Weapons of Mass Seduction (6 page)

Chapter Six

“
V
anilla,” Florence requested.

“This is Baskin-Robbins. Thirty-one flavors and you can't do better than
vanilla
?” Rebecca teased.

“Darlin', it's one thing to tinker with variety when it comes to your underpants, but there are times when plain and simple is just perfect. I'd suggest you remember that, Ms. Supersensual.”

“Where's Pia?” Rebecca inquired as the two ventured back into the mall.

“She said she'd wait right here for us,” Florence said, looking around.

“Here she comes, and she's got company.”

Flo's eyes followed Rebecca's finger and saw Pia headed toward them with what looked to be a two-year-old boy in her arms. The pair appeared to be chums, with a glowing Pia singing and the child laughing.

“Sale at the toy store?” Flo inquired when Pia reached them.

“I found this cutie-pie wandering around by himself. I went into the center of the mall to see if I could find his mommy, but nothing. I'm taking him to the security office, but I didn't want to go without letting you two know.”

“Whoa, he really likes you. He's grinning and laughing and he doesn't even know you.”

“You're a natural,” Flo remarked to her beaming teammate.

“He's sweet,” Pia said, gently running her fingers through the toddler's curls. Her bittersweet smile was not lost on Flo. “Now let's go find your mommy,” Pia said, touching her forehead to the child's. “I'll be right back.”

Florence and Rebecca were just finishing up their ice cream cones when Pia returned. “The mom was already there in security. She was frantic. She said she turned away for a minute and he was gone. What a scary feeling it must be to lose your child.”

“Good thing you found him and not some crazy,” Flo said. “Now back to shoppin'. What else is on the list?”

“Well, we can check off number one:
Underneath
it all something that makes you feel beautiful,” Rebecca said, quoting the shopping list Joey had given each of them. “Number two: A
scent
ual way to express yourself. I guess that's perfume.”

“Or it could be scented candles or incense,” Pia suggested.

“And three: a
tangible
indication of who you are or want to be. That must be the icon thing she was talking about. What aisle do you find that one in?

“I'm kinda confused,” Rebecca admitted. “I get the underwear, but what's with the other stuff? I need some different clothes to go with my new lingerie, 'cause the closet I have isn't working.”

“Clothes aren't as important as your mind-set. Joey's trying to get us to change our attitude, which, like Cosette said, bubbles from underneath. Everything on that list is about individual expressions that are related to our sensual personalities,” Pia explained, becoming more impressed with her instructor's ideas. “I get it.”

“Of course you do. Ever since we got started there hasn't been one darn thing that has you as confounded as the rest of us. If I didn't already like you so much, I'd have to hate you for bein' so damn together,” Flo joshed.

Pia simply gave her a wink and a smile.

“So where do we do the fragrance thing?” Rebecca asked.

“How about there?” Pia suggested, pointing across the mall to a perfumery.

“I've been wearin' the Jean Natè all my life,” Flo announced as they entered the store.

“They still make that?” Pia asked.

“Still sold at all your finest drugstores. It's the first Christmas gift Dan ever gave me and I've been wearin' it on special occasions ever since.”

“Well, then you definitely need a change. Come on, I have an idea,” Pia said, leading her over to the alphabetized fragrance wall. “Try this,” she said, spraying a test wand with Chanel No. 19 and waving it under Flo's nose. “It's a classic, but it screams mystery.”

“It smells good, all right, but you're the cool mysterious one. Why in the world would I want to be an unknown to my own husband?”

“Remember? Woman he left…not the same one he comes home to? Shake him up some,” Rebecca prodded.

“Hmm…well, I guess I can try. You two are makin' me into a regular Mae West.”

“I'll be back,” Rebecca declared before making a beeline toward the celebrity display. “I'm going to check out J.Lo's new perfume. I want something…”

“We know…sexy,” Flo and Pia responded in amused unison.

“And hot,” Rebecca added, laughing.

“Does that girl have any other words in her vocabulary besides
hot
and
sexy
?”

“Apparently not, unless you include whoa. I hope Joey knows that she's creatin' a monster,” Flo remarked in both concern and jest. “We need to shake a leg. We still have more shoppin' to do and the bus will be here to take us back to the hotel in an hour. What about you? Aren't you gonna buy anythin' here either?” Flo asked.

“Just these candles. I already have kind of a signature scent, Stella by Stella McCarthy,” Pia declared as Rebecca rejoined them.

“Okay, enough already! You wear pretty panties
and
have a signature scent? Why are you takin' this workshop? You could be teachin' it,” Flo asked.

