And who only thought of taking this arrogant egoist to our heads! Standing here in front of me is all so neat, taut, young, energetic and so all insolent, so uncompromising. "There is my opinion and wrong," - oh, I hate!

- Dmitry Viktorovich, believe my experience, it is better if we do not put pressure on them now. We have to wait a bit, guess the moment, and we will get everything that is due to us, preserving the relationship.

I urge him in a calm, sustained voice. Politeness is at the limit of possibilities, and inside everything boils with anger.

- No no no! I will not wait a day! Send them a claim, they will refuse - to the court. Because of your diplomacy, my terms are on and the receivables exceed all reasonable limits. Stop playing games!

I want to throw something heavy at him. So many months of work, searching for contacts, approaches, probing the ground, negotiations, trades ... and when everything was finally signed, when there is an agreement for a long time, this smug type at one point wants to destroy and break everything. You see, they did not pay the money on time!

“Well, I understand you,” I purse my lips, close the diary with a bang, and almost defiantly get up from the table.

- By the way, Lilia Sergeevna, from next week I will introduce a new dress code. No high heels, short skirts, etc. Read on later.

It just blows me in anger! Outrage rolls over! If only he knew how many contracts were signed thanks to my heels and open knees! And also smiles, looks, hairstyle, manicure ... This, you know, is not a simple skill - to present yourself so that the partner relaxes, smiles, speaks, goes to contact, but also does not cross the line, stay with his interests and the interests of the firm. And now, that's not how I do it! Oh well! I saw how you do not look at me, how you do not give my knees to your peace, how you lose your thought when I enter the office.

- Of course. As you say, Dmitry Viktorovich, - I myself am courtesy. I spread my best smile.

Yes, that there are heels, skirts ... All this nonsense. Not the point. And the fact that I wear underwear worth the floor of my patch, lace, silk. I can even put a sack of potatoes on top, and I will still feel the height of perfection and sexuality. And you won't do anything to me. I bought this underwear with the premium that you wrote me. You admit, after all, that I am worth something. And write again. Because I now have such a client on a hook, whom you sleep and see in a dream. And soon, very soon I will present it to you on a silver platter. That's when we'll see what my diplomacy is worth.

I often talk to him like that. Since the first time he showed who is the boss here, I always want to cross him and annoy him. But when I still get my way, and he loses his temper, it becomes unbearably sad for me, it hurts me, and I go all day lost.

Every Monday we have a universal meeting. I come there in a new image - a blue stocking, a gray mouse. A tight bunch on the back of my head, glasses that I never wear, a blouse with all the buttons, a skirt below the knees, shoes that I call pensioners. But stockings, underwear and manicure on the spot. Noticed, appreciated, grinned, hid a smile, dropping his eyes in the paper. Yes, in the sense of humor you can not refuse him, and in the mind too ...

I decide to stay after the meeting and lay out all the cards to him. Negotiations have already entered a stage when it is impossible to do without a meeting of the generals. I present his reaction when I tell him: “Dmitry Viktorovich, ZAO Stroyconsulting is ready to sign a long-term contract with us. It remains only to agree on some details at the highest level. A pre-meeting is scheduled for Friday. ” Relish the expression on his face. Perplexed, confused, not understanding and not believing that this is possible.Oh, he would know that it all started with thin red hairpins ... But no! He never shows the mind that he does not control the situation.

“Why didn't you tell me before that you were negotiating with them?” He frowns. Again displeased.

- What are these games behind my back?

I'm boiling again. And what's the difference how I do business, if the result is amazing!

- No games. There was a concrete result, and I immediately reported to you, I do not hide my irritation.

- Prepare me a detailed report on working with them. In general, show me all the papers. We need to develop a strategy of behavior with them. What can give way, and what to stand up to the end. Mark your suggestions.

Of course, I will write to him everything he asks, but the strategy, the line of conduct, the calculation ... It's all not mine. I don't work like that. I take a decision on the circumstances, in the course of negotiations, on the reaction of the opposite side.

Still, he is not happy with me. I invaded its territory and played by my own rules. He is the leader, the master, he cannot forgive me for this. But I think now about something else. While he counts the numbers, I study the facts. ZAO Stroyconsulting, CEO Fedotov Alexander Vladimirovich. In the post six months. Before him, two more CEOs changed in 2 years. It's a lot. So something is wrong with them. But what? Financial performance is normal, with loans everything is in order, customers are satisfied ... I made inquiries, I know how.

Friday. We are smiling in the conference room of the elegant office of CJSC Stroyconsulting. I am all spick and span: impressive, expensive, but nothing extra, defiant. I do not want to spoil everything, pissed off at Dima. And at this level, all my tricks are no good. Here everything is decided by money, profit. This is a purely masculine world in which the door is slightly ajar to me. A radiant smile I bestow on this Fedotov. He should feel my location. And not just as a profitable partner, but as a person, an interesting man. I need a contact. Otherwise, I lose control of the situation.

Dima sees everything, catches everything, but he does not like it. He likes to work from afar. I don't see it, but I squint my eyes. Imperceptibly, he takes me by the hand and with a slight movement removes me for himself, shields his back. But the look is not formidable and bold as usual, but explaining: “Today I am in charge, will you help me?” In me, everything turns over from this look and oxygen instantly ends in the lungs. His fingers slightly squeeze mine, as if to say "Well done, you did everything right, but then I myself." From this penetration, my mind and sense of reality blow away. I lose control of myself and the situation as a whole. All that I can now is just loyally look into his eyes.

People say something around us, they set us at the table, but I can't hear anything. The heat of his palm shot through me a huge hole. A hand like a burn, confusion in my head. So! Need to pull yourself together. In the end, I know all these people longer than him, I know the nuances better. I take a deep breath and begin to delve into it. Dima is neatly but tough negotiations. Inferior trivialities. Strange, but they agree on everything that was previously considered unacceptable. No, of course, they bargain, but still ... Something confuses me, but I am silent. Today Dima is in charge. It's up to him. And it seems that he is pleased with the result. The secretary types the text. Here it is such a long-awaited contract! Dima can only sign it. Pushes the pen over the paper ...

- Dmitry Viktorovich, I believe that we should once again become more familiar with the terms of the contract in our office.

This is my phrase like a bolt from the blue. Deathly silence. Shock. This is unheard of impudence on my part. Who am I? Just an assistant, besides a woman. And I allow myself to dictate to the chief what and how best to do it. To say that Dima is furious is not to say anything. Put down the pen, gazes at me. It is hard for me, there is not enough air, my heart is about to jump out of my chest. It seems I will faint now. But I don't take my eyes off. I beg, please, persuade him with a look.

- Indeed, Alexander Vladimirovich, but where should we hurry? We seem to have agreed on everything.Let's go over the text again in a calmer ...