0 comments/ 14519 views/ 0 favorites Young Genius Rhonda Royce By: Egmont0409 CHAPTER 1 At 9.24 the Monday meeting of senior personnel at Beck, Lane and Russell Advertising was coming to an unproductive close when the company's president Richard Lane was handed a note. He read it and said, "Oh yes of course, we need to promote a young person to our executive ranks so that we have all important sectors of advertising covered by establishing a youth department. Right, who do we promote?" Everyone bent low in their chair and avoided eye contact with their chairman. The president sighed and then one of the creative directors Stan Collins said, "If we have no one within our ranks why not appoint my niece Rhonda Royce?" She's a fine arts graduate with a master's and after feeding the pigs on her parent's farm lies back on the grass and contemplates the sky to make sense out of the cloud formations and enters an intense creative mind-set." The president was about to abuse Stan for wasting time when he stopped to listen to the murmurs of executives from creative: 'Dress in white with a primrose worked bodice Rhonda the niece eyes the heavens and craves enlightenment...' 'Rhonda a pig maiden looked to the east and appeared confused as if knowing that was not the way back to the farmhouse...' 'Covered in pig food slops the curvy farm maiden with a breast hanging loose eyed the dawn and yawned thinking what the fuck had happened to Saturday?' "All right Stan, wheel her in Monday. That completes for today. Back to earning your money everyone." Stan got it in the neck over dinner than evening when Rebecca demanded to know everything that had happened in his day. She suspected him of having a closet mistress. Unwisely he related how he'd suggested Rhonda for a position but had the sense not to elaborate. "What?" screamed his wife. "What about our Dorothea?" Stan eyed his disinterested daughter with food remains across the side of her mouth and on to her satin top with no evidence of breast development beneath and clawing for a way out smiled triumphantly and said, "Dorothea left school when she was twelve. This position called for a college degree above bachelor's." "But Dorothea had home schooling?" Stan wondered whether been commanded to do the housework and hang out the laundry equated to home schooling but smiled and said, "Darling, the minimum, requirement is a college degree." To the rescue came Dorothea who broke the exchange of hostile looks by asking, "Where's my dessert?" Stan called his sister Malvina and said he was inviting himself to lunch tomorrow, Saturday. "Why aren't you including Rebecca and Dorothea?" "Because Dorothea will be washing floors at the Youth Center and Rebecca is not talking to me." "Oh then come to lunch." "Only if Rhonda will be there." "Rhonda will be there but if you lay one finger..." "I'll be arriving with a job proposition." "Oh darling Stan, you know you always are welcome in our home." * * * Rhonda thought it was pretty cool that dry old Uncle Stan had won a position for her at the advertising agency on six month's trial without her having to go through the job engagement screening. All she had to take was a CV and documents to substantiate her educational and her work record. Rhonda thought the lazy way of rural life gave her far too much time for sleeping, eating and being fucked. Surely there ought to be more to life than that? On Monday the HR assistant manager stared at Rhonda's CV. "You claim to have a Master's in Fine Arts (Visual) and yet you are not quite twenty-one yet?" "That is a misrepresentation of the truth and I demand an apology Just because I'm young and extremely talented there is no need to put me down. Because of my above average attributes I completed my master's in two years instead of up to six years." "I need proof of that." "Copies of my accreditations are inside the back cover of that file you are holding." "Ohmigod, what you say is true this testimonial form your professor raves about you. These are not false documents are they?" "Please call your superior. I wish to lodge a personal grievance against you, you stupid cow." HR manager Wendy Pine, who sat on the executive board, soothed everything down and looking at the college's website found everything she needed to know and said, "Welcome to our team Miss Royce and please accept our apologies; my assistant manager has been under some strain lately that has left her having difficulty in accepting reality." "That is quite all right. I understand. Who will show me how to run errands and make coffee for my department boss with my being the most junior of all?" "Your position is executive director of Youth Entertainment & Lifestyle Miss Royce for which you'll received a salary of $62,000 and a new Mercury Milan Hybrid as your company car." The quick reacting assistant caught Rhonda as her eyes rolled up and she fell. Rhonda's eyes fluttered open. She lay on the sofa in Wendy's office and was offered iced water that she sipped. "You have nothing to fear. Although the appointment is for six months and then a review for reappointment on a three-year contact your career with us will go forward. We have not had a youth department before so there is nothing to measure your performance against so providing you interact well and appear positive you are here until your retirement or whatever." "Whatever?" "Who knows whatever is dear?" Wendy said Rhonda would require a PA and a creative staff of six until she build up business. I have advertised for young graduates and here are thirty applicants to consider including three who are already in our employ. You PA can be assigned to you..." "Yes that is best, perhaps an older woman." "That's what our office manager suggested." "But not to mother me." "Oh no, to convince people coming in to see you there is an adult present for stability and to engender a sense of an anchor to the past." "God you visualize well Wendy; I can picture your thoughts." Wendy was quite taken aback, aware she had just been led into experiencing a profound moment and triggered by one so young. Oh my. * * * Three days later reception called and Mrs Rita Malcolm said to her boss, "Mrs Joseph from Youthcraft to see you Rhonda." "Right Rita, please go and introduce yourself and bring her in. We have rehearsed this." "Yes indeed. Good luck." Sara Joseph looked curiously at Rhonda as they were introduced and said, "You are Rhonda Royce, executive director of your agency's heavily promoted new division?" "Yes indeed; I apologize for not being younger." The older woman smiled. "Well at least you have confidence and a sense of humor. I'm here to find what you can do for our languishing label." Sara returned two days later to view the presentation that was just the one display board showed a sole creation for full page ads and billboards. Before flicking back the black protective cover Rhonda said, "I warn you nobody here apart from my blindly loyal PA likes it and our president says you, as my very first client, will run for the hills. All I ask is try to view it as how a young person would assess it." "God, you've made me nervous. Very well, I think I can do that; I have two teenage daughters." Rhonda flicked the cover back over the top of the stylized rendering of a model, aged about eighteen, wearing the garment supplied by Youthcraft, a multi-color horizontal-striped cowl-neck buttoned wrap reaching down half way to the knees. The background was white and the model's skirt, stockings and shoes were just two shades darker white than the background. The text read: 'UGLY. Designed by Youthcraft International. View the UGLY range soon.' Wringing her fingers, Rita couldn't believe how relaxed Rhonda was standing, looking closely at Sara to read reactions. Sara brushed her fringe back. She played with her bra straps, never once taking her eyes off the board. Then she said, "I love it. Congratulations. If this is not a masterstroke in fashion then I'm not Sara Joseph." "Aaaaaagh," screamed Rita and flew at Rhonda and hugged her. Rita said to Sara, "If you could have seen the negativism, almost hostile at times, but my brave young Rhonda just took it in her stride and smiled. She convinced me young people would take to it because older people wouldn't like the style and the brand name. She's right, isn't she?" "I would think so Rita, very much on the ball. Unfortunately we cannot launch without support lines coming on stream." Rita darted off and returned with a folder of thirty drawings. "They are very basic," Rhonda said apologetically, "but will give your designers a suggested path they ought to follow to design for your UGLY range." "Ohmigod...OHMIGOD," Sara said, quickly sifting through the drawings. Beck, Lane and Russell Advertising currently had only two accounts that were truly national campaigns and suddenly the agency had a third, booked, Youthcraft's UGLY range. Scheduled to launch in two months. At the Monday conference following that booking Rhonda was applauded as she walked into the room with other latecomers. "We salute you Rhonda," beamed the company president. Richard Lane held up a copy of 'Advertising Agency On-line Bulletin', just posted for access restricted to subscribers.. It appeared no one else had seen it. The lead item with a college file photo of Rhonda beside it crowed, 'Advertising's Youngest Sensation' and described how Rhonda (20) as probably the youngest creative director in advertising, had won a contract from her very first client Yourthcraft for $12.3 million to launch its new UGLY range. 