280 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
280 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
Jonathan's Introduction to Business
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Chapter 2
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A grey Lincoln Town Car was waiting for them at the curb. The driver held
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the door for her then went around to hold it for him. She couldn't help but
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smile when he stumbled slightly as he entered the car. "Tonight we are going
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to dinner at Le Cirque, it is one of the finest restaurants in the city.
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Afterward, we may go to a party some friends of mine are having," she told
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him.
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The car drove across Central Park using the 66th Street Traverse. As they
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entered the park the white lights on the trees of "Tavern on the Green" were
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clearly visible. Shortly they arrived at the Mayfair Regent Hotel on Park
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Avenue and the driver stopped at the 61st Street entrance. As they entered the
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restaurant they were greeted by the owner, Sirio Maccione, "Ms. Simmons, its so
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nice to see you again. I have your favorite table. How was your business in
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Boston?" "Excellent. I'd like to introduce you to Jonathan Richards," she
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answered. "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Richards," he said offering his hand.
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"The pleasure is mine," Jonathan replied while firmly shaking his hand. They
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were quickly led to a banquette in the front corner of the room.
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Once seated the waiter asked if they would like something to drink. "This
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is a celebration. Let's have a bottle of Perrier-Jouet Fleure de Champagne
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1982," she ordered. "A superb choice," the waiter said. In less than a minute
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he was back with a sterling silver ice bucket and two crystal champagne
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flutes. Opening the bottle with a flourish he offered her a glass to taste.
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After holding the glass up to the light and examining the color, and the
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bubbles, she swirled the glass slowly in her hand for a few seconds. Bring the
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mouth of the glass to her nose she inhaled deeply then tasted the wine.
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"Excellent," she concluded. Filling both glasses he returned the bottle to the
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ice bucket and left them.
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"This is my favorite champagne, Jonathan. I hope you like it. Why don't
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we get to know each other somewhat better. Tell me about yourself," she asked.
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"Well, I'm ninteen years old and I just graduated from Dartmouth College,"
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he began. "I'm an only child. My father is a very busy lawyer in Des Moines.
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My mother died when I was about ten. I was raised by a series of housekeepers.
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My only other close relative is my aunt, my mother's younger sister. My aunt
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is thirty years old and I used to see her several times a year mostly at the
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holidays. She moved to New York to attend Barnard and has been here ever
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since. My father went to Dartmouth, and when I graduated high school at
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sixteen, he convinced me to follow in his footsteps," he continued as they
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sipped their champagne.
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He proceeded to tell her more about himself. He was somewhat of a loner at
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school. He was younger than his classmates but he did very well academically,
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graduating magna cum laude in only three years. Although, he got along well
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with his team mates, he did not have an active social life, since he was much
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younger. He was also the only art history major on the team. After a few
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minutes the waiter interrupted to offer them menus. Noticing that he appeared
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confused by the menu she suggested that she order for both of them. Jonathan
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quickly agreed.
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After studying the menus for several minutes she ordered ravioli stuffed
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with lobster in a saffron cream sauce, endive salads, and grilled veal chops.
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She also ordered vanilla souffles for desert. When the waiter left she
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continued to ask Jonathan about himself. "What about girlfriends?" she asked,
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"a handsome young man like you must be quite the ladies man?"
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"No one special," he answered. "Actually, I spent most of my time
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studying or running. I also liked to read a lot. On weekends I'd head
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into Boston to go to the Museum of Fine Arts. During winter session one
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year I went to London and Paris to see British Museum and the Louvre."
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"Did you find any romance in Paris," she prodded.
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"No. I didn't have time. Really, it was a busy trip. There was so
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much to see every day. I preferred going to the museums on my own, rather
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than with the group. It gave me more time to concentrate," he justified.
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"What about you? I've told you about me, but I know very little about
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you," he retorted, trying to change the subject.
