#mastering salary negotiation

[mentorshelly]

Mastering Salary Negotiation Series, Part 1 - Building Your Powerful Value Proposition

Welcome to the Mastering Salary Negotiation Series, where we equip you with the essential skills and strategies to succeed in your salary negotiations. In Part 1, we focus on one of the most crucial aspects of any negotiation – crafting a powerful value proposition. A well-structured value proposition not only demonstrates your worth to potential employers but also sets the stage for a successful…

[concord-and-cliches]

do you think the group of assassins and murderers and etc working for a guy that wants to kill all humans has life insurance [id in alt!]

[joooooniecore]

After all this time

Your friends have been successful enough to drag you out of your workaholic routine for a vacation out of country.

The only problem? Your long term crush who actually used to be your best friend is also going there. And he is bringing his girlfriend, your ex-female best friend.

What could go wrong? Right?

✧˖* pairing: ex-bestfriend!mingyu x f!reader

✧˖* chapter count: master-list

✧˖* genre: ex-best friend mingyu, friends to strangers to friends to lovers, fluff, angst, slow-burn, smut.

✧˖* playlist: spotify playlist

✧˖* full work warnings: resurfaced old feelings, toxic relationship(not between the main characters), angst, confusions, resentments, past misunderstandings, a very slow burn

✧˖* explicit warnings: penetration, explicit language, cursing, bodily fluids, praising, body worship.

✧˖* author's note: hi! here is the first chapter of the fanfic. i must confess that it is a little slow burn kind of. the romance isn't present in a very loud sense but you can feel the way the main characters are attracted to each other. i hope this fanfic will be loved by everyone! --- love, artemis.

✧˖* tag-list: @ana-marais98 @hellosighsophy-blog @ppaia @whoa-jo

COMMENT TO BE IN THE TAG-LIST!<3

Chapter 1

It was a soft winter morning. The sun had finally decided to grace the city with its presence. The delicate sun beams glistened through the white curtains of your bedroom. The clock kept ticking without waiting for anyone.

It was a lazy morning, like the ones from your childhood when you used to wake up with your mind relaxed and drag your feet to the breakfast table to find your mother making some delicious pancakes for you. You would buzz towards it like a little bee buzzing towards a flower.

Well, that’s not the case with you anymore. The morning alarm screams annoyingly at 6 am, as you groan in your very comfy little cocoon, second guessing whether you should get moving or ruin your entire career. The alarm negotiates in opposition as you finally give in and bring out your hand to grab the sweater first.

You sleep in thin nightwear since you hate sleeping with layers on. After slipping into the soft woolen cloth, you wear some fuzzy socks as you get out of bed and slowly drag your feet towards your room’s window.

The sun rays were dying to get in as you gently unlatch the window, allowing the fresh morning breeze to make your heart feel a little better. You love the winter mornings, as the soft light plays around on the snowy fields.

The cozy sweaters and soft mittens are what you wait for all year long. And especially Christmas. You love Christmas. It’s the only time of the year when you can dress up as you want, and decorate your small mushy apartment in the most extravagant manner. The salary bonus is an add on.

The door to your bedroom creaks open as you make your way to the shower. You had a long day ahead of you hence you decided to shower before getting breakfast. You were never the kind of girl who worked half-heartedly. Being the over-achiever of your family, you have always loved learning and studying.

Even in college, when your friends were partying and enjoying youth, you were drowning in assignments and pulled all-nighters studying for exams. You were always serious. Always hustling. Never falling back. That didn’t mean you never had fun. You always had good friends who understood that study came first in your life. They would make sure to include you in everything and you being a little soft-hearted for them, would always agree to tag along from time to time.

It was the same when you got a job at this very famous Tech company. You were always inclined towards learning more about technology. You worked diligently and it showed. You soon got a very big promotion upgrading you to a project head within the first three years. It was easy for you. To work hard and tune out everything that was happening around you.

The sharp crackle of metal frame brought you out of your head as you saw the bread was toasted. You took it out, gently laying it on your plate as you scraped some butter to go with it. Then you decided to have some poached eggs too.

Most of the companies around here have already declared Christmas holidays but you still have to go for another week before you get the much-needed break. You loved the concept of holiday. Relaxing by the beach or in mountains with no phone calls to bother you.

Your father, unlike your mother has always nagged you when you would sit idly even as a kid. He used to lecture that if you sat idly in your free time then it would create a demon in your brain who will always force you to sit idly. You knew there wasn’t any such thing but a ten-year-old believed that and turned herself into a workaholic.

You had no friends till you went to college. You had no love life till high school. No crushes or even dates. Boys used to ask you out sometimes but you would decline them with a soft smile and sad eyes. It was a distraction after all and you were too tired to put efforts into taking care of one more person. Your siblings were enough for that.

The apartment keys jingled as you picked up your handbag and lunch box. You slipped into your work shoes and wrapped a black heavy trench coat around yourself, buckling it in tightly. The apartment door’s lock clicked as you were finally out of your apartment. The click clacks of your boots echoed in the empty hallway as you made your way to the building’s elevator.

On your way down the parking lot, you waved to the watchman as he dipped his hat in some sort of countryside salute. Outside the air was extremely chilly as you found yourself wrapping your hands around your torso despite the number of layers you were wearing. You could see the snow that has settled on the pathway as your boots dipped in a bit into the thick layer before you raised them again and walked to the nearby bus stand.

Your office was on the outskirts of the town. It was a new establishment and was made to bring in some development in the town. You have lived in this town since you were born and it was nice knowing that it will evolve into something better.

The idea was first looked down upon by many elderly people but then it did actually do some wonderous updates to the town and was soon accepted. It even employed a lot of people which helped many.

You loved your job. Truly. Though sometimes it did become overwhelming. In the recent few months, it has gotten a bit annoying due to the change in directors. The previous director was this happy old man who actually took care of the employees a lot. He would always give the employees some extra holidays or even organize jam sessions in office on a random Tuesday to let go off the load.

The employees loved him and admired him a lot until he retired. Everyone including you cried a lot at the celebratory dinner of his retirement. The new director is also old, maybe a little younger than the previous one but is extremely grumpy. He is rude, and doesn’t even care about how one gets the job done.

The distant horn of the bus startled you as you hurriedly gathered your things that you have kept on the nearby bench and hoped on. The journey was a short one. The roads were cleared by the town maintenance hence there was no issue and you reached office a bit earlier than your usual time. You got down from the bus and walked up to the gates of the tall building.

The elevators were mostly empty during this time. Only you and a few more employees of some other department were in it. You bowed to them, sharing a similar robotic smile and got down on your floor. You were in the IT department and a project head; hence you had your own office. This was a relief to you as you could have some privacy when you worked.

The biometric lock scanned your ID and the door LED dinged green as you pushed it open and went in. Your office was on the last left corner of a hallway.

As you walked pass many cubicles, you bowed to anyone in your vicinity. You weren’t a rude employee and you actually took your time to greet everyone. It was least you could do because everyone here knew how much you hated bringing office friendships back to your personal life. You never became too friendly with someone. It was always a bow and a soft smile and never a full-on laugh. It was always some mandatory gift giving and never some everyday ‘let’s get lunch together’ thing.

You were friendly but distant and most of the people around respected that. The wooden door to your office room clicked open as you got in and locked it perfectly. You still had two hours before the actual work started, so you would normally check your emails, get work done if any or simply go through your text messages to see if something important is there. It was part of your daily routine.

It was in college that you met your first friend, Jihyun and then Seungkwan. Both of them came into your life in the most unexpected way and sticked around even if you were mostly distant. They would bring you homecooked food and even make you go with them to shopping. They basically made your college life worth thriving.

As you go through your emails, replying back to the necessary ones, there is a soft tap on your door. Startled by who could be here so early your brain malfunctioned a bit before you got up from your very comfortable chair, groaning a bit due to the loss of heat that you had a few minutes ago and unlocked the door.

“I don’t get it.”, Jeonghan whisper-yelled as he pushed you aside and got inside your cabin, locking the door and dragging you with him.

Did you forget to mention him?

Meet Yoon Jeonghan. The only office employee who is allowed in your personal life or more like he made sure you allow him in your personal life. He is as dramatic as he sounds and probably the prettiest man you have ever seen. You sometimes get jealous of him because of the number of men he pulls. He is sassy, quick-witted and extremely charming. Even though he is dramatic, he is the best comfort person.

Startled by his sudden words you allow him to take a seat on the chair you were sitting a few moments ago, as you lift your hips to give yourself some support on the desk.

“Why are you here so early?”, you asked as normally he would come at his usual time.

He grumbled a bit, sipping on the matcha that he had in his hand and said, “I had to come this early because I needed to talk with you about something.”

From the last five years that you have known him, you know for sure that the hell has to break loose for Jeonghan to wake this early in the morning.

“You could have just called or texted me.”, you offered.

“I could, right? Well, who keeps her phone on DND in the morning hour?”, Jeonghan snarled as he smirked.

You blushed red. You do have a habit of doing that to reduce the number of distractions. Your mom has a very annoying habit of calling you at the worst times to say the most random things so you just mute your phone till lunch break. You hit him on the shoulder as if begging him to stop teasing you.

“Fine! What is it oh dear lord Yoon Jeonghan that you needed to say to me?”, you taunted.

Jeonghan’s expression turned a bit grave but he recovered quickly and said in a soft voice, “We broke up.”

The news was enough to shatter whatever playful atmosphere you both had a minute ago. You stared at him wide eyed for a second and then quickly lunged forward to hug him tight.

Jeonghan has always hated dating people. He was as independent as you can imagine and he hated the dependency that came with relationships until last year. That’s when he met this guy Mark at an official event. It was organized by few of the big companies and had many well-known people. Mark is a lawyer and he is pretty famous in the area. He had won many cases and is extremely intelligent. Jeonghan and Mark clicked off instantly and by the end of the week were happily dating.

Since the past few months though something fell a bit off. Jeonghan stayed a bit aloof and was mostly cranky. He would go home early and sometimes even not greet you for two days straight. It was weird to see him crumble like this. He did recover from that feeling and that’s when you knew the divorce of his parents.

It was a bad topic to discuss about so you comforted him instead by taking him on short trips and nudging him to go on more dates with Mark.

“What happened? Why would he do that?”, you asked.

“Well technically I broke up with him. I was back at my hometown for a week for all the proceedings but it ended quicker than I imagined so I decided to surprise him. I got on an early train and went to our shared apartment and umm saw him with a woman.”, Jeonghan spoke in a clear voice but the shaking of his hands gave away how hurt he was.

Jeonghan always had a habit of burying his emotions deep and act playful all the time which is why most of the times you don’t even know how bad the situation is until he opens his mouth to explain.

“He did what?”, you almost yelled. You were fuming. Mark was bi and all but he didn’t seem like someone who would be this cruel. Yes, you did find him weird at times but you would see Jeonghan happy and go along with it.

“He cheated on me and I screamed when I saw it and then we got into a fight.”, said Jeonghan. You allowed him to continue.

“He said that I don’t give him enough time and I always go back to my hometown so he thought that I was probably cheating on him with someone else from my hometown.”, Jeonghan finished the story in one breath. He was clearly affected by it even if he tried to act nonchalant.

You were fuming at this point. You seriously considered murdering Mark.

“I fucking hate him. How can he do this to you?”, you said, clearly in a murderous voice.

Jeonghan chuckled through his teary-eyed voice and said, “Aye don’t ruin your mood for this. I am okay now.”

“Where did you sleep last night then?”, you asked next.

“I slept at my cousin’s place.”

You nodded and he decided to take his leave and not torment you more. You both decided to meet at lunch break and talk shit about Mark. After Jeonghan left, your office cabin went back to its soft eerie silence. You could hear the clattering of the window pane due to the wind.

The pitter patter of soft rain that always happened during this hour in winters. The wheezing sound of the water purifier that acted as a constant reminder of modern setting. You slowly sat down on your desk and decided to finish the rest of the work.

Half an hour later, your phone rang. You startled a bit because of how concentrated you were and turned the screen to see who it was.

Seungkwan’s name glowed. You contemplated a bit before answering the call.

“Why are you not answering my texts?”, Seungkwan yelled as soon as you picked up the call.

“Well hello to you too Kwannie. I am great, how are you?”, you answered in a sarcastic tone.

Seungkwan audibly groaned and said, “ Don’t you dare change the topic. I need answers.”

“I didn’t get time to check I am sorry. Just repeat what you texted to me.”, you finally said. You were too tired to go through probably forty text messages that Seungkwan has sent you over the span of two days.

You could hear some shuffling on the other side as you imagined Seungkwan to find a place to sit in his small apartment before he filled you in with the information.

“We are planning a trip next week.”, he finally said.

You had heard about it a month back and could remember some of the details in the back of your head. The plan was then at its initial stages so you didn’t really care about it. Most of the plans that Seungkwan makes go down the drain when the time comes by. He is very indecisive.

“The one to Prague?”, you asked as you regained some of the information you heard back then.

“Oh, thank heavens you remember some of it. Yes, Prague. My friend actually has relatives there who are willing to give us their bungalow so that we can tour around comfortably.”

You nodded as you asked, “So what is the plan?”

You could practically hear Seungkwan squeal as he explained, “Well we leave the upcoming Monday and return back before New Year’s Eve.”

Seungkwan goes to orphanages near the town on New Year’s Eve hence he planned it in such a way that you guys return before that. Sometimes you just wonder how this menace can he so soft hearted.

“Okay? So do I get a choice whether to go or not?”, you asked, even if you knew the answer.

“Haha! You wish. You are going with us. You need to.”, Seungkwan laughed menacingly.

