The Art Of Saying No Novels & Stories

We would be dinosaurs. 'The power to say ‘no’ earned me a slapped face yesterday.' 'Explain!' 'You must have worked it out. I was so awful to you outside the church, because I was jealous of your intervention - an intervention I had failed to make, so I tried to say no. The poor say ‘No’, because they can, to protect their dignity, as if there is dignity in poverty. The rich say no, because they can, to protect their dignity, as if there is dignity in doing a wrong or dishonest thing.'

At her silence, he said, “Ah, I’ve got it. You’re—what? Embarrassed?” “Can you not psychoanalyze me?” He waved a hand, dismissing her comment. “You have talent that can be monetized. You said before that you didn’t have money, so I’m going to guess that you aren’t selling your art. Why?” Thea gaped at him. He’d turned this conversation back on her, and he was too perceptive by half. She wanted to hide under the bed—or stomp on his foot. Both sounded like equally good options. “Have you ever heard the phrase ‘it’s none of your business’? Spoiler alert: it’s none of your business!” she said.

“Every one has their own way of starting a conversation.” “Okay, enough sneaking and bush beating. The reason why I'm having this conversation with you is very simple and plain. Any way you find it, you can accept or just politely decline. No one is imposing it on you with force, it's your choice to make…” Hilary paused to read Megan facial expression, seeing no negative reaction from her, she decided to go continue.

"I don't know." She gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "I always feel like I've done something wrong." "You haven't." "I thought maybe I wasn't being clear enough." "You were." "I kept trying to be polite." "You can be polite once." He leaned forward slightly. "After that, 'no' is enough." She looked at him for a long moment. "I've never thought about it like that." "It isn't your job to find the perfect way to say no." Her shoulders relaxed a fraction.

“From here. Not your throat. Your throat gets small and polite. Your diaphragm does not apologize.” The first time I said “no” from the right place it surprised both of us. It wasn’t a scream. It was a command, round and herdable. It made the hair on my arms lift. It made Todd nod like I’d shown him a well-placed nail. “There she is,” he said. “Again.”

“Stop thinking about him.” I warned myself and sipped from the straw. Maybe I should just say yes. There's no more options and the way Mason convinced me. I didn't know if I could say no. I swear, I'm creating boundaries like no close contact or kissing. I don't even have the opportunity to discuss my terms with him. All I had to do was say yes before I could see him. It sounded fishy.

I walked a bit further and then slowed down and thought about the last fifteen minutes. Liam had said no without hesitating. He had not come to me to make it a joint decision this time. He had not framed it as something we needed to agree on. He had just said no and he had said it clearly and without leaving a gap for negotiation. He had said he did not have the time or energy to take it on, and he had said it without looking at me first.

“Once. Slow.” I did. “You smile,” he continued. “Not big. Not coy. Controlled.” I practiced it. He made me practice it. “Then you say,” he prompted. I met his gaze and spoke clearly: “That part of my life is private. I’m here because of my work…or I'm here for a function.” He nodded once. Acceptance written all over his face. And then he said, “Good.” Then he moved again. “When they ask about your craft…your art…this is where you take space.”

Direct, confident, no wasted words. He’s always been very good at making an offer sound like the obvious conclusion to a problem rather than something you could reasonably refuse. But there’s no way I can accept. I set my cup down. "Thank you, but no." Chase blinks, a small crease forming between his eyes. "You can have time to think it over." "I don't need to." I keep my voice even. "I appreciate the offer, Chase. I genuinely do. But the answer is no."