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"I guess thats fair," she responded. "I'm twenty-nine years old,
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also an only child, and a graduate of Radcliffe. I didn't tell you this
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before, but I'm a very wealthy woman. My father was an investment banker
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at Morgan Stanley. When my grandfather died he took over the family
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business. My grandfather, my mothers father, an electrical engineer,
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founded a small electronics business. It is now one of the largest
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manufacturers of fiber optic equipment and military electronics in the
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country, and is still privately owned."
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The waiter, pouring the last of the Champagne, asked if they would
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like more. "No, I think we'll have a bottle of Mersault instead," she
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orderd. "When my parents died in a plane crash five years ago I inherited
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all of their stock. I own 60% of the company. Twenty-five percent is
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owned by a charitable foundation to benefit the arts, established by my
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grandfather. I am the Executive Director of that foundation. The
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remaining fifteen percent has been used to provide stock incentives for
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the company's management. Although, I Chair the Board, I let professional
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managers run the company."
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"I've been very independant all of my life. My father was a very
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busy man, and my mother was always very involved in charity work,
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especially in the arts. She used to run the foundation. I am very
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involved with the New York art community. As head of the foundation I am
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on the board of several museums, including the Museum of Modern Art. A
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number of my best friends own galleries. I also am an avid collector,
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although I keep most of my collection at my houses in Southampton and
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Maui. I particularly like to discover young talent and help develop it.
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I'm also very active with certain types of ... shall we say, performance
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art.
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The appetizer was delicious. The saffron and white wine flavored
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sauce perfectly enhanced the richness of the lobster stuffed ravioli. The
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appetizer was perfectly complemented by the golden Mersault. As they ate
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she told him about her upringing. Her stint at a private school in
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Switzerland, and the summers on the Riveria and in Paris. She especially
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remembered the Christmas vacation she spent with a classmate in
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Stuttgart.
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Her classmate's aunt, the Countess Erica von Hoffman, was an amazing
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woman. A tall stunning blonde in her early thirties at the time, she
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lived life her own way. It was the Countess who convinced her that she
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should take charge of her own destiny. Men would always try to use her,
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to get at her money. Instead she should use the power that her money and
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her beauty gave her to get what she wanted out of life. The more she
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thought about it the more sense the Countess seemed to make. Later, she
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saw how the Countess used the men in her life to fulfill her wishes. She
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spent the week following the holidays at her classmate's Chateau in
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Switzerland, where she and the Countess became close friends.
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She was interrupted by the waiter delivering their entree. The
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grilled veal chops were served with a coulis of tomato flavored with
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garlic and basil, sauteed zuchini, and roasted potato. Joan ordered a
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half bottle of Fleurie to accompany the veal.
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That Easter she was invited to spend a week with Erica at her country
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house outside Dusseldorf. There she learned how to control men and get
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from them what she wanted. "Sometime I'll tell you all about the week I
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spent with the Countess," she said concluded.
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"I now spend most of my time working for the foundation, or in some
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other way promoting the arts. I do have to attend the board meetings of
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the company, but management has things well in hand. Although I do keep a
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tight rein on the management. I also travel quite a bit."
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As they talked the waiter cleared the table and took their orders for
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coffee. It came quickly and they continued to chat as the sipped the
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coffee waiting for their desert.
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"Now why don't you tell me a little bit about your plans? How do you
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plan to go about finding a job?" she inquired.
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"Well, I haven't given it a lot of thought," he answered. "I suppose
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the first thing I should do is prepare a resume. I bought a book on
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resumes. I can write it on my aunt's personal computer. Then I'll send
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it to all the galleries and museums in the city."
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"That sounds very traditional, but may not be very effecient," she
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decided. "How are you fixed financially? Fortunately, you don't have to
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pay rent for a while, how long can you hold out?" she prodded.
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"Well, I have about $1,000 in the bank from graduation gifts and the
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like," he replied. "That should last me a couple of months."