'No one thought Rhonda could do it but as the co-owner of Youthcraft Sara Joseph says, Rhonda's creativity, originality and being acutely attuned with the lucrative teenage segment of our market gelled so well, her presentation just blew her away. "Our think tank had come up with the new range being called Girly but Rhonda simply looked beyond that and our designs and came up with this novel approach of UGLY, using a thigh-high wrap to brand the range and then supplied a range of 30 garments she'd sketched herself to complete the range." "My lights almost went out because of its brilliance." Sara Joseph said.' Richard finished the article reading, 'Advertising On-line attempted to interview Rhonda but she was too busy that day to talk and we were right on our deadline. So we asked her assistant to ask Rhonda what was her comment when told she won the contract and the message came back, 'Awesome. Mrs Joseph was such a darling to work with.' 'We ask, how many of us speak of our clients with that genuine respect?' Rhonda appeared on TV that evening and was interviewed along with Sara Joseph for a full page story in next day's morning newspaper The Clarion. And then just as suddenly the talk of newcomer Rhonda Royce died, and she was very happy about that because the fuss had embarrassed her. As she told the directors when they handed her a special bonus, "I was only doing my job." She sounded so convincing they had no choice but to believe her. Back in her office Rhonda had Rebecca order a case of her Uncle Stan's favorite red wine to be delivered to his home and on the way home that evening purchased tickets for her parents to go on a 7-night cruise from Vancouver British Columbia to Seward, Alaska in a cabin with veranda that they'd always talked about taking. She presented the gift thanking them for the support they had given her especially during through schooling when she'd been accelerated though classes to become the second youngest student to be accepted by her college. The pretty, slim blonde went to work next day feeling very happy, being at the top of her game although aware the game had only just started. Business flowed into her department and she'd taken on two more assistants. One morning she arrived at her office early, ahead of Rita, to find a suave black hair guy sitting in her chair. "Good morning," he said. "Hi, may I get you coffee?" "I thought your first action would be to order me out of your chair?" "If you are a client you are welcome to stay there but if you are the courier guy I'll kick your butt, but I have yet to meet a courier guy wearing a six hundred dollar suit." "God you noticed. I spent the big bucks and have been left ruing my expensive purchase, thinking no one would notice." "Some people like me would notice you even if you were in full cut briefs." Hi grinned. "Hi I'm Mark Williams-Ryan." Rhonda spun in surprise, "Celeste Williams-Ryan's son?" "You know my mother?" "Only be reputation." "I'm surprised. She's been out of the limelight for a generation, bringing up Glenys and me." "Celeste Williams as she was before her marriage was in fashion and I read fashion, even going right back beyond her days. Besides, she is the only true super model from this state." "Do you mind if I tell her this?" "Please yourself. It's not classified." He grinned. "Mom wanted to hire a big name agency to build her campaign but I suggested she ought to try you." "Why?" "God you sound like my mom. That's what she said. You are supposed to gush you are so charmed and elated that I recommended you?" "Why? What counts is what your mother thinks?" "Oooh, that sounds like a sharp and incisive mind. Could I also say it gives me the chance of meeting you because my mom says she will call for submissions from five agencies. You are to go to her..." "Excuse me, you have that the wrong way round. People come to me." "Mother is very busy." Rhonda said sternly, "And I'm not?" Mark took his coffee with a smile. "God you do have it, don't you? I'm an instructor in business studies at Clifton University, specializing in mediation, negotiation and general discussion management." Rhonda said confidently, "You have the demeanor indicating you'd be successful in delivering the techniques and strategies in that field." "So what do you know about demeanor?" "I knew it as confidence when I was a kid and later found the grown-up version was called demeanor. You control how people listen to you and regard you by excellent demeanor, speaking simply, briefly and directly and controlling your hands, eyes and other gestures. I know about this intimately because I've studied art and specialized in portraiture. Before starting a portrait the painter needs to examine demeanor because it indicates personal conduct, manners, traits and indeed can open a complete toolbox of knowledge about the person she or he is about to paint." "My god, and here was I thinking a painter just slapped a bit of paint on to canvas." Eyeing Mark, Rhonda said, "Okay what was Rococo?" "A style of 18th Century French painting and interior design." "Very good. I didn't think Celeste Ryan's son would be educated to think a portrait painter just slapped paint on to canvas." "Rhonda, you are very, very good. Beyond my expectations and already I was impressed watching you on TV and reading that huge interview with you published in The Clarion. Here, please take my mother's card and send your CV and photo and statement about availability plus of course your submission. My mother has been engaged by the National Research into Birth Deformities Trust to raise $5 million to bolster research funding and has agreement of a raft of big businesses to match public donations dollar for dollar during the 2-month run of the campaign." "What is the budget?" "$400,000." "I see." Mark pulled a face. "What do you see?" "Nothing. You'll learn about it in my submission. Does you mother realize I could only work on this project on commercial rates?" "I would think so." "Good then goodbye, I need to get on with my work." That startled Mark. "Aren't you going to indicate your level of interest?" "I've very interested. It's a worthy cause." "When can I see you again?" "Saturday night I'm free." "Oh, I have a girl friend I date." "Well that's the end of us before there's any chance of us tangling, isn't it? Now if you would excuse me?" "Yes of course." * * * Celeste said that night when Mark and his father Charles, Chief Assistant District Attorney, arrived home, "Well this girl, what did she say?" "She is very interested and will send you a proposal." "But I wish to see her?" "I told her she would have to come to you but she said she was too busy so I briefed her." Celeste said rather miffed, "Too busy... the cheek of the girl. Well she's off the list." "Mom drink this and keep calm. She is one of the most incredible young women I've ever met and would think she has stayed clear of drugs, booze and group sex. She bubbles and knowledge and awareness just flows." "Bubbles, how can anyone bubble?" Mark grinned. "Like I see in those films we play of you were you were young, rising to the peak of your career." Charles entering the room and said, "Indeed, I'd call that bubbling." Celeste smiled and looked at her two favorite men. "Let's invite this little eager-beaver to dinner Saturday night." "Mom I was thinking of taking Charlotte to..." "Take her Sunday evening." "Very well, I'll invite..." "I shall do it thank you Mark. Please give me the address where she works." "You mean her phone number?" "Yes and where she works." Mark was twenty-eight with a doctorate in business administration and had secured a position at his university as an assistant professor from the start of the next semester. He was academically minded and had no desire to work in the real world, preferring instead to prepare students to take that route. He looked forward to taking on more senior lecturing roles as he progressed up the academic ladder. He thought more and more about Rhonda, knowing she appeared to be available on Saturday night and would scarcely turn down the opportunity of socializing with his mother. The doorbell went and he called he'd take it but his mom who was preparing the meal called she was already on her way so he continued thinking about the remarkable Rhonda who appeared to be a lateral thinker and operated laterally, as far as he could make out. His mother came into the study, still looking surprised. "It's your girlfriend's submission. How could she do a presentation that quickly?" "Open it and prepare to be surprised mother. I don't think she thinks like you and