Conversations

3 Conversations with a Client

“Your ability to communicate is an important tool in your pursuit of your goals, whether it is with your family, your co-workers or your clients and customers.”

-Les Brown quotes

"Ah Elizabeth, I've been wanting to talk to you." 

Dana, the vice-president of Creative services of A&D Advertisement Agency, came stalking into my office. Her grey pencil skirt was tight around her body, as usual, and her white bodice top was anything but flattering. Lizzy groaned internally at the sight of her. If Dana had come personally to meet her, the results were never good. 

Dana promptly took a seat in front of Lizzy's desk and crossed her legs. She cleared her throat loudly to get her attention and began what Lizzy thought would be her usual complaining rant. But she was sorely mistaken.

"Have you heard of Arianna Architects?"

"Errr..."

"Oh never mind! They're the new up and coming architecture firm in the city now. They had a gross profit turnover of about $50 million last year alone in profits. They've ousted many older firms in the recent bidding for that project over at Central Square. That project is worth millions!"

She took out a nail filer and began razing it across her manicured nails. Some part of Lizzy was praying that it slipped so that it razed her fingers as well. God, how that woman annoyed her!

"Normally I'd handle such a client but for some reason I cannot fathom the president wants you to handle it. I guess he was impressed with your last project, even though it looked like a disaster to me."

Dana looked up from her nails and gave Lizzy a sour expression.

"My last project boosted their sales by millions actually." Lizzy said with a forced smile on her face. She would've loved to just flatten Dana's face with her fist but she thought better of it. She was probably the only person in the entire world who could illicit such feeling in Lizzy.

Under her breath she mumbled "At least I didn't send my company into a loss."

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing, Dana. When do I meet my client?" Lizzy emphasised those words on purpose to rub it in Dana's face that these were her clients. Whenever it came to Dana, Lizzy chucked her politeness out to window to reply.

Dana's face visible coloured and it was a surprise as to how she wasn't blowing steam through her ears. She stood up and replied hotly, "They'll be here tomorrow morning at 10. Conference room 3."

With that, she stomped out of the room, her head held high, face red with anger.

"What did you say to her this time?" Marge poked her head into the room, eager to know what had transpired between them.

"Oh the usual. You're useless, I'm so talented but hey, the President picked you over me for this project." Lizzy let out a short laugh, easing her frustration.

"Same old Dana." Marge sighed before adding, "Oh! Is it the one for Arianna Architects? I got the memo today. They want the Heads working on it. Once you're done with the designing, I have to get my production team together."

Marge was Production Head under Dana as well while Lizzy was the Creative Arts Head. She designed, Marge produced her design and Dana complained about the design. That was how things were run around there. The only reason Dana ever became VP was because she was the President's niece; he didn't have much of a choice.