Love in a Moment

Chapter Two “Robyn, I have set up a meet-and-greet with the client this afternoon at three. I know it is short notice, but the client’s administrative assistant stated her boss is anxious to get the ball rolling and has a tight calendar,” Jenna explained as she sat down across from Robyn in the boardroom. “I thought we could go over the details Steve has in the portfolio and then I could go through how I approach the first discovery meeting.” Robyn squinted her eyes just slightly and said, “I don’t need you to tell me how to throw a party. I have plenty of experience entertaining. Harry might think you walk on the moon and accomplish some great feats of magic, but I doubt there is much you can teach me. As a member of the family that owns this business, I expect to have a more visible role than sitting and watching. So don’t think I will be relegated to any insignificant or menial role.” Well, at least that was out in the open, Jenna thought. Robyn wanting a “visible” role versus “active” role told her a whole lot of what she was dealing with. Now how to manage her own need to be associated with a classy and well-executed event and Robyn’s part would be her challenge. In addition, she didn’t want Robyn to think she could dictate or run over Jenna and her team. Sitting slightly forward and folding her hands in front of her on the table, she looked Robyn directly in the eyes and said, “Robyn, being introduced as the owner’s wife and a stakeholder in the success of MeetEasy, and therefore the client’s event, automatically gives you a very visible presence. But I also have a role and I mean to assume and execute my job as I deem necessary.” Pausing to let her words sink in she then continued, “So do you want to review the information with me or would you prefer to do so on your own?” It was clear that Robyn was taken aback by a direct counterattack to her opening foray into taking control, when she grabbed her file and said as she walked out, “I will meet you in the lobby at two thirty to leave for the meeting.” “If you want to drive with me, please be in the lobby at two, as I do not like to take any chances on being late to any meetings.” Shooting Jenna a look that could kill, Robyn made a less-than-graceful exit from the boardroom. Sitting back in her chair, Jenna reviewed what just happened. She had no doubt it was the first of many skirmishes yet to come. She just hoped they could be controlled to skirmishes and avoid an all-out war. “I still don’t understand why you felt the need to hire an outside firm to handle this event, Tucker,” Kimberly Harper said. “I am more than capable of handling it and you know I have your best interests at heart.” “Kim, as my marketing director, you have a lot of responsibilities and I don’t want you distracted with this project. I need someone who will focus on this event. I expect you to provide assistance and guidance when needed, but you need to stay focused on your strategic goals for the core business.” Tucker tried to inject just enough steel in his tone to ensure his marketing director knew he was not going to be swayed. He was getting frustrated in trying to figure out how to tactfully send the message to Kim that he was not willing to allow her into other areas of his life. Kim was moving from coy to assertive, and bordering on aggressive when it came to “partnering” herself with him at events and meetings. He might be a guy, but he really wasn’t dense when it came to females on the prowl. And he certainly was no stranger to women who pursued him because of his growing professional success. Kim prepared to leave the office when Tucker’s assistant, Gail, let him know his three o’clock appointment was here. Tucker pretended to not notice Kim’s delayed exit. He supposed she was hoping he would invite her to stay and meet with the MeetEasy representatives. When Tucker remained silent, Kim’s exit changed from slow to almost huffy. Tucker stood and walked around the desk to greet the MeetEasy people. His first impressions were of two very lovely but opposite ladies. The blonde was a stunner and looked like she was ready to wage a battle. The brunette, though, caught his eye. If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn he felt a twinge somewhere in the vicinity of his heart. Stepping forward, Jenna reached out her hand. “Mr. Davidson, allow me to introduce myself. I am Jenna Waters and will be your account manager. And this is Robyn Callahan who will also be working on your event.” When Tucker shook Jenna’s hand, he had the strongest urge to say “There you are.” Instead he just smiled and extended his hand to Robyn to welcome her also. Robyn took his hand and produced one of the best practiced flirtatious smiles he had ever seen. “Mr. Davidson, please be assured as the co-owner of MeetEasy,” there was an extra emphasis on co-owner, “I will be more than just working on your account. I will personally be lending my creative talent to the event.” Tucker wondered if the annual charity and appreciation event he was trying to establish just became the most interesting show in Denver. He sensed the next six months would provide a host of challenges, with Kim’s nose out of joint, Robyn, a man-eating power-hungry tiger, and Jenna, who simply walked into his heart. He also sensed the biggest challenge was not going to be the event itself, but getting Jenna to accept that he fell in love with her at first sight. Smiling, Tucker extended his arm to indicate the small conference table. “Ladies, shall we get started?” Once seated at the table, Jenna extracted a large notepad and pen. “Mr. Davidson, on behalf of MeetEasy I want to express our thanks for giving us the opportunity to help you establish your goals and dreams. This preliminary meeting is to help us get a better understanding of those as well as the practical information, such as time, date, budget and point of contact or contacts within your organization.” Tucker invited them to call him by his first name, and upon receiving the same courtesy back from them, started outlining several of the practical details, as Jenna called them. “As for the point of contact,” he continued, “I will be the final decision maker on all matters. This is a very important project to me. I will have my marketing director involved to ensure we have continuity of message.” “Are you going to have any employees as part of the process?” Jenna queried. “I only ask because I have found as well-intentioned as you are, sometimes we really don’t know what the employees will value from a reward-and-recognition perspective. Something for you to consider might be to form a committee, formed from nonexecutive or management levels to provide insight and ideas.” “Jenna, dear, Tucker clearly stated that he was to be the point of contact,” Robyn injected. “Tucker, I apologize … Jenna missed that important detail.” Considering the byplay between the two women, Tucker would have normally chosen to stay out of it, imagining the conversation once they left his office. But Jenna’s suggestion was very insightful. “I appreciate Jenna’s suggestion. It is actually quite good.” Turning to Jenna, he asked for forming the committee to be part of the process. After an hour of discussion, the ladies rose to leave. Robyn purred her goodbye, promising again to personally handle Tucker’s needs, while Jenna did her best to bite her tongue and smile as she took her leave. Closing his office door, Tucker walked back to his desk with a devilish grin on his face. There was nothing more exciting to him than planning how to achieve what was important to him. His future wife and mother of his children ranked at the very top of his list. The goal was clear. Now he just needed to figure out how to achieve it.