Page 22 of Bad Boy Bachelor Christmas
He shrugged one large shoulder. “I guess I didn’t expect design to encapsulate so many bases, like what their clients are feeling and why it might be important to create a space for them to feel safe and relaxed. Not bad, Dodson.”
I had thought I couldn’t care less about his opinion and I found him to be an abrasive, condescending, prickly ass, but I appreciated his praise. “Thank you,” I said curtly.
Maybe, just maybe, I could turn this meeting around in my favor after all. If I could just prove that I wasn’t the desperate college student he seemed to think I was…
My creative juices were still flowing when Norman Cuthbert came to greet us, offering apologies for being late for our meeting. “Clients are unpredictable sometimes. We can’t rush them out when we’re in the middle of pinning down case details.”
“We understand, Norman. It’s not a problem at all. Winter was admiring her canvas.” North gestured at the office.
Norman grinned. “Ah yes, not bad, huh? We renovated two years ago. You should’ve seen the place before this, Winter. It was a nightmare. Outdated ceiling tiles. Gray industrial carpet. Fluorescent lights. There’s only so much that plants and fresh paint could do. We had to step up our game.”
I smiled. “Step it up? It looks to me like you created a new game entirely.”
Norman looked proud. “Only the best for my lawyers and our clients here at Cuthbert Law. Come, let’s get comfortable. I can’t wait to see what ideas you’ve come up with. Dana and Michael are sad to miss our meeting today, they’re both in court, but they’re here in spirit.”
Norman led us to an elegant meeting room with black walls and built-in shelves decorated in legal awards. I sat, crossed one leg over the other, and waited while North got the ball rolling for the meeting. Norman stayed on his feet to pour us each glasses of water from a glass carafe by the window, pausing to offer lemon wedges kept on ice. I accepted, while North shook his head.
While I sipped my lemon water, North made his pitch.
He showed Norman a folder full of his tree designs. Admittedly, it looked a lot more professional than the collage I’d made on my iPad, which currently sat in the side pouch of my purse on the floor between my feet. Frowning, I leaned forward to get a better look, and North tipped the folder down so I could see.
He ran his hand over the page. “I remember that last year we went extremely traditional. Red. Green. Gold. I think it’s best to stay in that same vein if you’re hoping to impress clients, new and old. In my experience, people have a very strict expectation for Christmas, and it’s easy to disappoint when you step too outside the box. Going traditional like this will feel familiar to everyone, and hopefully nostalgic as well. We can hang wreaths on the windows and handle your exterior décor too, if you’d like. I thought red and green lights with white accents would work best.”
Norman scratched his chin as he studied the images.
He doesn’t like it,I thought with surprise.More than that. He’s disappointed.
North kept talking, explaining his pitch, and while they were distracted, I leaned quietly forward and pulled my iPad out of my purse.
“We’d put the main tree here, in this far corner,” North continued, “so that you could have Santa set up here for the clients’ kids. It would make a great photo-op as well.”
Norman made a thoughtful sound. “I see.”
I cleared my throat.
Both men looked over at me.
Smiling, I held up my iPad. “I have a couple of ideas I’d love to show you too, Mr. Cuthbert. If you’re open to it, of course.”
If North could have shot lasers out of his eyes, I would have been instantaneously evaporated in my chair.
But Norman seemed intrigued. “Yes, please, let’s see what you’ve got, Winter.”
I got up and walked around the table to sit beside him. In my opinion, sitting and talking like friends was much more comfortable than leaning across a table and pitching. I didn’t want to pitch. I just wanted to share my idea, and if it resonated with him, then that was great. If not? I could move on and we could do North’s idea.
But something in my gut told me this would work out in my favor.
I showed him the collage on my iPad.
Norman blinked rapidly in surprise. “Good grief.”
“I know it’s busy looking,” I said. “That’s kind of the point.”
He studied me. “You’ll have to explain the method to your madness to me.”
I grinned. “My pleasure.” I launched into the same spiel I’d given North two days ago when I’d shown him my collage.
When I was done, I summarized to bring it all together and tie up loose ends. “Basically, my objective with these tree designs was to evoke a feeling from your clients’ childhood and remind them of the spirit of Christmas.” I zoomed in. “I added this idea sort of last minute, so it’s not polished yet, but what I would love to do is get some pictures from you of last year’s haven on Christmas Eve to make into ornaments to put on the tree so that your clients can see exactly what it is their money goes to. I want it to feel like they’re stepping into a Christmas party at their crazy aunt’s house back in 1990. What do you think?”
