Victor sipped his drink as he waited for the show to start. His fawning hostess chattered endlessly about the song and dance group set to perform. The young woman vying for his approval of her discovery had been one of Victor's former protΓ©gΓ©s and she knew first hand of his uncanny proclivity for spying green talent and turning it into red-hot stage idols. His record of success with beauty contestants, such as herself, was unparalleled. She hoped he would see some innate value in her discovery and revamp these performers' entertainment careers.
Victor just hoped he could stay awake during this promised favor. Then he could collect on his hostess's promised night of intimate gratitude.
The group for tonight's audition was a has-been KPop group called "The Cuties". Years before, they had achieved some success as a four-girl pop-singing group, wearing daring schoolgirl and cheerleader outfits on stage, dancing, singing and twerking their butts to flash their panties at the teenage boys that made up the bulk of their fans. For a while they even had a hit number titled "Under the Bleachers".
But as they aged past their teens and their college studies became more demanding, they continued performing, but only part-time, with diminishing success. An attempted recommencement after graduation was a non-starter. The bookings were scant and their finances dwindled. They reluctantly took employment as ordinary office girls, with all of the misogynous baggage that accompanied that career path. The iniquitous atmosphere was worsened when their coworkers discovered the suggestive onstage exhibitions, living forever as internet videos.
Then the former lead singer followed up on a rumor of a pageant coach with huge success in the beauty contest arena. Taking a shot, with nothing to lose, she tracked down a beauty contestant acquaintance, who upon hearing her story, agreed to make the introductions.
Now Victor was attending this small venue performance, enticed by the prospect of the quickie reunion with his unforgettable beauty contestant alumni. He was anxious for the show to begin, and then quickly end, so he could get on with her pledged hookup.
But as the show unfolded, he was intrigued and inspired by what he saw. The 'Cuties' had potential, but not in the mass public arena. Their costumes were dowdy and outdated for their ages; the flashy and flirtatious gestures absurdly overdone. Victor envisioned the potential for the 'Cuties' to pursue the more lucrative venue of elite adult entertainment.
He let his hostess arrange an after-show meet and greet that evolved into a scheduled interview style meeting for the next day. Favor fulfilled, Victor led the beauty queen hostess back to his hotel suite so she could deliver her 'royal' quittance.
At the interview meeting, Victor inquired of their history and current circumstances. He asked if they were primed to abandon their trifling business careers and do whatever it took to thrive in the exciting world of live entertainment. Without hesitation, they all said 'Yes'.
He offered them a one month crash course in special audience satisfaction. As was his usual terms, he demanded complete obedience to his signature hands-on training regimen. He assured their safety and welfare.
Their mutual beauty queen acquaintance, noticeably more worn and weary since yesterday, endorsed and vouched for Victor's assurances. The girls again agreed to his terms and prepared for travel to his exclusive training center. The private jet deposited them at a secluded compound outside an innocuous city.
Victor started out the rebranding by renaming the group "The Reds". He gave them new stage names: Scarlett, Rose, Ruby and Cherry.
They continued the schoolgirl and cheerleader outfits, but modified for a more adult seductive look: shorter skirts with long legs mounted on strappy heels replacing the sox and sneakers, form fitted tops with pushup cleavage and belly exposing tied blouses.
They incorporated new makeup and accessories: brilliant red lipstick and nail polish with rosier tones for feminine areas exposed by inevitable costume malfunctions. Hanging red earbobs, red beaded wrist and ankle bracelets, red velvet chokers and red book bags or pompoms, whichever the routine required.
Dressed for success, the next step was motion and notion. Victor rendered on-stage coaching and direction, physically man-handling them during rehearsals to get them quickly past any inhibitions.