“This is where I thought you could meet with the members,” Andrew said.
“This is perfect.”
“Ali will be available to you this week to assist with getting everyone scheduled and making sure the consultation appointments move on time. The members will wait in the bar area until it’s their turn.”
Everything sounded great, and I didn’t have to wait very long to get started. The first appointment arrived on time for the one-thirty slot. I spent the afternoon talking to members and getting a feel for what they wanted out of their photo shoots. I made tons of notes for each member, including anything that I noticed about them that might help enhance their photos. In all, I met with nine members today, and with Ali’s help, we got them all scheduled for their photo shoots next week. It was a little after six in the evening when I wrapped up my first day.
“Thank you, Ali, for your help today,” I said.
“Oh, it’s no problem. I love helping. Tomorrow, your first consultation appointment is at ten. Tonight, I’ll text all the members that you’re meeting with tomorrow and will remind them of their times.”
“Wonderful, thank you.”
Andrew had been talking with a few members, but when he saw I was about to leave, he hurried over.
“Everything go well?”
“Everything went just fine, and Ali was able to get everyone I met today scheduled for next week.”
“Ali is an awesome assistant. Are you getting ready to leave, Ali?” Andrew asked.
“Yeah, I need to meet Sam and Josh for dinner in a half hour,” she replied.
“Okay, I’m just about done talking to the members, and I can walk you out,” Andrew said.
“Okay, I’ll go grab my stuff and be ready,” Ali said as she ran off.
It wasn’t quite dark out, but maybe Oxygen had a rule about making sure groups of people left together. It was good they had the safety of everyone in mind.
“If you’re not ready to leave quite yet, I can make sure Ali gets to her car,” I said to Andrew.
I wouldn’t say that Andrew looked uneasy about my offer, but there was definitely something there that made him hesitant. Suddenly, I felt as though I maybe overstepped by offering.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds,” I quickly replied.
“No, no, it’s not that at all. I’ve promised her Dom that I would personally ensure that Ali always gets to her car. There was an incident a few years ago, and I’m adamant about taking extra steps for safety.”
“I understand.”
“I’ll walk out with you guys,” Andrew said.
He jogged back over to the people he had been talking to and said something briefly to them before he joined my side again.
“So, do you have dinner plans?” Andrew asked me as we walked to the lobby.
“I do, yes. I’m meeting my brother for dinner tonight.”
“Do you see him often?”
“Not at much as I’d like to, but we talk daily.”
“I’m ready,” Ali said to us as soon as we stepped into the lobby.
“Okay, let’s go, miss,” Andrew said.
The three of us walked outside together, and as I bid them a goodnight, they walked over to Ali’s car while I got into mine. I glanced in the rearview mirror at them while I pulled out my cell phone. When Ali turned her car on, I looked down at my phone, hoping to see a text from Chase.
How about pizza at our usual place?