“I guess I could if you believe the old saying ‘Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.' Believe me, we have plenty of time left this weekend for my insecurities to surface. So, that's that. On to the trademark icon. What about charms?” Pia suggested.

“We passed a silver jewelry cart on our way here,” Florence said, her curiosity piqued, but letting the topic go.

The three descended on the Silver Forest kiosk and began searching for a metallic representation of themselves. Pia immediately found what she was looking for among the Chinese symbols. Her fingers caressed the cool, smooth lines of the character for “mother.” Even in unbending sterling silver, the calligraphy captured both strength and gentleness, just like the concept it represented. Did she dare buy it and own this state of being for her future self? She paused. Was she staking her claim or merely tempting fate?

“Is that the one?” Flo asked, her eyes scanning the tray from which Pia had made her selection.

“I think so.”

“What's it mean?”

“Love,” Pia replied, feeling as though she was only half lying. Weren't
mother
and
love
basically synonymous?

“Hmm. Really? Nice. Well, I think I'm settlin' on this,” Flo said, holding a silver “cause” ribbon. “Bein' with you girls has led me to the belief that I am worth raisin' Dan's awareness over.”

“Dan's or anyone else's,” Pia added in support. “I love it.”

“Whoa! Nicole Richie has a necklace just like this.” Rebecca's excited voice rang out from the other side of the jewelry cart. “I'm so getting this,” she declared, holding a charm of the iconic lounging mud flap girl.

“Honey, you want to be hot like Paris and sexy like Angelina, smell like J.Lo, and accessorize like Nicole Richie. Seems like you're tryin' to be everybody
but
Rebecca.”

Hurt and bewilderment clouded the young woman's face, causing Flo to immediately regret her remark. “Don't mind me, darlin'. It's tough to decide on one thing that sums up who you are.”

“Or want to be,” Rebecca said sullenly. “I don't really know who Rebecca is. I never have. Not when I was in Iowa and certainly not since I've been in Chicago.” She held up the charm and took a long look before sighing deeply and placing it back on the tray. “But the one thing I do know is, whoever she is wants to be someone very different.”

“We all do at some point,” Pia said, putting a protective arm around the girl. “You're young. Take it from us old chicks: other than the great body, the twenties basically suck, but everybody has to go through the confusion to get to the other side. You've got time to figure out who you are, and hopefully this weekend will help.”

“It already has.” Rebecca smiled, appreciating Pia's sisterly attitude. “Do you think they could make me a necklace that says Becca?”

“Not
Re
becca?” Flo asked.

“Becca sounds more grown and…big city.”

“It does sound a little less like you grew up in a cornfield or on Sunnybrook Farm,” Pia said with a teasing giggle.

“I did not grow up in a cornfield,” Becca shot back with practiced indignation. “I'm from Cedar Falls, which is right next to Waterloo. My dad is a high school science teacher and my mother is a nurse. We're not all farmers.”

She hated the way people stereotyped her home state and the folks that lived there. Seems like her entire life had been spent peeling off the clichéd labels stuck on by other people.

“I'm sorry. That remark did sound pretty ignorant. Is Rebecca a family name? I only ask because you don't hear of many black folks named Rebecca.”

“You're black?” Flo remarked. “I've been wonderin' what you are. I thought maybe Latina.”

“My biological mother was African American and my biological father was white. I'm adopted.” Pia and Florence listened intently as Becca conveyed her story.

Her parents, Chester and Mary Vossel, unable to have children of their own and tired of waiting in the long line behind other couples looking for healthy white children, emptied their savings account and headed south to the Window of Hope, a Christian adoption agency in Macon, Georgia. Three weeks later, six-week-old Rebecca Mary Vossel moved into the lovingly prepared nursery in her parents' modest three-bedroom home.

As the adopted daughter of devout, conservative Christian parents, Rebecca was raised to be obedient and God-fearing. Chester and Mary were strict but devoted parents, demanding good grades and community service at the church and allowing little social life. She learned quickly that her father's word was just as powerful as the Lord's, and she grew up toeing the line, learning to be seen and not heard. Naturally shy, she didn't find this difficult, and she actually preferred keeping to herself. It was the being seen part that she wished she could change.

Despite her name, she'd become the ultimate plain Jane, less by nature and more by parental design. No makeup, modest “proper” clothing, no flash, and absolutely no trash. As the years went by and the features of her African American mother emerged, it became impossible to disappear behind a veil of good behavior and the New Testament. Amid all the corn-fed-looking girls surrounding her, Rebecca's honey-toned complexion and unruly hair made her stand out in all the wrong ways.

