Chapter 26

Laura was up early the next morning. She hadn't slept well. She felt something was wrong, but couldn't place it. All she knew was there was something bad coming.

Cara and Ami were next up, bright eyed and eager to go back to Joanne's salon for a trim and more work on their calluses.

Cara sensed Laura's mood and asked, "What's bothering you, Laura?"

"I don't know, Cara. Something's wrong, I can just feel it."

"That's what Todd and I said last night," said Ami. "It's like there's something out of place. We haven't figured it out yet either."

The girls got the vitamins out and the 'go-juice.' Laura scrambled up a dozen eggs and fried up a slab of the turkey bacon that Kelly liked so much. The smell of the food wafting through the house woke up Kelly and Todd.

"Toast, anyone?" asked Kelly.

"Uh, uh," said Ami. "Protein for us, no carbs!"

Kelly sat down as Laura served up eggs and bacon for everyone, while Cara sliced up four large beefsteak tomatoes. Ami poured the orange juice.

After eating in relative silence, Kelly asked, "Is it just me or is everybody acting a little funny this morning?"

Todd didn't want to worry Kelly needlessly, so he said, "I guess I'm preoccupied with the meeting with Steve later on."

Ami knew better, but understood that all they had were feelings. "I think Cara and I are getting psyched for the shoot," she said.

Kelly didn't believe it for a second, but they must have their reasons, she thought. She'd corner Cara later and bring it up again.

Laura and the girls had a laughing good time at Joanne's. As one of the girls worked at Ami's feet, scrubbing away more layers of calluses, it became apparent that she was ticklish. Cara planned to put that news to good use!

After having worn down two complete pumice stones, Joanne had done a follow up waxing on Cara and Ami, this time doing their underarms as well, and then had suggested that she be allowed to adjust their haircuts before they left. Both Cara and Ami readily agreed and even agreed to having their eyebrows waxed.

Joanne was hoping that more TKO business would come her way.

At the girls' request, Laura took them back to the deli downtown for another hot pastrami on freshly baked rye bread. Lots of mustard dripped from each sandwich and the girls ate nearly a plate full of baby dill pickles with it. They finished lunch with an iced French vanilla cappuccino.

Next, Laura drove the girls to the Bank of America on US Highway 29 North where they signed the papers for their new accounts and debit cards. Laura had her own account at another branch of the same bank, and knew that with the fifty branches and all the ATMs around Charlotte, getting cash was never a problem. Then they headed back to the studio to meet up with Kelly and Todd.

Kelly and Todd had spent the better part of the morning in conference with Steve. There was the matter of the contracts for Vanetta and Robert to have drawn up. Then it would be up to them to sign at either Steve's office or with a lawyer of their choice. Through Steve, they transferred enough money to keep the new non-profit entertainment company afloat for the next two years. Steve was impressed with Robert's self written contract request. He advised Todd and Kelly that they could save money by transferring the entire amount for the new enterprise all in one shot, allowing interest to grow on it for the two years, and then surprised them by saying he and his partner would be the first contributors to the project to start it on the third year. Steve's father was in a long-term care facility due to an early onset of Alzheimer's disease, and so Steve knew the frustration of seeing patients in nursing homes relegated to television as entertainment. When they asked about the amount he and his partner were donating through the law firm, he shrugged it off and said that it was a small price to pay for doing something good. Yes, it was tax deductible, and he and his partner would be sure to pass the word on to their other clients as well.

"I wish I had thought of something like this," Steve said. "The entertainment on its own is fantastic, but having school kids visiting the seniors. I love it! We'll strongly advise our clients to donate."

They settled on a salary for Vanetta of $120,000 for the first year with a bonus of three and a half percent of the net profit. Future raises would be dependent on performance. Steve thought the figure was a bit high, but Todd and Kelly reminded him that Vanetta was basically running the operation now, she had the education, and more importantly, they trusted her.

"Now the tricky part, Steve," Todd said. "We're getting married and we need civil contracts that will allow us to sign for each other in the event of something happening."

"If you get married," Steve said, "you won't need any contracts. It'll be covered by law."

Kelly laughed. "Todd's going to be a bigamist, Steve. He's marrying two of us, and that isn't legal. We need something of a spousal equivalent."

