CHAPTER 2: THE INTERVIEW
Jacob Collins sat in the firm's conference that served as a 'war room' for formulating a strategy for new clients and major projects but was also a real conference room for the Monday morning update and planning meetings he held with the three salesmen that rounded out the firm. He was blessed with working with three of the best and hardest working people he had ever encountered. Of course, as also being their father, he felt blessed that he could honestly say he had their devotion and loyalty, too. His sons felt similarly, though. He had always been a demanding but devoted and loving father who held the family together by example.
His sons, Matt, Caleb, and Terrell, were 31, 29, and 28 years old respectively. All four men were deeply black, strong in physique and will, and proud of who they were in business and as a family.
Jacob had just finished reporting on their new client, what would be required to satisfy them, and what it could mean to the firm down the road. He had saved this topic for the end of the meeting because he knew what was about to happen when he brought up his proposal to them. And the proposal had a direct connection to the new client. The boys were professionals, though, and he leaned back in his chair to allow the questions and discussion to flow and lead to his proposal.
It took some time to work through the meat and potatoes of the client's company, needs, demands, and culture. Then, Caleb asked the question.
"That all sounds great, dad. It's all manageable with our usual devotion to details and communication and service. What you haven't mentioned, though, is how did this turn around? Friday, it sounded like they might have loved our presentation and references but they weren't really sold on pulling representation away from the guy they currently have. Or, I should say had." They all laughed. But as they all sat at the round table, the three younger men focused on their father. Caleb had merely been the one to ask what they all had been wondering.
Jacob smiled at them. Now was the time for his proposal. A proposal to change their lives and, in some ways, how they could do business. Over the weekend it sank into him as he roamed the big house alone. Since his wife, the boys' mother, died nearly 10 years ago, he had turned his life energy into the firm. It seemed the only thing he could do to ease the pain of loss. Again, he was blessed to have boys who understood, even helped by driving their focus into the firm, too. But released in that weekend that though he might not ever love someone like that again, he was reminded of how sex, just the act, energized him. The focus on the firm had limited his boys, too. And that wasn't fair. He couldn't find them someone to love, but ...
"You're right, Friday didn't look good but I had a dinner planned and I pushed forward with it." He paused. This was outrageous, but it had worked once. "I'll be honest, guys, what happened had little to do with anything I said, promised, or assured. It was luck, a lucky happenstance." He looked at each of them and wondered what they were going to think about their old man. "Let me tell you an interesting story ..."
* * * *
Thursday night and Jean and Toni were home finishing the dishes after dinner when Jean's cell phone chimes. She wipes her hands on the dishtowel and checks the screen. An unknown number but despite the increasing occurrence of spam calls, she answers, anyway. "Hello?"
"Jean Evans?"
"Yes, who's calling, please?"
"Jean, this is Jacob Collins. You probably don't remember my name but ... remember last Friday night? With your daughter?"
"Oh my God! How did you get this number? I don't want any trouble because of that. Don't you dare try to hurt us and God help you if you try to hurt my girl!"
"Jean ... Jean? Please, Jean, let me explain. I don't mean to cause you or your daughter any trouble. Just the opposite in fact if you could give me a few minutes."
Jean asked if she could put the call on speaker since Toni was standing right there. He then went on to recount what Jean had confided in while waiting for Toni to arrive. That they both just like sex and that she focused on nice hotel bars to find businessmen who would be respectful and not present any expectations beyond the night. He also exuded praise for both of them, that they were both respectful, caring, and very, very sexy. Jean smiled across the phone at Toni who wiggled her eyebrows.
Jacob continued, "What you two don't know is that you made me a lot of money that night. I thought I had lost that client but the chance meeting with you two changed his mind. He called me the next morning before boarding his plane to tell me he decided to give my firm a try. And, I quote, 'If that night is any indication of the service provided, the arrangement will be very profitable for both.' Over the weekend, it caused me to think." He paused and they could hear him take a breath before continuing. "I want to propose an idea that has you two working for us. I'm going to be upfront here. You said you like sex and that is what I propose. You would have secretarial positions with secretarial duties but ..."
Jean finished his statement, "... but there will also be sex involved. We're not whores, Jacob."
"I don't want to imply that. My three sons and I make up the firm, a sales firm. Our arrangement of sex will be among us ... in the office and maybe out but only by your acceptance. This wouldn't be forced or dominant ... anything like that. I didn't see anything submissive about you, Jean. What I saw was a couple of women who really like sex."
Toni put her hand over her mouth to cover her giggling. Jean tried to shush her, then, "You're saying both of us. We'd be your ..."
Toni blurted out, "your office sluts."
"Well ... I guess it could be worded that way, yes, Toni."
Jean was trying to hold some level of decorum. "Can I ask how far along are you in this thinking?"