“That's why you said in session this morning that you spent your life trying not to get noticed?” Pia probed gently. “And why you want to change your name?”

“Yeah, pretty much. New identity, new life,” she admitted, not sure if she could make them understand.

“My parents definitely loved me and they made sure I didn't get in any trouble growing up. They kept me away from alcohol, drugs, and wild parties, but the problem is they kept me away from
everything,
including boys. By the time I got out of high school, I just wanted out. I didn't know much about life or men and I still don't.

“When I refused to go to a Christian university they said that they were not going to pay tuition to a heathen school. So instead of going to college I worked for a few years in Waterloo until I moved to Chicago four months ago. Right now I'm working as a receptionist and trying to save money so I can get my degree.”

“This workshop is very expensive,” Flo remarked, her maternal instincts once again on alert. “Why would you go into debt for somethin' this frivolous?”

“I don't think it's frivolous. This is like a survival course for me. I'm tired of feeling as though I don't belong anywhere.”

“I guess it's easy to feel out of place in a new city, but darlin', you're beautiful. You have such an exotic look about you.”

“That's it!” Pia said, clapping her hands to the baffled looks of her teammates. “That's your weapon—the one you possess but don't utilize. Turn what you think is your negative into a positive.”

“I don't get it.”

“Becca, it's like Joey said today. Strengthen your strengths. You're exotic-looking. Play up the fact that you look different to your advantage. Don't try to cast yourself in a Hollywood cookie cutter starlet mold.”

“I swear, I can't tell one skinny, blond, dog-totin' girl from the next, even if they are famous,” Flo agreed.

“Oh, I don't want to be famous. I just want to mean something to somebody. To be
some
body's star instead of always feeling like a fish out of water.”

“Well, then this should be perfect,” Pia said, pulling a necklace from the display and clasping it around Becca's neck. “What are starfish but uniquely shaped fish. And where do you find starfish? Usually on the beach, out of the water. So whenever you feel like you don't belong, touch this and remember you're a one-of-a-kind star. Just presently undiscovered.”

“You really think I'm a star?”

“Becca, I deal with so-called celebrities every day, and one thing I've come to realize is that whatever you believe you are, others will too.”

Chapter Seven

Friday—Social Sensuality

A
fter a morning dedicated to relaxing and sensual spa and aromatherapy treatments, followed by a sumptuous lunch of tasty bite-size cuisine, everyone reconvened in the Pacific Ballroom for day two of unearthing their inner bombshells.

“Good afternoon, lovelies! You're all glowing!” Joey remarked once her pupils were assembled. “And there's a new vibrancy in the air. Can you feel it? You all must be wearing your new lacy attitudes.”

Happy laughter buzzed around the room. The sparkling energy was evident and contagious. It had even managed to warm Pia up to the idea of being there. Yesterday's lessons had obviously sunk in and were being fully applied this morning. Armed with a new confidence brought on by self-discovery and the emergence of self-acceptance, the weapons-in-waiting sat eager to absorb today's knowledge.

“Yesterday we began to discover our individual sensuality. You identified your personal signatures—the things about your personality, opinions, and choices that set you apart from every other woman in the room. Today we take the next step toward bringing out the sensual you in a social setting by learning how to interact on a joyfully flirtatious level.

“We were all born to charm. If you've ever watched a baby work the room with his or her sparkling eyes, irresistible smiles, and sweet coos, you already know that flirting is an inherent part of our DNA.”

Like that little charmer in the mall,
Pia remembered, smiling.

“And with practice, we can all be good at it. Flirting takes no special equipment and costs nothing. Your God-given attributes will do you just fine. A good flirt is merely a woman who has learned to revel in the power of being a woman, is determined to enjoy herself in the moment, and has a benevolent streak. Oh, yes, my lovelies, flirting is all about transferring your good feelings on to someone else, thus making someone else's day. So, as they say, ‘It's all good.'”

“Excuse me, Joey.” Florence raised her hand to interrupt. “I've been married over twenty years. Bowlin', I am good at. Flirtin', not so much. Just exactly how do you go about doin' it? Especially with a man who I haven't flirted with since
I was
a baby?”

“I agree that charming a stranger can somehow feel easier than charming a man who has experienced your ‘natural loveliness upon awakening' and has come to accept your penchant for eating potato chips in bed. But flirting with your life partner is a crucial part of your arsenal. Flirting helps keep romance and playfulness alive in your marriage. It should not stop at the altar; neither should it stop at your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

“And here's another tip for you married ladies. Lightly flirt with other men when your husband is with you. Keep your flirtation mild and definitely don't tease—you don't want to start an argument. But by letting him see that other men find you attractive, you're revving up his competitive nature, which translates into him feeling pretty studly about himself and pretty damn lucky to have you.

