Page 14 of Free to Dream
Em lets out a breath and mouths, “Good save.”
Crap, I never blank out at the negotiation table. I’m going to have to explain that one later.
“Do you have anything else to add before we lock everything in, Cassidy?”
I lean forward, clasping my hands in front of me on the table. This is my element, my stage, where I have the most control.
I look at Ryan first, hold his eyes for a count of two, and do the same with Jared. “Because of the compressed timeline, which let me reiterate again, we can completely handle, we will be unable to accommodate last minute changes on most of the major items. Since we handle so many services in-house, we’re not concerned about consultations with hiring a photographer, ordering flowers, or your garment selections. However, when a caterer says we must be there for a tasting, one of you has to be there unless you’re willing to compromise on potential quality. If you send a proxy and they love something and you hate it, Amaryllis Events will not tolerate less than favorable evaluation. We appreciate your work schedules and will try to do as much as possible to work around them. Sometimes, that will not be possible. We’re professionals. We’ll not trouble you with the small concerns. If we do call and we indicate we need a call back within a certain timeframe, please know it’s urgent and something that will impact the vision you have for your big day.” Sitting back, I smile, cross my legs and wait.
“Is there ever a time you’re unavailable?” Ryan asks calmly. Jared tips his head in agreement with Ryan’s question.
“Not for the two of you. From this minute, until the moment you leave on your honeymoon, you will always know my availability. As elite clients, you will know my exact schedule. You will have access to my out of the office times. I will provide you with a hard copy before you leave today and email you a copy for you to download to both your iPhones and Outlook calendars by close of business. Please note, all the data in those deliverables are covered by the language in our two-way non-disclosure agreement, which we will be signing in a few moments.”
“A two-way NDA?” Jared says with some surprise, the lawyer in him perking up.
“Yes,” I state firmly. “It protects both of us. However, for you to have the kind of access to me you are demanding with this schedule, our business and my personal privacy are both at stake. You will not just have access to my meetings with other clients, you will have access to every entry on my calendar, including my next physical and personal events, like my involvement in Collyer’s homecoming weekend. Short of putting an electronic leash on me, you will know where I plan to be every moment of the day for the next two months.”
Ali speaks up at this point. “This negotiation includes unfettered access to Cassidy.”
Jared reaches over and takes Ryan’s hand, giving it a quick squeeze. They speak quietly for the next few moments. Ryan nods, then smiles first at Jared, then around the table before saying, “Let’s do this.”
“First,” Ali interjects in her most professional voice. “Let’s discuss the pricing schedule. Please turn to Table A of the document in front of you. For a wedding of this size and on this timetable, you’re typically looking at cost plus thirty percent to cover the services of Amaryllis Events. That includes all procured items as well as outside vendors.”
“Alison, please reduce the amount by twenty percent.” Phil speaks softly from his seat at the table.
“Excuse me?” Ali questions, with a more than a touch of asperity in her tone. “Can I speak with you outside, Phillip?”
“After the contracts are signed. Twenty percent, please. Use the discount code Delphi.”
Fucking Phil. He’d invoked a family code word, referencing the oracle who told Amaryllis how to win the heart of her love. My hand immediately goes to my neck, and my sisters shift in their seats. Ali nods slowly and takes a breath.
I’d almost forgotten that Phil was still in the room, he’d been so quiet. No one was forgetting him after this bomb. The reasons for chopping off his precious hair are increasing by the minute today. I’m not alone now, I think with a private smile.
Ryan and Jared can only smile, displaying their delight. Of course, they’re delighted. They just saved at least two-hundred thousand dollars.
I hear Em, who is sitting the closest to Phil, murmur to him, “Payback for this is going to be hell.”
Phil pales and swallows hard.
About two hours later, after briefly stepping out to reschedule a conference call with a vendor for later in the day, the contracts, NDAs, and deposits are signed and paid. The only thing open is the NDA to be signed by Caleb Lockwood. Oh, that’s right. Because of Ryan and Jared’s schedules, and because Ryan’s brother is trusted implicitly, they want him to have the same status they have to reach me.
Fabulous.
I feel my embarrassment from earlier start to climb back up my neck. Phil’s list of transgressions keeps growing. I’ll figure out a way to blame Caleb having unlimited access to me and my schedule on Phil. At the rate he’s going, he’ll be lucky I don’t switch out his Gucci shampoo for Nair.
What I found interesting was that Ryan and Jared wanted it documented that Ryan’s mother was to have no say in the wedding, other than the location, no matter the circumstance or reason. She wouldn’t be privy to any of the decision-making. Any concerns were to be handled by me, with issues collected and passed along to the grooms as necessary.
Unshakeable trepidation has me thinking I would have earned that extra twenty percent personally on that request alone.
After printing out a hard copy of my schedule for the week, I sealed it in an envelope and promised the grooms I would have the electronic versions to them in a few short hours. I shook hands with both men and escorted them to the mansion doors.
After closing the door behind them, I whirl around. Before I can figure out what’s happening, I’m being dragged back into the conference room, where Imagine Dragons is blaring from our sound system speakers. Shoes have been kicked off and my sisters and brother are dancing on the tables, pretending to grind with imaginary partners or pole dance.
I can’t help but laugh at their craziness, and I love every one of them. Even Phil. Because while I might plot his death later, for now, we’re celebrating.
Suddenly, Phil jumps off the table and starts dancing with me around the room. I let my laughter ring out as my sisters whoop it up from varying parts of the old grand ballroom.
I’d figure out how to pull off the biggest wedding of my career later.
