the water cooler thing. “Good morning,” I greeted.
“You’re dressed nice,” one of them commented.
“Thank you.”
“I hear you’re going to try and handle Nash Aarons today,” he joked.
I shrugged. “I think he just needs to understand what all the line items mean.”
The man scoffed. “He’s an arrogant little prick who thinks he knows more than I do. More than anybody. He’s made a little money and he thinks he is king of the world. I’ve seen his type before. They make it fast and lose it even faster. There’s no point in trying to win his business. He’ll be broke by this time next year.”
“That’s kind of rude,” I said.
“You haven’t had to sit and talk to the guy,” he shot back. “The guy is rude. He’s worse than rude. I wish you luck, but I know I won’t take his business. I’m done with his shitty attitude. He’s not any better than anyone else that walks through those doors. He acts like he is doing us a big favor by bringing us his business. I talked to a buddy of mine at another firm. They refused to take him on as a client. I heard a lot of the bigger firms have all rejected him.”
That was a little concerning, but it just made me want to try harder. I was going to prove them wrong. I carried my cup of coffee to my desk in the smallest office in the place. It was the office closest to the door, which meant I was supposed to greet anyone who came in. I was the one who had to answer questions and make appointments. It was my job because I was the newbie. I didn’t mind.
I flicked open the top button on my blouse and then another one. Yes, I was using boobs and sexuality to disarm the man. If everyone else had tried it their way, I was going to try it mine. I had seen him when he walked in the first day. He was good looking and he knew it. He was used to women wanting him.
I heard the door open and leaned over to see if it was him or someone else. He walked in looking confident as ever in what looked to be a new suit. I rose from my chair, tugged my skirt down just a bit, and walked out to greet him. “Mr. Aarons,” I said with a bright smile. “Thanks for coming in.”
“Are you the one who called me?” he asked irritably.
“I am. I understand there was some troubles and I thought I would go over your account.”
He scrutinized me. “Is this your first day?” he quipped.
“You’ve seen me here before. You know it isn’t my first day.”
He smiled. “Good point.”
“Come into my office and we’ll go over what you have.”
I walked in, swaying my hips just a bit. I sat down and waited for him to get comfortable. “Are you actually a CPA?” he asked.
I laughed. “I am. Can you tell me what’s been going on?”
“What do you mean?”
I smiled at him. “I think we both know you’ve been struggling to find someone to work with.”
He sighed, and for the first time, that permanent scowl faded just a bit. “I know what I want and what I need. I’ve just started my business and I can’t afford a single misstep. I need someone who understands how to get me the most tax breaks and how to keep my ass from being hounded by the IRS. I need to invest, and I can’t do that if I’m paying out the money in taxes.”
I nodded and jotted down a few notes. “I’m going to open up your file if that’s okay with you?”
“Are you wasting my time?” he asked.
I flashed him a smile. “Why would you think that?”
“Because every other accountant in New York has kicked me out after hearing my demands.”
I smiled as I pulled up his file in the system. “I’m not every other accountant.”
“You sure don’t look like every other accountant.”
I flashed him a smile. He was flirting. I scanned the information that had been entered. I started doing what I did. I pulled out hard copies and started writing things down and explaining the ins and outs of money management. I gave