You shook your head softly and asked, “Who all are going?”

You knew that some of your college classmates are going to be there because Seungkwan is practically friends with everyone. Even if he is the closest to you, he loves being a social butterfly and that shows pretty well.

“Umm so me, Jihyun and you obviously. Chan is going since it’s his relative’s bungalow. Jihyun is bringing her brother Vernon and my friend Seungcheol will go.”

You thought the list was done. There was a long pause before Seungkwan spoke again, voice a bit unsure this time, “M-Mingyu is also going.”

Your mind went blank. A shiver ran down your spine as you took a deep breath. It is quite obvious Mingyu would go. He had always been part of the group. You just decided to omit him from your life when college got over.

Kim Mingyu, same department as yours in college and one of your closest friends. He was extremely charming and intelligent. You both clicked off instantly and stayed the same for two years. He was the first guy you had a crush on.

In the final year of college, you finally decided to confess to him and that ended badly. Hence you are embarrassed to even go close to him now.

“Is he still dating her?”, you asked, a bit unsure.

“Yes, he is. I think he might bring her but I have no idea about that.”, Seungkwan answered.

You really wanted to say no to the trip and stay in your bed all day and watch sappy Christmas movies till it is time to get back to work again. The urge to cut the call and block everyone was too much but you were arrogant too.

It wasn’t Mingyu’s fault that you were this heartbroken. He announced that he was dating someone before you even confessed. It was the embarrassment that you felt when you realized that the sweet talks Mingyu did with you were just out of mere friendliness and you took it the wrong way.

“I will go. Don’t worry. I have a request though?”, you said finally.

“What is it?”, asked Seungkwan.

“I have a friend in office. His name is Jeonghan. He is very dear to me.”, you justified even if it was not required.

“I know Jeonghan. We have met few times when you invite me to your house. He is a sweet guy.”

“Yes, so umm he went through a pretty harsh breakup recently. The guy cheated on him so I want him to have a relaxing break too.”, you stated.

“Of course! The more the merrier. You can discuss with him and let me know if he is willing to donate his share for the trip and I will book another plane ticket for him.”, Seungkwan replied enthusiastically.

You smiled a bit and bid him goodbye. The rest of the day went in a daze. You did discuss about the trip with Jeonghan and he was more than willing to contribute. He loved going out with friends. He was actually grateful and took his time to learn about everyone who will be there on the trip.

It was almost nighttime when you got off work and went back to your apartment. You freshened up and heated some leftover food. You picked up your half-read book, a plate full of pasta and a glass of water before settling on the cozy sofa. After the meal was over you finally decide to check your text messages.

You were added to a group and it was titled ‘Boo-tastic holiday plan’, You giggled at the name and decided to read the chats. It was mostly Seungkwan and Chan bickering over the arrangement of things and the activities and sight-seeing that were to be done. Once in a while Jihyun interrupted both of them and gave logical reasons to make sure no one goes off track during the plan.  

After a while Seungkwan tagged you in the group and asked you to add Jeonghan which you did. Jeonghan was happy and even introduced himself. Everyone welcomed him and the mood shifted to light jokes and several plans.

A soft smile was plastered on your face as you saw your friends enjoying the chat. You always admired them for saving you. You never really had good friends in school. Everyone approached you only when they needed help in studies and hence you grew up extremely aloof.

Your train of thoughts was cut off when a ding came from your phone. It was an unknown number that has texted.

Unknown number

It has been a long time since I saw you.

You hesitated a bit clearly not sure who it was. You checked the account and saw that it was someone from the group Seungkwan added you in.

You

Sorry, who is this? I don’t have the number saved.

Unknown number

Wow now I am stranger? The person who helped you with every assignment is now a stranger huh?

Your eyes bulged open as you correctly guessed who it was. Mingyu was texting you and it increased your heartbeat. You have had zero connections with him since the day you graduated. It was something you needed to do for your mental health.

He was quickly becoming a distraction and you were not ready to mess up your life for him. Even though there were times when you hated him for acting so friendly and flirty with you, you still had a soft spot for the happy boy that he was.

You

Mingyu?

Unknown number

Correct! You do have good memory.

You blushed at the message.

Mingyu

I am so excited to meet you!

You

Me? Huh? Are you gonna kill me or something?

Mingyu

You wish! No, I actually missed you. We used to be best friends in college and then randomly you went poof one day.

“Yeah, right best friends. That’s all I was to him apparently.”, you bitterly chuckled under your breath before replying.

You

Lol yeah sorry. Tough times. I am excited to meet you too.

Mingyu

Yay!^^

You

:)

You kept your phone aside and sighed. This was going to be a long trip.

click <<here>> to go to chapter 2!

✧˖* end notes: i am planning to post every monday as that would help me to keep the pace and not rush things. i hope you all loved it!

[gurugirl]

Can We Start Over? | Ch. 2 The Job Offer

Series Summary: From the first day you and Harry meet, your relationship is beyond complicated. A one night stand leads to hurt feelings and then a job opportunity that you simply can't pass up is offered. But can you handle working for a man like him? rich!harry x plus size!reader | enemies to lovers

A/N: This is a 5 part series commissioned by @justfattiethings (thank you hon!).

Chapter 2. Summary: You can't stop thinking about what happened the night you met Harry and how much you hate him. But then you get some really good news about a new job. Except there's a catch.

Word Count: 9k

Warning: 18+ only, angst, alcohol consumption

Can We Start Over? masterlist

“Oh my god, Y/n. What a fucking dick. But your response was gold! I wish you’d stayed to see what happened. Holy shit!” Brandy laughed as she clinked her glass with yours, “That was some gangster shit right there!”

You both laughed at your recount of what had happened with Harry. You met your best friend Brandy for Sunday brunch at your usual spot. You had called her on Saturday after your exit paperwork was taken care of with Mr. Spector and said you had some very interesting news to tell her but that you wanted to share it in person. This wasn’t over-the-phone kind of gossip. It was a with-a-martini-in-hand face-to-face kind of gossip.

“And besides… the most important thing is at least you got off. Typical fuck-boy, good in bed but an absolute slut.”

You nodded, “Exactly. And it doesn’t bother me too much, really. Not now. Plus Mr. Spector gave me a really nice parting bonus. And I’m sure I’ll be matched with someone soon for another gig but even if it takes a few months, I won’t have to dig into savings thanks to him.”

And it was true. Mr. Spector presented you with the check and a hug and well wishes and you were nearly in tears by the time you left his estate. The movers were there the whole time, taking furniture out of his lovely home. A home you’d gotten to become very familiar with over the years. You held events and small parties there, you helped him redecorate the master suite and all the bathrooms (well you organized it all and helped the decorators and builders with the design and material selection). You even had your own room there. Not that you often needed to stay but that was part of your job description as a personal assistant. Sometimes you needed to stay. But usually, you’d go home at night.

The service that you worked for assured you there were a few clients in need of a personal assistant and if it was a good match, they’d refer you. That was important. To have the right match. You were lucky you were single and without kids. That meant you were more flexible. But that didn’t guarantee a good match.

You were sure you’d be enjoying a couple of weeks off work off to do nothing. It sounded fantastic.

.           .           .

You hadn’t expected to get an offer so soon. When Monica emailed you on Monday afternoon with the file and details of your new assignment (if you accepted) you perused the document with your mouth agape. You’d been matched with someone with what was known as stealth wealth (most were), who traveled frequently. You’d need to keep a bedroom in their home (not out of the norm) and travel with them from country to country. You would negotiate holidays and time off once meeting in person but the salary offered was the first thing you saw when you looked at the contract. There was no pressure to sign but how could you say no to an offer that would erase your college debt and allow you to buy a home in a year? You couldn’t let this one slip away. 

You emailed Monica back right away that you’d accept it and like to move forward. The next step would be to meet in person. Then, you’d find out more about who you’d be working for. The service was very discreet. The client was always given absolute anonymity until it was time for the first meeting.

You stared at your computer screen as if to will Monica to respond faster. Sipping your coffee you tapped your foot against the floor in anticipation. You kind of would have enjoyed some time off. A week or two of downtime. Sleeping in. Catching up on all the movies and shows you hadn’t had time to watch on Netflix. Order in pizza and Chinese, and day drink in your pajamas. But this opportunity wouldn’t be on the table for much longer. Another person would snatch this up in a heartbeat. That dollar sign alone would see to it.

When Monica finally responded you placed your mug of coffee down, held your breath, and clicked the email.

You’ll be meeting with the client tomorrow at 8:00 am at an address that will be sent to you via our private messaging app at 5:00 am. He requests you bring a physical copy of your resume and if you both agree to terms tomorrow he’ll bump up your salary 10% automatically. Confirm this is okay and I’ll set up the rest. Monica

You squealed as you quickly typed back a resounding Yes! Book it! Thank you!

You stood up and paced. Okay. So you learned the client was a he. Well, you’d blow him away. You’d make him want to hire you on the spot with that lovely little 10% bump.

You already knew the outfit. Thanks to working for Mr. Spector, you’d been allotted a stipend for very nice, and well-tailored outfits for when you needed to look chic and professional. Great for a first meeting, your double-breasted jacquard wool coat in neutral colors with a pop of blue, and your blue silk button-up tucked into your jacquard wool skirt, matching the coat. Stylish, flattering, and appropriate for meetings with a wealthy man who would undoubtedly be dressed very nicely as well.

It was perfect. You couldn’t believe how lucky you’d gotten. A new assignment so quickly and one that paid so well? It felt like fate.

.           .           .          

Harry had his house manager, Lucio, contact a highly recommended service to find a personal assistant for himself. He hated to find someone new because that was just one more person who knew his business. And he preferred having very few people in his circle. But Thasi was dumb. He couldn’t bear to have her working for him another minute. She had trouble with very basic tasks, like adding events to his calendar. She’d even missed two flights that he had booked for her and the last flight she missed he only realized it when she came into his study with a folder asking him about an account he needed to close out.

He stood from his desk and looked at the girl in astonishment, “Thasi. Why are you not 30,000 feet in the air right now? Why are you here standing in my house asking me this question? You are meant to be headed to New York City.” His voice was firm. Irritated.

The girl dropped her mouth open and blinked her eyes until it had finally dawned on her that she had forgotten to make her flight to meet with an art dealer on Harry’s behalf.

“I take it by the look on your face that you now realize your irreversible blunder. You’re fired. I’ll have your things sent back to your home by tomorrow afternoon.”

The poor girl couldn’t even argue with him. She knew she’d blown it. That was her second missed flight, of equal importance. And Harry felt he’d been quite generous and patient with her by giving her another chance. But he shouldn’t have.

So when he learned about Personal Premier Services from a few of his colleagues he decided to look for a PA that way rather than on his own like he had with Thasi. Harry’d had good luck finding staff for everything he needed for the last five years without help. The personal assistant was something rather new to him as he usually did most of his own errands by himself or had Lucio do them. But things were changing in his business and he needed an assistant quite desperately.

Harry woke before the sun rose and took his morning jog. He loved getting his day started earlier than most people. It meant he had time to do things like, exercise, catch up on world news, meditate, shower, and eat breakfast all before most other people would even be out of their beds. He also wished he could just stay awake forever. Wished he didn’t need sleep. There were so many things he could accomplish during the hours he wasted sleeping. But, being that he was only a mere human, his body required sleep.

“Sir? Y/n Y/l/n has just arrived. I have her waiting in the sitting room. Would you like me to bring her up?”

Harry cocked his head and looked to Lucio as he sat his pen down, “What did you say her name was again?”

“Y/n Y/l/n.”

Why did that name somehow feel so familiar?

“No. That’s okay, Lucio.” He stood from his chair, “I’ll go and greet her myself. Thank you.”

Harry’s immediate instincts told him that name was familiar. But why? And oddly, he first let his mind wander to it being you. But it couldn’t be. You were at the ball and he was certain you were wealthy just like him based on your outfit and your demeanor. He’d only gotten your first name that night, not your last name. And while Y/n was your name, the person looking for a job waiting for him downstairs certainly wouldn’t be the same woman who had put a used condom on his hotel door’s handle only to have his now ex-friend-whatever-she-was find it.

Yes. The ex-friend. Aster. He knew he should have stopped their little arrangement before she got too attached. It was never meant to be anything serious. From the start, he told her he was seeing other people but she never wanted to hear about anyone else he might have been sleeping with. And when he realized she started getting attached he should have recognized it was time to end it. But he didn’t.

Harry clenched his jaw and swallowed.

The knocking on his door had come a lot faster than he’d hoped. Aster wasn’t even supposed to be there. Her flight had been canceled so she wasn’t going to make it to New York City. He told her he’d see her the following day when he flew back. But of course, she rebooked a later flight without him knowing. As a surprise. And the call from Aster telling him she was on her way had shocked him and really put a damper on the night he thought he’d be enjoying with you. He just hoped she hadn’t passed you on her way to the door.

As soon as he opened it up, Aster slapped him across the face and held up a napkin with a blush-colored lip stain on it and a scribbled note. But what really had his attention was a droopy condom on his doorknob. Fresh with his come.

“What the fuck, Harry? What the fuck?!”

“Aster, I don’t… what is this?” He knew goddamn well what it was. It was you. “I think someone is just playing a joke on me. This isn’t mine…”

“The note, Harry? Whoever it is knows your fucking name.” Aster pushed passed him to make her way into the room.

Harry looked down the hallway and then cringed as he pulled the condom from the knob with the discarded tissue he picked up off the floor.