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"It may go faster than you think. You'll probably need some new
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clothes, your not applying to a bank you know?" she responded. "And
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everything in this town is expensive. Have you given any thought to a
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temporary or part time job while you look?" she asked.
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"I hadn't thought about it," he answered, "but it may be a good
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idea," he concluded.
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"Can you type at all? Use a computer?" she inquired.
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"I type 70 words a minute, and am very familiar with computers.
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Computer Sciences was my minor, I can program mainframes, or use almost
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any personal computer," he answered.
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"Well then, I have a proposition for you. I have a number of
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projects that I'm working on at the moment for the foundation. I could
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use an assistant for the next few months. Also, occasionally, I need some
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personal errands done for me, like carrying my bags today. If you would
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agree to help me with those errands, in addition to your other duties, I
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could offer you a temporary job with the Foundation, as my personal
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assistant. It would look good on your resume. In addition, if it works
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out, I can introduce you to some of my friends in the business. I will
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also show you the ropes, so to speak. I'll pay you $500 a week. What do
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you say?" she asked.
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"Gee, that sounds terrific. I really don't know anyone here. All my
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friends say that an introduction can be so important, especially in the
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art world. I'll do anything you ask," he answered.
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"Yes, well, we'll see. Before I introduce you to any of my friends
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you'll have to show me that you can be of some use to me. I'm not going
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to reccomend someone who isn't a hard worker, and doesn't do what they are
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told. Do you understand me?" she demanded.
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"I guess so," he responded.
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"Good," she replied, "Aah, here are our souffles. Have you ever had
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one?" When he shook his head she said, "I think you'll find them quite a
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treat." In fact they were delcious.
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Jonathan ate his desert in silence as he thought about his incredible
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luck. Only in New York for four hours and he already had a job paying
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$500 a week, albeit a temporary one. He wondered what Joan would be like
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to work for. She was probably a very demanding boss he concluded, but he
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would probably learn a lot. She smiled at him across the table as he
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finished his souffle.
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She paid the check with her gold American Express card. As they rose
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to leave the owner escorted them to the door. He inquired if they had
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enjoyed the meal. "Excellent," Joan responded. "The best restaurant I've
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ever been to," Jonathan added.
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The car was waiting for them at the curb. Once inside the driver
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asked where they would like to go. "Is there any reason you can't start
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work for me tonight, Jonathan?" she asked, "There is a party I want to
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attend, but actually its a business engagement. I would like you to
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accompany me to help me with some details."
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"That's fine," he answered.
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"Take us home for now," she told the driver.
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They rode in silence as the car recrossed the park. When it pulled
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up to the curb the driver jumped out to open her door. "Wait for us," she
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told him, as they went into the building and up to her apartment.
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Chapter 3
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When they reached her apartment again she opened the door with her
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electronic key. "Why don't you have a seat in the living room. I'll call
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you when I need you," she told him. He moved to the living room and sat
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on one of the Eames chairs as she went upstairs. After a few minutes the
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built in stereo system turned on and he heard the opening strains of
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Debussy's La Mer. He felt very relaxed, somewhat drunk from all the
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champagne and wine they had at dinner, and a bit tired from his trip. He
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sat for quite some time, quietly listening to the music.
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"Could you come up here, Jonathan," she called over the intecrom.
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"Alright," he replied as he stood and walked to the stairs.
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"Lets take care of business first" she said as he walked towards
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her. Reaching for the phone she told the driver of the car to come up for
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a minute. "Raul is not only a driver, but he is also a notary", she told
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him. "I want you to read this. Its an employment contract," she told him
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as she handed him a check. "This is a check for one thousand dollars,
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your first two weeks pay. If you sign the contract and this reciept its
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yours," she told him as she handed him a pen. "If you are going to start
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working for me tonight we might as well make it official."