I do which is normal thinking." "Ohmigod... she wants a budget of three million to raise fifteen million plus and says I should not be wasting my talent and fine mind on anything less and such success could only increase my reputation although the converse would apply if the campaign bombed." "There you go mother. I told you not to expect what you would expect." "I called her an hour ago to invite her on Saturday night and she made no mention a courier pack was on the way." "Those stickers indicate it was the so-called rocket delivery by Zillion Couriers. It guarantees delivery anywhere in the city within an hour. So the package may have been in the hands of the courier company when you called. Did she accept?" "Yes, and seemed delighted. She has a lovely voice for a twenty year old. But why wouldn't she have said she was about to send me a package?" "I am not your official oracle mother but I would say the invitation she viewed as social and the package she viewed as business and considered it inappropriate to mix the two." "That can't be correct. Aged twenty she would be unable to resist." "Pardon me mother but I did indicate earlier we weren't dealing with the usual run-of-the-mill young woman. Rhonda resisted." "Well I never." Mark thought about his relationship with Charlotte. Although they were having sex it still seemed an arm's length relationship, er almost semi-formal. Also Charlotte was more about taking rather than giving or better still giving and taking in a balanced manner, riding with the flow so to speak. Now in comparison... Mark stopped, knowing it was not necessary to go on because there was no comparison. He knew without thinking Rhonda was endearing, warm, exciting and possibly his intellectual superior. Whatever she was Rhonda was hot. He decided not to call Charlotte to arrange to meet over the weekend. Young Genius Rhonda Royce * * * There was a stir in the general office and some of Rhonda's personnel craned to look into the room to see what it was. Reception called a warning to all departments; just three short bursts on the fire alarm bells. Masquerading as a 'test" it was a warning that a VIP had entered the offices. Rita called to everyone, "Please tidy your desks and look tidy and intelligent and busy." "Well done Rita," Rhonda grinned, tidying her room quickly and combing her hair and attempting to look intelligent although no one had mastered that art but it was understood to simply close one's mouth and not look vacant was sufficient. Ten minutes later the company president Richard Lane could be heard announcing in the general office, "Everyone today we welcome the celebrated former top fashion model Celeste Williams-Ryan to our agency." The impressed personnel applauded and almost groveling Richard led Celeste, looking most attractive in a gold dress, into Rhonda's department. Rhonda hadn't expected the visit and was glad she'd reported to Richard she was pitching to get appointed to run Celeste Williams-Ryan's fund-raiser that would capture big attention because it would be a national appeal. By reporting that, Richard should not have been caught unprepared by Celeste's unannounced appearance. Rhonda's team boggled that the VIP had come to see their leader. They heard it all. Richard made the introductions and the two women appraised each other. "Oh so young," Celeste sighed and almost blushed in pleasure when Rhonda said, "You look younger than I had expected. I could find no recent images on our computer and I tried The Clarion but they posses no recent photo of you in their files." "Well these days I prefer to keep my profile out of camera range." Celeste turned to the president and said, "Miss Royce was too busy to come and see me so I have come to her." The older woman appeared impressed Rhonda didn't offer an apology and didn't appear hassled. "Oh Mrs Williams-Ryan, I do apologize on behalf of the company and..." "Mr Lane, Mrs Williams-Ryan is simply playing with you, teasing. She couldn't resist coming in to see if the person who has presented her with such on outrageous proposal looks capable of pulling it off." "Outrageous?" Richard muttered. "Yes very outrageous Mr Lane," said Celeste. "Acting on the trust's format, set after they sought extensive advice from professional fundraisers, Miss Royce was advised my campaign would run on a budget of $400,000 with the goal of raising $4 million. But according to Miss Royce the social conscience of every community is such that if promoted adequately and with a budget of $4 million, she is confident the campaign could benefit research into birth deformities by fifteen million, perhaps more." "I see," Richard said. "And where would that $4 million funding come from?" "Well under my proposed scheme a large number of companies have been approached by the trust and have collectively promised to donate a dollar for every dollar raised to a maximum of $4 million. You clever Miss Royce suggests we call in that four million dollars to kick-start a much more ambitious campaign to raise fifteen million plus." "Ah, very clever although the donors might not think so unless they could be assured of a massive amount of money being raised," Richard mused. "Ah Rhonda, who did you consult to get that fifteen million dollar-plus estimate?" "No one." "Ah, please would the two of you accompany me to my office. We need to talk privately." The outcome of that discussion was Richard trying unsuccessfully to turn Celeste off Rhonda's proposal that included such things as Celeste using her status within the modeling industry to be photographed with four top international models with the rights to use that photo in promoting the campaign. Celeste thought that was a brilliant idea and Richard agreed but insisted no way could a person predict fund-raising revenue by taking a number off the top of the head and then expect to gain credibility for that notion. * * * Mark, dressed in his smartest suit, paced around, looking every thirty seconds or so at his watch and frowning. He'd repeatedly ignored his mother's requests to sit down and relax. Finally Celeste snapped and shouted, "Charles get us a drink and Mark sit here beside me or go to bed!" Mark looked surprised. "What?" "You heard." "You can't send me to bed at my age." "For fuck sake will you be quiet?" Mark looked astonished, as did Charles arriving with the drinks on the tray. Both stared as Celeste. "What? Why are you gawking at me?" "You used the F-word." "Charles, don't lie. I never swear. Stop it you two. I'm so nervous." "You?" "Stop it Mark. Stop it, stop it..." The doorbell rang. "Saved by the bell," Charles grinned. "I'll go." He returned, smiling hugely. "Look at this beauty I found on our doorstep." Mother and son gaped. Rhonda wore a little black dress, purple leggings and black crossed-strapped shoes with high glass heels. Her hair was piled high, she was heavily made up emphasizing her searching bright blue eyes and she wore a purple choker. She looked gorgeous. "Call me Celeste darling. This is my husband Charles and I understand you know my son." "Yes and hi everyone." Rhonda acting very sophisticated for one so young, kissed Celeste lightly on both cheeks, kissed Charles on one cheek and kissed the astonished Mark on the mouth and then stood alongside him, attaching to his arm. Celeste looked at the handsome couple, probably thinking goodbye Charlotte. Time just flew because everyone enjoyed the evening so much. The fare was fairly simple, good for weight-conscious people, but beautifully cooked and presented and everyone drank the white and red wines sparingly. Celeste practically grilled Rhonda about current fashion for women of many categories and appeared satisfied that the child knew fashion. Rhonda explained, "Most of my leisure reading is about fashion. I like keeping abreast." She then had the embarrassment of seeing her hosting family eyeing her breasts. Charles said, "You must have lots of eager young men on your doorstep." "If I do then I fail to see them. I remained too busy at college to race through my compacted study program, devised because the assessment committee decided I appeared gifted, and since then if anything the tempo has picked up so I have been unable to look for an assessed man to choose a suitable partner. In the meantime Mark will have to do." The family gaped at the audacity of the 20-year-old. Mark choked, "But I have a girlfriend." "Think of history Mark. Some girlfriends never stick." Celeste said thoughtfully, "Yes Mark, I suggest you reconsider your position on this." CHAPTER 2 Mark decided to hold on to Charlotte simply because he understood her better. He'd found it difficult to accept Rhonda's non-stop chatter, suppressed energy and complicated utterances. He concluded she would exhaust him and dominate his social life. Pleased about the wisdom of his mature thinking behind his choice, although knowing he'd left sexual appeal from the equation, Mark was horrified when his department professor took him aside and said, "Mark I'd like to suggest something to you. This Charlotte you bring