Chapter TWELVE

 
Once again Tylan wakes up and it’s dark, the only difference this time is that there is no love note from Genai and the room clearly isn’t his living room. He sits up and tries to get his bearings.
“Where the hell am I?”
“I brought you home drunk, this is my house.”
Tylan slowly turned to acknowledge the voice.
“Thanks and I will repay you for this in any way I can. What is your name? I hope I was not a complete oaf.”
“Torina. I don’t need repayment, I had a goal and I will achieve it eventually. Now, let’s get some food into you and some coffee.”
Torina made her way to the kitchen.
Tylan shrugged and stood up slowly to follow her. He glanced at the clock on the wall and it said 11 p.m.
He sat down at the breakfast table and watched as Torina prepared him something to eat. It was quick and simple. The percolator was bubbling and then it clicked. She poured him a cup and set it down with the sandwich.
 
“Thank you Torina. Now tell me, what is your goal? To get me into bed and then sue me for sexual harassment?”
“Actually no, that’s too much work and speaking of work, I would like a job.”
“Doing what?” Tylan took a sip of his coffee.
“PR and Marketing. Your product has become boring again, for about six months, I saw your lines everywhere and now, nothing.”
“So you think you can create a buzz once again?”
“Yes I can, just give me the chance.”
“While I eat my sandwich, make your pitch.” Tylan took up his sandwich and began to eat.
“You need a new designer, someone who is young, with old ideas. Styles are repeated, they would be able to take some of the old styles and create fantastic pieces. Men’s clothes are becoming too feminine. I like my men looking rugged, Construction boots and plaid shirts, dark colours. No capris, no skin tight jeans, no man bags. I hate that stuff. The women’s line should be soft pastel colours, full length dresses with bold flowers.”
Tylan swallowed the last of his sandwich, took a napkin and wiped his mouth. He flopped back into the chair and stared at the strange woman.
“Take me back to my car, I will speak to my team and if they agree, I will hire you for one month on a trial basis, if it works out, I will keep you on as one of my employees.”
“Fair enough, are you sure you won’t use my idea and get rich and never even acknowledge my input?”
“My parents taught me however I treat people will reflect on me, if they ill-treat me that is on them and my conscience would be clear. I appreciate you taking care of me but I have to go.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“No, you already know the answer since the letter I carried in my pocket is no longer there, hand it over.”
“I’m sorry but you mumbled her name so much in the last few hours and I had to search your pockets to find out who you were.” She walked over to the counter, picked up the letter and handed it to him.”
Tylan took it and closed his hand around it.
“She refused me the first time I asked and I have never told her this but no one refuses me and I fell in love with her and my respect for her will always be one hundred percent. She is the only woman I will ever love, she is carrying my child and I am not man enough to own up to my responsibilities. She does not hate me, and no matter what, there will never be anyone like her. Don’t get any ideas, I am not interested in a relationship. She ruined it for everyone. Now, take me back to my car please. I will let you know of my decision by midday tomorrow.”
“You promise?”
“Your lack of confidence is evident. I promise I will take your idea into consideration and make the best decision.”
“Thank you, come on.”
 
Torina drove back to Tylan’s car and he got out. He dug into his pocket for the key and unlocked the car.
 
“I will follow you home.”
He did just that. He waited until she pulled into her driveway, got out and went inside. She waved to him from the window.
 
“Interesting girl.” He muttered to himself.
 
The next day he put Torina’s idea to his team and they loved it. He called her to give her the news.
“Torina speaking, how may I help?”
“Torina Mendoza, this is Tylan Vincenzo.”
“How did you get my number?”
“If that is your biggest concern, this conversation ends here.”
“Fine. What did your team decide?”
“Your contract will be ready in an hour, my team and I will meet with you at 2pm for lunch.”
“Thank you.”
“See you in a bit.”
Tylan hung up and smiled. Torina was average and she dressed nice but his loins didn’t fire up when he was near her. The first day he set eyes on Genai, he stood at the window talking to her because he was so turned on by her wit. He knew he affected her when she turned him down and he understood why.
At 1:30pm sharp, Torina entered the foyer of M-Studios. She went to the receptionist and waited her turn.
“Hello madam can I assist you?”
“Yes, I have a 2oclock appointment with Mr. Vincenzo.”
“Torina Mendoza?”
“Yes please.”
“Go through that door on your right and when you reach the elevators push the 3rd floor and someone will be there to greet you.”
“Thank you have a good day.”
 
Torina stepped into the elevator and a container full of butterflies shoved her back onto the partition.
She took deep breaths to calm herself and when the elevator dinged, the doors opened and her stomach took two nose dives.
The third floor of M-Studios was epic. It actually looked like a movie set. There were cloth samples, photographers, models, flat screen televisions, projectors, the works. Each section was separated by a floor to ceiling wall and there were no doors. As she stood waiting, a nicely dressed lady came up to her.
“Good morning Torina, this way please.”
Torina followed without a sound, her head turning this way and that trying to take in everything. She was so caught up that she walked right into Tylan’s arms with a smack.
“Pay attention Torina, you don’t want to get hurt your first day on the job. Come, lunch is ready and my team is waiting for you.”
 