“Babe, this was just a cruel joke from someone–“

“Don’t you dare call me babe! And I don’t believe you. Who is going to play this kind of joke on you and then write your name on a napkin from the event you were just at?” She tossed him the napkin, “Hmm? I bet I know who. Someone you just fucked and kicked out because you didn’t think I’d come.”

Harry looked down at the napkin. Sure enough, it said A Secret Garden in the City with Alfred Spector’s company logo printed on it, as well as the note you’d written – Thank you, Harry xx. Bitch. He dropped the napkin onto the bed and ran a hand through his hair.

He didn’t know what to say. And it wasn’t like he’d been all that serious about Aster to begin with. She was gorgeous and they’d known one another for a while but that was where his attraction ended. In all honesty, he didn’t like her that much. Perhaps this was for the better, as much of an asshole as that made him seem.

“Aster, look…” he sighed and sat down at the edge of the messy bed, “You and I weren’t exactly serious. It’s always just been casual. You know that,” he looked at her with her hands on her hips, red in the face, tears just breaking her lash line. “I’m sorry. You and I were never headed for marriage. It was just some fun for a bit.”

“Some fun? I flew out here to see you on a whim. Not because I thought you were just a bit of fun but because I actually did like you. But you know what? You’re right. I don’t think I could have ever pictured myself marrying someone like you. Selfish, pathetic, overly regimented. You’re doomed to die alone, Harry.”

She pressed her lips together and waited for a response but when it didn’t come she stomped toward the door, slamming it behind her on her way out.

Harry smoothed his expensive blazer out and brushed off the feeling he was getting as he walked through the hallway to the foyer and then peeked into the sitting area where his interviewee would be sitting and waiting for him.

He nearly jumped back when his eyes met yours. Both of your faces held the same expression. Complete shock lined with minor disgust.

“This must be a joke,” you stood up from the plush silk-lined chair you’d been sitting in and looked around the room as if someone were going to pop out and tell you that you were on that show, Candid Camera, and it was all for a good laugh.

But the only person in your sight was the man you had a one-night stand with. The cocky asshole who’d treated you like garbage and then kicked you out of his room when he got a call from someone.

“I think there must be a mistake… You’re… are you a personal assistant? I’m confused.” Harry mimicked your body language, pivoting himself to look around to see if he could find someone and demand answers.

“Yes. That’s what I do for a living. But clearly, I have no intention of working for anyone like you, so if you don’t mind…” you picked up your briefcase and began to walk toward Harry to move past him and see yourself out.

But just as you walked through the threshold of the sitting room to the foyer Harry spoke, “Y/n.”

You stopped and turned to look at him in question.

“Come. Let’s have a chat,” he turned and began walking toward the grand stairwell that led upstairs, turning back to make sure you were following.

You blinked your eyes and scoffed as you looked down at your red-painted nails. Should you follow him? What would be the point? Just to hear him insult you and turn you away at the end anyway?

“You are looking for a job, are you not?” Harry spoke from the bottom of the stairwell, his hand on the lacquered wooden banister.

“I am. But… I don’t think this would work out.” You gestured at him.

“You and I are professionals and you come highly regarded. I’m in great need of an assistant. At the very least we can have a discussion and see where it takes us. I don’t like my time wasted and I’m sure you don’t either. You came all the way here. Let’s at least talk.”

Harry thought you looked cute and he could see the gears turning in your head. He could deal with the one night he’d had with you and the very improper thing you’d done which outed him to Aster if you were good at what you did.

“Yeah, but we…” you chose your words carefully, “Friday night? I honestly don’t think–“

“I can look past that if you can. This is strictly professional. I’ve no interest in anything more.”

What were you to do? He hadn’t just been a one-night stand. He was an asshole. Could he really pretend that none of that had happened? Could you?

But. There was the matter of the salary he was offering. An enticing and frankly irresistible number that could have you swallowing your pride.

“Fine. But I can assure you I will not tolerate being treated like…” you paused to carefully choose your words again. You were certain his house had staff listening in.

Before you could find the word you were seeking, Harry spoke, “Like an assistant who is paid to do her job flawlessly?” He began to take the steps upward and you followed.

You frowned at his description. As if you wouldn’t do your job flawlessly. You weren’t sure what he was implying but you had a bad feeling about this.

When you followed him into a large study with dark woods and big windows with heavy drapes, a huge walnut desk with an expensive chair and bookshelves lining one of the walls he closed, and locked, you noted, the door behind himself, “Sit.”

You looked at the plushy green velvet chairs with tufted cushions and ornate carvings in the arms and legs and placed your bag down on the chair next to the one you sat in. He sat in his own chair at his desk and looked at you, a harsh expression on his face. He was far more intimidating in this setting.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” he spoke clearly as he kept his eyes pinned to yours, “What you did when you left that night is unforgivable in a personal setting. And because of that, you and I will never be friends. But that doesn’t mean we can’t work well together as boss and employee. I expect complete discretion and a professional attitude from anyone that works for me. Is that a problem for you?”

You felt your ears growing hot as your anger slowly rose, “I am the most professional and discreet personal assistant you’ll ever find. Anyone else will disappoint you and I would also expect that any employer would treat me professionally and fairly. What you did to me that night was insulting and something I will never forget nor forgive. So don’t worry, I’d never want to be a friend to anyone like you.” 

Harry clenched his jaw at your response and nodded, “Fair enough. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk job details and salary.” Harry looked down at his folder and opened it up.

“Salary? That part was already determined. Plus 10% on top if we come to an agreement on terms of employment today.” You reminded him.

Harry laughed and looked up at you with his head tilted to the side as if he were curious about you, “That was before I knew who I was offering such a generous salary to.” He looked down at the paper in front of him, marking something out and scribbling over it. He held the sheet of paper out to you.

You squinted at him and leaned forward to take the paper and your eyes widened at the new number he’d written in on the contract. You laughed and crumpled the paper as you stood from your chair, dropping it onto the floor and lifting your bag, “Goodbye, Mr. Styles.”

Turning and walking over the grand Persian rug that took up most of the floor you reached for the handle and when you pulled realized the door was locked. You placed your fingers over the keyhole and turned back to the smug fucker. He sat comfortably in his chair with his brows raised at you, unimpressed.

“Unlock the fucking door. This conversation is over.” You were fuming.

“And why’s that? I feel like that’s just a starting place. A negotiation if you will. Tell me why you deserve more and maybe I’ll consider it.”

“This isn’t a game. You had a perfectly fine offer that I was willing to negotiate off of but now you’re just insulting me, once again might add. I’d never work for anyone for that wage. Much less a self-absorbed man who treats women like rubbish.”

Harry folded his lips into his mouth as he tampered his grin. His cocky attitude was infuriating, “Oh please. Save the dramatics. Sit.”

You scoffed and shook your head, “No. You’re an overly egotistical moron with nothing to back it up. I will not stand for being insulted this way.”

Harry pushed himself out of his chair and began to walk toward you, “Nothing to back it up? Wrong,” he grinned as he looked around his extravagantly decorated room and back toward you, “This home is a great example of what I’ve got to show for my accomplishments. My bank accounts as well,” he slowly walked to your side and put his hand onto the heavy oak door you were standing in front of as he licked his lips and looked down at your outfit before looking directly into your eyes, “And I’m pretty sure I had you crying my name over and over again when I made you come. I’d say that’s a great reason for my inflated ego. You certainly thought I was great when I had my dick inside of you.”

You swallowed and then scowled at his nerve to bring up such a thing, “Well, like you said, I’m a bit dramatic. I was overplaying it that night because I didn’t want you to feel bad. Now open the fucking door.”

Harry’s smirk didn’t fall as he leaned in closer, “Liar. You loved it,” then he backed away, giving you enough space to breathe, “Not that you’ll ever have a chance to experience it again.”

“Like I’d want that little thing anywhere near me. Now, are you gonna open the door or do I need to call 911 for attempted kidnapping?” You dug into your bag and pulled your cell phone out.

Harry laughed and you watched in dismay as his dimples appeared. He looked too handsome to be such an asshole. He put his hands up in surrender, “Okay. Fine. We’ll go back to negotiating off the original salary plus 10%. Okay?”

You sighed. You hated that you were even considering it. The salary he was offering was too good, though. You could handle him if he kept personal matters out of your working relationship. The worst-case scenario would be that you quit and told the service about him and how he treated you (of course you’d gather evidence so no one else had to put up with his shit) and then find another job working for someone else.

You rolled your eyes and moved past him to go back to your seat.

Harry rounded the desk and sat down, putting his elbows on the desk once again, just like he’d done when you both first sat down to negotiate terms, “There we go. Money talks doesn’t it?”

Unfortunately, he was right. Money does talk.

You rolled your eyes again and looked at the back corner of his office to relieve yourself from his intense gaze.

“Less attitude, Y/n. Let’s begin, shall we?”

You suffered through an hour of going back and forth on expectations with Harry but at the end realized it wasn’t that bad. Once you both got out your frustrations at the beginning it seemed to flow smoothly after.

You even talked him into paying you 15% more, rather than just the 10%. Which you felt was a big win. Harry didn’t seem that phased by it.

He led you to what would be your room, which had your jaw dropping to the floor. It was… gorgeous. Like the rest of the house, it was grand and old but well-kept. The wide plank dark floors were covered with a light cream wool rug with small yellow, green, and blue flowers woven into the fabric. Long soft, lacy drapes hung from the ceiling and brushed against the floor over the tall windows that overlooked the massive back garden full of trees and flowers and fountains. The king-sized four-poster bed had a pale yellow, silk canopy with tiny blue birds sewn into the material. The bedspread was white silk with the same yellow and blue birds sewn in. Ornate, heavy wooden side tables, a dresser with a big vanity and silk-covered cushion sat across from the bed. An antique chandelier hung in the center of the room, high above the bed. Flowers and potted plants with green leaves rounded out the space. There were two closed doors. One led to a small closet (not a surprise it was so small for the period of the house), and the other to a fully updated, spa bathroom which… you really had to pause for a bit as you took it all in.

Harry handed you keys to the house and a fob key that would allow you in the gates that surrounded the home and told you to arrange to have your things moved in by the following day (on his tab) and that you would start work at 8am sharp.

You called Brandy the moment you drove out of the gates to tell her what had just happened.

“It’s him. It’s the asshole one-night stand. I just accepted the offer to be his assistant.”

“I’m coming over with a bottle of wine. I need details in person.”

“Brandy, I’ve got to make arrangements and get everything ready, I don’t know…” you hemmed as you drove down the road with your heart beating fast in your chest. You couldn’t believe you’d just accepted to work with Harry Styles.

“Don’t make stupid excuses with me. You can do all that with a glass of wine in your hand.”

.           .           .

“I see why you took the job. Damn. I’m jealous,” Brandy spoke as she stood in your bedroom doorway while you packed up things you’d need right away. Harry explained that you’d be staying at his house more often during the week than your own apartment. He ran a tight schedule and driving an hour to his house every morning didn’t sound appealing and he didn’t like to be kept waiting.

“Yeah. I was going to say no. I really was but… how can I turn down that offer? I’ve never made so much in my life and honestly? Probably never will again. I figure it’ll be like a trial run. We’ll see if he can be professional.”

You called around and found movers and arranged for them to have everything delivered to Harry’s address the following afternoon. It was still early in the day so you scheduled to have a set of your spare keys delivered by a courier by 5 pm so they could have access to your apartment the following day as you’d be gone.

You were busy the whole time Brandy was there but you were glad she was with you. You marked items you needed to have delivered and printed out a sheet of paper for a checklist for the movers.

But by the time your keys were picked up by the courier and you were halfway through the bottle of wine, you’d finally had time to sit and relax.

“You two are totally gonna fuck again,” Brandy grinned as she looked at the TV.

You scoffed and smacked her arm, “We are not. I’d never go near him again. Not after that night. I actually, fully despise him.”

“Yeah… sure. I mean… I know he was an asshole but also the way you spoke about how good he was in bed? How do you turn that down? You two are gonna practically be living together and traveling together. I don’t know… I looked him up. He’s hot, Y/n. An asshole but… we all have needs.”

Shaking your head you sipped your wine and ignored her. The thought had very very briefly crossed your mind but it was quickly pushed away because the reminder of how he treated you Friday night couldn’t be ignored. You’d never ever forget the way he made you feel so little and so disgusting.

“He literally cheated on someone while he was with me. He had a girlfriend. He fucked me as she was on her way over. Like…” you flailed your arms dramatically, “how could I possibly sleep with someone that is a cheater? I mean willingly? Now that I know?” You shook your head.

Still, Brandy didn’t seem deterred in her assumption, “Yeah… but we don’t really actually know who called him. And if it was someone he was seeing? I mean… come on. It’s not as if they were married. We can gather that much. Yeah, he’s shit for what he did but like… I don’t know,” she shrugged, “It’s not like he cheated on his wife or something.”

Brandy had always looked at things through rose-tinted glasses which was annoying. Where you were more practical and stubborn. There was no way you’d end up in his bed ever again. You didn’t know the excuse for why he kicked you out after he spoke on the phone and called someone babe. But that was beside the point. The more important factor was the way he treated you and that was simply unforgivable.

.           .           .

You were running late. You couldn’t believe it. Your alarm had gone off on time. You showered, ran through your quick morning routine, double-checked that all your things would be delivered to the correct address, and then you were on the road by 6:45 am. You allotted an extra 15 minutes in case of extra bad traffic.

But traffic is unpredictable.

“Hello?” Harry spoke into the receiver. You had your phone on speaker.

“Harry? Mr. Styles!” You corrected yourself, “Um… I’m stuck on the highway and it’s a bit backed up. I’m just giving you a heads up that I’ll be like…” You sighed and looked at the clock trying to make some kind of conservative estimate, “twenty minutes late?”