Steve's eyebrows shot up. "You're marrying Kelly and who?" he asked.

"Kelly and Laura," Todd answered.

"You are one lucky man," Steve said. "But I think we could still get away with it legally if you're willing to keep it quiet. You could marry Kelly in one country and marry Laura in another. Since neither can claim they didn't know about it before hand, all they can do is ask for a divorce in the future. No real legal harm or risk."

"That would probably work, Steve," said Kelly, "and I do appreciate your input, but this is going to be a true three way wedding. I'm marrying Laura as well, and we know how the law stands on gay marriage."

Steve let out a low whistle.

"Shocked, Steve?" Kelly asked with a smile.

"Maybe just a little," he said, "where are you guys planning to get married like this? I can't see this happening anywhere on US soil."

Todd laughed this time. "You're right, Steve, it won't be on land at all. We're getting married in international waters where no country rules defining marriage apply."

"Are you sending out invitations?" Steve asked.

"Why?" asked Kelly. "Would you and Melanie come?"

"Damn right we would!" he said.

Kelly laughed and said she would consider it. It was still nearly two months away.

"I guess while we're here," said Todd, we might as well get a tenant contract put together for the new apartment complex. And one for the management of it."

"You aren't going to use the same company you've been using?" Steve asked.

"No," said Todd. "They were okay for the houses we had, but they're gone now. We don't need anyone for the industrial buildings or storage buildings since that all goes directly to you or our accountant, but we want a family to live in the complex. Somebody that can be there 24 hours a day in case one of the tenants needs something."

"Okay," Steve said. "And if I know you two, you've already got somebody in mind."

Kelly smiled. "We do, but I think we should leave the names off the contract so that it looks like we might offer it to somebody else if the family we hope takes it is hesitant. We don't want them to think we're offering this as charity. Lord knows, it's going to take some real work!"

"Just give me the information and I'll send over a copy later this afternoon," Steve said.

Kelly laid out the cost for the rental of "Muriel's Place."

"It's set up as an 80 unit building," Kelly said. "The top floors are all two bedroom units. Rent on those will be $750 a month, but that includes utilities and basic cable. The ground floor is single bedroom apartments except for the manager's apartment. The builder was a smart man. He created a three-bedroom luxury apartment right across from the entrance and the common room. The common room is big enough to hold 100 people and has a separate kitchen and two washrooms. I think it was originally designed for family gatherings, and maybe the odd wedding reception, but it will be perfect for the seniors who want to spend time with friends to play cards or watch TV together. Maybe a few pot luck dinners so that they can get a break from their own cooking. We fully intend to have a tenants' committee. Rent on the single bedroom units is $700. We have ten single bedroom apartments that have been modified for wheel chair access and ten two bedroom apartments set up the same way. There are two elevators in the building, so no one has to walk up and down the stairs."

"As to the management fees," Todd said, "we've basically agreed to go by the rental income. We figure the family that takes this on can do the minor repairs and they can either delegate the cleaning, just vacuuming the hallways, cleaning the glass doors, and sweeping the steps, or can subcontract it. The same for the lawn maintenance and parking lot. In exchange, they will get free living quarters, all-inclusive utilities and standard cable free plus 10% of the rental income. That's about $6,000 a month the way we figured it with full occupancy."

"It's a very generous amount for the work involved," said Steve. "The apartment for the managing family would cost close to one thousand right off the bat. So you want the name left blank so that it looks like a regular management contract offer, right?"

"You got it," said Todd.

"I wonder if these people know how generous you two really are," said Steve. "Okay, it's pretty straight forward. I should have a contract template on file that I can use and email to you this afternoon. Now, are there any more surprises I need to know about?" he asked with a smile.

"Not yet," said Kelly with a laugh, "but the day's not over either!"

Kelly and Todd took Steve out to lunch after they had confirmed all the work they required, and then headed back to the studio.

Vanetta was still working out the final details on her proposal for Kelly and Todd. What had originally started off as a challenge for Vanetta to prove she could put together a one time modeling contract to bring Kelly out of retirement had turned into a logistical nightmare. Kelly would not allow herself to be associated with any products she didn't believe in, and that removed most of the major magazines since they wanted to sell ad space to whichever client had the largest advertising budget.

