In my most recent post about this customer crush of mine I had mentioned being nervous about sending a follow up email. I wanted to find the courage to be a bit more direct if not indirect by sending a shamelessly flirtatious and suggestive email. But I had to do so without sounding overly inappropriate, this is my work email account after all.
He beat me to the chase. Which seems to be the case in most instances where I am stressing about calling or emailing him. He seems to be the one to take the lead. Now keep in mind, the message behind these encounters is clouded. There is a sales exchange of merchandise at hand. He comes with the intent to accomplish a mission. A missing piece of fashion from his wardrobe, and in the meanwhile flirtations between us arise.
He emailed me to let me know that his shoes were not working. The email was one of the gayest emails I have ever read. "I have bad news, I will be bringing someone with me. His name is Ferragamo and we are just not that into one another". I had sold him a pair of shoes that he was originally unsure of and had mentioned the prospect of possibly returning them. When I first read the line I my heart sank. I thought he was bringing his boyfriend with him. That would have just been my luck!
So I replied, "No worries, if Ferragamo is not working out for you then we can find you someone else that you are more compatible with".
Our emails to one another are typically replied within a few minutes. This one took 24 hours and I got "Actually wore the shoes today, so I guess I will keep them". It was awkward and uneasy. It did not make much sense and he did not really seem like the kind of customer that would do this. He was very cautious in everything that we did. All of the fashion choices that we made together he gave much thought and consideration. The ones that were made that had heavy influence on my part he decided to have bagged separately so that he could make his decision before "committing" to the choices by wearing the clothing or shoes. It is something that I kind of like about him, seeing as how my fashion choices, and impulse purchases are always kept because the rush I get from pulling my freshly purchased merchandise out of the shopping bag and ripping the sales tags off BEFORE trying it on again at home is just insane!
I sent him another email back, attempting to prolong flirtation and in order to evoke a response. I wanted to send an "open-ended" email with an inquisitive intent so that I could keep this strain of emails going further. "No problem! Hope that you are enjoying your "Guide to Style" Book that I sold you, Have you found any new fashion tips to challenge me on yet?"
I got no response. I think I pushed it hard and it fell off the counter. I didn't hear back from him for a week. Then I took the promotion to move on to another store. I figured it was best. I thought that this way he could go to my old store in peace and not have to worry about seeing me if I had made him uncomfortable.
Weeks passed by and while standing at the register at my new store I was busying myself by looking at the sales numbers. I had just finished writing out a note to my team when I looked up and saw him standing right in front of me.
I was caught off guard. "Oh, hey, hows it going? I'm over here now". I mean. Obviously, right?
Then he said, "Yeah I know, I asked for you at the other store and they told me that you were working over here, so I wanted to come see you".
Now tell me this...Do you know any straight guys that would follow someone like this? It just doesn't make sense to me. I have had guys that acknowledged their own lack of fashion know-how. I have had the guys that like letting me help dress them from head to toe because they just need the help. But this guy. This guy is different. It is the little things like this that happen that make me question his intent.
I was so thrown off by his guest appearance that I could barely help him at all. He had brought a cardigan to my register and the department that he had got it in is two departments away from mine. He casually asked if he could try it on. It was weird. Did he really need to come find me if all I had to do was let him into a fitting room? Then he asked my help with shoes. I gave suggestions and then turned him over to my buddy in the shoe department.
I felt uneasy. I was uncomfortable. I have tried to push out of my mind the feelings that I have secretly developed for him. After our awkward exchange of emails I tried to forget about him. Now what?
I'm not making any more attempts.
When we were wrapping up our time together I asked if he was still living in the same area. He said that he was. He also mentioned that his office was right beside my new mall and that he typically stops into the store quite often from work. (This is convenient) Then I mentioned that my roommates and I were planning a move to Davis Sq. He said "Oh, I'm pretty close to Davis" He mentioned a circle of streets that he lived near and I said, "That's weird, thats exactly where we are moving"
As it turns out the new apartment that we are moving to is a block away from where he lives. Now I can't help but wonder when and where we will bump into one another if Davis Square becomes my new stomping ground. I can only hope, and I can only dream, right?
Will we see each other jogging in the summertime? Will we both be in line for coffee in the morning? Will he buy me a round at the local hangout? Who's to say when or where it all might happen but lets just bide our sweet little time for now...
You're so close, but still a world away...
No comments:
Post a Comment