AWO14. – Introducing Lana
Anne was in the fashionable reception at Excelsivor at seven sharp. On Ms. Sommers' request she had dressed much more conservatively than at their first meeting. She had selected her most formal secretary suit, one especially chosen for her by her goddess Jean the day she started her part- time job. She sported a dark grey knee- length textured skirt and jacket, a white blouse with a thin golden chain which hung smartly from the opening. Golden brown middle high- heeled shoes with matching colour on handbag and belt completed the enchanting image.
She had to admit she felt a little ridiculous every time she dressed this way, but on the other hand it was no doubt that she had better start getting used to it. It would be an important part of her role as a perfect service girl for the type of clients that formed Jean's prime target group. The service girl that could do
anything
to perfection!
And conservative was definitely a key word in Ms. Sommers' vocabulary as well. Anne's heart almost skipped a beat as the lady appeared out of the elevator at the opposite side, accompanied by a young, very good-looking girl.
She could see them gesticulate for a moment, and then stop to look around. The older woman soon spotted her, and the two of them started walking over on high, clicking heels. It was a huge roomy reception area with marble pillars, glass ceilings and walls, and enormous chandeliers with twisted sculptures hanging down from silvery- sparkling wires. All of this amplified the clicking of the approaching heels to a loud, 'packed' sounding echo that added to the almost cathedral- like acoustic of the place. Until it was abruptly broken as the two approaching women suddenly stepped onto the soft carpet over at the reception lounge.
Anne rose to hug and kiss her new clients. Ms. Sommers' perfume was as exciting and ladylike as ever, heavy and sweet somehow, in complete contrast to Anne's gentle aroma. As she had grown used to the scent of the maturity that was filling her life these days, it was almost like a shock to be in close contact with a person – a body and personality - of just a little more than her own age. Different posture, different movements, different scents. Sure she had a lot of 'ordinary' girlfriends with whom she was quite close on a daily basis. But in this setting it was different! All completely different!
Ms. Sommers had a grey, conservative suit with thin vertical stripes in a little lighter grey tone. She wore her jacket, which was the same tone as her suit with the buttons fastened down over a thin white shirt and a discreet tie. The effect did very little to conceal the shapely swell of her mature breasts and Anne wondered if that was her intention. The skirt reached to her knees, and sat perfectly over her hips and bottom. Belt, handbag and arm ring had matching nuances of brown, and the high- healed shoes finished it all off with a deep brown- reddish colour. She used a light read almost pinkish rouge on her cheeks, a colour that even matched that of the rim of her glasses. The glasses made her eyes look even bigger and prettier than last time.
Like at their first meeting she had her hair set up in her voluminous curly fashion, with stray lock elegantly hanging down in her neck and forehead.
The young girl at her side had quite a different appearance. She wore a light cotton skirt and summer jacket with a light- red pinkish tee shirt underneath. She had her mother's blond hair colour, but had it sleekly hanging down on her shoulders with a part in the front. Even her eyes had the same deep- brown colour. Her skin was incredibly soft and quite tanned, revealing her as a person who also cared a lot about her appearance.
"Anne dear. This is my dear daughter Lana. Lana, this is Anne Thornton, the girl I've told you so much about."
The girl looked at her with a friendly but slightly critical expression on her face. Like she really wasn't sure about what she saw. Not even the slightest sign of nervousness or uncertainty in eyes or body language! Just some kind of a somewhat bored politeness.
Her mother broke in before the situation got embarrassing.
"I thought we could sit down a little and have a small chat before we do anything else."
She waved a hand elegantly over her shoulder. "I reserved a table here in the corner for a lemonade or a beer or whatever you'd like, if it's okay with you!?"
"Fine" the two girls answered at exactly the same moment. The small giggling that followed eased the tension a bit as they moved over to the table. On the way they came out on the marble floor, and the intense clicking of heels immediately filled Anne's ears again. The cathedral effect was almost a little disturbing. After all this
definitely
wasn't a monastery reception!!
"By the way!" Ms. Sommers smiled at Anne, "I never presented myself properly to you, dear. My name is Lauren, and I hope you don't mind calling me that from now on. Okay?!"
Anne just nodded and smiled back. "Of course... Lauren!"
They came over to a discrete table at the corner. Lauren and her daughter sat down on one side and Anne opposite to them.
The two girls each had a coke. Anne noted that Ms. Sommers ordered some kind of brandy for herself. It didn't show in any way, but Anne still sensed that the lady probably was a little nervous after all.
"I know you've met Bridget Ellisby. She is a very good friend of mine, and she actually was the one to tip me of Ms. Alden's concept in the first place. And she never misses an oportunity to tell me that I owe her for that one!" Lauren smiled knowingly as she crossed her legs with an elegant movement.
"I must say that Ms. Alden's strategy of using the jungle drums to spread the word of her business has been extraordinary successful. Cheap and extremely efficient, right?!?" Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And girls like you make it all happen. You and your young girlfriends make her a very wealthy woman!"
Ann froze for a moment as she understood what the woman was getting at. She said it with a voice and a body language that took some of the 'edge' out of it, though. More like she wanted to remind her about what she actually was getting herself involved in. Still she felt they had been talking this thoroughly through during their first meeting, so there really shouldn't be any reason to bring it up on a broad basis again now. And especially not if she was planning to involve her daughter in one way or another.
Then the woman straightened up a little bit before she continued.
"Our first meeting together last week got me thinking. I could see the frankness in your eyes that told me that you were serious about what you're doing. I like to think that I can judge these things quite well after so many years in my business. So, as far as I'm concerned, you're not in any way exploited or pressed into any of this. Not more than usual I mean. We all have to do something to strive and survive, don't we?"
She smiled warmly, and then looked over at her daughter.
"Lana here is 21. I love her very much, and would like to do anything in order to help her do the right things in her life."
Immediately the girl jumped up against her.
"Mum
please
! Don't start that again. You told me this was going to be a pleasant surprise, not another one of your lectures!"
Lauren raised her hands.