But, she had done it. She had convinced Fit Pregnancy International to add eight pages to their monthly edition, rather than displace other advertising. The publisher and chief editor were originally amused at her proposal, stating they sold their pages on ad rates of $1400 per page per 10,000 copies, and that their current guaranteed circulation was 280,000 subscribers plus 200,000 newsstand sales. They tried to tell her that just a single page would cost her 70,000 dollars.

Vanetta had sighed and reminded them that newsstand sales were not guaranteed; therefore it would only cost her less than 40 thousand.

The publisher started to take Vanetta more seriously. This girl knew the business. "But, Ms. Clarke, you are still talking 8 pages, which is 320 thousand dollars a month. Surely you don't have that kind of money on hand," said Lisa Greenwood.

"Ms. Greenwood, how much I have on hand is irrelevant. I am the president of TKO Inc. My models have appeared in your magazine dozens of times for your other advertisers. If you aren't interested in discussing this in realistic terms, we should end this call now, and I will move on to my next call."

"Please accept my apologies, Ms. Clarke," Lisa Greenwood said. "We were taken off guard by your... unique request."

Vanetta laughed. "What you're trying to politely say is that you thought I was out of my mind, but no apologies are necessary. I've been working at TKO for some time now and I understand marketing and advertising better than most of your regular clients because we provide the talent for them. What I am proposing is more of a co-op venture."

"You certainly have my attention, Ms. Clarke," said Lisa, "but as a rule, we generally shy away from co-ops. Though I am interested in what you have to offer."

Vanetta spent the next hour explaining in detail the need for eight back-to-back pages starting with the first available right hand page. Lisa's attention peaked the minute Vanetta told her the project would run for 16 months, and was impressed that Vanetta knew about the rule of eight of magazine expansion. Even more impressed when she heard that Vanetta already had a complete group of advertisers lined up ready to pay for their products to be showcased by Kelly and that Todd would be the photographer. Yes, Lisa knew who Todd and Kelly were. Who in the industry didn't?

Vanetta explained that TKO would write their own copy, subject to oversight by the magazine's editorial staff, and that advertising pictures would be supplied in complete layouts, all done by Todd and the various companies including one of the largest diamond companies in the world. Johan had been very interested.

"So you see, Lisa," said Vanetta, "there is very little cost to you other than page layout and editing of the progress. Since I brought the advertisers, I expect the sales commission to go to our company and modeling fees as well as photographer and writer's fees. I think you will find us to be much less expensive than your regular staff, and you will have no overhead."

"I must say, Vanetta, may I call you that?" Lisa asked.

"By all means, Lisa," said Vanetta. "If we are going to discuss millions of dollars, we should be on a first name basis."

Lisa laughed. "I agree 100%. Obviously you've figured out that adding four pages to the magazine won't affect weight by much, and by adding pages instead of taking out a page of advertising, the cost will be considerably less. Especially on a long term commitment."

"That was what I had in mind," said Vanetta. "The upside for you is a top drawer model willing to be photographed right through her pregnancy and the first eight months after. According to my calculations, we are talking five million, one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, which would be a tidy sum for your magazine on its own, but I am bringing in clients who have never advertised with you before, and if handled right, they could stay with you after the project is complete."

"And," said Lisa, "as a running documentary style story, we might increase readership and subscriptions as well."

"I might even go so far as to suggest that you take the entire project after completion and print it as a separate bonus for new subscribers," Vanetta said.

"Now that's an interesting idea. Normally we couldn't afford a model of Kelly's standing. There aren't that many top models or celebrities who would consider being showcased in our magazine. Contrary to TV news, there aren't that many pregnant, and those willing to be photographed want top dollar."

"I know what you mean, Lisa," said Vanetta. "A few magazines offered well over a million dollars for a chance at this, but Kelly refuses to have any product associated with her that she does not personally use. She is very adamant about this which reinforces the product value."

"And aside from printing the extra pages and copy editing, what is it you would like for us to do?" Lisa asked.