“So whether with stranger or spouse, flirting begins and ends with feminine confidence. And it's this sensual strength that affects how you walk into a room, how you return a hello with your eyes, and how you come across as absolutely fascinating to both men and women. Exploit your charm and you will be surprised how people respond to you in all situations—and how often you get your way.”

“That sounds kind of…manipulative.”

“And phony.”

“That's because you're thinking of flirting as if it's some kind of public performance with scripted pick-up lines, which is exactly what
bad
flirting is. Think of it as simply presenting the naturally charismatic and curious side of yourself. That's what true charm is about, and that's what people react positively to.

“But I always get stressed out because I'm worried that I'll look stupid,” another participant revealed.

“Or desperate,” Pia whispered under her breath.

“I wouldn't know where to start,” Flo admitted.

“You start simply by
SELL
ing yourself using my four basic principles of flirtation:
S
mile,
E
yes,
L
isten,
L
augh. Let's turn to page thirteen in your Weapons manual.” Joey paused the lecture while everyone pulled out the binders and turned to the correct page.

“With these basics—all tools each of you already possess—used in tandem with your personal charisma, your social sensuality can successfully step out into the public. So let's go over them now.

“
SMILE
: Often and naturally. We really don't pay much attention to how much we
don't
smile. And what's most amazing about that is, smiling is our most effective calling card, a free and easy spirit lifter, and a surefire antidote to negative energy. A genuine smile is power. With it you can change another person's entire mood and perspective. Let's try a little experiment. Close your eyes and smile right now. Stretch the corners of your mouth wide. How does your body feel?”

“Relaxed.”

“Happy.”

“Warm and kind of tingly.”

“Where in your body do you feel it?” Joey probed. “In your chest and stomach?” Nods of agreement bounced around the room. “Now open your eyes, turn to the person next to you, and smile. Again, big and genuine. What happens?”

“They smile back.”

“Exactly. Smiling is contagious. And in a flirting situation, we want to infect as many folks as possible. A smile makes you look friendly, confident, and approachable, and it puts the other person at ease. And if he's feeling at ease, he's bound to be more receptive and interested in you.

“
SELL TIP
: Even when you are flirting via telephone, have a smile on your face. The other person can feel and hear the difference in your voice. There is a warmth and friendliness that comes across with a grin.

“
EXERCISE
: For the rest of this week, pay constant attention to your facial expression and practice smiling. If you're waiting in a cashier's line, smile. When you pass strangers on the street, smile. Smile when you notice a beautiful flower or the clear blue sky. Make it a habit, and soon you will find yourself not only happier and more persuasive but on the receiving end with greater frequency.

“
EYE SMILE
. Your eyes are your most important flirting tool. If you don't believe me, think of the ancient and yet still highly effective lessons of the Kama Sutra, where prolonged eye contact is a main tenet of this powerful sensual, spiritual approach to lovemaking. Think of belly dancers and their provocative sideways glances as they work the allure of the veil. Think Elizabeth Taylor and Prince—both masters of ocular seduction. Oh, yes, lovelies: The eyes definitely have it!

“In my younger days, my body wasn't quite so…so…voluptuous.” Joey laughed, evoking a rush of “You got that right” around the room. “I depended on my body to attract men. And not once did I look into my basic brown eyes and see anything particularly special. That is, until I was nearly thirty and one very sweet gentleman—a master flirt for sure—told me that my eyes were the sexiest part of me. He said he loved the way he felt when I looked at him. His comment enlightened and empowered me. And from that day forward I stopped worrying so much about my body and began cultivating my ‘looks' and other charming skills.”

“I totally disagree. Men respond to sexy bodies,” Juile argued with a convinced matter-of-factness only experience can bring.

“Trust me, lovelies, your breasts and bottoms will one day surrender to gravity, but when it comes to drawing a man over to your side of the room, a seductive set of eyes and a warm smile will rarely let you down.”

“Julie's right. It's the sexy-looking girls who pull the guys across the room and home with them,” Becca complained, getting plenty of support.

“It's no secret that men are visual creatures,” Joey countered. “And I will concede that women who are considered more physically attractive do have a head start when it comes to
picking up
men. But let's be real here, lovelies: It's not really hard to pick up a man when everything about you is promising sex. You've got to know the difference between being sexy and looking and acting sexual.

“Flirting is not teasing. Teasing is used to
proposition sex
. Flirting is used to
entice interest
. And eye contact is a big part of getting and keeping his attention.

