Shane saw the hotel rate and quickly decided it wasn't worth the expense. He could easily rent a place for a few thousand a month, and the price of one night could cover an entire year's rent, plus some help with the cleaning.
In the end, he opted for a room that cost around 200 dollars. It wasn't as posh as the suites he usually stayed in, but it was more than adequate.
Sasha had stumbled upon a great opportunity to make money and was eager to seize the opportunity. While she had already scaled back on her spending and had a good salary plus bonuses, there was no denying how exciting it was to make money on her own.
Lying in bed, she thought about how she and Shane could expand their business and reach a wider audience. But nothing concrete came to mind, so she decided to call Annalise for advice.
...
When I saw it was Sasha calling, I picked up. "Hey, what's up?"
"A lot, actually!" Sasha said, jumping right into it. She quickly filled me in on what she and Shane had
been up to and asked, "What would you do if you were in my shoes?"
I chuckled. "Think back-what helped you get so many deals in the first place?"noveldrama
Sasha thought for a second. "Because of Shane and my influence?"
"Spot on," I replied. "If you want to attract even more attention, get a few of your friends to help spread the word."
Sasha understood what I meant. "And when the deals come in, I can give them a commission from our earnings?"
"Exactly," I said, relieved she was on the same page. I then explained the trade-offs. "You might not see a huge return right away, but it'll help keep things running for the long haul."
Sasha smacked her forehead. "You're right. I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner."
I spoke calmly, "But remember, the connections your friends bring in won't last forever. That's why I recommend setting up a marketing department so that everyone knows what your company offers. The goal is to make it so that people seek you out on their own.
"And once they see how profitable it
is, others will want to jump in and start competing. At that point, you'll need to get your company formalized quickly. Then, whenever someone needs those services, you want to be the first one they think of
Sasha was completely floored. "Wow, you're incredible! How do you come up with these ideas?"
I couldn't resist asking, "Isn't this just the way things usually go?"
Sasha blinked in surprise. "I suppose you're right. Let me talk it over with Shane."
"Sure. And if you're still unsure afterward, feel free to stop by my office tomorrow. I'll help however I can."
"Thank you so much!" Sasha said, clearly touched by my offer. "I'll definitely swing by tomorrow!"
I gave a light hum in acknowledgment.
...
After hanging up, Sasha immediately
dialed Shane's number. Instead jumping straight into it, she asked
politely, "Where are you righ
"In a hotel," Shane replied, dragging out his words. "What's up? Something going on?"
"Yeah, I need to talk to you about something," Sasha said, repeating what Annalise had told her.
Shane sat up straight. "It's all fun for now, but once we start a real company..." He sounded anxious. "I've never run a company before."
"We can always find someone to help!" Sasha reassured him. "Your dad has his own business, and mine does, too. We can always ask them if there's something we're unsure about.
en
"And once we start earning, we'll be able to step up and help if their businesses hit a rough patch. Don't you agree?"