Two Days Later – At Mirabel's Office
It had been two days of emotional torture for Mirabel, but she managed her feelings properly. She longed to be in her office, and reminisce their meeting. She recalled how Alfred missed his lines, and the silly look on his face.
“I have found another excuse to laugh …” she laughed softly over the manner that he mixed things up, and mumbled, “I hope he would not make such a costly mistake before his woman.”
On an impulse, she had made the visitors' seat that Alfred sat on that day her new seat. She would either sit on it and work, or lean on the window sill, and admire the flowers on her farm when she was less busy. However, that day was not an exception. She was lost in her thoughts when the intercom buzzing sound caught her attention. She looked at the intercom, and picked up the receiver at once.
“Hello. How may I help you, officer?” She inquired, and looked at the closed-circuit television
“Mr. Carson Gilmore is here to …”
“Kindly usher him in,” she interrupted when she spotted Carson. She returned to her seat at once, and put herself together. After a few seconds, the front desk officer walked Carson, who was holding a proposal, and he greeted, “A good day to you, young lady,” Carson greeted cheerfully. The first thing that she wished to do was to inquire about Alfred, but she held herself back, and responded officiously, “A good day to you, Sir. I am pleased to have you again.”
“Thank you for having me. Can I sit?”
“Yes, why not?” She stated, and gestured him to a seat. He pulled up his pants legs before he took his seat gracefully, and appreciated, “Thank you, for the offer.”
“You are welcome,” she said, and waited for him to state his mission. Nevertheless, Carson also waited for her to ask after his friend, and when she did not, he carried on.
“I can see that your business is going on well.”
“Certainly. Thank you for your interest. How about yours? I hope it is going on well too.”
“It is. I am grateful for your concern, and that is why I am here.” At that point, Carson handed over the proposal to her, and said, “This is for you. It is the proposal for my upcoming concert.”
“Wow!” She exclaimed, and collected the proposal. Then, she read through the front page, and raised her brow in satisfaction.
“I am highly honored to earn your trust. If I get you right, you want us to partner with you on your forthcoming event, am I right?”
“You are right.”
“That is good. Permit me to ask, what is expected of us as partners of your event of this magnitude?”
“A lot. You can take a booth to showcase your brand. We can make your store one of our ticket selling points for those who may wish to buy their tickets physically.”
“Wow! I like that. If I may ask again, how many florist stores have you invited to partner with you?”
“We have listed five of them, and currently, we have written to two and if I include you, it would come to a total of three. I hope to contact the other two when I leave here.”
“I like your idea, but if my company must partner with you, we would want to be the only florist company on the occasion.” Howbeit, Carson did not hide his surprise, and remarked at once, “That is a big one. I am afraid that such a gesture would attract a heavy cost on you.”
Mirabel smiled inwardly, and requested, “Before we proceed, let me read on and get the cost implications.”
“Yes. It is necessary.”
She flipped through the proposal and stopped at the tabulated page of the requirements from a partner. Carson watched her go through it keenly, and observed that she was unfazed by the outrageous amount for sole partnership. She covered the proposal, and asked with a calm expression, “I have seen the cost implications. Could you please summarize the benefits to us if we partner with you?”
“Thank you for that question. The benefits are enormous. You stand a chance of being mentioned in our publications. As an outlet for the tickets, you would not have the space for the traffic of people who would visit your shop, and probably patronize you.”
“That is marvelous. I maintain that my organization would be the only florist company to partner with you. If it is acceptable to you, I can make the payment for two booths right now.”
“It is acceptable to me, if you can shoulder the weight of such a gesture.”
“Never mind. I will worry about that. I also wish to pay for three Very, Very Important Personalities Tables immediately.”
“Three tables? Each table is for six. What do you intend to do with three tables of eighteen guests?”
Likewise, Mirabel gave him a stern look, and demanded, “Would you experience any problem if I chose to lie down on one and used two as my pillow and foot rest?”
Carson imagined how ridiculous it would be, and laughed loudly, and she was infested. She laughed too, and he answered, “Not in the least. After all, it is your table.”
“I'm glad that you got it.”
They sealed their deal by signing the memorandum of understanding, and he appreciated, “Thank you for saving me the stress of visiting other flower shops.”
“You are welcome. Consider them inconsequential, and see us as the only flower shop existing. I must appreciate you for finding us worthy of your time.”
“You are welcome,” he stated, and got up. Mirabel got up too. Nevertheless, his mission would not be complete if he did not discuss the main purpose of organizing the event, and partnering with her.
“I must take my leave, and stop my friend from bringing other floral companies on board. He planned to project them as the best in the city, and clarified how his engagement with his girlfriend was ruined by your organization, that day.”
Mirabel showed worries instantly, and Carson was exhilarated.
“Is he still mad with me?”
“I don't think so, but his girlfriend is mad with him. I will be glad if you clear your name that day by tutoring him on how to propose to a lady. If you do that, you would prove your credibility, and save yourself of any blame in the future.”
“You have a point. The platform would serve as an opportunity to reach out to many, and get more clients.”
“You got it. I will let him know that you are sorry, and wish to mend fences with him.”
“I will be glad if you do that, and make him to forget about my rivals.”
“I will try my best.”
“Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
Presently, Carson was walking towards the door, and she walked after him. They walked on, and he responded, “Think nothing about it. We all make mistakes.”
“Yes, but not with such things pertaining to emotions. I must have caused him much embarrassment.”
“It is all right. Don't beat yourself up. He is a nice guy, and would reason with you.”
“I appreciate your visit. It has straightened things out for me.”
“You're welcome. The jingles would be up tomorrow or next in the leading media houses and online. See you later.”
“I will look out for that. See you later.”