Tylan lead her to a conference room and already seated and eating were 15 people all dressed in jeans and polos shirts with M-Studios on the breast pocket.
She was shown to her seat and a lady asked her what would she like to eat.
“Everything.”
“Oh gosh I love her already.” One man responded.
“Down Aldo, she just got here.” Another man said.
Torina blushed.
“Ooh she blushes, how cute.”
“Alright guys, don’t scare the new girl. One lady laughed.
 
“As you can see my team is not on their best behavior, try not to let them get to you.” Tylan said softly but with a hint of mischief in his eyes.
A plate with everything from the table was put in front of her and after she said thank you, she began to eat.
“While you eat, I will make introductions from left to right we have Aldo, Lia, Gianni, Gianna, Francesca, Omero, Chiara, Cosimo, Durante, Alisso, Laila, Agostino, Calvino, Amata and Leora. They are all skilled in graphic design, marketing, advertising, promotion, fashion design, accounting and human resources. All of them are under 40 years old and have been with the company from as early as 18, around the time I started. They know me, I know them and that’s the way we like it. The secretary assigned to this team is Marianna, she greeted you at the elevator. Cari, is serving the food at the moment but she is our fitness instructor and health consultant.”
 
The others grinned, giggled and made small talk. When Torina was finished, Cari took her plate and placed with the others. Then both she and Marianna sat at the table.
“Now Torina the floor is yours.”
Torina, began talking about her idea in full detail from the actual designs to the colours, fabrics and the method if reaching the public and keeping their attention, When she was finished she took a chance and told the truth.
“I have a confession, I know nothing about the fashion industry, I can’t draw to save my life and I would not know how to prepare a marketing plan. What I do know is that I have been a consumer all my life, from electronics to food and I know what appeals to me as a woman. I listen to people on buses, trains, at dinner or lunch, I see what they wear, use and recommend. I don’t consider myself an expert and I hope that I can learn from the best.”
Aldo spoke up.
“Right so when do we start, I can’t handle all this talking, I can have the designs by the time we are ready for dinner, how many we talking, fifty?”
“Get going Aldo.” Tylan said with a lopsided smile.
Aldo got up, stuck out his hand to Torina, shook it and left the area but went to his section.
“I will have the contract ready for you to sing in fifteen minutes Torina, wait here.” Marianna got up and went to her section.
Chiara and Cosimo, stood up.
“We will be back with the fabric samples.”
All the others got up said what they were going to do and left to go to their sections.
 
Torina sat in silence, she could not believe her good luck. Tylan reached out and touched her hand.
“Nervous?”
“Can you tell?”
“I totally understand and I applaud your honesty. Now, I have some expectations from you. You are to conduct yourself in an appropriate manner at all times and this sounds hypocritical coming from me but I have already made my mark, I can sit down at home and I will make millions every week. Do not tarnish your reputation. If there is anything you need just ask and I will do my best to help. Do not steal from me, I have great lawyers. If you do not agree with something while working with my team, say so when asked. Now there is one thing I must insist on.”
“What is that?”
“Your health.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You are overweight and if you feel insulted you should leave now.”
Torina’s mouth opened wide and the tears filled her eyes.
“I do not have time to soft soap anyone who works for me. This industry is cruel and if you want to make it you have to stay on top of your game. I am not asking you to lose weight because of some issue I have with fat people, I am telling you to speak with Cari and get a health plan and physical training. I won’t have you keeling over from poor eating habits or heart attack. Your life is about to get extremely busy. Stop crying Torina, the others will tear me to shreds. They love your ideas, they don’t care how you look but they will agree with me on this.”
Just as if on cue, Aldo and Chiara came back.
“Oh gosh boss, did you give her the health talk?”
Torina nodded slowly.
“Wanna hear a joke Torina? I was twice your size. I was pissed when he told me what he expected me to do. I thought he was just another son of a bitch who was too handsome for his own good.”
“I am too handsome.” Tylan laughed.
Chiara groaned.
“Look Torina, most of us have health issues and we don’t need to compound them by carrying around extra weight. We all went through the health talk and none of us regret it. It will be very hard at first but Cari is great at what she does, she hollers when you lapse and she praises when you achieve your target goals which by the way is not to lose weight, you goal is to be healthy and the weight will come off so fast you won’t realise it until someone tells you how much sexier you look.”
“You think I’m sexy?”
“Girl sexiness is a mind thing, you wear clothes to suit your size and you aren’t sloppy, of course I think you are sexy, you need to think so too.” He winked at her and left.
Marianna came back with the documents to sign. Torina asked questions, Tylan answered and when she signed the papers, she cried.
“Come now, Time to celebrate. We are schedule to have dinner at my father’s restaurant. I will take you home to change.”