In My Rearview Mirror, JACK.HUGHES

TWENTY THREE

So, I'm dragging Mr. and Mrs. Smith through this boujee Manhattan penthouse, like the kind you see in movies. The windows are huge, and you can basically see the whole city from up here. It's fancy as hell, but let's be real, their money's paying for it, not mine.

"Okay, hear me out, I was thinking these colors," I say, swiping open this Pinterest board on my iPad. It's full of moody blues, like super deep ocean vibes, with some shiny stuff thrown in. Think, like, rich-people fancy but not too much. You know?

Mrs. Smith's all about it, her eyes go wide. "Oh my God, I love this! Frank, isn't this amazing?" she's practically squealing, nudging her husband. Frank, who's got that whole serious-old-dude vibe, just nods. He looks like he's trying real hard to play it cool, but I can tell he's into it.

We've been working together for like a week, and honestly, I kinda like them. They trust me, which is pretty cool since they're dropping serious cash on this place. It's not just some random job anymore—it's like, my chance to make their fancy dreams come true in NYC.

I start scrolling through the Pinterest board, showing them how these colors will fit with the penthouse, make it feel even bigger and brighter. The convo shifts to talking about furniture, and I'm dropping terms like I know what I'm doing. Mrs. Smith leans in closer, clearly dying to know more. "Okay, but what about the furniture, babe? Any ideas?"

"Oh, for sure," I say, launching into my whole pitch. "Like, imagine velvet couches in that deep blue? Super plush, like you sink right into them. And then a big-ass chandelier to make it all pop." I'm gesturing all over the place, trying to paint the picture for them.

Frank suddenly perks up. "What about the floors? Any thoughts?"

I point down at the floor plans on my iPad, like I've got it all figured out. "Yeah, so I'm thinking maybe a herringbone pattern? Like, a light wood. It'll break up all the dark colors and keep it from feeling too stuffy, y'know? Plus, it'll look hella classy."

Mrs. Smith gives this little nod, all serious. "Love it. Frank, what do you think?"

He's quiet for a sec, like he's doing mental math or something. Finally, he gives me a thumbs up. "Yeah, let's go for it."

Working with rich clients in New York? Yeah, it's all about leveling up. These people aren't just looking for a new couch or paint job—they want the whole place transformed. I'm talking major glow-up status, turning it into something that'll rake in cash when they sell.

"So, we're talking a total makeover here," I tell them, waving my hand around the huge living room like I'm on some HGTV show. "We change the colors, switch up the floor pattern—basically give it a whole new vibe so it stands out to buyers. It'll look amazing, and you'll be making bank."

"If you're down for this," I continue, trying to sound professional but keep it real, "I'll bring in my team to check out the place. It's super important to make sure our vision actually works here, especially if we're talking about knocking down walls. And don't worry, we'll be extra careful with the load-bearing ones—no one's trying to make this place fall apart."

Mrs. Smith and Frank share one of those looks, like they're thinking hard about it. I jump back in, "And after the evaluation, if you're still in, we can get started in, like, two weeks max. Quick, but still getting it done right."

Frank's nodding, looking all serious. "Efficiency is key. I appreciate the clarity."

"Totally," I say, trying to sound like I've got it all together. "I'm all about keeping you guys in the loop. And honestly, making sure you're happy is my top priority."