along to our social gatherings, my wife tells me she and the other females don't accept this Charlotte as being one of us. I think that assessment is rather profound and possibly prophetic, don't you?" "Yes Evan, very significant. Thank you for sharing this wisdom?" Christ, though Mark, choking. This was America, not cloistered England or Hungarian academia. What the hell was happening? He grinned evilly, thinking he'd fix those constipated prattling tarts. He'd bring along Rhonda and toss her into their midst. It would be much alike placing a wildcat into a dovecote. He chuckled his way back to his cubicle that insanely was called an office. But seated, a bit more blood flowed to Mark's brain and he chocked. Christ what the Prof had been telling him was his pathway to a possible tenure would be blocked by 'this Charlotte' who had been deemed unsuitable by senior wives and girlfriends. Mark came close to panicking. He had to dump Charlotte and forget about Rhonda. He then though phew, that had been a close one. He'd take along some new girl... His mind numbed. What girl? Taking along a female student would be frowned upon and why take along a female instructor and possibly assist her in betting a leg in ahead of him? Ah, mommy. His mom knew heaps of classy women with classy daughters. Saved! Mark stared at his uncooperative mother in disbelief. "I don't care if it's short notice and the monthly drinks evening is this evening. I repeat, take Rhonda. No way will I assist you to place another female ahead of Rhonda until you convince me she is unsuitable for you." "Mom, you don't understand." "I think I do. You suspect Rhonda will not roll over for you at the click of fingers as Charlotte does." "What are you talking about?" "It doesn't matter. You know you have my final word on this, take Rhonda." Mark called Rhonda. "Sorry Mark I have Friday drinks here at the office. Some other time perhaps." "Christ Rhonda my entire career is at stake." "Mark I've heard some of the stupid pick-up lines guys deliver but that line is utterly absurd." "Rhonda, believe me, this is so desperately important to me. What time do your office drinks start?" "Four-thirty." "Thank Christ. Our start at five-thirty." "I see. Okay give me the address and I'll arrive before 6:00." "That won't work. You'll need a pass." "Goodbye Mark." "No wait; I'll have one couriered to you." "Very well." At the pretentiously named 'soiree' the wife of his senior professor asked, "What without Charlotte tonight Mark?" "I-I thought a c-change was in order, Mrs Michaels." "Oh very wise Mark. An upgrade I would hope?" "I would hope so Mrs Michaels." She drifted away and Mark wiped his sweaty palms inside his pockets. He sweated for the next twenty minutes. Then Mark almost fainted. There was a stir in the gathering as in walked Rhonda, dressed in a bright yellow tunic than finished just below her hip line, almost matching yellow tights, lime green shoes and lime green choker and her blonde hair spilled over her shoulders. "Ohmigod, it's Rhonda Royce. Come over here darling," cooed Mrs Michaels. Mark blinked furiously twelve times before his brain slipped into gear. Of course, Mrs Michaels was CEO of her family's company that owned seven women's fashion stores in the city. He smiled in satisfaction thinking what a superb choice he'd made. After greeting Mrs Michaels Rhonda turned to spot Mark and called, "Mark, over here darling." Every woman in the room stared in disbelief as if thinking how could dull Mark know such a stunning young female the age of a sophomore? Word quickly spread that Rhonda was the hot-shot new recruit at Beck, Lane and Russell Advertising and was responsible for promoting the UGLY brand of clothing that teenagers and early twenties had taken to by storm. Rhonda kissed Mark lushly and then took his arm possessively and said, "Sorry about that interruption Mrs Michaels, you know of course Mark is Celeste Williams's son; she calls herself Celeste Williams-Ryan these days. "Celeste's son?" Mrs Michael gasped and looked at Mark with new interest. Mark and Celeste went to dinner later and then Celeste invited him to her new studio apartment for coffee. "It's my first real home away from home." "Your parent live in the city don't they?" "Yes, my father Tony is the Royce in Farmer, Royce and Zimmerman, public accountants, and my mom Malvina teaches history at Mt Edmund High. I moved out when I secured this job to enjoy new-found freedom." "Like inviting guys home?" "You'll be my first male guest since I shifted in six weeks ago." Rhonda checked her phone for messages and found one. "It's from your mom early this evening. I'll put it on speaker." Celeste, speaking very sadly, said she had bad news. The trust had rejected Rhonda's proposal as being too radical and too risky and were concerned about there was no evidence that the appeal, run as Rhonda proposed, would raise anything like fifteen million. "I'm sorry dear. I have just arrived back from the meeting in Chicago. I told them I backed your proposal because I thought it would capture the heart and minds of women and they'd give millions but I'm afraid that went down like a lead balloon. I am to remain the campaign figurehead and a conventional proposal from an agency in San Francisco with offices all over the country was accepted." Mark said he was sorry too. "Why be sorry? Rhonda asked. "In this profession you win some, you loose many more. Being creative is a matter of being creative, not attempting to balance wins and losses and hoping to come out ahead. I just try to win each proposal I submit and then look for the next challenge irrespective whether I win or lose on that submitted proposal. It's the only way forward." "I hope some of your optimism rubs off on me." "Oooh thinking of rubbing me are you naughty boy. Come on let's rush to my home." Mark got his mouth closed and ran to his vehicle, yelling to Rhonda to wait for him outside the main gates. She was of course parked right outside in a no parking zone. Apparently the signage on the vehicle, B.L.R. Advertising Agency, provided some sort of immunity from being towed away by university security for being parked illegally. Those guys were paid a bounty on every vehicle they placed in the compound. "Oooh, nice pad; very feminine." "Yes this building is being redeveloped by a client of my father's. I got in when they were still doing the interior finishing and was allowed to choose décor colors. Rhonda almost fell to the floor in helpless laughter when Mark, inspecting the bathmat size bathroom yelled, "You haven't room in here to unhook you bra." He made coffee and she said he was so clever to find the chocolate cookies and the chocolates. "The coffee was beside the machine and I had only a choice of three cupboards to find the cookies so I didn't find it challenging, even if I am male." Rhonda decided she really liked this guy. He always had an answer every time she delivered an aside, not like some guys who reacted as if being mentally challenged when thrown an aside. She could feel him watching her and then sent little shivers through her. When she drained her coffee cup and put it down he pounced, grabbing her. "Oh Mark," she shrieked excitedly, exciting him. He slammed his mouth against hers for their first real kiss and slammed a hand over her left breast, almost winding her. "I'll put it out for you," she gurgled. "Please do." Rhonda couldn't remember a guy being so polite. She unzipped the back of her top and unclipped her bra and at the same time opened her mouth to receive his tongue. God he was out to fuck her first date. Did she have a problem with that? She didn't know. Mark slobbered over her exposed breast, working up the nipple. Rhonda yanked out the other one to avoid getting the first one totally saturated. He rammed his face between them, grinding in his chin and making obscene Brrrrrrrrrr Brrrrrrrrrr sounds and she came close to climaxing and yelled, "Pull down my panties and fuck me you beast." Wow. What a fuck. It was hours later before Rhonda felt she could walk a straight line. The guy had been awesome. She'd almost fainted when seeing the huge red and swollen cock, thinking it was much too big for her but afraid to express such concern in case the was received as a rejection and the boner deflated and she'd miss out on what she wanted. But no, they both grunted and wriggled and heaved and it went in, making her feel beautifully bloated and god, when it began withdrawing and returning she was almost driven up the wall as well as almost going through the headboard. When his face turned purple and contorted and he began sucking in great gulps of air she knew he was coming and yelled for him to squirt on to her belly. Squirt? He hosed her belly, tits, face, hair and splattered on to the headboard. Ohmigod, thought Rhonda thoughtfully. How many trillions of sperm swam to early death in that flood? Mark had apologized and grabbed a towel to remove most of the mess and then had kissed her so tenderly. He then whispered he was sorry to have messed her so much