You heard him grunt in response and then sigh, “Fine. Please come up to my office the minute you walk in.” And then he hung up. That was it.

And of course, you half expected such a response. He gave you little indication of his opinion on you being late. You just hoped he didn’t hold it against you on your first day. It had genuinely been out of your hands. But then again, you being at the house with him on subsequent mornings would mean that being late in this way wouldn’t happen ever again.

When you parked at the front of the house you finagled your suitcase out of the backseat and lugged it up the front steps just as the door opened, “Good morning, Miss. Can I bring this to your room for you?” An older man stood with a smile as he scooped your suitcase away from you.

“Oh. Uh… Okay. Are you sure?” You followed him inside.

“Absolutely. Mr. Styles is expecting you right away.”

You swallowed and watched the man walk away as you took a breath. Your first day working for Harry Styles. Possibly also your last, depending on how everything went.

You climbed the stairs toward his study and knocked twice before pushing the door open gently.

“Come and sit.” He spoke right away. He didn’t even glance your way as he continued typing at his computer when he spoke.

You sat in the same chair you had the day previous and waited for him to finish whatever he was doing.

He cleared his throat and squinted at his computer screen, “I’m an art dealer as I mentioned yesterday. But… it’s more complicated than that sometimes. I deal in art and cultural artifacts that can sometimes be a bit…” he looked at you, “morally grey in the way they are handled. It’s rare but I do occasionally have opportunities and come across certain pieces when a collector is willing to pay an exorbitant finder’s fee for the item.”

“Morally grey. Which means illegal.” You corrected, keeping your eyes on him.

He shook his head, “No. Nothing I do is illegal. Some take issue with some of the items I procure and where they come from, but ultimately, everything I do is technically legal.”

You nodded. You didn’t know what he meant exactly. But you assumed you’d be finding out soon enough.

After Harry explained in detail your schedule from day to day, he had Lucio give you a quick tour of the parts of the house you didn’t see the day before. He even had a binder with your tentative weekly schedule, important numbers to have on hand, addresses, passcodes, a new laptop, and passwords to his login details for various online accounts. He also handed you a credit card, “You’ll make all your own arrangements as well as mine. The limit on this card will cover the cost of flights and accommodations. You and I will be traveling frequently, as I mentioned yesterday.”

Your morning was filled with short bursts of Harry giving you information and what to expect, but half of that consisted of you waiting while he spoke on the phone and typed out emails. You couldn’t imagine why an art dealer would be as busy as seemed to be. Clearly, he was making lots of money so there was no doubt that he was busy with clients. But why?

You researched the ins and outs of being an art dealer the evening before, once Brandy’s Uber arrived to take her home. The typical art dealer did not make the kind of money you knew Harry had. Most also typically worked through auctions, galleries, and museums. Harry seemed to be his own entity doing deals as an individual.  So you knew he wasn’t typical in his field.

At lunchtime you were hungry. You’d eaten something small before dashing to your car that morning but that had long been digested.

“Mr. Styles?” You looked at him from your spot in your chair as you closed your new laptop.

He looked at you with an eyebrow raised.

“It’s lunchtime for me. I was hoping I could get something to eat if that’s okay? You should probably also eat. I can bring you something if you take your lunch up here.” You honestly couldn’t have cared less if he ate, but you were so used to making sure Alfred ate that asking Harry was automatic.

Harry’s brows scrunched together and he looked at his computer screen, “Hadn’t realized the time. Sure. Feel free to make something for yourself or you can ask Carl to. I’d like a vegan cassoulet.”

You stood and looked at him in confusion, “A vegan… what?”

“A vegan cassoulet,” He pronounced the word obnoxiously, “Carl will know what I want. Just tell him.”

You repeated the word to yourself. Cas ooo lay – cas ooo lay… You thought it sounded like one of those French dishes you’d never ventured to try.

In the kitchen, you found Carl right away and told him what Harry wanted.

“And what for you?” He began to pull out pans and got to work right away.

“I can manage. I think just a sandwich. Is everything here in the fridge?” You opened up the door and immediately were overwhelmed by the amount of groceries and items packaged inside. The fridge itself was state-of-the-art. Everything in the kitchen was.

Carl laughed and stepped up behind you, “You can find everything you might need in this kitchen yes. But perhaps we’ll leave the cooking to me today, just until you get used to where everything is. What kind of sandwich would you like?”

“Oh. Maybe that’s a good idea. You don’t mind?”

Shaking his head, Carl reached passed you to pull out some vegetables, “Not at all. This is what I do. How about a French bread panini? I can slice up some turkey and Swiss, load it with vegetables? Or maybe you’d prefer grilled chicken and pesto? Egg salad? Or are you vegetarian?”

You laughed and shook your head, “I’m definitely not vegetarian. And the first one sounds fine. Turkey and Swiss panini. Any veggies you put on it will be good. I just don’t like mayo.”

It was wild to be having lunch made for yourself by a professional private chef. And Harry’s cassoulet looked divine but after googling it you learned it’s usually made with various kinds of meat and that the duck confit is what makes the dish. But since his version was supposedly vegan, you couldn’t imagine it tasting anything like it was probably supposed to.

You also learned that Carl wasn’t just a personal chef. He also did all the grocery shopping.

After lunch, your belongings arrived. The movers placed everything in your new bedroom and handed you the key to your apartment before they left.

“This is it?” Harry asked standing in the doorway as he looked around at the boxes and bags you’d had delivered.

“Yeah. I don’t have much I need to keep here. You’ve got the room fully furnished. Just my clothes and essentials.” You shrugged as you opened up the box near the bed.

You could feel Harry’s eyes on you as you dug into the box and pulled out your potted Pothos plant. “What?” You looked at him as you placed the plant on the floor.

“Nothing. Um,” he scratched the back of his neck, “I think it’s a good stopping point today. We’ve got you set up on everything so you can unpack and relax. Normally our days will be longer but since it’s your first…” he put both arms down by his side and stopped fidgeting, “It’s good for today. And like I said earlier, you are free to watch TV in the main room downstairs or get anything from the kitchen you need at all. You don’t need to just stay in your room all night unless you choose to.”

You squinted at him, wondering if there was some kind of catch. He was rather pleasant, you had to admit. After you both got everything out of the way the day before things had been fine. Normal even. But you still had to keep your guard up around him. And all it took to remember who you were dealing with was what he’d done that night.

You decided against going downstairs to watch TV. Maybe you’d feel comfortable enough to do that later on but that night, it felt nice to take a long bath and listen to music and then curl up on your soft, silky bed with your laptop and Netflix.

Though you did get thirsty. And a bit hungry around 8. So you ventured down and hoped to not run into anyone.

Except of course, you ran into someone. When you entered the kitchen you saw Harry standing in front of the refrigerator looking in. Apparently, he had the same idea as you.

You cleared your throat and Harry turned to see you there, “Oh, hey.” He closed the fridge and faced you, “Need something?”

You nodded and stepped toward the pantry, “A little hungry and thirsty. Is it okay?”

“Of course it is. Help yourself to whatever. I was just about to make some pasta. Something simple. Would you like some?”

“Yeah. I can help you make it. What do we need?” You neared the fridge and opened it up, pulling out a glass pitcher of water.

Harry ran down the list of ingredients, which weren’t many, and you helped him slice garlic while he boiled the pasta and poured a can of San Marzano tomatoes into a small pot.

Everything came together quickly and you both sat at the island to eat the late-night meal together.

“Tomorrow we’ll book a trip to Vancouver. Someone has a few pieces I’d love to see in person.” Harry explained what to expect on the trip as you listened.

Then you got to talking about your parents and then college. Harry shared a little about himself but it wasn’t much. You didn’t expect that he would, but he did tell you about his mom and sister. You could tell how important they were to him just by the way he spoke. It made you feel warm toward him in a way knowing that he cared about people other than himself. Something you hadn’t been sure about as he seemed so cold.

When you were both done you tried to help him clean up, “You don’t have to do this, Y/n. I’ve got a housekeeper who will be here in the morning. Why don’t you go to bed?”

“Are you sure? Are you headed to bed?” You asked as you placed the forks into the sink.

He nodded, “Yeah. Time to call it a night.”

“Do you always go to bed this early,” you grinned as you refilled your water to bring it with you to your room.

He raised his brows, “Yeah. I get up at 4:30 in the morning to start my day so 9:30 or 10 is about when I go to bed.”

You cringed to yourself. 4:30 in the morning? That sounded like hell.

You both went your separate ways as you bid Harry good night.

.           .           .

You had a busy morning. You booked a trip for the following week to Vancouver for yourself and Harry. Two nights at The Four Seasons (2 separate rooms, connected), first-class airline tickets, a reservation for the 2nd evening at a nice restaurant for four people, an on-call driver for the whole visit, and set-up details with someone’s assistant named Lana for the meeting.

Harry wanted everything to be perfect so you had to work at extracting as much information from Lana as possible. At first, Lana sent you an itinerary that was rather simple and would have most people feeling good about the meeting. But Harry took one look at it and knew he needed more information. So you spent the majority of your morning speaking with the young woman and filling in details that appeared to be missing.

“This is excellent, Y/n,” Harry looked up at you as he stood from his desk. The itinerary and all the bookings were taken care of. “I’m leaving to take care of something personal. You can have the rest of the day off. Thank you.”

You felt pleased. So far, working for Harry hadn’t been all that bad. He was picky and hard to please but you could handle him. You just hoped that the momentum you two had would continue into the weeks ahead.

.           .           .

You met Brandy out at your favorite club. You wore a cute black dress and black booties and your black leather jacket.

“Oh damn, girl! You look good!” Brandy called to you when she spotted you through the crowd.

“I can’t stay all night! I have to work in the morning, so I stop at 2 drinks!” You spoke loudly so Brandy could hear.

Brandy’s side eye told you that your friend would be trying to get you to enjoy yourself for longer. But you couldn’t. The last thing you wanted to do was to be on Harry’s bad side and be hungover the next morning.

But, Brandy was convincing. Too convincing at times.

Four martinis in and you were painfully aware that you wouldn’t be driving back. You’d need an Uber and that kind of sucked because Harry would know when your car wasn’t there. But… since you’d already need to Uber and you were already out, you had a fifth martini and danced with Brandy and forgot all about your promise to yourself.

The night grew blurry and you couldn’t stop talking about your boss.

“He’s so put together too,” you slurred as you and Brandy leaned into one another, too drunk to dance or drink anymore.

“I know. You keep saying that. And how big his cock was,” Brandy laughed and you pushed her, causing her to stumble back dramatically so you reached out to steady her but wound up falling with her to the floor in a fit of laughter.

Yeah, you’d gotten sloppy drunk.

“I need to go,” you pushed yourself up to stand as you reached for your cell phone. You could hardly see straight, and pulling up the Uber app was simply not going to work. Instead, you called the second to last person you’d texted, Harry. You really hadn’t put much thought into it.

He answered the line and you pushed your way toward the front of the club to go outside, dragging Brandy with you, “Harry!” You howled loudly.

“Where are you?”

“I’m at Club Yega. Can you pretty please come pick me up? I’m so drunk.” Your voice was scratchy and your words were watery.

Once you got outside you repeated your question, unable to hear what Harry had responded to you.

“Okay. Just wait for me outside. Is there anyone with you?” He sounded concerned.

“Brandy is here and the security guy standing by the door,” you said matter-of-factly before hiccupping.

Harry told you he’d be there soon and Brandy wobbled into your side as she used one eyeball to call an Uber for herself.

You were unable to recall how long it took for Harry to arrive, or when Brandy had gotten into her Uber and left but when you saw him, he was standing over you with his hand out, “Up you get,” he grasped your hand and helped you stand up. You’d been sitting on the sidewalk.

“Should be more responsible,” Harry chided you as he helped you to his running car, “No one’s watching over you. Where’s this friend you had with you?”

“She was here I promise but her Uber came to get her,” you stumbled into his car and plopped down into the seat with an umph!

Harry looked back at the front door security person and nodded to him as he rounded the car and got inside.

“Harry, I’m sorry. I was going to only have 2 drinks. Swear.”

“It happens. But you should have called me sooner. Don’t like that you were sitting out there alone like that. It’s late. And we have an early day tomorrow.”

You turned to look at him as he pulled into the street and reached a hand up to the curl that covered the top of his ear, “You’re so pretty. Which is weird because you’re such a fucking dick.”

Harry shook his head and laughed to himself as he kept his eyes on the road.

“I’m serious. You’re too pretty for it to be real. Your voice even.” You croaked.

Harry glanced at you quickly, “Oh yeah?” His grin widened. He knew the alcohol was talking but he certainly didn’t mind hearing your thoughts about him while you were inebriated.

“Yeah,” you lowered your finger to his shoulder and then poked at his bicep before dropping your hand back into your lap, “Nice everything. Except you’re not actually nice are you?” You let out a garbled laugh and closed your eyes for a moment.

“Hey… Come on. You’re drunk. Just close your eyes and we’ll be home soon.”

You shook your head and looked back at him, “Bossy too. But it sucks because it was so good that night. God I still think about it… and then I remember how you kicked me out like I was filthy. That was mean. Hurt my feelings.”

Harry sighed and stayed quiet. He was not going to engage in this kind of conversation with you while you were drunk. He was sure you wouldn’t remember any of it anyway.

But you didn’t stop there, “I wish I could stop thinking about it, though. S’not fair.”

Harry kept his eyes on the road and listened.

“The way you sounded when you were coming. I keep hearing it,” you squeezed your thighs together and looked out the window with a soft sigh. “Never had it like that before. But fuck you.”

