Uncontrolled Spin: The Power and Danger of Spin ("Un"missable Series Book 1) (15 page)

Jess moves to stand by Sean as everyone talks excitedly about the reopening of the factory. “You owe me dinner.”

Sean shakes his head incredulously. “You tricked me into the bet. You knew you had a deal before we even talked about it, didn’t you?” Jessica just nods and smiles. Sean continues, “Well, then I would be honored to buy you dinner. Well played.”

“Thank you. I’m delighted to accept your dinner invitation,” she says, then turns and explains that she will meet Carmen, Lidia, and the assigned workers at the factory Sunday morning at nine o’clock. Jessica excuses herself and Carmen so she can verify Carmen’s measurements for tomorrow’s production.

Juan interrupts before Jessica and Carmen can go to a private room and says, “I have a gift to give Carmen before everyone gets focused upon the work at hand.” Carmen looks surprised as Juan presents her with a beautiful diamond necklace. He clears his throat. “On such a special occasion as this, I could not miss the opportunity to make it truly special for the love of my life. Do you like it?” Carmen, unable to respond, cries tears of joy and hugs and passionately kisses Juan.

After Carmen’s fitting is complete, Jessica walks the staff through the design and production expectations. Everyone agrees to meet at nine o’clock the next day, and the meeting is concluded.

During the drive back to the villa, Sean and Jessica discuss their impressions of the day’s events.

Sean asks, “Why didn’t you tell me you spoke Portuguese?”

Jessica’s answer is simple. “A girl has to have some secrets.”

He makes a face. “Well, I guess so.”

“Besides,” she continues, “if you knew that, you wouldn’t have accepted my bet, and I wouldn’t be getting a free dinner. I told you my culinary desires aren’t cheap and neither is my choice of wines, although I must admit, it won’t rival your expensive taste in scotch.”

Sean nods, chuckling. “Well, I guess I’m fairly safe then.”

Jess smiles, “I’m not sure I’d go that far.” Her face then becomes very serious, and she says, “Sean, apparently this expansion is looking like it’s realistic and the details are coming together nicely, so we are going to have to make a decision on how your contract is going to fit into everything.”

Sean, looking equally serious, replies, “SGM hasn’t agreed to represent Beauty Boutique Clothing yet.”

Jessica’s mouth drops open as she gapes at him. Sean can’t maintain his straight face and begins to laugh, to which Jessica makes a disgusted sound. “Oh, Jesus, Sean, you’re such an asshole!”

Sean, still chuckling, replies, “Relax. I told you, we will structure my contract in a manner that will work for the Beauty Boutique’s budget. What that looks like, I’m not prepared to go into right now.”

Carmen tells Juan on their ride home how impressed she is with him, how beautiful the necklace is, and how gracious Jessica is to produce her first design in Brazil just for Carmen.

“Yes, it’s wonderful of her to do this for both you and me, but it is also a way for her to test the factory workers.”

“Nevertheless, if the design is as beautiful as I suspect it will be, promise me you will open all the necessary doors to ensure her time frames are met as cheaply as possible?”

Juan smiles. “Of course I will, my love, but only if you are thrilled with the finished product.” As Juan is pulling into their estate, Carmen reaches over and strokes his inner thigh upward until she reaches his crotch.

She gives it a little squeeze and says, “I think I’ll take a shower before dinner, if you don’t mind. The factory was a little bit dusty after going unused so long.”

“Of course I don’t mind,” Juan says as he walks into the living room to make himelf a drink. Carmen heads upstairs for her shower.

Juan enjoys his drink and settles into his favorite wing-backed arm chair to contemplate what this evening might have in store when his anticipation is abruptly interrupted by Carmen’s screams. Juan jumps from his chair and rushes upstairs, suspecting Carmen has found another scorpion in their bedroom, as had been the case many times before. Juan rushes into the bedroom to find Carmen holding two drinks and wearing nothing by the diamond necklace and gold stilettos.

Juan pauses momentarily, taking in the view, and then asks with a tinge of humor, “Is something wrong?”

Carmen gives him a sultry smile. “No, nothing is wrong. I just figured that was the quickest way to get you upstairs. Would you like your drink here, or would you prefer to join me in the tub?”

Juan smiles and says, “I would love to join you in the tub.”

Carmen walks seductively to him, hands him his drink, rubs his crotch long enough to sense his excitement, then says, “Good. I hoped that would be your choice.” She turns and walks toward their colossal granite bathroom.

Juan stays behind, enjoying the way Carmen’s hips sway, and when she looks over her shoulder and asks if he is coming, Juan says, “Yes. I was just taking a moment to admire the view.” Carmen giggles and bends over to undo the straps of her stilettos, observing Juan’s appreciation from between her long legs. Juan undresses and, upon entering the bathroom, finds the bubble bath has already been drawn. Carmen steps in and lounges comfortably, covered in bubbles and sipping on her drink.

He eases himself into the bathtub after her and offers a toast. “May my love and admiration for you grow each day, and may this evening hold pleasures beyond each of our wildest imaginations.”

Carmen sits forward, purposefully exposing the sparkling necklace and her breasts, and says, “I can drink to that.” She kisses him slowly and seductively, lingering long enough to feel his warm and increased breath upon her lips. The time passes quickly, spent teasing each other in the bath until the water becomes cold, and then they retire to the bed.

