Uncontrolled Spin: The Power and Danger of Spin ("Un"missable Series Book 1) (14 page)

He gives her a playful mock bow, and she grins. “Well, thank you, sir.”

They finish their dessert drinks, then head off to their rooms for the night. Jessica decides she will get up early and go for a run and swim before breakfast. Sean decides he will sleep in.

CHAPTER 11

SURPRISE

S
ean awakens the next morning to a noise he isn’t used to hearing at the villa. Walking out on the patio, he sees Jessica standing in a black one-piece bathing suit, her red hair falling just past her shoulders. The suit has horizontal slits up each side from her waits to just below her breast. A high French cut accentuates her long muscular legs. He watches her dive into the pool, and then he silently slips back into his room, thinking,
what a seriously gorgeous woman she is.
Then, catching himself, he reigns in his thoughts. Looking at the clock, he sees it is only seven in the morning and decides to take a long hot shower before he heads to breakfast.

Jessica finishes her swim, heads for the shower, and then dresses for breakfast as well. She decides to wear another new design, donning a white linen suit with a high waist and a sleeveless, burgundy button-down silk shirt, then completes it with a single string of pearls. When she walks into the dining room, Sean stands to greet her and exclaims, “Wow!”

She smiles and does a quick twirl. “It’s another new design. I’m glad you like it.”

“Like it? You look fantastic.”

“But Sean,” she teases, “it’s linen, not pima cotton.”

He returns her teasing with a mock glare. “I said I didn’t want to look wrinkled, not that I didn’t
like
linen.”

She barely hides a grin by saying, “Well, you look very nice as well in your charcoal slacks and blue polo.”

He inclines his head. “Thank you. Mimosa?”

“Not for me. I’m happy with plain orange juice and some fruit,” taking the seat he offers her at the table.

“Well, it’s a little late for that, I’m afraid. My understanding is that fresh banana crepes, coffee, and bran muffins are on the menu for today.”

Jessica giggles a little. “Oh, good. I’m starving, but I didn’t want to put anyone out.”

Sean shakes his head at her, mystified that one of Mark and Bonnie’s closest friends could be so simplistic in her demands. “Don’t be ridiculous. The Stevens always make sure their guests are well taken care of, and you of all people should know that.”

“Good point,” she replies.

After their delicious breakfast is finished, Jessica and Sean discuss and agree upon a strategy for their first meeting. Jessica decides to remain quiet for most of the meeting and let Sean and Hugo carry the conversation. Occasionally, she can interject a question, but her role in the meeting is one of silent observation. Jessica reminds Sean she will need to know what kind of “fees” would have to be paid in order to have production running full bore in six months or less.

Sean smiles. “Of course. So, it looks like this will work for you?”

Jessica gives a big sigh, then says, “There are a lot of details to work out first. The lease and the factory improvements, even the hiring of employees, are minor issues. Honestly, the largest concern for me at this point is SGM’s fees.”

Sean laughs. “Don’t concern yourself with those. We will make it work if you truly want to retain us.”

Jessica smiles slightly. “You know I do, and you’ve known it since our first meeting when you dismissed me so rudely.”

“Yes, I have known, but you weren’t the first, nor will you be the last, CEO I’m blunt with,” he replies with a sly smile.

“Oh, so now it’s blunt instead of rude?” Jessica prods.

He chuckles. “I’m always blunt with clients, never rude.”

Both laugh, then Jess asks, “So what will your contract look like? I suspect it will be in the million-dollar range?”

Sean suddenly grows serious, stares intently at Jessica, then says forebodingly, “Actually, you will owe me your soul by the time we have finished negotiating my contract.”

She stares at him for a moment. “Well, that’s too bad, because I already sold my soul for my fashion niche.”

He laughs out loud, enjoying the banter. “Seriously, don’t worry about my contract. We will make it all work if we both decide to work together. What else is bothering you?”

