Free Negotiating Skills by Laurel Cremant Page A

truth was the knowledge
that she had been running from that emotional draw like a big fat
baby for weeks.
    She had used her rule of not mixing
business with pleasure as a shield to prevent her from
acknowledging her real feelings. She was even grown enough to admit
that she always had. For years she had preferred casual
relationships that provided physical satisfaction and basic comfort
over anything deeper. She hadn’t wanted anything to interfere with
her drive for success and she had to admit she had never met a man
worth breaking any rules for until Victor. Unfortunately, instead
of taking a chance, she had held stubbornly to the idea that her
attraction was purely physical and could be tamped down. All she
had to show for her stubbornness was loneliness and what felt
suspiciously like a bruised heart.
    Thankfully, as her college g.p.a.
could attest to, Veronica was no fool. After moping around her
apartment for the better part of two days, she finally came up with
what she thought was the perfect solution to her problem. She was
going to get her man in the only way that gave them both the
advantage. Veronica smiled to herself and looked down at the pile
of presentation folios in her lap. She couldn’t wait to begin the
negotiations.
    “ Mr. Rossi is ready to see
you all,” said Marie’s soft calm voice.
    Veronica took a deep breath and stood
with the rest of the group. As she walked calmly into his office
she couldn’t keep a small smile of anticipation from spreading
across her face.

    Victor watched as Veronica and made
her way into his office. He made brief greetings to the rest of the
group but could not keep his eyes off of Veronica. She was wearing
the same sexy suit she had worn several weeks ago when he had made
his panty proposition to her. He drank in the sight of her. He had
missed her.
    The past few days had been difficult.
He reconsidered his decision to let her come to him about a million
times a day. Just that morning he had woken from yet another heated
dream of her and he was quickly reaching his breaking
point.
    If Veronica didn’t give him any
indication of softening her stance soon he would have to come up
with a new game plan.
    Just being in the same room with her
again had his skin tightening and his dick stirring to
life.
    Veronica spared him only a brief
glance and a smooth “Good Morning,” before turning to the large
monitor to set up in front of his conference table.
    Victor fought back a frown as he
exchanged brief pleasantries with the rest of the group as they all
gathered around the conference table and took their
seats.
    He took his place at the head of the
long table and spoke across to Veronica.
    “ We’re ready when you are
Ms. James. We’re all eager to see the final product.”
    “ I think you’ll be more than
satisfied with the end result,” she said smiling to the group at
large and her eyes touching on each person and making
contact.
    When her eyes met his he thought he
saw them soften somewhat but she quickly glanced away.
    “ We’ve incorporated all of
your must have requirements and most of the items on your wish list
so let’s get started,” she said.
    Victor nodded his head at her
statement. She picked up a stack of presentation folios and reached
over pressed the switch to dim the lights.
    The overhead lights dimmed completely
and small individual reading lamps switched on the table with soft
focus. Each lamp cast a small, soft light in front of each person
seated at the table providing just enough light to view the papers
in front of them.
    Veronica began to walk around the
table placing a blue folio in front of each person seated as she
passed by.
    “ Along with today’s
presentation, I’ve put together some metrics from the feedback we
received from the pilot testing group along with suggestions for
some possible expansions for the future,” she said.
    When she reached his side and placed a
red folio in front of him. Victor noticed the difference from