Chapter 6

It was closing time, the end of her second week, and Julie walked to her car as frustrated as a benched ballplayer. Twice that day she had greeted a walk-in, only to find out it was a returning customer who had already met with another salesman. It had been happening to her all week. How could she make a touchdown if she never got the ball?

The very next day, Julie arrived determined to write some business. She was the first one out of the morning meeting…and just in time for the first customer of the day, who was entering the showroom.

“Good morning!” she said, smiling and shaking his hand. “I’m Julie Danes. How can I help you?”

Suddenly, from the back of the room one of the salesman called out, “Hi, John! I’ll be right with you!”

Damn...not again!

Julie sighed. “He’ll be right out, John. Can I get you some coffee?”

“Sure…but my name’s Ted.”

Dawn broke over Marblehead.

“I guess he’s mistaken you for someone else,” she said, taking his arm. “Let’s go get that coffee, Ted.”

•

Week three was a bonanza. Julie had three “full-sticker” sales to three happy customers, all walk-ins. She was about to receive the biggest paycheck she’d ever earned, and even though the women in the office still wouldn’t give her the time of day, Julie sensed a grudging respect…if not friendship…from the salesmen.

Her mother had called once, sobbing and drunk, carrying on about George. In the past, Julie would have dropped everything and run to her rescue. But she didn’t…and life went on. All in all, things were going very well.

That is, until the beginning of week four when Dan O’Hara, the chauvinistic and charismatic New Car Manager, came roaring back from an award trip to Hawaii and crash-landed into Julie’s life.

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