Harry swallowed and blinked his eyes. He was a little surprised by your drunk confession. He liked that you thought fondly of some aspects of that night. Clearly you had enjoyed the sex. But to hear you saying how your feelings were hurt and that you were still angry about it all?

He looked over at you and down to your thigh where your dress had ridden up quickly before looking back at the road. He still refused to engage in this. You were drunk. Very much so.

“And your hands, Harry…” you reached over to brush your fingers over the back of his hand that was gripped on the steering wheel, “Oh god…” you breathed your words, “Your fingers. How good you are with them,” you bit your lip and leaned your head back into the leather seat and closed your eyes. “But still fuck you.”

When you were silent for a few minutes Harry looked over at you and noticed you were asleep.

He was glad you’d stopped staying the things you were. Your words had him confused. You were going from hot to cold fast. But he knew you wouldn’t ever reveal such things to him if you hadn’t been so far gone.

Waking you up gently, he put his arms under yours to help you out of his car, “We’re home, Y/n. Let’s get you up to bed.”

You were able to use your legs, but things were spinning. You clung tightly to Harry as he slowly brought you upstairs to your room.

When your bottom hit your mattress you laid back and sighed, “I might throw up,” you said.

Harry laughed quietly and shook his head as he helped you out of your shoes. He knelt down and unzipped the leather to pull each one off. He didn’t intend to let his eyes wander over your legs and your thighs, but your dress had gotten bunched up so he could practically see your panties. And then they were fully on view when you scooted yourself into your bed further.

Harry leaned over you and pulled your blankets up over your body, “I’ll be right back with water.”

He couldn’t believe how adorable he thought you were. Even though you were still angry at him over what he’d done he liked the sass a little. He was definitely attracted to you. There was no doubt in his mind about that. He tried not thinking about that night with you but after you’d brought it up he couldn’t help himself but to indulge in thoughts of the way you felt and how wet you got for him. Your body, your voice… You were good with your hands too, he smiled remembering your comment about how you liked his hands. But of course, the smile fell from his face when he remembered how the night ended. How shitty he’d been. But now things were too complicated and he wasn’t sure that any kind of apology would ever be enough.

When he got back to your room you were asleep. Out cold. He placed the water on your nightstand and brushed his fingers along your forehead. You were cute.

He plugged in your cell phone and smiled at your sleeping face.

“Good night, pretty girl,” he whispered as he turned off the lamp next to you before leaving the room and closing the door behind himself.

Part 3

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[feasibilities]

Forsaken | Thomas Shelby x Reader (NSFW) ⚮

Synopsis: Thomas eases his loneliness with a famous burlesque dancer. Warnings: False Imprisonment (technically), Assassination Attempt, Spanking, Pet Names, Exhibitionism, Desperation Author's Note: S6 Thomas Shelby? My man, my man, my man. Enjoy.

“Sorry, sir, but the show is over.” You said aimlessly, feeling the presence of a man. 

“Not for me, it isn’t.” He retorted, rubbing a cigarette across his lips & lighting it. 

Your head snapped back to the British gang leader turned MP, Thomas Michael Shelby. He looked quite different from the first time you saw him. He was starting to grey on the sides of his head and he sported wireframe glasses. 

“A Member of Parliament coming to see a burlesque show. How appropriate.” You chided, crossing your legs. 

“Just came to see what the buzz is about.” He said while looking you up and down. Your mink fur shawl sat low on your chest and Thomas hoped it incidentally fell to the floor. 

“Well, you’ve came and seen. Have a good night, Mr. Shelby.” You dismissed him. You watched him stand there for a moment and then walk towards you. He lifted your chin and caressed your cheek lovingly.

“I’ll have you, and that’s the end of it. See you tomorrow.” He said. 

——

Hearing a knock at the door, you opened it believing it was your car service. You met the somber gaze of one of Thomas’ goons. He took your suitcases from your hands and gently led you to the 1927 Bentley out front. He politely opened the door for you and guided you inside. You stared at Thomas with hatred. He smiled warmly and moved your hair from your face. 

“No way to greet your beloved, eh?” He said.

“You are no beloved of mine.” You scorned.

“I will be in time.” He retorted as the car drove away.

You spent the long drive ignoring Thomas as he took you in. He had seen you many times on stage, but you were captivating up close. He had no qualms about taking you as Lizzie was long gone. What better way to alleviate a man’s loneliness than to spend time in a beautiful woman’s bosom? 

Arriving at Shelby Manor, you were taken aback by the size of his home. An MP’s salary in addition to gang activity must pay well. You were greeted by friendly waitstaff and Thomas’ dog, Cyril. Thomas thanked everyone and told them to leave you two alone. 

“Want a drink?” You asked while walking to the unnecessarily fancy liquor cabinet, feigning cordiality.

“I don’t drink anymore, but I appreciate the offer.” He said, admiring you from behind. Pouring yourself a glass of whiskey, you sat on the plush sofa. You sighed and stared at him intently.

“I’ll stay for the night if you pay me. We can negotiate starting with £1,000.” You explained. 

“You’re staying for as long as I want.” He attested.

“Who do you think I am? Some harlot to keep you busy since your wife left you?” You questioned.

“I would’ve taken you over the vanity in your dressing room If that’s the case.” He said, adjusting his glasses. You couldn’t deny how attractive he was but you had to hold out to rile him up. You simply rolled your eyes and finished your glass in one go. 

“Let’s head upstairs then.” You said, standing up. Thomas scooped you and carried you upstairs into the master bedroom. Your heart sped up at the feeling of his hands holding you securely. Laying you on the bed, he stared down at you as he removed his suit jacket. His gorgeous eyes were illuminated by the faint candlelight. You noticed the gun in his holster, but you wanted to distract him from it. You beckoned him to you with your index finger. He crawled on top of you and kissed you delicately. Taking a handful of his hair, you snatched the gun and held it to the side of his head. You pulled the trigger. 

The revolver made clicking noises as you grew frantic. You wondered why his brains weren’t staining your silk blouse. Thomas laughed sweetly and took the gun from you. 

“It’s not loaded, love. See that?” He said softly, flicking out the empty cylinder. He was eerily calm.

“Thomas, I-“ You started, fearing what could happen. 

“Shh. You think you’re the first woman who wanted me dead?” He hushed you. You two stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. Suddenly, you kissed and rutted against him. He responded by shoving his hands underneath your blouse. A faint whimper emitted from you from his intensity. 

“Need some discipline, yeah?” Thomas whispered against your lips.

“Not at all.” You fired back. 

He snatched you up once more and put you over his knee. He slid your skirt up to reveal black lace panties with a tiny silk bow at the waistline. You felt him massage the supple flesh of your ass. You pushed back against his hand to antagonize him.

“Little bunny…” He purred. A series of harsh smacks landed on you as silent tears fell from your eyes. Arousal began to pool in between your legs. An inflamed imprint was left on your cheek. Thomas slipped his hand between your thighs and brushed his fingertips against your clothed cunt. Rubbing small circles, another faint whimper came from you. Then, he pulled aside your underwear and plunged two fingers inside of you. The silver band on his ring finger brushed against your clit as he pumped them slowly. 

“Christ…” You moaned. He curled his fingers slightly making an indecorous noise leave your mouth. You wondered how he knew your body so well. 

“Hush now.” He said, pumping his fingers faster. He grew hard at the squelching noises from your arousal. You were on the verge of climaxing before he removed his fingers and sat you up. 

“What the fuck, Thomas?” You said annoyed. 

“Stand in front of the window.” He ordered. You rolled your eyes and followed his directions. You watched him undress in the reflection in the glass. His body was amazing for a man in his mid 40s. You hurriedly shed the rest of your undergarments before he turned around. Walking to you, he pressed you uncomfortably against the glass. Despite being a burlesque dancer, you were deathly afraid of being seen by his colleagues or waitstaff. 

“Stay just like this, yeah?” He said, voice slightly beyond a whisper. He kissed your shoulder gently before pressing his tip against your folds. Both of you sighed in delight when he bottomed out. He stilled for a moment to compose himself. You rutted against him out of impatience. Thrusting deeply, he buried his face in your neck. Your mewls progressed to screams of delectation. Restrained groans occasionally left Thomas’ throat as he held you tightly and nipped your ear. Thomas snaked his hand between your legs once more and rubbed your clit vigorously. His loneliness became an afterthought as he finished you off. 

[mariacallous]

At some point during our new Gilded Age, as the United States and the world have become more unequal, did Prince Charming die? His cohort of have-yachts have made themselves newly and counterproductively available to our imaginations, posting on social media, sometimes using their own platforms, their glamor dissipating with every bid for laughs or likes. A woman in want of blue-chip fantasy fodder can take her pick from a sickly crop of tech tycoons—Elon Musk, for example, might solicit her to bear one of his “legion” of children via I.V.F. Or perhaps she’d prefer to sign up for membership in the train wreck of the British Royal Family?

A spate of television and books scrutinizing the one per cent attests to the difficulty of romanticizing the pursuit of wealth, especially when it is coupled with the pursuit of love. In the first season of “The White Lotus,” a journalist who marries a Master of the Universe type is promptly labelled a trophy wife. None of the Roys’ intimate relationships in “Succession” beat the charges of opportunism. (Indeed, the purest and most passionate liaison on that show develops between Tom and Greg.) Morally compromised marriages of convenience are even a plot point in the Star Wars spinoff “Andor”: in order to secure funds for her revolutionary organizing, Senator Mon Mothma must pair off her daughter with the son of a scheming magnate.

“Materialists,” a new film by Celine Song, is the latest instance of this trend. The film unfolds in the world of high-end dating services and weddings that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a matchmaker for a boutique company called Adore, where she fields demands from absurdly choosy and unrealistic clients, who are not seeking a connection with another person so much as they are a designer accessory. Their relationship specifications are ludicrously precise: a man in his forties wants a mature twenty-seven-year-old; another man’s definition of “fit” is “nothing over twenty B.M.I.” and a woman’s least negotiable criterion is a high-six-figure salary at minimum.

Song’s demystification of what passes for love in a typical rom-com is bracing. The genre often drapes its characters’ Wharton-esque sharp elbows in gauzy layers of hetero-optimism. But dating, in “Materialists,” is a gauntlet of “risk and pain,” and weddings are even worse. (One of the film’s quiet delights is its unsentimental portrayal of the indignities of this ritual: the Stepford bridesmaids, the dreadful live bands, the tulle, the sweat.) When one of Lucy’s clients admits, with mascara streaming down her cheeks, that the only reason she accepted her soon-to-be husband’s proposal was to make her sister jealous, Lucy nods understandingly—“he makes you feel valuable,” she affirms. Three-quarters of the way through the movie, she yells, cathartically, “we are a SCAM!”

The movie’s world of endlessly customizable options provokes a desperate perfectionism in Lucy’s clients. Lucy, however, prides herself on her lack of illusions about love—until “Materialists” pushes Prince Charming into her path, at a ball (a wedding that Lucy facilitated). His name is Harry (Pedro Pascal), and he must be a mythical creature, straight out of a storybook: he’s practically made of paper. Lucy’s colleagues refer to men like him—tall, handsome, in finance, intelligent, urbane—as unicorns. When Lucy protests to Harry that he’s out of her league, he suavely enumerates her material and her intangible assets; then he twirls her around his twelve-million-dollar Tribeca penthouse.

At the same event at which Lucy meets Harry, she also reconnects with an old boyfriend, John (Chris Evans), an appealingly scruffy actor and cater waiter whom Lucy dumped on account of his financial struggles. Where Harry and Lucy engage in sparkling bouts of banter, John and Lucy communicate preverbally, through ardent stares. Song appears to be recreating a dynamic from her début film, “Past Lives,” in which a woman was caught between her husband (the comfortable choice) and her childhood sweetheart (the heart-meltingly romantic but deeply impractical choice). In that movie, the heroine stayed with her spouse, but “Materialists” dreamily rewrites the script: in a development that feels, alas, rushed and emotionally unconvincing, Lucy decides to be with John. Harry incarnates a stressful perfection, the kind that always threatens to crumble or to reveal its counterfeit nature; John’s pitch to Lucy is that he loves her, always has loved her, and always will love her. He can’t help it. His love is like a Netflix feed: it’s frictionless, it’s dependable, and it fits her exactly. In the end, the resolution of the love triangle doesn’t evoke a triumph of wild passion over hard-nosed calculation. Rather, Lucy’s choice of John feels sneakily practical in its way—a reprieve from the hustle, the quest for materially remunerative love that only ever feels like work. Although a cosmically fated romance may well be transcendent, what it really has going for it turns out to be no-fuss dependability.

Song isn’t alone in her desire to educate a would-be Cinderella out of her bourgeois striving. In Sean Baker’s “Anora,” which won five Oscars at the 2025 Academy Awards, a stripper named Ani falls for Ivan, a Russian failson with billionaire parents. After a whirlwind romance, the couple elopes, holing up in sumptuous style at Ivan’s familial manse in Brooklyn. When Ani’s best friend compares her to Cinderella, she laughs giddily, flush with the spoils of a consumerist American Dream. Soon afterward, Ivan’s parents force him to annul the marriage, and it’s as if Ani’s sable fur and Hervé Léger bandage gown have been turned to rags: He betrays his bride, who is punished with a series of humiliations and abuses before she accepts a meagre payout in return for disappearing from his life. The movie ends with Ani and one of the enforcers, the gentlemanly Igor (Yura Borisov), sharing an embrace, although their future together seems achingly tenuous.