Juan’s attention is focused only on Carmen’s tanned body. He begins kissing her neck, and then moves to her shoulder, inching inward to seize her left breast in his mouth. His tongue finds her nipple and circles it rapidly. Carmen responds instinctively by arching her back and letting out a pleasure filled whimper that excites them both. Juan holds her nipple between his teeth and intensifies his approach by flicking the nipple with the tip of his tongue, making her squirm with pleasure. He reaches up with his right hand and cups her right breast. Pinching the nipple between his thumb and forefinger, he then begins gently twisting. Carmen’s breathing quickens and deepens, signaling her intense excitement.

After a moment, Juan’s right hand leaves her nipple and strokes the junction between her legs, causing Carmen to moan deeply when his index finger penetrates her moist, unhindered body. She begins moving her lower body in response to Juan’s caresses. He gradually begins kissing his way down her torso to her abdomen and lingers at her belly button momentarily before moving even lower at a painstakingly slow rate. Finally, Carmen feels his breath against her labia. In an aggravating gesture, Juan suddenly turns and begins kissing her inner thigh.

She makes a frustrated sound, running her fingers through his hair to guide him back to where she wants him, but he switches to the other leg and moves down to the knee, then crosses back over, positioning his body between her legs. There he remains, motionless for what seems to Carmen like an eternity before she finally feels his tongue stroke up the entire length of her eager womanhood. She grabs his head, interlacing her fingers through his hair, and Juan gives her another stroke of his tongue.

Carmen cries out, “Oh God, don’t stop!”

Juan places his hands over her hip bones and, using his thumbs, he spreads her labia and exposes her clitoris, which he attacks with his flickering tongue, causing a sweet torment that leads to a prolonged and intense orgasm.

After the waves subside a bit, Carmen pushes Juan onto his back, straddles his hips, and with one fluid motion drops down on the entire length of his shaft. Juan groans as Carmen places her palms on his chest, pushing his upper body into the mattress as she rocks back and forth on his shaft. Her desire builds quickly yet again, and her rocking becomes frantic as she explodes into another shattering orgasm. At this point, Juan can no longer be patient as his desire and need reach a fevered pitch. He throws Carmen onto her back and slams his entire manhood into her over and over again. Sensing she is close again, he continues his relentless pounding until their frenzied pants give way to audible cries, and Juan finds his release deep inside her.

He collapses on top of her and lies there as each of them catches their breath, feeling the tiny convulsions of sexual satisfaction from each other’s bodies and basking in the fact that their lovemaking surpassed both of their expectations. They doze off and on for a bit, then order a light snack to be had in bed before sleeping blissfully until the alarm goes off in time for them to make the nine o’clock appointment at the factory.

Everyone is assembled at the factory by the time Carmen and Juan arrive. Carmen is showing her personal style wearing blue jeans, a maroon silk blouse, and her stilettos from last night, along with the diamond necklace Juan had given her. Hugo and Ricardo have supplied both white and black linen, and Jessica gives Carmen the choice between the two. Carmen chooses the black linen. As the work begins, Jessica constantly checks the stitching, the measurements, and the specifications. She realizes she is pleasantly surprised by the competency the workers are displaying.

Lidia catches a stitching flaw and runs it by Jessica, who is impressed that Lidia caught something she missed. The first fitting for Carmen is extremely close to perfection. When Jessica suggests a few minor alterations to have the garment tailored for Carmen’s figure, the results are stunning. Carmen is ecstatic, Juan’s jaw drops when he sees his wife wearing the design, and Sean, Hugo, and Ricardo just applaud. Lidia and the factory staff are pleased with their work, and Jessica feels their craftsmanship is phenomenal. Carmen and Juan can’t thank Jessica enough, and Jessica can’t give enough credit to Lidia and her crew; she even praises Lidia for catching the flawed work that she missed.

Everyone leaves satisfied with the way the day has gone. Juan and Carmen have a local photographer memorialize this creation and promise Jessica her Brazilian designs will be showcased in all the right social circle. Juan speaks to Sean later, via telephone, and has him pass on to Jessica the message that the expedited governmental approval fees will not exceed fifty thousand U.S. dollars, which Sean knows is well below normal standards, probably because of how well Carmen was treated. Sean congratulates Jessica on her extremely successful business maneuvers, and they share a toast in celebration of a job well done.

CHAPTER 12

GO BIG OR GO HOME

T
uesday morning, Jessica enters Beauty Boutique Clothing’s offices in San Francisco at nine o’clock sharp to find Nate and her senior staff eagerly waiting to hear about her trip. She begins briefing everyone on how well the two new designs she took with her were received. She explains all about her negotiations with Ricardo, Lidia, Juan, and Sean, and gives a blow-by-blow of testing the factory workers with the production of Carmen’s outfit and receiving rave reviews. She explains to her senior production staff the quality of the factory, its equipment, and the potential of available, well-trained local workers. Several production and quality control department heads appear concerned, and they question Jessica about their need to relocate to Brazil. She recognizes their concern and unspoken questions, which cause her to explain in further detail.

“First, let me assure all of you that no one will be required to relocate to Brazil, and that each of you is secure in your job here, in San Francisco. For some, it may be necessary to spend time, perhaps two or three months, at the new factory to ensure production is set up and moving along correctly. However, based on my observations of the displaced Nike factory workers’ production skills, my expectation is that all the difficulties can be resolved in less than a year, with our international operation being on its own within that time frame, should the Beauty Boutique choose to undertake this expansion.”