Chapter 1: The Assignment
As Dee pulled the envelope from the mailbox, the return address told her this was the letter she had been waiting for. She quickly opened it and read:
Dear Miss Ellis:
Congratulations, MPRSS Advertising Inc. wants to invite you to participate in a final interview for employment. Final interviews are granted to a select few applicants. To become a MPRSS representative requires a superior level of sophistication and we here at MPRSS feel that you have such qualifications. MPRSS is very selective in hiring new sales representatives. Our compensation packages are very lucrative and one has to be a very special person to be brought on board at MPRSS
The final interview involves participation in an advertising sales meeting in Lake Tahoe this weekend. You will be an active participant in activities that potentially could land MPRSS a sizable amount of new business.
Enclosed is a plane ticket to Reno, Nevada. You will be met at the airport by a representative of MPRSS just prior to your departure.
Remember, you are considered to be a candidate with tremendous potential. Yet, in the business world, it is results that count. Your performance will allow us to make a final decision on your employment. I wish you good luck and look forward to welcoming you into the MPRSS family.
Sincerely,
Ren Mirditch, President
MPRSS Advertising, Inc.
Dee's best friend and sorority sister, Jill Eck, had been working with MPRSS for the past couple of years and had used her influence to get Dee this job interview. She phoned Jill to see if she could tell her anything more about the upcoming interview. Jill's response was vague and encouraging, yet, it didn't tell her too much. Dee became more apprehensive as the weekend approached.
Dee Ellis was in her last semester at Nuke University and she was hoping that this would be the last interview in her job search. She had worked part time with MPRSS Advertising during her last two years at Nuke. She had even "unofficially" indulged in providing sexual favor on many weekend job assignments, assuming that this activity was encouraged and viewed favorably by MPRSS. In fact the part time money she earned was almost enough to finance her education.
The final interview letter was not the final job offer that she had hoped for. She was left with more questions than answers. Who will she meet at the airport? What will be expected on the trip? Would sex appeal and charm be expected of a new employee? Was her part time work too promiscuous? Did she jeopardize her chances of being hired? The more she thought about it, the more confused she got.
Finally, Thursday afternoon arrived. Dee had gotten herself checked-in at the airport and was checked through to the boarding gate. Still no one from MPRSS had made contact with her. Then suddenly, she saw that familiar face coming down the escalator.
As Dee and Jill recognized each other they quickly embraced and exchanged greetings.
Exasperated Dee proclaimed, "I was hoping it would be you. I'm so relieved and I have so many questions."
Jill explained that she was not free to answer her questions on the phone as company policy prohibits details of sale negotiations. Jill went on to explain that she would provide Dee with more detail on the flight over to Reno.
Dee could hardly contain her suspense. "I am dying of curiosity."
After the flight took off, Jill began by saying that, "MPRSS is pursuing a new client and we are meeting two of the executives responsible for their advertising campaign this weekend. The client happens to be The San Francisco Prospectors.
"The football team," Dee asked?
"Oh yes!" Jill replied, "We will be meeting Jack Strong and Dan Powers. Jack is the Director of Sales and Advertising and Dan is Vice President of the entire organization. Dan is working with Jack this year as part of his training. The important thing to know about Dan is that he is the son of Joe Don Powers, the owner of the Prospectors. Dan is being groomed to run the entire operation when Joe Don retires."
Dee interrupted, "Be honest with me Jill, what role will we play this weekend."
Jill began, "OK Dee, I will lay it all out for you in plain English. MPRESS wants us to close the deal and they don't specify how. Frankly, I'm going to get my brains screwed out this weekend. I have been working on this account for over a year and Jack and I have got all of the details worked out. The only thing left to do is get Dan to sign the contract. You will hold private meetings with Dan. It is up to you to use whatever means you are comfortable with to get the job done.
The reason you are being considered for this job is that they asked me to recommend someone that could assist me in closing this deal. Without hesitation I asked them to hire you. Ren's response was that it would be contingent upon us closing the Prospector deal this weekend. I know this might put a lot of pressure on you but I would not have recommended you for the job if I had any doubts."
Dee interrupted, "Do you really think I can influence such a high level executive like Dan? What if he doesn't like me?"
Jill paused... smiled... and then said, "He's just a human being like you and I. He has a great personality and he will like you...no doubt. Don't underrate yourself... you are beautiful. You radiate more class and sophistication than you know.
Furthermore, I need a confidant, an associate, a running mate. I need someone who is comfortable with their sexuality and secure in using it. Remember the lessons Trish Adams taught us at Nu Chi.
I am constantly being asked to make referrals for friends of our clients. You would be brand new at this for awhile. All of the MPRSS sales representatives work in pairs when selling new accounts. I'm the new kid on the block and you are being brought in as my new associate. I know you will do a good job, after all, this is what we trained for at Nu Chi."
Dee sat in silence for a moment reflecting on everything Jill had said. Her eyes brightened and a wry smile appeared on her face. "I had a feeling that sex would be involved this weekend."
"I hope you are OK with that? You and Matt haven't gone into that `one man – one woman – love forever' mode, have you?"
"Oh no, Matt knows the score."
Jill laughed and said, it is not much different from the good ole college days, except the pay is much better. You can say that we got more than one education in college. Do you think you are ready for your final interview?"
"Oh yes, I'm ready," was Dee's reply, "That boyfriend of mine has been at the Olympic trials and I haven't had any in over a two weeks. I'm pretty much ready to get laid but you have to tell me a little more about Dan and Jack."
"OK," said Jill, "Let me tell you about my man Jack first. MPRSS was aware that the Prospector account would be up for bid this year. They gave me...the new kid...the task of persuading them to let us bid on their account. I don't think Ren, our President, felt as though we had a serious chance of arresting the account from Elite. Elite Advertising has been handling their account for the last ten years.