John Hansen, Charlie Wentworth's photographic assistant, was surprised when he was told he had a phone call. Nobody ever called him at the studio.
"Hello."
"Hi Johnny, it's Nicole."
"Hi what's up?"
"I wanted to tell you that I've decided to start my own place and I was hoping you'd tell Charlie and put in a good word for me."
"I'll be glad to try, but I'm not sure I have a lot of influence."
"I'll appreciate it if you'd try."
"Okay, I'll let you know what he says."
"Great, thanks, bye."
"Bye."
*****
A couple of days later Johnny gave a Nicole a call.
"Hi kid. I talked to Charlie and he said to come in and he'd like to talk to you."
"Oh, Johnny thank you."
"That's okay, but just so you know he didn't promise anything."
"I know, but at least I can make my pitch."
"Okay, he said to come in around 10:00 tomorrow, if you can be there."
"Oh, I'll be there alright. Thanks so much."
"That's okay, maybe I'll see you then."
"I'll make a point of it. Bye,"
"Bye."
*****
The next day Nicole showed up at the studio almost a half-hour early.
She and Johnny were chatting when Charlie appeared.
"Hi Nicole. Can I tear her away from you John?"
"You know you can."
She and Charlie retired to his conference room.
"Sit down Nicole, John tells me you're going to go into business for yourself."
"Yessir, Mr Wentworth."
"'Mr Wentworth will work on the set, but I'd rather you call me 'Charlie' in private."
"Okay, I'll try Mr... er, I mean Charlie."
"As someone who has started my own place not so long ago I've got some questions for you and maybe some advice."
"Oh, I would appreciate any advice you might have for me."
"Let me ask you a question. How much money do you have to open your place?"
"Well, I have about $10,000.00 of savings and I can probably get about the same amount from my parents, if I had to."
"My first piece of advice is don't borrow money from relatives, especially if they don't charge you any interest. They will think that they own you and can run your life. And not just your professional life. I also think ten thousand dollars is not nearly enough money. I know you don't have to buy a lot of expensive photo equipment, like I did, but I still think you will need at least four or five times that."
"Well, I've applied for a loan at three different banks, but none were very impressed by my business plan, but I don't think they really understand advertising as a business."
"Well, I've talked to your former boss, Madam Bouvet, and she speaks very highly of you. I've worked with her for years and I think that her endorsement is better than any business plan. Here's what I'd like to do for you: First, I have a two or three day fashion shoot coming up in a week or two and I'd like to hire you as a stylist and a makeup artist. Do you think you can handle the job?"
"Oh, yes! When can we talk about what you want?"
"As soon as I know more, I'll give you a call. Do you have a card?" She rummaged through her purse and gave him a business card she had had printed just the other day.
"I don't have an office yet, but I have an answering machine and I check it frequently."
"Okay, I think there are a number things you need to do as quickly as possible. Here's what I'm going to do to make it possible.
I'm going to extend you a line of credit up to $80,000.00 so that you only have to borrow what you need at the moment. I expect you to be responsible with it, but there are no restrictions on how you spend it. I'm going to charge you interest at what will be a fair rate. I'm going to have my lawyer, who is also a CPA, draw up a loan agreement and I suggest you retain a lawyer as well and have him look it over, before you sign it, but I'm sure we'll be able work out a deal."
"Oh Charlie, that's unbelievable, but why?"
"Because Madam Bouvet is retiring and I need a good replacement. It is a business arrangement. I like you and I think you'll do a good job. I expect to be repaid on time and in full, but we'll work all those details later."
"Oh I'll work hard not to disappoint you."
"I'm sure you will. A few other things: This is between you and me. I'm sure you will have to tell John, but only tell him in general terms, no specifics. And no one else. Clear?"
"Clear."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
About a week later, after both attorneys had given the okay, Nicole and Charlie met at his studio to sign their loan agreement and after they were alone Charlie said, "I know I said no restrictions, but I am going to offer you some more advice."
"That's fine, there is a difference between advice and interference."
"The first thing I think you ought to do is have a graphic designer design a logo and business cards and letterhead. You are going to deal, to a great degree, with creative people and they will appreciate a well thought out design. If you need names I can give you some and don't be afraid to ask to see samples of their work."
"I have a couple in mind and I'll pick a good one."
"Good girl. Also, you ought to get an office as soon as you can. Working out of your apartment and using an answering machine may work for a while, but at some point that will become awkward and you may lose some work if you don't have a dedicated spot."
"Check. Madam Bouvet offered to turn over the lease on her place to me. It would mean I wouldn't have the expense of fixing a place of my own, but I figured she might feel like she could stop in anytime and also people, clients and models, might not realize this was an entirely new operation. Do you think that was the right move?"
"Absolutely and for those very reasons. Good call!"
"Any other advice?"
"One more thing: Don't do work on spec. If you want to do work gratis, or at a reduced rate, that's fine, but don't fall for the line about doing the job for nothing and then when they sell it they'll pay you big time. It may not be as big a problem in your line of work, but I get that bull shit, sorry about that, all the time and it almost never works out. I just won't do it any more."
"Anything else?"
"Only, good luck and as soon as I know more about the job I mentioned, I'll let you know. Oh, one more thing. I don't know what you and John have going on, but you have to leave it elsewhere when we're working. Understood?"
"Understood Charl..." she cleared her throat, "I mean Mr. Wentworth."
"You're gonna do just fine," he said grinning broadly. "I do have one question for you. Is that French accent of Madam Bouvet for real?"
Now it was Nicole's turn to grin. "Her name isn't Isabelle Bouvet, it's Betty Przybyszewskishe and she has a New Joisey accent that won't quit. When she gets upset she swears like a sailor. But you didn't hear it from me."
"I suspected as much."
As she started to leave, she stopped and turned to him. "Charlie do you think we could ever ..."
"Ever what?"
"Oh nothing, just forget it. I was just wondering ... Never mind it was a bad idea."
No, go ahead. I've often wondered the same thing."
"What? You don't know what I was thinking."
"I think I do, and I've fantasized about the two of us doing it too."
"Charlie!!"
"I think we could get away with it if we were careful. Do you want to try sometime?"
"In the worse way, but you're so careful to keep your personal life separate from your work that I didn't think you'd want to, you know ..."
"I've violated that rule several times," he said, winking at her.
"Let me guess. Ursula Johannessen. I thought there was a little something going on there."
"Along with at least one other."
"And who might that be?"
"I don't think I care to disclose that information."
"I've always wanted to experience a black one."
"I hear that a lot."
"Do you really think we could get away with it?"
"Like I said, if we're careful. I'll figure out when I think we can best get away with it and let you know. Ursula is going out of town for couple of days on Tuesday. I'll see if the stars align then "