Both “Materialists” and “Anora” seek to uncouple love from materialism, but they go about it differently. In Song’s film, Lucy achieves the romantic happy ending without the money—once she discards her fixation on personal finance, she’s able to appreciate her cater waiter’s heart of gold. Ani, though, must learn a harder lesson. She hasn’t transgressed in wanting nice things or in negotiating an economic arrangement with Ivan, but in falling for the fairy tale. The metaphor of stripping is never far from our minds: Ani is exposed; she has let down her guard. When Ivan takes her shopping, she spins unself-consciously in front of a full-length mirror, eager to see herself as valuable. She’s foolish and starry-eyed enough to quit her job, and, later, to believe that a marriage contract could protect her against the whims of the super-rich. If Lucy is censured for her coolly transactional approach to love, Ani is chastened for her innocence—for not being cynical enough.

It’s a sign of our unsettled times that neither of these films can replace Cinderella with a compelling alternative. “Materialist” ’s treatment of its male leads renders Lucy’s decision internally incoherent. Because the movie doesn’t convincingly disavow materialism (at least as embodied by Pascal), the main character’s choice to do so feels didactic and contrived. The suggestion is that Harry, who himself represents the apotheosis of box-ticking, operates in a commercial mode even when he’s crooning about Lucy’s “intangible” selling points. In order to be a true disciple of love, Lucy needs to reject his superficial charms for John’s steady presence. But the film doesn’t effectively convey the mystical quality of Lucy’s bond to John, nor does it get across what, exactly, is so lightweight and inadequate about her relationship with Harry.

“Anora,” in contrast, decisively punctures the Disney fantasy, but in a way that feels fatalistic and cruel. Everywhere in the movie, money’s pull is stronger than that of love, friendship, private ethics, or social justice. And although this could be intended as Marxist critique, it feels more like artistic convenience—the film derives much of its emotional power from its so-called capitalist realism, its claim to see the world through an utterly disenchanted lens. Instead of wishing away material reality, “Anora” seems designed to force its heroine to accept a cartoonishly blunt and brutal version of it. The movie can abide mobster violence and the exploitation and acquisitiveness of its characters; what it can’t abide is Ani’s idealism. Tellingly, Baker predicates her moment of personal growth—when she finally connects to Igor—on her resigning herself to her socioeconomic place.

And, although Song eschews Baker’s pessimism—she wrote a rom-com, after all—she seals her movie with a similar gesture, conditioning Lucy’s storybook ending on the character setting aside her hopes for social mobility and taking up with John. A princess choosing a cash-strapped but virtuous suitor over a prince needn’t feel didactic. But “Materialists” and “Anora” are very much in the business of desire didacticism. You can tell because the two films struggle to imagine how desire might move when it is free. Both works are so consumed in the symbolic attributes of their male leads that they fail to capitalize on their gravitational pull: no character played by Evans or Borisov should require the affirmative action of class solidarity to appear as a convincing romantic object. Nor should any red-blooded heroine be expected to drop as alluring a presence as Pascal. Love, in these movies, emerges as a virtuous vegetable. But the best romances, whether comedy or drama, make a whole meal of it.

[spicyvampire]

Like how is you telling me I should negotiate my salary helping me here, when I don't have the attestation that I'm a professional yet aka a masters degree diploma and I'm 3 full months and an internship away from getting it??? These people always be putting their mouths where it doesn't belong, I did not ask for your opinion so why are you putting your goddamn expectations of bringing the big bucks home on me already, I'm not even done with the fucking degree

[twostranger]

Starting Salary in Digital Marketing: A Complete Guide for Freshers

Introduction

If you're considering a career in digital marketing, one of the first things you might wonder about is the starting salary in digital marketing. Whether you're a fresh graduate or someone switching careers, understanding the financial prospects of the field is crucial. In this blog, we will discuss the starting salary in digital marketing, factors affecting salaries, different roles, and tips to increase your earnings.

What is the Starting Salary in Digital Marketing?

The starting salary in digital marketing varies based on multiple factors such as location, skills, company size, and experience level. On average, freshers in digital marketing can expect to earn anywhere between $30,000 to $50,000 per year in the United States. In India, the starting salary in digital marketing typically ranges from ₹2.5 LPA to ₹4.5 LPA.

Factors Affecting Starting Salary in Digital Marketing

1. Location

The starting salary in digital marketing significantly differs from country to country and even within different cities. Metropolitan areas often offer higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living.

2. Skills and Certifications

If you have certifications from platforms like Google, HubSpot, or Facebook, you can negotiate a better starting salary in digital marketing. Specialized skills like SEO, PPC, and social media marketing can give you an edge.

3. Company Size and Type

MNCs and established agencies tend to offer a higher starting salary in digital marketingthan startups. However, startups can provide faster growth opportunities and hands-on experience.

4. Job Role and Responsibilities

Different roles within digital marketing have different salary structures. A content writer might earn less than a PPC specialist, while an SEO analyst may have a different pay scale than a social media manager.

Common Digital Marketing Roles and Their Salaries

Here are some of the most common roles in digital marketing and their respective starting salary in digital marketing:

1. SEO Executive

USA: $35,000 - $50,000 per year

India: ₹2.5 LPA - ₹4 LPA

2. Content Writer

USA: $30,000 - $45,000 per year

India: ₹2 LPA - ₹3.5 LPA

3. Social Media Manager

USA: $40,000 - $55,000 per year

India: ₹3 LPA - ₹5 LPA

4. PPC Specialist

USA: $45,000 - $60,000 per year

India: ₹3.5 LPA - ₹6 LPA

5. Email Marketing Executive

USA: $35,000 - $50,000 per year

India: ₹2.5 LPA - ₹4.5 LPA

6. Affiliate Marketer

USA: $40,000 - $55,000 per year

India: ₹3 LPA - ₹5 LPA

How to Increase Your Starting Salary in Digital Marketing

Here are some tips to boost your starting salary in digital marketing:

1. Get Certified

Earning certifications from Google Ads, HubSpot, Facebook, and other platforms can increase your earning potential.

2. Build a Portfolio

Having a strong portfolio with real-world projects showcases your skills and makes you a desirable candidate.

3. Gain Experience Through Internships

Internships help you gain hands-on experience and can significantly impact your starting salary in digital marketing.

4. Learn Advanced Skills

Mastering skills like paid advertising (Google Ads, Facebook Ads), data analytics, and email automation can set you apart.

5. Network with Industry Experts

Attending webinars, networking events, and joining LinkedIn groups can open doors to better-paying opportunities.

Future Growth in Digital Marketing Salaries

The demand for digital marketers is increasing rapidly. As businesses continue shifting to online platforms, the scope and starting salary in digital marketing will keep rising. Within 2-3 years, you can expect significant salary hikes, with experienced professionals earning over $70,000 per year in the US and ₹10 LPA+ in India.

Conclusion

Thestarting salary in digital marketingdepends on several factors like location, skills, job role, and company type. By upskilling, gaining experience, and networking, you can increase your earning potential and build a successful career in digital marketing.

[castlenegotiations]

Top 5 Strategies You’ll Learn in Negotiation Training Courses

Negotiation is a valuable skill, both professionally and personally. Whether you’re closing a business deal, resolving a dispute, or requesting a salary increase, the appropriate strategies can be of great help. This is where negotiation training courses come in. Effective training programs, such as those offered by Castle Negotiation, equip people with the tools they need to effectively manage complex negotiations. The following are the top five strategies you will be taught in negotiation training courses to help you master negotiation.

1. The Power of Preparation

Preparation is one of the fundamental principles of successful negotiation. Negotiating without a plan can be a handicap. With negotiation skills training programs, you will be aware of how to:

2. Active Listening and Effective Communication

Most people believe that negotiation involves only persuasion, but it also involves listening. Successful negotiators don’t just push their agendas; they listen actively to find out the requirements of the other party. Training courses teach you how to:

Use active listening techniques such as summarizing and reflecting back key points. Ask open-ended questions to encourage discussion. Read body language and adjust your style accordingly. Castle Negotiation helps professionals build a greater ability to form rapport and trust, leading to better negotiation outcomes.

3. The Win-Win Mindset

A successful negotiation is not a matter of one side winning at the expense of the other side  it is a win-win. By attending negotiation training courses, you will be able to:

Shift from a competitive to a cooperative mentality. Look for areas of agreement and mutual advantages. Develop creative solutions that satisfy both parties. Castle Negotiation’s framework encourages negotiators to seek value-creating opportunities, locking in long-term business relationships rather than short-term gains.

4. Handling Deadlocks and Overcoming Objections

Negotiations often reach points where both sides feel at an impasse. Training courses provide you with methods to resolve such impasses effectively. You will discover how to:

Identify the root causes of objections and resolve problems beforehand.Use techniques such as reframing the issue to alter perceptions.Know when to compromise and when to hold fast on significant matters.

Castle Negotiation offers professional training on how to resolve tough negotiations by using psychological and tactical approaches in breaking deadlocks.

5. The Art of Closing the Deal

Closing a negotiation is as important as the negotiation itself. Most agreements fall through at the closing point due to doubt or lack of confidence. Negotiation skills training programs teach you how to: Recognize signals that the other party is ready to close. Use closing techniques such as the summary close, the assumptive close, and the urgency close. Be clear and agree on terms to prevent future misunderstandings. Castle Negotiation trains professionals to negotiate confidently all the way to the final handshake, with both sides walking away happy. 

Final Thoughts

Negotiation is a skill that one can learn with the right kind of training and practice. The skills you learn from negotiation training courses — preparation, active listening, win-win approach, handling objections, and closing  can help you become a more effective negotiator. Castle Negotiation provides expert training to help professionals and organizations enhance their negotiation skills and achieve better outcomes. If you’re ready to bring your negotiation skills to the next level, enroll in a Castle Negotiation training course today. Your next successful deal may be only a negotiation away!

[mobassirmia]

Are You 18 or Older? Master These Essential Skills for Success in Life

Turning 18 is a milestone—it marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, where responsibilities take center stage. But here’s the reality: the world doesn’t owe you success. If you want to thrive, you must take control of your own growth by developing career development skills that set you apart. Mastering these essential skills for success in life will give you a competitive edge in any field.

In today’s fast-paced world, academic achievements alone are not enough. Companies and entrepreneurs are looking for individuals who possess must-have skills for job seekers, including marketing skills for beginners, sales expertise, and strong communication abilities. Let’s explore three important skills for young adults that can shape your career and ensure long-term success.

1. Marketing – The Art of Selling Yourself

No matter how talented you are, if you cannot market yourself effectively, your skills will go unnoticed. Marketing skills for beginners are not just about selling products—they are about personal branding and presenting yourself in a way that attracts opportunities.

Think about it:

What do you do in a job interview? You sell yourself to the employer.

What happens when you create content on social media? You are building your personal brand.

Those who master the power of storytelling in marketing tend to create more impactful impressions.

How to Improve Your Marketing Skills:

✅ Read: This is Marketing by Seth Godin ✅ Take Free Courses: Search “Marketing Fundamentals” on Coursera or Udemy ✅ Practice Daily: Share valuable insights and stories on social media to strengthen your brand.

2. Sales – The Power to Influence and Persuade

Many assume that sales skills only apply to salespeople, but in reality, how to influence and persuade others is a critical life skill. Whether you are negotiating a salary, convincing clients, or even persuading friends, why sales skills are important cannot be overstated.

Why Sales is an Essential Skill for Success:

Job interviews: You need to sell yourself convincingly to potential employers.

Networking: Strong sales skills help you make valuable professional connections.

Entrepreneurship: If you run a business, you must understand how to master marketing and sales to attract customers.

How to Become More Persuasive in Sales:

✅ Read: The Psychology of Selling by Brian Tracy ✅ Practice Daily: Engage in conversations where you subtly try to convince others ✅ Learn Consumer Psychology: Understand what people want and position your ideas accordingly

3. English Speaking – The Key to Confidence and Growth

Want to become a confident speaker? Strong English speaking skills can set you apart in the workplace and open doors to global opportunities. Many multinational companies prioritize candidates with strong communication skills, making business communication skills improvement a game-changer.

Why English Speaking is a Must-Have Skill for Career Growth:

Job interviews: Being fluent in English makes you appear more professional.

Global market access: If you want to work internationally, you need strong English skills.

Personal growth: Access to online courses, books, and job interview tips and tricks becomes easier when you understand English well.

Best Ways to Improve English Speaking Skills:

✅ Use Learning Apps: Duolingo, BBC Learning English ✅ Watch English Movies: Start with subtitles, then gradually switch to watching without them ✅ Read English Newspapers: Editorial sections help expand vocabulary and critical thinking

Why These Skills Matter More Than Ever

The job market has evolved. Gone are the days when a degree alone was enough. Today, mastering top skills to learn for career growth—such as marketing, sales, and English speaking—is the key to standing out.

Employers and entrepreneurs value individuals who know how to sell themselves in an interview, communicate effectively, and adapt to dynamic challenges. The importance of soft skills in the workplace has never been greater.

Conclusion: Master the Essential Skills for Success

Mastering these essential skills for success in life is not an option—it’s a necessity. Whether you want to excel in your career, build strong connections, or become financially independent, the right skills will set you apart. By investing in marketing skills for beginners, developing sales expertise, and improving your English speaking skills, you position yourself for long-term success.

Start learning today. A year from now, you’ll be grateful you did.🚀 Don’t wait—take action now and shape your future!

[blackoutfeverdream]

Why do people accept information uncritically?

I do believe it's their education- not only in priming them to be receptive to any perceived authority without interrogation but especially to gravitate toward whatever information gratifies a specific emotional and cognitive bias.

All education has this basic shape because the child's national culture reflects and is given contour by what the child will be taught. School is socialization first

hence why there's an obvious correspondence between academic success and respect for authority in the main.

