Over fifteen years ago I was freelancing and got many new clients by performing website audits to evaluate for SEO, performance, UX, etc. (a service we still offer at Andromeda). Often these audits would turn into additional work by remediating issues including rebuilding or enhancing the websites.
A new client reached out and asked for our help as they were having trouble getting traction through their website and we scheduled a meeting at their offices to sign the contract and so I could better understand their operation before starting work.
It was a really small company with just a few employees so the cozy office building wasn't really a surprise, but what was a surprise was when the owner led me into his office and there was another desk crammed into the small space with a young employee frantically typing away. The owner loudly stated, "He has to work where I can see him because you can't trust these computer nerds," before inviting me to sit at his desk so we could talk.
This was highly uncomfortable, but I was still early in getting my business off the ground and needed the contract, so we kept talking. We signed the contract and he explained the business and showed me around the website.
When we were wrapping up I stood up to go and he stood up with me. I was expecting a handshake but instead he reached into his pants and whipped out ... a handgun. "Don't screw me over on this because I have ways of dealing with that," he said, before leading me out the door. The other employee looked like he had clearly seen this happen before.
Yes, I absolutely had to buy a new pair of pants after this encounter.