but she had overexcited him and had been so unbelievably tight he'd ejaculated out of control. Ohmigod, this was her first true fuck with a seducer actually paying homage to her. Ohmigod! Rhonda had been so overcome she heaved on to her hands and knees and yelled so was ready for doggy. Mark had groaned but once he got it up hard he was quite okay and almost banged her into tomorrow although it had been just after 10:30 when they started. Rhonda was used to guys who went at it in short bam-bam fucks. Her Mark just went on and on until told it was time to stop. Awesome. When Rhonda awoke in the morning he was gone. She found a note that she'd always treasure: 'Gone home for rest. You must be the best fuck on the Planet. XXXX M.' Oh wasn't he such a lovely man? Rhonda went home as pre-arranged next day to lunch with her parents. "Ohmigod darling," Malvina said kissing her daughter, "you look radiant." "Mom I'm in love." "But you can't be. You never have time to date men." "We always have time in our lives for everything mother, providing we are prepared to compromise." "Ah so you gave him your virginity?" "Oh that went ages ago mother." "Not ages ago. You only turned eighteen just over two years ago." "What has eighteen to do with anything?" "A young woman is not sexually mature enough to have sex until she is eighteen." "Did you say twelve?" "Rhonda!" "Just teasing mom. You keep on believing your urban myth." "Don't tease your mother like that Rhonda." "She likes being teased dad; you should try it some time. How old where you when you first had sex?" "Twenty-three," he said, ignoring his wife's giggling and aware his clever daughter would already know he was twenty-three when she was conceived. "God you dyed in the wool conservatives are a joy to converse with," Rhonda smiled. "Tell us about this young man," said her mother. "Well he's an academic." "Oooh," said Malvina, a high school teacher who almost fell off the sofa when Rhonda calmly said Mark was the son of former super-model Celeste Williams. Walking into her apartment Rhonda took a call from Mark. "Hi, mom says she wishes to apologize directly to you and the alternative is she'll come to you or you come to Sunday cook-out." "Oooh, please tell her I accept the cook-out offer. I've had three wines over lunch with my parents and so I best come by cab because you father is chief of the DA's office." "A wise decision. Come now or later if you have work to do." "I'll put on my second load of washing and then will fiddle. Expect me around 5:00." "Great. God you were awesome in bed." "You also but is that your only interest in me?" Mark managed to get creative. "No I'm crazy about your brain." "Oooh. See you later lover." * * * Anticipating other people would be there Rhonda dressed up and arrived in jeans, sandals, a scooped neck printed cotton top and a mohair poncho. Her hair was in a ponytail and she knew in doing that she'd look about seventeen. Celeste met her at the door and they kissed and hugged and Celeste said she was so, so sorry. "Thank you, it was a bit of a blow," Rhonda lied, having known what to expect after her learned boss's negative reaction. Well at her age she had to expect to be on a learning curve. Young Genius Rhonda Royce "Come through at meet the others," Celeste smiled. "My older child and her family are here." As they stepped on to the patio leading out to the pool Charles walked swiftly to greet Rhonda and kissed her on both cheeks. Rhonda noticed the daughter looking with raised eyebrows. The daughter came over. "Hi. I'm Glenys, the elder child. I noticed my father greeted you so warmly and yet mom said he'd only met you the once. Why is this?" "Oh hi Glenys. Yes, little old me pouring on the charm that men appear to like. I am sorry and mean no harm. I am not attempting to seduce your father." "Shhhh. Keep your voice down. I-I didn't really mean that. I was unsure how I felt; I guess I had never seen my father interact with a young woman so warmly and was confused." "Okay, please relax. I understand. Here let me hug you." "God you are so sweet and look only seventeen and yet my brother is enchanted by you." "Well as I indicated, I do know how to work charm. Please introduce me to your family." "What, are you interested?" "Glenys, please, it's families that make the world go round, so to speak. Without families we humans would be extinct within four generations I believe." "God, you are nothing like what I expected." "Then you should have asked your mom what to expect. Celeste has my measure, I am sure." "You call my mother Celeste?" "Well yes, she invited me to call her that." Glenys appeared thoroughly rattled. "Girls!" The six and eight-year olds came running. "This is Jenni, please say hi to Miss Royce." "Hi Miss Royce. You have made the UGLY range famous haven't you." "Why yes, I'm surprised you knew that. I did help to give it a push." "Mommy told us." "Well your mommy knows such a lot about things. You are a good girl to listen to her." Glenys stumbled. "This is... this is..." "I'm Katie mommy. You look lovely, very pretty Miss Royce." "Why thank you Katie. You are wearing a tunic like me and you too Jenni." "Mommy said you have the slim figure at the hips to carry off a tunic but I'm not sure what that means." "It means I'm skinny below the waist which means like you two I look good in a tunic. May I fetch you another soda each?" "No we'll play until chow time. Please be nice to mommy; her two best friends have gone to live in other cities, making her very sad." "Yes I will Jenni. You are a darling for giving me that news." "God you handle them better than I do and you don't have children." "Anyone can appear to be impressive in a 10-minute immersion Glenys. Imagine me trying to cope with them when they have temperatures and are coughing, their little chests heaving?" "You can visualize that?" "Yes I visualize almost everything. That's how my mind works; a image sends a hundred times, perhaps much more, data to the brain than a stream of spoken or written data streamed in the same time." "Ohmigod, I'm way out of my depth." "If you stop to think what I have just said Glenys you will comprehend." Glenys paused and frowned and them smiled. "Yes, you are so brilliant. I comprehend it clearly now." Rhonda smiled and said she would try to communicate clearer. "I admire you saying you didn't understand. That enticed me to elaborate and as a result we both benefited. That is an example of how good communication works." Glenys said, "I do understand. I'm not exactly a moron." Rhonda looked genuinely shocked. "Oh Glenys, I had no intention..." "Of course you didn't. It's just me feeling inadequate. Both of our children have rated highly in intelligent tests." "You can't learn intelligence Rhonda so don't confuse that with knowledge which can be both absorbed and taught. The best you can do is to be yourself. My mother would say to be loving and giving and your children will love you for the rest of your life and beyond. I've heard her say that to women who have lost confidence." "God, is there anything you don't know?" "Yes heaps but I don't dwell on it. If I don't know it I can't do anything about it apart from admitting I don't know." "Rhonda you have this ease in simplifying situations." Rhonda sighed and said it was often the complicated manner in which many people explained things made them appear so complicated. "What you do is build a screen to suit that particular person's delivery to screen out the crap; that makes life easier." Glenys introduced Rhonda to her husband Rick. Rhonda instinctively didn't like or trust him but she smiled warmly and said she had met their lovely and polite children. Rick didn't bother to acknowledge the compliment. The evening went well. Charles produced a fillet of steak off the gas cooker as well as roasted vegetables and Celeste arrived with gravy and greens from the kitchen. It was quite the nicest meal Rhonda had sampled for quite some time and she said so, earning smiles from her host and hostess. She left with Rick and his family at 9:15 with the children by then almost asleep. "You can't leave me this early," Mark complained. Rhonda kissed him and whispered, "Early nights can be beneficial but help your parents clear away first." "Yes Miss Royce. You are so much on the ball." * * * Rhonda came away from Monday's executive meeting feeling a little depressed. Company's president Richard Lane had read the riot act saying company revenues had fallen to such an extent that some firings might be necessary within three weeks unless there was a revival in revenue generation. His last words were, "Pull something out of the box to make our day Rhonda." She was appalled. It sounded like she was to blame and yet the previous week Richard produced figures that showed for the year to date the youth department had produced 27% of total income particularly as a result of its UGLY campaign billings. Rhonda found an elderly man in an old suit waiting for her when she returned to her office after the depressing meeting. He appeared to have breakfast