March 23. Thursday Night.

Hi Journey.

Hard working again after family time, Journey. You know it's going to be a long evening when the one contact I know at Korova's bar is a no-show.

At least that's what I thought at Five when Bridgette rang me up to tell me she wouldn't be able to make it to the BizTap networking club tonight. Her oldest daughter came home early from Eighth Grade with the stomach flu and Bridgette decided to stay home and nursemaid her.

I guess she heard the tension in my voice. Just like Dad.

“You'll do fine, Crystal . Are you wearing what I told you?”

I could feel my cheeks redden. “Taut business suit, plenty of business cards, petite clutch. I feel like Jennifer Garner.”

“Just don't roundhouse kick anybody and you'll be fine.”

I did have plenty of cards, Journey. Joni printed fifty of them on our good laser printer.

“Crystal Designs: Your Bridge between Home and Office.”

I'm taking Dana's advice. The cards are cheap; if the concept of working with this business market doesn't fly at least we're not blowing a bunch of money on collateral material.

Honestly, the evening went better than expected. I nursed a rum and coke for the first hour I was there, and sipped from a beer during the second. I did meet one potential key contact, a guy from SeaGuard Insurance, Tony Dastan. He's an agent, out trolling around for a good candidate for an Errors and Omissions policy. I told him I was OK in that department, but he didn't press it. He was pretty sure their main office here is primed to move. He's heard several of the management staff complain about the current digs looking way too shiny-surface corporate.

My antennae went up right away.

He seemed like an OK guy; I don't think he was hitting on me. Much. Even after I told him one of my current clients insured my business he still played like he wanted to be helpful. Gave me the name of the president and told me to make sure to call the guy.

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