Vanetta laughed. "Why, the fun stuff of course, Lisa. We know the ad clients are more than capable and willing to pay, but the advertising contracts should be handled through your office along with the billing etcetera. I will draw up a contract for all those who want a part of this, and forward it to you with the advertisers. And you will pay TKO on a monthly basis for 16 months."

"And you already know how much you want as your percentage, I assume?"

"But of course," said Vanetta. "I did my homework very carefully," she added with a laugh. "Your sales reps earn 30% of all ad revenue. Your editorial staff earns an average of eighty cents a word for articles under 1,000 words. There are bonuses for bringing in new clients and more bonuses for yearlong contracts. Based on the benefits for your magazine, and the work we will provide in the way of services plus the model, I think that 40% would be a reasonable and equitable sum, don't you agree, Lisa?"

It was Lisa's turn to laugh. "And how much will your advertisers pay?"

"Full rate based on my word of 300,000 circulation. I convinced them you would easily sell that many more subscriptions in the first month Kelly appears," Vanetta said.

"Based on the photographs you emailed me, and, with the understanding we can use Kelly for at least four covers starting with the first month," Lisa said, "I would agree with you. Will we be able to use one of these for our first edition?"

"That's why I sent the ones I did," laughed Vanetta. "As a magazine for expectant mothers, you have a bit more leeway with the implied nudity issue. Nothing is showing that shouldn't be, and we believe a woman should celebrate her body during pregnancy."

"I must say, Vanetta. Some of these companies... we've tried for years to get their business. I hope sales for all of them increase because of this project so we can convince them to stay afterwards. Especially the vitamin company," said Lisa.

"I'm quite certain that sales will increase, Lisa. Kelly is positively glowing, and these are not high priced products. All your readers will be able to afford the same."

"So," said Lisa, "I'm doing my own calculations right now. At full rate, for eight pages, it will generate three hundred and thirty-six thousand a month in ad revenue. That means every month I will be writing a check to TKO for one hundred and thirty-four thousand four hundred. Two million one hundred and fifty thousand, and four hundred dollars over the course of the next 16 months. Is that the figure you came up with Vanetta?"

"That's what my calculator reads as well," said Vanetta, "so, when would you like to sign the paperwork, Lisa? I can have our company lawyer draw it up and send it to you."

Lisa knew she was getting a hell of a deal on her end, and thanked God that Vanetta had contacted her first. Kelly's insistence on only being sponsored by products she herself used might have caused some flack for Cosmo or Vanity Fair, and Lisa could see where the major housekeeping magazines would chafe at the bit being told they couldn't insert their own ads, much the same way parenting magazines would quibble. But for Fit Pregnancy, an additional eight pages with fresh ads would really help their circulation. Lisa was really impressed with the way Vanetta had planned out all the details right to an unheard of ad content of less than 40%, all of it including pictures of Kelly using the products. To have snared Todd Ayres as the photographer was an added bonus and Vanetta's idea of combining the resulting 128 pages into a bonus magazine for new subscribers was fantastic.

"Vanetta," said Lisa after a short silence, "why don't you bring all the paperwork yourself to our office. We can make a day of it, go out for the evening and let our legal beagles check to see that all the Is are dotted and the Ts crossed."

Hmmm... A flight out to California. "I could get used to this," thought Vanetta.

"I'm afraid I'm booked solid for the rest of the week," said Vanetta, "next week is pretty busy as well, but... how about I fly out on Sunday? Then you can buy me lunch and I can fly out Tuesday. I'm sure the office can get along without me for a day and a half."

"Excellent," said Lisa, who was anxious to meet this powerful woman who could put together such an irresistible package deal. "Email me the time your plane arrives and I will have you picked up at the airport."

"Thanks, Lisa. I'll do that," said Vanetta. "I look forward to meeting you in person." After she hung the phone, Vanetta thought, "IF I can just get Kelly to accept the proposal now!"

After lunch, everyone trickled back into the studio where Vanetta was muttering as she crunched some final numbers and added the figures to the document on her computer.

"She's really taking this all very seriously, isn't she?" said Kelly.

"I have no doubt of that," said Todd. "How about it, Vanetta? Got something for Kelly to see yet?"

"Just ten more minutes, then I want both of you and your undivided attention!"

"Yes, Boss," said Todd with a laugh.