remains down the front of his jacket. "Oh hi, may I get you coffee?" "You mean you'll fetch it yourself?" "Yes my PA is busy verifying accounts to be sent through for billing. I have only to walk over here to pour." "You look far too young to be discussing business with me." "Well it's your choice. If you want to consult this company on adverting or promotion related to youth you talk to me or go to another agency. It's as simply as that but please stay to chat while finishing this coffee." "God you're rude." Rhonda smiled. "Shall I go to the broom cupboard to fetch something you can whack me with for failing to be totally courteous and attentive?" "Well you did get my coffee and invited me to stay till I finish it." "Indeed, please take your jacket off and I'll sponge it for you over this wee sink." "Why?" He looked down. "This is a mess. Thank you for noticing." He handed over the jacket and put it on when it was returned. "This is outstanding client service, above and beyond the call of duty I would think." "Anything to impress. Are you a potential big time client? Our office revenue is currently below budget and I received a kick in the butt a few minutes ago and was told to do something about it." "I'm Max Harper." "Hi Mr Harper. I'm..." "I know who you are Rhonda. I'm aware of the job you did on Youthcraft. Fucking amazing if you ask me." "Mr Harper... the F-word slipped in." "Oh please excuse me. My senility is showing." Rhonda laughed and said so far it was the only slip she'd noticed. "Why aren't you pressing me for business?" "Because I'm not that desperate and you wouldn't be here unless you intend to hand me business. So I'll just squirm in my seat, tap my foot impatiently and wait until you deliver in your own good time." "God you have a way about you. I feel challenged." "Well your time to relax was over coffee and your coffee cup is empty. Mr Harper asked, "Have you heard of Anchor-the-Mind Toys?" "Yes I have a young niece who is besotted with the teaching aid she has. That company specializes in the design, production and upgrading development of learning games for children from four to seven years, longer for slow-learners." "You are well informed." "I recall reading the company blurb on the pail that holds Milly's cash till and money tokens and play paper money. She plays shopping, acting as both customer and sales assistant. Do you work for the company?" "In a manner of speaking. Although I was born in Scotland, when I was three my parents immigrated to Clifton Forge, Virginia. My father was great on ideas and making toys and roamed far and wide and sold the products that when I was older I helped him make for neighborhood play groups. We later moved to Norfolk, Virginia, and when I graduated college I founded our company that grew to sell products throughout the country and exported them to 117 countries." "I'm very impressed." "Well I used to be but the main sales of the company now come from war games. So I sold all my shares and pulled out of the company, retaining ownership of dad's original patents. I recruited some of my loyal supporters who joined me to get the company to revert to its original roots, but alas we failed in our mission. I expanded that group and purchased back the licenses held by my former company to produce Harper's Educational Playthings and now we are almost ready to re-launch those toy sets along with electronic versions." "Oh my goodness, that is innovative... grandparents will purchase the solid versions while young parents might opt for the electronic versions, giving you optimum market coverage." "You ought to be in business." "I am, in advertising and promotion. More coffee?" "Yes please. I'm here to ask you to devise the re-launch our Harper Playthings back on to the market." "What just in this state?" "No throughout the country and I wish to retain the rights to use the promotional material in other countries using other advertising agencies with the finger on the pulse of their country." Rhonda handed Mr Harper his coffee. "I'll be frank with you Mr Harper; this sounds too big for me." "I accept that but I insist you head the group. You think clearly and express your thoughts clearly from what I perceived in that UGLY campaign and you also think outside the box." "Very well I accept your thinking. I best organize a time when our president and his team can meet with us. Um, what size budget are you contemplating?" "Ten million to be spent in the US." "Oh my Harper, my favorite man. Please bring your coffee and we'll get that meeting without an appointment right now." Rhonda sat Mr Harper in the waiting room outside the boardroom and went into the office of the president's PA and used Nancy's computer to search details on Mr Max Harper. From his profile page she confirmed she had indeed been talking to Max Harper, aged 73 who eleven months ago sold out of Harper Toy Corporation for $323 million. She thanked Nancy and against Nancy's protests went through the connecting door into the boardroom. Company's president Richard Lane looked up in surprise and stopped talking. At the table were his two vice-presidents, the agency's internal attorney, the director of finance and the heads of account planning (strategy) and creative. "I need this board room and you people for an urgent meeting with a client." Frowning, Richard said politely, "Rhonda dear I accept you are our most enthusiastic executive but..." "A ten million dollar client Mr Lane." "Are you sure?" "Absolutely." "Ladies and gentlemen," Richard smiled. "This meeting is temporarily adjourned. Take a five-minute break and then reconvene here for our meeting with Rhonda's client..." He looked at Rhonda. "Mr Max Harper." "Ohmigod, Max is launching something new. He sold out of his corporation in a huff last year for one hundred million." "Actually it was three hundred and twenty million Lillian but we can't have all of that because there are salaries to pay, research and development, acquiring plant and offices and tooling up for production," Rhonda said. "But he proposes ten million for our campaign and I guess it we over-run there will be no problem. Now folk, please don't expect your usual arrogant, non-stop talking business tycoon; think instead of dealing with a favorite uncle." At that meeting Richard bent over backwards to give Mr Harper everything he suggested. Mr Harper wanted Rhonda to be in absolute control. "Rhonda is hereby designated Harper Campaign team leader with assess to all the resources she requires." Mr Harper said Rhonda had already told him the campaign devising and launching would be too big for her alone." Richard said, "Mrs Lillian Mercer, our most experienced creative director who heads our retail department, is hereby seconded to work as Rhonda's deputy and confidante." "Very good Richard. Finally, I wish to be the one to decide whether any of Rhonda's proposals are to be accepted or rejected, not any interfering person in this agency. No one else in this agency or any other agency in this city thinks like Rhonda." "Agreed Mr Harper. Rhonda is to have absolute control of this project..." "But I would welcome advice and ideas," Rhonda said. "... but senior agency personnel are permitted to give Rhonda advice and make suggestions." The meeting ended with Rhonda being asked to consult with Mr Harper to create campaign guidelines so a contract could be drawn up." "You handled yourself very well facing those heavyweights," Mr Harper told her. "I was not surprised to see that. You are naturally a free spirit so never allow it to be harnessed otherwise you'll lose your individuality and creativeness." "Thank you Mr Harper. You are very wise." As the meeting room cleared Richard asked Lillian to remain. "Yes," she said crossly. "Lillian, please. She's a rising star; if we attempt to suppress her she'll go somewhere else. Um the next three weeks will be the peak time for you working with Rhonda. Once you two have done the planning her need for you will diminish, probably quite rapidly I should think. I think a $5000 sweetener for you to cover the time you'll be working alongside Rhonda is in order." "Oh Richard darling, how sweet of you. I feel better about this already." "I know and try not to be bitter about her increasing status. You had you day in your early years Lillian. Remember her success means money for this agency and you share at the time of bonus distributions. Oh, you could do this for me. I'd like you to suggest to your friend Natalie Fellows she does one of her Channel 7 Sunday Personality Interviews on Rhonda." "God Richard, you live dangerously." He grinned and smacked her ass as she left. Lillian wasn't the least bit offended. * * * Rhonda called Celeste. "Hi my favorite senior lady." "Gawd Rhonda, be careful with that word senior." "Yes, well that's a problem with English as a language and common usage isn't it? After young women we have no progressive steps. Are you going to fake that you are busy or can you come into the city and have lunch with me?" "What today?" "Yes." "No way." "Oh don't worry about your