Victor's doorbell rang. He opened to a Polynesian beauty with almond eyes, thick straight black hair and all the right contours in all the right places. She was dressed in a woman's business suit. She handed Victor an envelope and said "This is my letter of introduction." Victor opened the letter and read:
To: Victor, Senior Pageant Trainer
From: Ms. Smith, Chairwoman, Total Woman Pageants Board of Directors
Subject: Fiona, Miss Fiji, Contestant for Miss Pacifica
The bearer of this communique is Fiona, the current Miss Fiji. She is a candidate for this year's Miss Pacifica. She has won her local and island-wide contests and is gifted with intelligence and beauty. She speaks adequate English. Total Woman Pageants has been retained by her benefactor to perfect her in every way in order to outclass the competition in the upcoming pageant.
You are at liberty to use any and all means and methods necessary to instill in her the arts and skills demanded both onstage and backstage to win a world class beauty pageant. Please afford her the FULL range of your specialized tutoring. However, if at any time, you find this candidate to be reluctant or recalcitrant, feel free to return her to us without any regret or further obligation. She and her benefactor have been briefed on these terms and conditions and both have agreed in writing.
This Board, her benefactor and especially the pageant judges will truly appreciate your upmost attention to refining her abilities. As always, we thank you for favoring us with your valuable time and labors.
Victor folded the letter and looked over his latest charge. She was standing with eyes down, waiting his instructions or dismissal. He stepped out, waved the limousine driver on his way and carried her valises into the studio reception. Returning to the entrance, he ushered the woman inside, closed and locked the door and resigned himself to another long grueling week of work.
Victor led Fiona through the studio to the outdoor pool. The deck stretched half round and the remaining circumference was surfaced with white sand, simulating a seaside beach. Fiona was dressed in grey wool well-tailored woman's business suit set off by a flowered patterned blouse and white strappy high heels. The blouse and jackets collars were very open, displaying bounteous cleavage. Her attire was a coordinated combination of business, leisure and 'come hither'. Victor seated her under a table and umbrella at the boundary of deck and sand. He offered her refreshments and she picked at them nervously.
"Miss Fiji, were you born there?"
"Yes, my mother is a Fijian mix of native and Indian. My father is a Chinese businessman: fisheries, a tourist resort, even a small gold mine."
"How did you get started in the pageants?"
"I used to hang out at the resort. I loved watching the nightly shows: meke dancing, fire dances and the hula. The hula is not a native dance but the foreign guests didn't know and expected that as part of the show. The dancers taught me to dance when I was a little girl and I performed in early evening sometimes. Late at night the dances became very risquΓ©. I didn't know that until I was older. After I finished Business College, I became a part-time regular. That was when I was allowed to dance late at night. It was sensuous and exciting. I got to know many boyfriends, both locals and tourists. I also followed the regular dancers to the beauty pageants. I was lucky and won some. But I need training to become a true competitor. Will you help me?"
"That's why you and I are here. We will tune you up this whole week. For now, get your luggage to the guest suite and we will have dinner at eight. Dress is formal."
Fiona seemed to relax. She went inside to prepare. Victor liked her already. There was something about her that got him going. He almost regretted the need for her first test tonight. But his methods were honed from years of experience and what must be must be.