She considers. “Well, I suspect the type of undertaking we are looking at will require a two-million-dollar outlay in an eighteen-to-twenty-four-month period. I have plenty of designs for this expansion, and my staff is prepared. Even with previous preparations, the large amount of revenue outlay will require me to either raise capital through investor infusion or to obtain a substantial loan. I have always run my business on a cash basis with all my equipment, real estate holdings, and inventory free and clear of any encumbrances. The only other option I have, if I need funds in an emergency, is financing for a five-year period, in which case I will pay everything off in two years. Currently, Beauty Boutique Clothing is debt-free, but this expansion could be a game changer in that department.”

Sean nods. “I have every confidence in your ability to become this type of change agent. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have spent any time researching the fashion industry.”

She inclines her head. “Thank you. I appreciate your confidence. I just need some time to consider. This is a huge decision and commitment for me.”

“I understand.”

Eduardo comes into the living room and announces, “Mr. Hugo Montes and Mr. Juan Zamora have arrived.” Sean asks him to seat them outside under the cabana for lunch so everyone can feel comfortable speaking freely.

Eduardo nods. “Very good, Mr. Green.”

They stand and Sean touches Jessica’s arm. “We arrange it like this so the government official, Mr. Zamora, can have confidence he isn’t being recorded.”

Jessica makes a face. “Wow, I never would have thought about that.”

Sean chuckles, steering her toward the door, and says, “Then it’s a good thing I did, eh?”

Once outside, Sean introduces Jessica to Hugo and Juan. Both are enamored by her beauty and choice in clothing. Sean mentions the outfit she is wearing is a new design of hers that she hopes to manufacture and market in Brazil.

Juan nods intently. “My wife would love that outfit. How much are you selling it for?”

Jessica smiles and replies, “I haven’t priced it yet, but if you get me her sizes, I’ll be happy to ship her a complimentary outfit so she can help get my name known in the proper circles here.”

Juan beams with delight. “I will have them by the end of this meeting.”

Sean gives Jessica a quick nod of approval, and she returns a sneaky wink of acknowledgement. Their conversations are casual while the lunch of fajitas is prepared in front of them, then served with margaritas, tequila, and beer. After the plates are cleared and dessert is served with coffee, Juan turns to Jessica and says, “I understand you might be interested in retaining the old Nike facility for your organization.”

She nods. “I’m interested in the facility, but I’m not sure we will be able to reach an agreement with Ricardo Montes.”

Juan turns to Hugo and asks in Portuguese, “What is the problem?”

Hugo replies, “When I spoke to my cousin, he told me he believes they have a deal, but he would like to try and squeeze her a little harder.”

Juan looks upset. “Come on, she is a lovely lady who designs beautiful clothing, and we all should do what we can to help her open the old factory!” He returns his attention to Jessica. “How can we help?” he asks, switching back to English.

Sean interjects, “Well, Jessica isn’t familiar with the business requirements here. Hugo and I are helping to guide her through them, and any assistance you could provide with the appropriate authorities would be most beneficial.”

Juan nods and asks, “What time frame are we looking at if a satisfactory agreement can be reached about the facility?”

Sean glances at Jessica and replies, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like four to six months after a property agreement can be reached.”

Jess nods. “That is an excellent time frame as long as what has been represented to me about the displaced workers is correct and we can hit the ground running as hard and fast as anticipated. I’ll have a better idea after I meet with the workers this afternoon.”

Juan smiles encouragingly. “I’m sure you will find these workers as eager and able to perform as you hope and anticipate. This is a very tight time frame for officials here, and I’m sure you could anticipate extra fees in order to expedite such a request.”

Jess nods and Sean says, “We anticipated that would be the case. We just need to know the range of fees we should expect.”

“I’ll have to check the expedited fee schedule at the office, but I would think somewhere in the fifty-to-one hundred thousand range,” Juan replies. Then, turning to Jessica, he says, “I’ll have those figures for you well before you sign an agreement—and probably even before you leave Brazil Monday morning. In fact, I’d like to bring my wife by to meet you. I think it would be easier for you to get the proper sizing for her that way, and she will have an opportunity to get to know you before she discusses your designs with her friends.”

