There is one problem with being well off and that is losing it all and becoming broke, which almost happened to my husband and I.
My husband James could loosely be called an inventor, he comes up with clever ideas, patents them and then negotiates with companies that may be interested. So far he had done extremely well and we were able to live in a plush house in Epping, two garages and a long sweeping driveway and of course my favourite the swimming pool. The most luxurious pool you could ever find, during the winter the roof could be electronically closed so no matter how bad the weather was it could still be used.
James and I were both the same age twenty-eight we had struck it rich at an early age which gave us loads of time to enjoy the wealth. As a person James was a bit of a prude, he hated woman swearing and even more detested men swearing in front of woman. We enjoyed sex but it was pretty standard which suited us both, as we were so much in love with each other.
Over the past three weeks James had been in negotiations with a paint company to supply them with paint cans with a built in stirrer set in the lid. This allowed people to stir prior to opening the paint can to avoid spilling it over the edge and the arduous task of searching for pieces of wood to do it.
James arrived home just after 1pm a massive smile on his face and a bottle of champagne clutched in his hand, I could see by his excitement that the deal had been signed.
Over the next couple of months James purchased a factory to produce the cans, we ploughed every penny we had into the venture including mortgaging the house. The contract meant that in only six months we would start making a return on our investment.
The storm clouds arrived one Tuesday morning when the paint company rang to tell James that they could not proceed with the business deal. It seemed that an American company had already patented it in the States albeit under a different name and where now taking legal action to stop the paint company marketing the new idea. They informed him that the legal process could take anything up to two years and therefore the new cans would have to be put on hold.
For what seemed like hours we sat dumbfounded by this news, until James telephoned his financial advisor to come over right away to try and find a solution to what was now a zero cash flow.
"What is our current financial situation?" requested James as he fidgeted on the sofa.
"It's not good, as it stands you have just over Β£10,000 left in the bank. You are going to have to pay the workers off and if you want to keep going you have the mortgage of both properties to pay. In simple terms unless you can raise an income of at least Β£10,000 per month within five weeks you're totally broke." Edward explained this in very succinct terms leaving us in no doubt the seriousness of the situation.
"Where the hell can I find that sort of money each month!" shouted James now looking very dejected.
"Look I only have one suggestion and I know you won't like it and that's to declare yourselves bankrupt," stated Edward.
"No way, if I do that I won't be able to have a business for years to come, no one will want to touch me ever again," said James his voice beginning to quiver.
"I got a client who deals with artistic magazines, they pay well for photo sessions," said Edward slightly tongue in cheek.
James blew up, "you mean pornography, you suggesting my wife poses for dirty magazines. Get out and don't ever come here again your fired."
Edward packed his briefcase and left without saying another word, while James continued to stomp around the room trying to calm down.
James's depression got worse over the rest of the week, I couldn't bare to see him so shattered so I decided to at least talk to him about Edwards idea. At first he would have none of it but after a couple of days he agreed that there was no harm just making enquires into it, so he contacted Edward to get the contact number and within twenty-four hours we were sitting in the offices of Beyond.
"So what your saying is that for every nude shoot I do I'll get Β£500 and if it appears in any major publication that's doubled?" I enquired.
"That's about it, but as I said initially there will probably be four or five a week but sometimes it gets quiet," said the owner.
"Alright give us twenty-four hours to discuss it and we'll let you know tomorrow," said James.
All the way home James was very quiet, I knew he did not want me to do it and to be honest neither did I but something had to be done to maintain our standard of living.
By the next morning James asked me if I minded doing it, obviously under the circumstances I had to say no and we made another appointment to see the guy who we later learned was called Stewart.
"We have agreed to go for the deal you offered us," said James, "however I will be Susan's manager and will sit in on every shoot," he continued.
"That's fine, I have no problem with that at all. But before I can get you to exchange contracts I'd like Susan to remove all of her clothes," said Stewart quite nonchalantly.
"Why I asked," as I looked at James and then Stewart.
"Quite simply there would be no point me offering you a contract and the first shoot you go to there's a big wart or something on your body, it just wouldn't be acceptable."