Julie Yi was my Sales Director at a medical equipment company where I was recently employed. At 46, she was a few years older than I was but I couldn't help but notice her when she walked through the department. She had long hair that was as black as a raven that she always wore pinned up into a bun. Her eyes were sexy petite almonds that sparkled when the light hit them just right. She had the body of a much younger woman and that tight little ass of hers made me want to get to know her in spite of what she represented in the hierarchy of the company.
Julie was also purported to be an Ice Queen. She did little of the hiring for the sales department but she did all of the firing. The rumor was she didn't even do it in person; she'd just send you an email at the end of the day to see HR.
The first time I was introduced to Julie would be my last day at R & S Medical, though I did not know it at the time. My manager and I were going over my resent sales numbers when Julie walked by his desk. He quickly stood up straight at attention; it was obvious that he was completely scared to death of her. He was a career man so I kind of understood why, but I was the new hotshot salesman who was at the top of the sales board with only a few weeks in. I had no fear.
He introduced her to me as "Miss Yi" and I offered my hand. She ignored it and dressed me down with her cold dark gaze and finally said: "I think you'd look better if you shaved."
I quickly raised my hand to my rough five o'clock shadow and shook my head in disbelief. Miss Yi started to walk away.
"And you should smile more," I said to her back.
Julie stopped dead in her tracks, turned slowly with her head to the side and looked into my brown eyes.
"What did you say to me?"
I pointed at the corners of my mouth with my index fingers.
"You're never fully dressed without a smile," I said.
Julie glared at me, then at my manager, who looked like he was about to pass out.
As word spread throughout R & S Medical, I became the man to avoid at all costs that day. I was the plague carrier, the man who could possibly get you fired. Even my boss didn't say another word to me for the rest of the day. At 4:30 PM an email came from Miss Yi, telling me to go to HR.
In the back of my mind I knew it was coming but the reality of getting fired was still shocking. I knew I was a talented salesperson and I had plenty of savings. So I put those feelings aside, I would find another job soon.
I decided to go out that night, partly to drown my sorrows and partly to celebrate. Club Liquid was featuring a local band I was really getting into, so I decided to go there. I put on wine-colored button-down sport shirt to complement my dark skin tone, midnight blue jeans and a blazer to complete the look. I even shaved scruffy beard and when I checked my smooth skin in the mirror I thought maybe Miss Yi had something there.
I paid my cover, casually walked over to the bar to check out the female population, and who should catch my eye but Miss Julie Yi. She was at the end of the bar, sitting with all her friends, which was really a sarcastic way of saying she was sitting all alone.
Julie wore a tight mid-thigh black dress that showed off her gorgeous shapely legs. She was drinking an Island Breeze in a fancy glass that was just about empty. I asked the bartender to send her another one and I ordered a Sam Adams for myself.
Julie she looked up to see who had sent her the drink; held up her glass in a mock toast and smiled. Then she recognized me, and her pretty smile disappeared. I grabbed my beer and made my way over to her.
"I was right," I announced.
"About?" She was as cold as the arctic wind in deep winter.
I gestured to her face with the neck of the bottle. "Your smile, it's positively breathtaking."
She tried to look unfazed by the flattery but she couldn't hide that she appreciated the compliment for a brief moment.