hair. We'll go somewhere chic so you won't be out of place wearing a hat." "How did you know I needed to go to the hairdresser's?" "It could be embarrassing if I tell you." "Tell my darling." "Well it must be something important for you to say no, not today, because you are anxious to impress me as a lovely potential mother. If you had another appointment you would have said so, therefore it was am 80% chance you were thinking you'd have to get your hair done before coming into the city. Finally you can't sit still thinking god this must be something really good for Rhoda to be wishing to see me at such short notice." Celeste sighed, "Ohmigod Rhonda, no one is safe with your focus tuned into them. No I don't have any other engagement, yes I'll wear a hat and yes I'm almost ready to bite my nails wondering what on earth you want to talk to me about, because with you I can expect something almost of bombshell proportions." "Shall we say 2:00 at Cherelle's?" "Ah French and that place is so elegant. I'm surprised you found it darling." "I've never been there but guessed you would have." "Thank you. we shall meet there at 2:00." They sat forking delicately, pausing occasionally to sip Chablis. "Celeste, I wish to reintroduce your face and still impressive figure to the public through advertising." "You mean as a paid model or performer." "Both." "At my age? "Yes." They ate in silence for a few moments. "As what?" "As a grandmother." "Are you insane?" "You may chose your age and style of grandmother. This could lead you back into work if that's what your wish." "And you'd pay me?" "Yes." "How much?" "You'd play the lead role with three other grandmothers of different nationalities in one shoot, with your two handpicked grandchildren and their mother, all professional actors, in another shoot at locations yet to be determined. Two days for each shoot, day one rehearsals, day two filming. We feel people will recognize you although the ad want mention who you are and there will be no credits. So I'm offering you $5000 per day of rehearsals/learning your script and per day of shooting. If you have to fly anywhere no fee but all paid expenses." "That's generous but I really don't think so. What is the product?" "Toys." "What three grandmas looking at toys?" "Basically yes." "Well I really don't think so." Rhona smiled. "Don't be too hasty. Here is a draft script for both shoots to take home and read. That script is yet to be approved by the client. Once that's done I can offer you the part." "Well I'll read it but I really don't think I'll be doing it. Four grandmas playing with kids toys sounds utterly ridiculous to me." "Celeste darling. Can you imagine me being involved in anything ridiculously stupid?" Celeste smiled and said, "My god you are an expert seducer." * * * Of course almost everyone in the agency, and everyone apart from Mr Harper working at Mr Harper's Educational Playthings plus company consultants, said the ad wouldn't work, that it was akin to pouring money down the drain (older folk) or pissing money against a wall (younger folk). Mr Harper of course said defensively Rhonda Royce knew what she was doing. Her problem was she didn't look and behave like an advertising and promotion genius. That statement was ridiculed of course. Mr Harper approved of the ad and agreed it should run of selected TV stations throughout the country in slots just before 5:00 pm. Late next day after the ads first ran, calls from sellers of Mr Harper's Educational Playthings were contacting distributors to urgently order new supplies and national media was chasing after Rhonda who fronted that night with Celeste and the three other genuine grandmothers. The program segment was part of network news. The interview was stage-managed, as many are. The interviewer Sharon Magee holding a huge armful of email printouts said, "These are emails from viewers wishing to know when your advertisement will be playing again Rhonda or enquiring about how you came up with the idea and there are seventy emails asking who is the blonde grandmother because she looks so familiar?" "Well to answer the last query first, that young grandmother (the camera focused on the smiling blonde) is former celebrity model Celeste Williams-Ryan or Celeste Williams as she was in her career days that lasted until her marriage. The second question was how did I come up with the idea: it just came to me after Mr Harper told me he wanted a quick break-through into a hugely competitive toy market. My young niece is besotted with her Anchor-the-Mind Toy, a cash register, that Mr Harper had been producing and marketing until last year selling his holding in that company he established for his late father. So I knew what he was about and he really struck a cord in me when he expressed his horror at how war games and computer games promoting naked aggression were swamping Toyland. In answer to the first question the advertisement will run just before 5:00 every afternoon for the next four weeks on almost 500 selected TV stations." Young Genius Rhonda Royce "What about TV viewers who don't view those channels?" "Sharon I have to say tough. While Mr Harper has funded this campaign hugely we can only do so much." "Celeste, welcome back to the public spotlight. My mother is watching this tonight with eight female friends, all of whom were fans of you, calling you probably the best-natured and one of the loveliest super-models ever." Celeste waved to the camera and said, "Hi Sharon's mother and friends. You are the type of ladies that made me love my modeling work, knowing it was appreciated." "Are you coming back into public exposure Celeste?" "I'm thinking about it but hopefully not in roles as a grandmother although being one myself I have nothing against grandmothers but rather the imagine that sticks to them. That's why I accepted this part when I read Rhonda's draft script. I was blown away by her concept of four grandmothers on the floor playing like kids with the four of the toys from the range of Mr Harper's Educational Playthings and having a great time when four husband-actors burst in demanding where was their dinner." "Yes I saw a tape of the ad and almost fell out of my chair laughing so much at the antics of your grandmothers. It was hilarious." "Josie, you are a grandmother and acted in this ad. Do your grandchildren have education-focused toys?" "They do now Sharon because my lady friends and I couldn't believe how fascinating the toys were. My grandson only just five now counts up to twenty-five because that's the maximum number of loads his loader toy can be set for. The scoop until he dials up the number of loads he wishes to carry in it and then he watches the countdown towards zero and so knows when to reset it to the figure he chooses." "Remarkable. Well congratulations on this successful and original product launch ladies. This ad involving you all will become a classic." Rhonda received a couple of tentative job offers that day and more followed during the next two weeks and she fended off three approaches by headhunters wishing to meet her. A huge surge of new interest in Rhonda and orders for the toys occurred when after two weeks the original ad was replaced by another involving three children aged between four and seven acting as sales clerks at a toy department store explaining and demonstrating the toys to a crowd of fascinated adults. The humorous dialogue of each kid was in very adult language who have been coached into expressing seriously immaculate expressions. The 60-second ad was hilarious and would have delighted many viewers and yet it also delivered its sales pitch wonderfully well. Out of that interest came an urgent invitation for the creator of that advertising campaign to address a gathering of experts. There was standing room only in the auditorium at a planetary session of a regional advertising agency convention when Rhonda Royce was greeted to the rostrum wearing a very short brilliant red tunic, black fishnet stockings and white ankle boots. "Hi everyone. Isn't working in the ad industry great." The cheers sent the auditorium rocking. "I believe in myself. If you guys don't believe in yourselves you are firmly in a rut and will be stay there perhaps until you die wishing you had that edge that a few of us have without appearing to really try." "You weren't ever going to get beyond mediocrity, were you, because you went soft on that absolute essential of self-belief?" "I never knew I had it until my boss told me I had it." Laughter. "I came into advertising straight from college unintentionally. My uncle recommended my for a position no one wanted, expecting it to bomb. Although academically qualified I had no experience for the position but I ran my tongue over my top lip when the boss Richard Lane was interviewing me to find out what was wrong with the HR manager in recommending I be hired. Apparently he thought I had a dry lip problem so my attempt at being sexy bombed. But Richard attained company presidency coming up through creative. Apparently he thought hiring a kid just