There is no paucity of inspired rebels

but really, most people in a position of authority are masterful obedience school graduates.

Society chooses to reward this behavior with a mechanical system that seeks to reduce knowledge to an absolute Platonic Truth- questions come with right answers and the questions are right because the people who give out jobs and manufacture the answers say they are.

And the value of these questions and answers comes with a measurable price tag of a salary instead of any import to the world or even the self.

And this is a serious problem. Because respect for education is in justifiable implosion in this country.

Look what it manufactures.

I excelled academically and was persecuted and brutalized for it because

well

I was weird. I was trans and insane and the victim of things people refused to believe so I manufactured an entire delusional universe in my head instead and people believed that

so it stayed for far too long.

But a functioning psychotic negotiated that system with straight 4.0s, APs, dual enrollment

all without even thinking. It was ritualism- I knew how to fill in the answers because I was intellectually curious but if I hadn't loved books so much I would've been a dropout.

The people it produces are failures

the people it disappoints are failures

education is a failure. A society's government is a reflection of its people: Either its willingness to tolerate out of laziness and fear or its resolution always toward betterment.

Well we can see what kind of society we have.

Form

over

meaning.

So long as we vote, the whole Democratic Party lies down as if there isn't reason for the military to get involved not as a coup but as a countercoup. But no.

Because your stupidity is more important than the integrity of the country.

Your stupidity makes this system possible.

I'm stupid, too. My god- the things I didn't get to develop. The lies and decisions made without any presence of mind I see now in the third-person and scream and the cumulative horrorshow of my neverending insanity.

So why do people believe what they read on the internet?

Because it has the same shape as what's peddled as knowledge.

It touches cognitive bias made at formative age and never contradicted because education invariably dictates economic circumstance and access to education even in this compromised basal state is decided by what?

Closed cycles of intellectual and economic poverty widen by demography inevitability as capitalism just consolidates the idea of wealth in smaller and denser glaciers.

But their numbers are larger.

There was no plan in this country.

To believe in a conspiracy is magical thinking. No one started this with any specific intent to make Americans stupid.

On some level, oil company executives aren't caricatures: They're not really trying to burn the world whole

it's just their product does it and their education has taught them injustice is all right as long as a dollar comes from it.

Jeff Bezos probably doesn't salivate over how much he abuses his workforce. He just does it anyway because it's acceptable.

So does everything else to most everyone else.

So why do they believe what they read on the internet, even if it has a performative common language and form with what's ostensibly rebellious? Because they have a need for a specific emotional bias turned by circumstance but intellectually the same.

Conservatives tend to be angrier

they're dumber.

Anger makes people stupid.

I'm angry a lot. I'm a fucking moron in that state but it's my periods of tranquil lucidity I apply to productive ends.

But their anger doesn't get to stop.

Even here, if you're curious, watch the arc of angry people- socially more self-limiting, intellectually even more biased, and emotionally spiraling toward extremes.

Some of them clearly excel at the pretentious form of academics but they don't really have the ability to think past facile nostra that have no connection to reality

and that's much more MAGA than we give them credit for.

It's time to start treating knowledge without any bias, accessible to all thinking, as the cornerstone of a new social culture.

I don't mean an anything-goes libertarian society- I mean a sincere openness to interrogation of everything, every value, every ideal, every stricture because hollow ritualism has brought us to this point.

It could have gone any way

it still could.

At this point, Donald Trump could have a stroke and we might get socialized medicine out of it because he'll suddenly start speaking in Progressive glossolalia.

But it's unlikely.

We need to question how valuable our education even is when it produces this kind of authority.

And we especially need to question each other.

Social pressure can't substitute for thought anymore.

Nothing can.

What's interesting is that when you delve into a field and you develop a comparative and interdisciplinary familiarity with a subject, you're much more receptive to questions.

Self-doubt is something people close to the margins can't afford. It's the product of comfort.

We need people to be comfortable with knowledge again. I don't believe anyone is born stupid. That is a constructed atrophy.

We need an open society again

one that values wisdom and progress and it's really very simple.

We just have to show it and teach our children. It won't happen on the internet.

You don't really need a violence-in-the-street kind of revolution. Most changes that look like cataclysm in retrospect passed unmarked but certainly noticed by most people.

Just be good.

Think.

Accept that the discussion of ideas isn't a form of violence- that to ask a question isn't to insult or demean but seek another's perspective and maybe have an earnest exchange of understandings on the subject. Quite possibly a new better synthesis can form without the belief in a zero-sum economics of knowledge as owned and politically possessed and ideas as changeless ideals out of pride or personal attachment.

It isn't a novel idea. It's Socraticism. That's galaxies better than the vapid march of Prussian education.

It's more labor-intensive but so what? Education doesn't need to water itself down to expand; it needs to be exalted as a vital field.

Fire all the teachers in America right now.

I mean all of them, pre-K through postdoctoral fellows.

They need to be retrained

society needs to be replumbed.

Their talents won't disappear: Their passions need to be given worthy application.

Ours do.

The smarter people are, the more civil they are, also. Society just will be comfortable. It will be better.

People won't just believe whatever.

And there will be no place for oil executives.

[herohimbowhore]

Smile by Maisie Peters can be used to explain Daniel Ricciardo from 2018 to the end of 2020, as well as Red Bull's search for someone to replace Daniel and fill the hole he left within the team.

By now, we've all grown aware of how unexpected Daniel leaving Red Bull was and the rapid driver change-ups that followed in his wake.

I think it's evident that Red Bull was not prepared to replace Daniel. From everything that we've learned about contract negotiations, Red Bull was expecting to re-sign Daniel.

Got bridges to burn and places to run

Yeah, this smile is a loaded gun

There was an hour-long private meeting with Dietrich Mateschitz, after which both Dietrich and Daniel came back smiling and it was thought that the contract was all but signed. During the meeting, Dietrich offered Daniel a matching salary to Max and reaffirmed it after learning what they were paying Max.

It's my party, my body, my business

It's my town and my crown and my hitlist

It's my world and you're just living in it

Daniel left Red Bull when no one expected him to, and in hindsight, yeah it was a bad decision. However, given the information available at the time, it didn't seem like the worst decision ever. Like, yes, Renault had its issues, but they were offering to build a team around him and were giving him a very nice contract.

Leaving Renault after 2020 seemed like a questionable decision after all that they had promised him. However, in hindsight, it was a decent decision because Alpine is a disaster and a half on a good day and to be honest there's not been many good days recently. Their 100 race plan is more like a 100 ways to not have a team.

No more Mrs. Sweet and Miss Nice

No more Mrs. Fuckin' Polite

Time for Mrs. Takin' What's Mine

You don't need him

Daniel since he has returned to the Red Bull ecosystem and started to love the sport again has made it very clear that he wants Checo's seat. There are several articles, interviews, and podcast appearances in which Daniel continues to confirm that he is indeed trying for that Red Bull seat. And despite what people may think, he has put in the results that would begin the conversations about moving to the main team, especially after the awful year that Checo has had. The pace that Daniel has shown in the AlphaTauri is not insignificant, while it didn't translate to points finishes as much as he may have liked, it shows what Daniel Ricciardo can do when you give him the car.

If he tries to control me, he's finished

Won't be crying, there's plenty of fishes

And I, and I, and I'm fishin'

You should know that you won't find another

I think Will Buxton has said it best: "And I think Red Bull has probably come to the realization that the only driver who can replace Daniel, is Daniel." Will Buxton goes on to say that if they can bring the Daniel of old back, then Red Bull will stick him back in the car to drive alongside Max because the Daniel/Max driver lineup was one of the best that Red Bull has had. Red Bull, since 2019, has been trying to fill the space Daniel left and for a time they've done so with Checo. However, after the disastrous 2023 season, there are so many questions about whether Checo is the person for that seat. Especially if the other teams do close the gap and don't drop the ball like they did this year.

______

Just a short analysis from my drafts that I thought I would post in celebration of submitting my Master's Thesis. Just two more final papers and I'll be done with grad school.

[raptorsaurusmelain]

Let me show you... Youtube - chapter 21

My oh my... Do we have the birth of a future yandere ?

Warning : no proof reading, English is not my mother tongue.

If you are interested in reading this fic, the tag "#twst lmsyy" will give you all the chapters.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

The woman went outside. In the ambient noise, the whispers seemed to have stopped. Finally a calm day.

She got a waft of all the stand food smell. It made her hungry. She just hoped that they can take credit card because she had 0 cash on her… Or maybe she could negotiate an advance on salary in cash ? [Good idea, let’s pester the bird.]

Once she found Crowley, she had to wait a little before pestering him. He was with important investors from what she understood of the conversation.

Crowley spotted her from the corner of her mask. “What can I do for you Mrs Devi ?”

Victoria batted her eyelashes, hoping it would make her seem innocent. “Can you lend me some cash ? From my salary, so I could join the festivities… Please Headmaster Crowley ? You're so generous after all…”

Crowley was weak to those words. He laughed, his beak seemed to elongate. “Oh yes of course ! I am so gracious after all !”

And that’s how Victoria got half her monthly salary in cash. [He he he life is good when you butter people.]

Crowley tilted his head. “What are you going to do today ? Are you going to watch the match ?”

Victoria plastered a smile on her face. “I am going to roam a bit before making my way to the stadium ! I can’t wait to see what it looks like IRL !”

Crowley blinked. “I…RL ? What’s that ?”

Victoria was caught off guard. [Of course he doesn’t know, he is like a billion years older than me.]

Trein arrived at that moment with Crewel. “Oh ? Who do we have here ?”

Crewel, seeing Victoria being deep in her thoughts, asked. “What is happening ?”

Crowley asked wholeheartedly. “Do you know what IRL means ?”

The two men also blinked. They all turned her head to face her, ready to listen to her explanation. [Oh dear, even Crewel ?? He is my age !!]

It took all her inner control not to laugh at the three men. “It is an acronym, mostly used by gamers to say ‘in real life’. It became quite common so I thought you knew, sorry for assuming you knew !”

Crewel was the first one to speak. “That explains a lot about Shroud way to speak… Do you play video games ?”

Victoria tilted her head innocently. “Yeah I do, it is fun to kill zombies when you had a bad day where a colleague proves that your theory is wrong and you need to redo your whole month of research.”

Trein was taken aback. “It is quite accurate for an example.”

Crowley understood one word : ‘research’. “You… were a researcher ?”

Victoria smiled widely, proud of her accomplishment. “Yeah, I used to be a researcher for a ‘true luck’ algorithm. It is used for gambling. I’ve patented it.” 

The two older men were shocked. This little girl had a PATENT ? Crowley spoke. “But… You’re too young to have a patent ! You are what ? 23 ?”

Crewel and Victoria laughed at this. Her ? 23 ? “That’s quite a compliment thank you, but no. I am 29, with a master in applied physics and a thesis in artificial intelligence under my belt.”

They both blinked her eyes. Crewel raised an eyebrow. “In applied physics ? I didn’t know that ! So you really are a jack of all trades !”

It added another layer of laughter. “Yeah, I can do anything that is math related.”

Crewel smiled. “We should try alchemy together then, you will have loads of fun.”

Victoria's eyes became full of sparkles. “Really ? Really really ? I can teach you about… erm… Video games ? I like to play chess, if you are up to it.”

At that moment both of the older men felt a bit of jealousy. They, too, wanted to spend some time with the woman.

Crewel smirked, at this sudden advantage he got. “Of course, Dr Devi. Let’s play together. Why not enjoy the festivities together ?”

The brunette was over the moon. “Oh ! Yes, it would be fun to spend some time with someone who knows his way around the festival. Let’s go !”

She grabbed his hand under the glares of Crowley and Trein. Crewel only smiled. He already liked her and her way to subtly show off her intelligence. Who could have guess that it was hidden in such a small woman ?

While waiting for her breakfast order -loads of pancakes-, she asked the fashionable man. “You are sure that you don’t want anything ? I can pay it for you…”

Crewel was astonished. “Young lady, do you think I am poor to say that ? I have way more money than you think.”

The woman looked at him. “I am sorry, but you smell rich. Rich like someone without cash on him.”

It made the man laugh. “I still have some change on me, I am just watching my figure.”

Victoria nodded. “To not have to tailor your wardrobe ? I understand that.”

Crewel looked at the woman from head to toe. She asked. “What ?”

He smiled earnestly. “You look great today. I like it. We also have the same shoes.”

She looked at his black and white derbies then hers. She laughed, happy that he noticed such a small detail. “I haven’t noticed… Quite a funny coincidence !”

That woman was like the Sun. She laughed a lot, she was optimistic, she smiled despite having a run down dorm, she was doing a job that wasn’t in line with her studies…  She needed to be protected at all cost from the bad of this world.

Tag : @boba-tea-fish @hipsterteller

[gourav02]

"Discover Why a Sales Job Could Be Your Ticket to Career Success"

Discover Why a Sales Job Could Be Your Ticket to Career Success

In the dynamic world of career opportunities, a sales job often stands out as a promising and lucrative path. Whether you're just starting your career or considering a change, understanding the myriad benefits of a sales position can help you make an informed decision. In this blog, we'll explore why a sales job might be your ticket to career success, focusing on its unique advantages, growth potential, and the skills you can develop along the way.

---

The Allure of a Sales Job

Sales jobs are often viewed through a lens of skepticism, with common perceptions of high pressure and constant rejection. However, these roles offer far more than the clichés suggest. Here’s why a sales job could be the key to unlocking your career potential:

1. Unlimited Earning Potential

One of the most compelling reasons to consider a sales job is the potential for high earnings. Unlike many traditional roles with fixed salaries, sales positions often include performance-based incentives such as commissions and bonuses. This structure allows you to directly influence your income based on your performance. High achievers in sales can surpass their base salary by significant margins, making it a lucrative option for those who excel.

