Uncovering the Life of Your Dreams

18

I spoke to Karine when I got in the next morning. I suspected that she might have been disappointed, but all she said was, “Let's do it, Scott!” Fortuitously, Damon was standing in the hallway, and we invited him into my office.

“I hope you have good news,” Damon said.

“Please sit down.” I offered one of the chairs in front of my desk and held my hand out until he sat. Karine sat in the other chair.

“I actually have great news,” I said. “First, we have secured the Concord account.”

Damon jumped out of his chair to reach for my hand. I reached as well and when they were about to meet, I pulled mine back, then finished with the Phi Five handshake. He laughed, and Karine stared at us with a bewildered smile on her face.

“Wow, forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder. I can't tell you how happy I am to hear about the account. Really. Well done, guys. Okay, what are the next steps?” he asked.

“Well, Concord was pretty clear about something. It will be only Karine and me overseeing his affairs. No one else.”

As Damon's pride took hold of him, the celebration ended quickly. “Well, I think you should just tell him that's not the way it works around here.”

“With all due respect, boss, that's the way it's going to work.”

He looked surprised at my calm resolve and went silent. I took the opportunity to try to read his thoughts, just as I had done with the gull and crab. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I believed I could actually pick up on the various things he was rattling ...