out of college that had given me a masters in communications at the age of twenty to possibly get rid of me appeared to be so wrong that it must be right. You see that's being creative but of course there's a risk of being piked to a wall by an angry spear-carrying chairman if such a decision turns to custard." "Well the rest is history. I succeeded wildly in my role because that was my intention; I have given it absolute focus. No way did I wish to be fired for being a lazy, useless, washed-out little bitch simply because I know you do that at the end of a career, not when beginning it." Laughter. "Well you want to know my big secret?" "Yes" came the calls. "Well hush and lean forward and promise yourself you'll not divulge this secret to people competing against you for your job." "Right these two things (Rhonda pointed to her eyes) connect to this thing (pointing to her head) that contains a brain. You use that interconnection between them. It's called visualization. Don't ask me how it works creatively because I have no idea. Apparently I have it and harness it, but I don't know how. I just see things from my mind and make them happen because I push to achieve that with utter confidence." "Let me fictionalize to indicate how I works for me. A guy walks in with an orange and says, "I want to sell more of these. I represent orange growers." "Do I think a great looking hunk like him would do better selling women's panties?" "No." "Do I ask myself why sell more oranges to an over-supplied market at peak times?" "No I don't." "I'd probably look at him and see him disappearing into a sea of oranges with his arm up and crying help and thinking I like oranges and kid myself they might keep me slender when I reach the 'I'm getting fat' era that afflicts both women and men, ah most of them." "My trusty brain, and it will be trusty provided you believe in yourself, yawns and wakes up and runs a film clip for me that delivers the message that says keep thin consuming orange juice and then a voice yells at me saying 'But its more healthier to squeeze your own.' "So I sigh and say how much Mr Client do you wish to spend?" "He'll probably say he was thinking fifty grand and I'd say something like poultry growers spend more than that attracting customers to buy their chicken shit. He then blinks, asks me for a date and then remember why he's there will says something like, his industry's national council is prepared to spend up to a million bucks on a good campaign." "I say sorry Mr Client, no date because I'm loyal to my boyfriend but that's not to say you were a jerk asking. Come back in the morning and I'll have a draft campaign for filming and page ads and billboards to show you." "He'll says but agencies usually take days, weeks to reach that stage and I'll say we are not only creative in what we do here Mr Client but we believe you want a rapid response otherwise you wouldn't be here and we are eager to see our fees pouring into our bank account that is in overdraft." "He'll says something like, "Well that's a refreshing attitude and I'll say something like that depends when he is up and running in the morning because Lillian over there was likely to say yes to a date." "In the morning I show him my sketch of an orange, humanized a little, walking with a gorgeous blonde and the orange says, 'Squeeze me babe. Having me freshly squeezed will help keep you healthy and happy'." "Mr Client will say something like, "Huh, I was thinking of a buy more oranges come-on." "I'll say isn't your industry with bulging cool stores already doing that and he'll look at me with enlightenment and I'll hand him the sketch and say take that out on the street and stop women and ask them what they think about that as a message. Within the hour the guy will return smiling almost as sexily as he smiled at Lillian and say, "Let's email this concept to my boss immediately, seeking authorization and I'll point to my computer with the email and illustration already loaded and tell him to add his message and the address and send it off." "Well that's it, I think creatively and see myself as the facilitator to make things happen. Nothing to it really." People laughed and clapped and then people asked questions or presented difficult scenarios and asked how she'd deal with that. At the end Rhonda received huge applause when the chairman had thanked her for 'probably the most simplified and yet outstanding address this regional event has ever had." Work flowed in for Rhonda's team and it was suggested she shift into a larger area, swapping with the print ad department and take on more staff but she declined the offer saying she felt she'd work best with her small team as they now worked as a fully integrated unit, with her pulling the strings. * * * Enrolments to Clifford University where Rhonda's boyfriend Mark was a instructor were well down for the autumn semester, probably due to the economic recession, and so he was asked by the head of the university's marketing and publicity department to ask Rhonda would she consider making some suggestions for advertisements in local newspapers without fee as a donation to the institution. "You don't have to say yes." "I know Mark. Do you think this could help your advancement?" "Possibly in a small way." "Then I'll do it. I'll try to involve you so you do come to notice." "Me?" "Yes. Now don't be shy." The ad ran for two weeks and the university was more than happy with the surge in late enrolments. The ad had a picture of Mark wearing a black academic gown and the words said, 'Hi, I'm Mark, a senior instructor at Clifford University. My parents went into debt to help me complete a great education. I delivered dinner-time pizzas at college and groomed vehicles commercially at evenings when at university. Thanks mom and dad for backing me. Money was short but we realized if I took a year off to earn money I might kiss my senior education goodbye. Gee that was a close one. Think twice about taking the easy option won't you guys. Commit to Clifford and the university will commit to you.' A week later when Mark arrived at Rhonda's apartment for sex, and then to take her to dinner, he was beaming. "I've been invited to apply for a position of assistant-professor." "Oh congratulations. That's wonderful news. Even if you don't win the position and only get to review stage at least you know you are on that plateau and its much better to be invited to apply than just to apply, isn't it?" "Immeasurably so." Rhonda said, "Come on, let's go to the Champagne Bar and celebrate." "Um what about sex." "Oh Mark, we can do that anytime. This is a benchmark in your career. Let's sit, drink and talk about your success." "Oh all right." "Jesus Mark, get a life." Later that evening when Mark rolled off Rhonda, leaving the poor woman with rubbery knees, revealed by the way she walked to the bathroom and he thought she looked a little temporarily bow-egged as well, Mark lurched over to the chair and pulled out a little black square box tied in a red ribbon and placed it on the pillow. He was almost drunkenly asleep when brought fully alert by Rhonda's squeal, "Ooooh, what's this!" "You know," Mr Romantic yawned. "May I open it?" "Yes." "Oooh, is it what I think it is." Mr Romantic said was it and studied the ceiling impatiently. It was of course and engagement ring. Rhonda yelled in delight and said it was perfect even though she'd had no say in the purchase. "Oh thank you darling. This is so exciting," she said, kissing Mark who said he was glad she was so excited and he turned over to nap. "I accept your proposal of marriage," Rhonda gushed, aware he'd not proposed. "I thought you would," he yawned. It was a beautiful ring and Rhonda loved it. She was aware she hadn't received a memorable proposal but thought if they married it would be even more memorable having skipped the formal proposal and not having helped to choose the ring. She was not big into ceremony and knew Mark wouldn't have spent the big bucks on the ring of three diamonds set in platinum unless he was serious about her. Looking at the ring she'd placed on her finger unassisted, Rhonda thought a solid, non-competitive and totally reliable and unflappable guy like Mark was exactly the perfect partner for her. The big plus was he has great at sex and his family were so lovely. Although appalled Celeste and Charles had agreed to that untruth being written about them in the recruitment ad for Mark's university that they'd gone into debt to send Mark to college and university, they'd bought his explanation that if the promotion worked it could enhance his career prospects. "Oh Mark, I was called to the vice-chancellor's office today where I was invited to join a five-person committee being formed and led by the vice-chancellor to plan celebrations in two years of Clifford's 150th jubilee since it was chartered. I accepted being nominated and that has to be approved by the senate." "Mark was do you say about that?" "Ohmigod, you are asleep. Please try to be a tad more exciting for me darling." Rhonda yawned. THE END