While Cara and Ami discussed their morning's adventure courtesy of Laura, Kelly sat back with an ice-cold bottle of mineral water, and lit her first cigarette of the day.

"Sounds like the three of you had a good time," said Kelly.

"It was great," said Cara. "We signed the papers for our bank accounts, then we saw the money you guys put in there to start us off. Thank you for that," she said blushing.

"Well that means we can start transferring all your earnings into the account now," said Kelly. "Did you get debit cards? It's so much better than cash."

"Yes, we did," said Ami. "But Cara's not telling you the really interesting news," she said with a smirk.

"What's the really interesting news?" Kelly asked.

"At Joanne's, Cara got her nipple pierced!" said Ami.

A second of shocked silence was immediately followed by an indignant, "I did NOT!"

"Did too!"

"Did NOT!"

"Did too!"

"Did NOT!"

"Prove it!"

Without a second's hesitation, Cara pulled up her T-shirt and bra in one motion showing everybody she had not had her nipple pierced. Then as she realized she had been had, she lowered her bra and T-shirt, blushing as everyone laughed.

"Gotcha!" said Ami.

"Yeah, well next time, we'll see who gets who!" said Cara.

"Todd," said Vanetta as she entered the kitchenette. "Mom said somebody was looking for you but didn't want to be seen. She called while you guys were out. I don't understand it, but you know Mom."

"That explains it," said Todd to Ami.

"It's not a good thing," said Laura. "I don't know what it is, but I get a really bad feeling about this."

"A gray Buick," said Todd. "That's what was wrong with the picture yesterday, Ami. I saw it when I was van shopping with Rob. I think I saw it near Kelly's one night."

"I saw it across the road yesterday," said Ami. "I didn't think anything of it, I mean, it's just another old car to me, but it caught my attention because it had really dark tinted windows."

"That's the one," said Todd.

"Laura," said Kelly. "Should we be worried?"

"I'm not sure," said Laura. "I don't think it's a physical danger, but it disturbed my sleep last night and woke me up early this morning. It's something bad, and it's coming soon."

"Well, let's just all keep our eyes open," said Todd. "Maybe we can figure out who or what it is. Forewarned is forearmed."

"Right," said Kelly. "We'll deal with it when it arrives. Now, Vanetta, do you want our undivided attention now?"

"Yes," said Vanetta. "If you two can pry yourselves away for a minute, I have some documents I need you to approve."

"My, but she's getting positively bossy, isn't she, Darling?" said Kelly as she and Todd followed Vanetta back to the office area.

"Okay," said Vanetta as she handed them both a three-page document. "I know you said I could give this a try, and if you didn't have to endorse any products you would consider modeling again for the baby," she said. "At first, I thought it was a hopeless cause because I was thinking only of one magazine, but the really big name magazines just wanted pictures of you to put next to advertising and Kelly, I knew that you wouldn't go for that. So... I came up with a different approach and I have what I think is the best deal I could ever put together for both of you."

"Both of us?" Todd asked.

"Yes, Todd, both of you," Vanetta said.

"I've worked it all out on a 16 month schedule, which means that you never need to leave the studio and you only need to pose for Todd once a month. In exchange for that, and your willingness to show your happy pregnant body as it is now, and to the point where you are all toned up again, along with pictures of you and the baby, this is what I put together."

"Fit Pregnancy International will pay just over two million dollars. This is for the model, the photographer, and the writer of your progress. I think you said you wanted Laura to do that. The vitamin company that makes most of your capsules will pay one hundred and fifty thousand for the right to use the magazine pictures as posters in health food stores, plus they will supply you with all the vitamins you can use for the 16 months. The prune juice people will not only supply you with enough juice to drown all of Charlotte, but for a picture of you holding a glass of prune juice, based on the magazine spread and your endorsement of prune juice, will pay seventy five thousand. I have a similar offer from the company that makes the milled flax seed, but that one is just for fifty thousand."

Kelly's eyes grew a bit wider. Vanetta had her full attention now.

"Evian wasn't interested, but the company that makes the mineral water you do drink sure was, and they offered a two year supply for your household, and another fifty thousand. All of these companies are also paying for ads in Fit," Vanetta added. "The extra money is just for the right to promote your good health in publicity posters."