“And once you have it, use eye contact as your barometer of his interest. There is more direct gazing when people like each other and less eye contact when they don't. And should you lose eye contact, chalk it up to his loss, not yours, and move on.”

“But then you haven't really succeeded,” Julie goaded.

“When you go shopping, does every outfit you try on fit?” Joey asked, calmly making her point.

“How do you know how long to look? I mean, at what point does a look become a stare?” Rhonda asked.

“True, you don't want to scare him off by staring. Practice eye control. Give him a nice gaze and genuine smile for, let's say, no more than three seconds—long enough to let him know you're interested—and then look away. Follow up with occasional peekaboo glances to keep him on the hook and eventually reel him in,” Joey suggested while demonstrating her technique.

“Another great eye smile is to catch his gaze, hold it for a second, and then let your eyes inspect his face and body for a few seconds. This lets him know you like what you see, which may be all the encouragement he needs to pursue you.

“Once you have captured his attention with your smile and have him locked into your gaze, let your eyes communicate all those things that you'd love to say but feel too silly or forward verbalizing. Let your glance dip to his lips and then back to his eyes as you mentally tell him how delicious his mouth is. Your facial expressions will translate the messages in your head. Drown him in unspoken compliments and he will start living to spend time in your gaze.

“
SELL TIP
: Your eyes and smile must work together. If one is smiling without the other, you'll appear bored and disingenuous.

“
EXERCISE
: Make eye play part of your morning routine. As you're getting ready, practice flirting with yourself. Look in the mirror and hold your own gaze. Practice complimenting yourself through eye talk. Smile and witness your mesmerizing effect. Keep practicing until flirting and smiling with your eyes becomes second nature.

“Next you must
LISTEN
. Your ability to listen effectively is the secret to coming off completely fascinating to men. The more you listen and ask questions, the more attractive, mysterious, and intriguing you become. Asking for more details proves you have been paying attention, and sends the message that you find him interesting.

“
SELL TIP
: Don't think too hard about what you're going to say—just really listen to what he is saying and respond naturally.

“And when she's not listening or talking, a WMS should be
LAUGHING
. Laughter and humor are also powerful armaments in your seductive artillery. It's almost impossible to flirt successfully and enjoyably without them. So don't be afraid of a little playful teasing.

“But remember, sarcasm and wit walk a very fine line. If telling jokes aren't your forte, don't. Let him do the telling.”

“What if his jokes aren't funny?”

“Always let truth be your guide. Your best bet is to react naturally and sensibly. It's all in your delivery. A gentle, lighthearted grimace can be the bridge between a bad joke and an authentic shared laugh. And sometimes it's almost better if the joke does bomb, particularly if you can gracefully pull him out of a seemingly awkward situation. Repeating what I mentioned earlier, flirting is a benevolent act. It's about making a man feel good about being a man.

“
SELL TIP
: Stay away from giggling. Giggling translates to anxiety, and you are a cool, collected weapon of mass seduction, not an eighth-grader on her first date.

“Now let's quickly go over a list of three things you should definitely avoid.

“
DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY
: The most successful flirts are those who enjoy it and can flirt without expecting anything to come of it. Leave the ‘must score' attitude at home or you risk looking desperate. Practice charming men you aren't interested in, and soon you'll be able to flirt with the one you adore and still seem casual.

“
FLIRT, DON'T TEASE
: There is a difference between innocent flirting and a full-court come-on. Avoid overtly sexual talk or touching. Be a little mysterious—show your interest by being friendly, but don't offer more than you intend to give. Consider this when you are choosing your attire for the evening. Suggestive and revealing clothing says less about you being a powerful, sensual woman and more about you being sexually available. Be clear what message you are trying to send.

“
DON'T BE UNKIND
: If someone you are not interested in approaches you, act appreciative and polite. Smile, ask his name, and thank him for coming over before gently discouraging further contact. Let him leave with his pride intact. Other men are watching to see what you do. If you laugh after he leaves or show visual disapproval, you are lessening your chances of anyone else approaching you.

“Now if you would please split into teams of six, we're going to do a little flirtatious role-playing in preparation for tonight's field trip.”

As the groups divided up and began practicing making eye contact, smiling with sincerity and listening with rapt attention, Pia excused herself. Walking down the hallway toward the ladies' room, she could feel her entire body tighten up. Tonight's activity terrified her. These past five years of sitting at the singles bar of life, sipping a no-sex cocktail, had definitely taken a toll, and what used to come so naturally now felt like speaking a foreign language.