Even he’d heard of them.The country-and-western group had recently won a prestigious award and were in the middle of a nationwide tour.“You can get them?”
“If you want them, yes.They will reschedule for me.I can give you a not-to-exceed budget and we can pay all the other contractors so that you only write two checks, one for a deposit and another at the completion of the event.”
He glanced around and hooked a thumb toward the clubhouse.“Do you always give this kind of service?”
“Encore does, yes.I don’t attend all the events.We have a well-trained staff, so I usually attend the more complicated ones.”
That appealed to him.“Do you offer net terms?”
“I prefer not to.Our top clients get three days, max,” she replied.
“Three days it is.Any discount for payment at time of service?”
“Never.”
He raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t relent.“Are you expensive?”
“Very.”
Her answer was so fast that he knew the answer to his next question before he even asked it.“Are you worth it?”
“Every penny.”
“I like your style.”He took out his business card and offered it to her.
She slid it in her pocket without glancing at the information.“I’ll be in Corpus this Tuesday and Wednesday.Would you like to set up an appointment?I’d like to see the ranch, the facilities and any amenities so that I can get some ideas going for you.I know you’re busy, so if you can have someone show me around, that would be fine.But if you’re planning to hire us, the sooner we sign the contract, the better.”
When he wanted something, he went after it.He saw the same resolve in the set of Sofia’s shoulders and he admired it.“Tuesday afternoon is fine.”
“Three?At the ranch?”
“Contact me and I’ll send you detailed instructions.One point of clarity.You said you typically handle the more complicated events.”
She nodded.
“I want you to personally handle this event.”
“Of course.”
“When I call, I want you to answer.”Then he clarified, “Not an assistant.I want you to select all the vendors and make sure the food is perfect.”
“That’s not the way we do things.”She smoothed her hand down her skirt.“I generally allocate my time between the three offices, and my home is here in Houston.”
“Your point being?”
“You’re already a pain in the ass, Mr.Donovan.I assure you that Encore has a very capable team.The Corpus Christi project manager is wonderful, and our foreman has been with the company since its inception.I’m happy to check in on progress during our weekly staff meetings, and I receive daily status reports, and of course I’ll be at the event itself.You’ll be well taken care of.”
He crossed his arms over his chest.“Is there a part of what I want that’s unclear?”
She exhaled and met his gaze.“I understood what you said.But that’s a level of service that’s unreasonable.It’s not something we’re set up to offer.”
“So add it.”
“Mr.Donovan—”
“Cade.”
As if he hadn’t spoken, she went on, “You may need a smaller company, one that has time to give you what you need.”