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He was stunned as he examined the check. It was drawn on Morgan
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Guaranty Trust, and made out to him. He then looked at the contract
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"Personal Service Contract" it was titled. He heard Raul enter the room
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as he continued to read "... Mr. Jonathan Richards agrees to provide
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personal services to Ms. Joan Simmons ... services to include, typeing,
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filing, computer programming, other office services ... and personal
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services as required by Ms. Simmons of any nature whatsoever ... failure
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to satisfactorily perform required duties, as determined by employer, to
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be punished by dedution from salary or whatever other punishment deemed
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appropriate by Ms. Simmons ... salary of $500 per week paid biweekly ...
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... hours to be determined by employer ... uniform or other dress, as
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required, to be provided by the employer ... cancellable by either party
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with 30 days prior notice .... etc."
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"What does this part about ... of any nature whatsoever... mean, and
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what is this about punishment?" he demanded.
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"That means that you will do whatever I ask. Most of your duties
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will be as an administrative assistant, sending letters, following up on
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phone calls and the like. But, sometimes I'll want you to do other things
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like pick up my laundry, run errands, or whatever needs to be done. If I
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ask you to carry my luggage at the aiport for example, or perhaps to
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vacuum the rug before an important visitor arrives, you won't claim its
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not in your job description. I will expect you to do anything I ask. Do
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you have any problems with that?" she quizzed.
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"No," he replied.
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"As to punishment, I don't intend to pay for work not done, or not
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done to my satisfaction," she answered.
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"What is this about other punishment, and what about the uniform?" he
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interrogated.
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"That gives me some flexibility. If you don't perform some project
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to my satisfaction, I don't want to have to deduct from your salary, this
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way I can find some other punishment. I won't withold anything from your
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pay unless it is absolutely necessary. As to the uniform or other dress,"
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she continued, "frankly, you dress like a slob. We'll be going to see
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very important people, attending formal parties and the like. In order to
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ensure that you don't disgrace me, I'll select clothing appropriate for
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the occasion. Since I insist on deciding what you will wear on the job,
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I'll pay for it. Does that sound fair?" she concluded.
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"I guess so. Where do I sign?" he asked.
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"Here, and here, on each of the 3 copies" she said pointing to the
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contract and the reciept. When he completed signing the documents she
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signed them. Raul then asked both of them for identification, checked it,
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and notarized the completed contract afixing his stamp.
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"Thank you Raul, please wait for us in the car," she told the
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driver. He replied by leaving.
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"Here is your executed copy, don't lose it," she said to Jonathan as
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she handed him a copy of the document. "Now you work for me," she told
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him, "Let me give you some of my ground rules. First of all, you will
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call me ma'am, or Miss Simmons in public, or Miss Joan when we are alone.
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Is that clear?"
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"Yes ma'am," he answered.
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"You will stand when in my presence unless I tell you to sit down.
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When we walk together I expect you to walk a step behind me on my left
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side. Whenever I tell you to do something I expect it done immediately
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unless you are given other instructions. Do you understand me?" she
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asked.
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"Yes, Miss Joan, I understand," he answered.
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"Good, I want to change into something more appropriate for the
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party. Please wait for me downstairs," she ordered.
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"Yes ma'am," he replied then left the room.
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He waited about fifteen minutes, then she called him again on the
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interom. He passed a large black leather tote bag on the floor as he
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walked past the door by the alcove. Her door was closed so he knocked
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before enering. She told him to come.
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As he entered the room he saw her facing him. She was transformed. She
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now wore black leather above-the-knee boots with stilleto heels, black
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silk stockings, a very short black leather mini-skirt and a red leather
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bustier that accentuated her bosom. Her raven hair was done in a wild
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mane. Ruby red lipstick and heavy eye make-up accentuated her features.
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She looked formidable.
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"Please pick up the bag in the hall and follow me," she told him.
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"Yes, ma'am" he replied as he followed her out of the room.
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The tote bag was very heavy, almost as if it was full of metal. He
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wondered what was inside as they took the elevator down to the car. Raul
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held the door for her as she got into the car. She ordered Jonathan to
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sit in the jumpseat facing her as they rode downtown to the party.
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