Jessica smiles. “Juan, I would be delighted to meet your wife and give her my personal attention. In fact, I might even be able to get the factory workers to produce a copy of this design for her on Sunday, if I can get some linen tomorrow. It would be a test run for everyone.”

Juan is visibly excited by the possibility. “I believe my wife would be delighted if that could happen.”

Jess nods her head. “I will do my utmost, but it will only be possible if the workers have the ability and we can get the linen.”

Hugo interrupts and says, “The linen won’t be a problem. However, how will the factory workers produce any garment without a design?”

“I have designs for every outfit I brought with me, so that as I wear them, I can make notes about what I like and don’t like,” Jess replies with a smile. “Juan, it looks like your wife and I are going to spend a couple of hours together tomorrow. By the way, what is her name?”

“It’s Carmen.”

“Well, please tell Carmen I am looking forward to meeting her and creating the first Beauty Boutique design ever manufactured in Brazil for her.”

Juan turns to Hugo and, reverting to Portuguese, says, “This is terrific. Carmen will be amazed this could be arranged for her. Make sure Jessica has the fabric she needs, and have Lidia and Ricardo insist to the workers this is a test. The garment must be completed on time and of the quality deemed necessary.”

Hugo replies, “Of course, Mr. Zamora. Anything for your Carmen.”

Juan chuckles, “I’m sure if this truly happens, most of the governmental barriers can be removed for Ms. Silva’s company to open—”

“Juan,” Jessica interrupts quietly, still not acknowledging that she speaks Portuguese, and slightly tired of being so rudely cut out of conversations. “Perhaps it would be nice to find Carmen a necklace to go with her new outfit and give it to her at the same time? Let’s make the next couple of days very special for her, and who knows? It might turn out to be a very special couple of nights for you as well.” She smiles and gives him a seductive wink.

Juan grins. “I believe that is a fabulous idea.”

Sean, Jessica, Hugo, Ricardo, Juan, and his wife, Carmen, arrive at the factory promptly at four o’clock and are greeted by Lidia and the displaced factory workers. After all the proper introductions are exchanged, Jessica takes control of the meeting. She finally reveals her secret—much to the surprise and discomfort of Hugo, Ricardo, Juan, and Lidia—and explains in fluent Portuguese the goals she wishes to accomplish. She instructs the workers that Lidia hand-chose to get Carmen Zamora properly measured and fitted for the first ever Beauty Boutique original design crafted outside the U.S. Jessica explains that this outfit is to be of the highest quality for Carmen, as it will serve as the showpiece for any future production in Brazil.

“I will pay you,” Jessica says to the workers, “and also you, Lidia, as a production supervisor. Ricardo, I will also reimburse you for any expenses associated with this single production request.”

After the initial shock at her fluency in his native tongue, Ricardo smiles wickedly and responds, “That won’t be necessary, as you already know my position on your proposal based on what we thought were private conversations. I suspect we have reached a verbal agreement.”

“Yes, we have an agreement.” Jessica replies, then adds, “As long as you don’t try to squeeze me any harder.”

At that, a cheer resounds through the factory. Sean stands there, dumbfounded, not understanding what just happened, and turns to Jessica with a questioning look.

Hugo, laughing, tells Sean in English, “Let me explain this to you, my friend.”

Jess winks at Sean as he says, “Please do.”

Hugo explains quietly so as not to interrupt while Jessica speaks to the workers. “None of us knew Ms. Silva spoke fluent Portuguese, and it seems there were some unintentionally unguarded conversations revealing Ricardo’s willingness to accept her proposal. Also revealed in those conversations were his plans to get more money out of her. However, even though it is clear now that he can’t, they still have a deal. Jessica had a very big trump card, and Ricardo was forced to acquiesce to her or lose face in front of everyone present.”