Jasmine returned to the trade show floor and began networking and subtly learning about Herb and his company. She had him committed to using her as a vendor, and she was aware that this was going to literally double the size of her billings, but she needed to make sure that his commitment would stick. He'd already tried once to backtrack, and while she was knew she had him right now, she was determined that he wouldn't second guess this.
She learned that his company was stable and that Herb had a reputation for being a good COO but that he focused more on the numbers than the people. She had sensed this seeing as how shy he'd been with her on both the day they met and this morning in her room.
He'd literally asked, actually practically begged, if she would play with him! "How cute," she thought.
Finally, she met some other employees from his company, and she began earnestly learning about Herb. The guys were more than willing to talk to her, and they described Herb as a nerd, pencil-pusher or worse. They teased that he was desperate for a girlfriend but that he couldn't talk around women. They even mentioned that his administrative assistant had resigned several months ago and that he hadn't replaced her. The joke was that he couldn't talk to a woman long enough to interview her without stammering and getting flustered.
Some of the women she talked to agreed, and some even said they enjoyed teasing him a bit but that was all. No one knew of a wife, girlfriend, or even of him dating anyone.
Jasmine was deciding her next move when she noticed a woman, younger than herself, sort of hanging out in the back of the booth. This woman was trim, appeared plain, but had attractive features. She wore little makeup and kept her hair in a ponytail. She wore an olive green dress, buttons up the front, with a navy belt and flat shoes.
She watched this woman and realized what she was doing. The woman, whose nametag read "Julie", would stay away from the front of the booth, allowing the, frankly, prettier girls to absorb the "come ons" and rude comments from some of the trade show attendees, but then she'd move up and pull the serious looking quiet guys to the side and give a talk about her company.
"Good instincts," Jasmine thought, as she approached her.
Jasmine introduced herself and asked if she was free to take a walk.
Julie looked puzzled maybe intrigued, but commented that she really was supposed to stick around the booth.
Noticing Julie's worn purse, a Kate Spade, Jasmine replied that she understood, but she added, "Look, I know this sounds odd, but I have an idea to discuss that could be worth both our time. I'll make you a deal, stroll with me to the hotel lobby. I noticed a Kate Spade store there. I'll buy you a new purse just for listening to my idea. If you're not interested, keep the purse and come back here. If you decide you want to hear more, we'll have lunch."
Julie was hooked, told some people in the booth she'd be back, and she and Jasmine began their walk.
"So," Jasmine began, "I met with Herb earlier and convinced him to sign up with my company. But I'll need a contact near him to make sure he doesn't waffle and try to get out of it."
"That doesn't sound ethical, I mean, I work for the same company, at least for now." Julie replied.
Jasmine filed away the "At least for now comment," and continued, "Oh no, trust me this is nothing unethical; in fact, if you agree to do this for me, we'll meet with Herb, and he'll give you his blessing."
"Oh really, well what do you have in mind?" Julie asked.
"We'll get to that, but first, I need to know some things about you," Jasmine responded. "Let's start with who you are and how you ended up here. And please be thorough and honest."
"It's a pretty boring story," Julie answered. "I grew up middle class with a brother and my father. I was smart enough, but my mom wasn't around, so I never fit in with the girls. Never learned fashion or makeup, so I never really fit in. Then I went to college on scholarship and ended up as an intern here."
"And what's next?" Jasmine asked.
"That's a good question," Julie answered. "The internship ends next month, and I guess I'll look for a job."
"That explains the 'for now' comment," Jasmine thought.
"Would you like to stay with your current company?" she asked.
"Sure, I guess, but they've made it clear that they're probably not keeping any of us interns, and if they did, I probably wouldn't be one." Julie answered.
"That's surprising," Jasmine commented, "I watched you back in the booth, and you read people, you knew who to approach and who to let slide by."
"But they want the cheerleader, pretty ones and that's not me. And what I did was easy." Julie explained.
"No, it's not," Jasmine corrected. "And believe me, you can be one of the pretty ones, probably the prettiest. I can help with that, if you'd like."
"Really, why would you?" Julie asked.
They had reached the Kate Spade store, and Jasmine instructed the sales woman that Julie was picking out a purse. Julie looked at several, and then the prices, and said to Jasmine, "These are priced too high; you don't have to this."
"Of course I do, we have a deal, now which is your favorite?" she asked.
"Well, this one's amazing," she tentatively said, holding up a mid-size black one.
Jasmine looked at the clerk and informed her that she'd take it. She followed to the register and pulled out Herb's wallet and swiped his American Express card.
As they left the store Jasmine assumed that Julie would stay with her and not return to the booth, so she began walking towards the other stores.
"Boyfriends?" Jasmine said.
"What?" Julie replied.
"Any boyfriends, anybody in your life right now?" Jasmine clarified.
"Oh," Julie answered, realizing they were back in interview mode. "No, I mean I've had a couple, but nothing serious, and nothing now."
"Good," Jasmine said, "They can complicate things."
Julie laughed and realized that she was beginning to like Jasmine.
"Sex?" Jasmine asked.
"What!?" Julie was shocked this time.
Jasmine smiled, "Yes that was a bit abrupt. I'm sorry. I was asking if you like sex, have it regularly, and frankly, your experience level."
"I don't think..." Julie started to answer.
Jasmine sat on a bench in the corridor between some shops and motioned for Julie to join her.
"I'm not asking you to have sex, dear," Jasmine calmly explained. "I'm asking if you'd like a, well to be in a position, to use sex to get what you want."
"You mean like an escort?" Julie asked, "No, I'm not inter..."
Jasmine interrupted, "No, Julie, not as an escort. You will remain 100% in control at all times, you will decide if, when and how often you have sex, should you decide to. And, if you never want to, you never will."
"But, and despite your confession of not having a woman around, I think you know that you can get guys to do things for you by behaving certain ways, right?" She concluded.
"Well, yes," Julie blushed, "But just silly things from time to time."
"Julie, dear, it works for not so silly things, too." Jasmine explained.
"Now, how much do you want to make when your internship is over?" she asked.
Julie gave her a number, and Jasmine smiled, "Julie, I can get you double that."
Julie replied, "Really?"
"Easily," Jasmine assured her, "And we can get it done today, if you'd like."
Julie was sold. "Ok, I'm up for that."
Let me give you an example, "Would you have sex with Herb, or give Herb oral or even a handjob for that much money? But that would be with your terms and conditions, not his."
Julie asked, "How?"
"Let's talk while we shop," Jasmine countered.
Jasmine took Julie around the shopping area and purchased her some new dresses, skirts, tops and especially lingerie. Jasmine put all of this on Herb's American Express, even adding a few things for herself. Then they stopped at a salon, and Julie learned some new makeup techniques and ways to style her hair.