2. Career Advancement Opportunities

A career in sales can open doors to numerous advancement opportunities. Many sales professionals start in entry-level positions and, through demonstrated success and leadership, move into managerial roles or specialized positions such as account management or sales strategy. The skills and experience gained in sales are highly transferable, paving the way for diverse career paths within and outside the sales domain.

3. Skill Development

Working in sales hones a variety of valuable skills that are applicable across industries. These include:

- Communication: Sales jobs require clear, persuasive communication to effectively engage with clients and close deals. Mastering this skill can benefit you in virtually any professional setting.

- Negotiation: Negotiating deals and overcoming objections are central to sales. These skills can enhance your ability to navigate complex discussions and achieve favorable outcomes.

- Customer Relationship Management: Building and maintaining relationships with clients is critical in sales. This experience translates well into roles that involve client interactions and account management.

- Problem Solving: Sales professionals often face unique challenges that require creative solutions. Developing problem-solving abilities can help you tackle complex issues in various job roles.

4. Dynamic Work Environment

Sales roles are rarely monotonous. The variety of tasks, clients, and challenges keeps the job engaging and stimulating. You’ll often find yourself in diverse situations, from pitching to new clients to managing existing accounts, which can make each day different from the last. This dynamic environment is particularly appealing to those who thrive on variety and fast-paced work settings.

5. Direct Impact on Business Success

Sales professionals play a crucial role in the success of their organizations. By driving revenue and acquiring new customers, you directly contribute to the company’s growth and profitability. This sense of impact can be highly rewarding, offering a tangible connection between your efforts and the company’s success.

6. Networking Opportunities

A career in sales provides ample networking opportunities. You’ll interact with a wide range of people, including clients, industry experts, and other sales professionals. Building a robust network can open doors to new opportunities, provide industry insights, and support your professional development.

---

Overcoming Challenges in Sales

While a sales job has many benefits, it’s essential to acknowledge and address the challenges that come with it. Understanding these challenges can help you better prepare for and excel in a sales role:

1. Handling Rejection

Rejection is a natural part of sales, and learning to handle it constructively is crucial. Developing resilience and maintaining a positive attitude can help you overcome setbacks and stay motivated.

2. Meeting Targets

Sales positions often come with performance targets that can be demanding. Setting personal goals and using time management techniques can help you stay focused and achieve your targets.

3. Balancing Work and Personal Life

Sales roles can sometimes require long hours and frequent travel. It’s important to find a balance that works for you, ensuring that you manage your time effectively and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

---

Strategies for Success in a Sales Job

To thrive in a sales role and maximize the benefits it offers, consider these strategies:

1. Continuous Learning

The sales landscape is constantly evolving, with new technologies, techniques, and market trends emerging regularly. Staying informed and continuously improving your skills through training, workshops, and industry reading can help you stay ahead of the curve.

2. Building Strong Relationships

Focus on building and nurturing relationships with your clients. Providing exceptional customer service and maintaining regular communication can lead to long-term partnerships and repeat business.

3. Leveraging Technology

Utilize sales tools and technology to streamline your processes and enhance your productivity. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, data analytics, and sales automation tools can help you manage leads, track performance, and optimize your strategies.

4. Setting Clear Goals

Establish clear, achievable goals for yourself and regularly assess your progress. Setting both short-term and long-term goals can keep you motivated and provide a roadmap for your career advancement.

5. Seeking Mentorship

Find a mentor or coach who can provide guidance, support, and feedback. A mentor with experience in sales can offer valuable insights and help you navigate challenges effectively.

---

Real-Life Success Stories

To illustrate the potential of a sales career, consider the success stories of individuals who have made significant strides in this field:

1. John, the Account Executive

John started as a junior sales representative at a tech company. Through persistence and a commitment to continuous learning, he advanced to an account executive role. His ability to build strong client relationships and meet ambitious targets earned him a promotion to sales manager, where he now leads a team and drives strategic initiatives.

2. Emily, the Sales Consultant

Emily began her career in retail sales, where she developed a passion for helping customers find solutions. She transitioned to a sales consultant role in a B2B environment, leveraging her experience to consult on complex sales strategies. Her expertise and results-driven approach led to a successful career as a senior consultant, where she now advises major clients and shapes company strategies.

---

Conclusion

A sales job offers a range of benefits that can make it an excellent choice for career success. From unlimited earning potential and career advancement opportunities to valuable skill development and a dynamic work environment, sales roles provide a platform for growth and achievement. By understanding the challenges and implementing strategies for success, you can turn a sales job into a fulfilling and prosperous career path.

Whether you're new to the workforce or looking to make a career shift, exploring the world of sales might just reveal your ticket to professional success. Embrace the opportunities, leverage your strengths, and watch as a sales career propels you toward your goals.

[tolerateit]

I applaud anyone that pursues academia past a bachelor's. I used to want to get a phd myself back in the day but I laugh about that now so strap in for a story time.

I was halfway through my bachelor's degree, and I was in the process of researching where to apply for a masters. I wanted that to be abroad. And I wanted it to be some sort of political science or something like that. Which was completely unrelated to my literature degree pursuit at the time. But I didn't care, I simply wanted to help fix the world and work as a diplomat or work for the UN.

Anyway, during my research I found out that it costs anywhere between $100-$500 just to apply for a masters program. Which was hella expensive for me living in a country where $300 was the average salary. I joked with friends that I would need to sell a kidney just for a few applications. Fortunately I had a plan for the tuition and other expenses part of studying. There's a government program that pays for everything as long as you get accepted to one of the top universities according to the Shanghai ranking. In return, all you gotta do is graduate on time and then go back home to spend double the time it took you to graduate working in my country. It was the perfect plan! Especially since all those universities had three separate price points, depending on where you're coming from (I'm talking about the European universities that had one really cheap price for locals, second slightly more expensive for other EU members, and third ridiculously high for the rest of the world)

So I started saving up money for those applications about a year before I was supposed to apply. And started looking into the documentation I would need to apply to the universities and to the government program. Meanwhile, my parents tried to dissuade me from studying anything remotely connected to politics saying I'm not cut out to be as cold blooded as the politicians in our country are. I'd wanted to pursue politics for my bachelor's but they negotiated with me to first get a degree in something I would have an easier time finding a job with locally (jokes on them the market has been oversaturated for over a decade before this conversation happened, they just didn't know), and then pursue politics. Just to have a sort of backup if things go bad in any way. And I reluctantly agreed.

But when my last year of my studies started, all the application prices increased. I started thinking about maybe taking a gap year after I graduate and working my ass off to get enough money to apply to 4-5 different schools. I then met my now husband. Him and his family had far more connections to various people than my family did and I got to learn more about that government program behind the scenes. What I learned was that in 99% of cases, the only requirement to be accepted is nepotism. Around that time I learned of a kid in my neighborhood getting accepted in the program for an undergraduate degree. Because his dad was higher up the political food chain in my country. There wasn't an option for an undergraduate degree for the rest of the country. Just masters and phds. Which immediately ruined all of the ideas and plans I had made and made me incredibly disillusioned with the whole thing I intended to do. My now husband also told me he wanted to pursue political science when he entered academia, but he had a different approach. He was in a forensic science program at the time and was thinking about a masters from the local university. He got disillusioned when he saw the amount of crime and corruption in his current studies. While the professors were teaching students all the laws, they were also actively breaking them. He was so disillusioned he ended up transferring from that department to another school to study computer science.

The cherry on top, for me, was the fact that this was all happening around 2015/16 when the Me Too movement was in full swing, and stories started showing up on the amount of sexism women in academia deal with on a daily basis. Along with a couple of other disgusting political things I learned that happened locally.

Immediately no. The whole messy endeavor. Immediately no.

These days I'm looking to move to an EU country, so that if my future kid wants to pursue the degrees I wanted, or any other ones, they would have a lower barrier of entry. I mean that along with the functional educational, medical and legal systems which are nonexistent here as I've demonstrated through the stories I've shared lmao

But I greatly admire anyone who's able to do all that. They are the people that are changing the world in so many different and exciting ways through their discoveries and I'm grateful for them. <3

MK

APPLICATION FEES ARE SO STUPID??? they're not that high at least for places im applying to but it feels so weird to pay just for an opportunity to get in, when there's so many barriers you'd face later! I hope things turn out better everywhere because it's disgusting how closely education ties in with politics. some fields should be absolutely free and safe from any sort of political agenda

[enterprisewired]

Mastering Your Finances: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Create a Budget

Creating a budget is a foundational step towards achieving financial stability and realizing your financial goals. Whether you’re aiming to save for a major purchase, pay off debt, or simply gain better control over your finances, a well-crafted budget is an invaluable tool. This comprehensive guide will take you through the essential steps on how to create a budget, empowering you to make informed financial decisions and secure a more secure financial future.

How to Create a Budget?

1. Set Clear Financial Goals

Before diving into the budgeting process, define your financial goals. Whether it’s building an emergency fund, saving for a vacation, or paying off student loans, having specific and measurable goals will guide your budgeting decisions.

2. Gather Financial Information

Collect information about your income, expenses, and debts. Compile pay stubs, bank statements, bills, and any other relevant financial documents. This step provides a comprehensive overview of your financial situation.

3. Categorize Your Expenses

Divide your expenses into fixed and variable categories. Fixed expenses, such as rent or mortgage payments and insurance, remain consistent each month. Variable expenses, like groceries and entertainment, can fluctuate. Categorizing expenses helps identify areas for potential savings.

4. Calculate Your Monthly Income

Determine your total monthly income, including salary, bonuses, freelance income, or any other sources of income. Understanding your monthly income is crucial for establishing a realistic budget.

5. List Your Fixed Expenses:

Write down all fixed expenses, such as rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, and loan payments. These are recurring costs that remain relatively constant each month.

6. Identify Variable Expenses

Make a list of variable expenses, including groceries, dining out, entertainment, and transportation. Variable expenses can be adjusted based on your financial goals and priorities.

7. Include Savings and Debt Repayment

Prioritize saving and debt repayment in your budget. Allocate a portion of your income to an emergency fund, or retirement savings, and pay off outstanding debts. Treating savings as a non-negotiable expense ensures consistent progress toward financial goals.

8. Factor in Irregular Expenses

Account for irregular or annual expenses, such as insurance premiums, property taxes, or holiday spending. Divide these expenses by 12 to incorporate them into your monthly budget, preventing unexpected financial strain.

9. Subtract Expenses from Income

To better understand how to create a budget, subtract your total expenses from your total income. The result should ideally be a positive number, indicating that your income covers all your expenses. If the result is negative, adjustments may be needed to align your budget with your income.

10. Adjust and Prioritize

If your expenses exceed your income, revisit your budget and identify areas where you can cut back. Prioritize essential expenses and savings goals while minimizing non-essential spending. Adjusting your budget ensures financial sustainability.

11. Embrace the 50/30/20 Rule

Consider following the 50/30/20 rule, where 50% of your income goes to needs (housing, utilities), 30% to wants (entertainment, dining out), and 20% to savings and debt repayment. This rule provides a simple guideline for balanced budgeting.

12. Use Budgeting Tools

Leverage technology to simplify budgeting. Numerous apps and online tools can help you track spending, set financial goals, and visualize your budget in real-time. Choose a tool that aligns with your preferences and makes budgeting more accessible.

13. Track and Review Regularly

Budgeting is an ongoing process, and the answer to “how to create a budget” might differ from person to person. Regularly track your spending against your budget, making adjustments as needed. Reviewing your budget ensures that it remains aligned with your financial goals and adapts to changes in your income or expenses.

14. Emergency Fund Planning

Prioritize building and maintaining an emergency fund within your budget. Having a financial safety net provides peace of mind and protects against unexpected expenses.

15. Seek Professional Advice

If you find budgeting challenging or have complex financial situations, consider seeking advice from financial professionals. Financial advisors can offer personalized guidance to help you achieve your financial objectives.

16. Mindful Spending Habits

Cultivate mindful spending habits as a key aspect of budgeting. Regularly assess your discretionary expenses and identify areas where you can make conscious choices to reduce unnecessary spending. This might include packing lunch instead of dining out or opting for cost-effective entertainment options.

17. Cash Flow Management

Effective budgeting involves managing cash flow strategically. Ensure that you have sufficient funds available for essential expenses and prioritize payment of bills to avoid late fees. Understanding your cash flow cycle helps prevent financial stress and keeps your budget on track.

18. Automate Savings Contributions

Simplify your savings strategy by automating contributions to savings accounts. Setting up automatic transfers ensures that a portion of your income is consistently directed towards savings goals, reinforcing the habit of saving.

19. Celebrate Financial Milestones

Acknowledge and celebrate financial milestones within your budget. Whether it’s reaching a savings goal, paying off a significant portion of debt, or achieving a specific financial target, celebrating successes reinforces positive financial habits and motivates continued progress.

20. Financial Education and Literacy

Invest time in expanding your financial education. Understanding financial principles, investment options, and economic trends empowers you to make informed decisions. Numerous resources, including books, online courses, and workshops, can enhance your financial literacy and contribute to long-term financial success.

Conclusion

Knowing how to create a budget is a fundamental step toward financial empowerment and security. By following these comprehensive steps, you can gain better control over your finances, make informed decisions, and work towards achieving your financial goals. Remember, budgeting is a dynamic process that evolves with your financial journey, so stay committed, stay flexible, and enjoy the benefits of financial well-being.