Down On My Knees (9 page)
Authors: Victor McGlothin
10
Convictions and Contradictions
S
itting around the conference table were seven of the top executives from 100 Grand sports drink, all anxiously awaiting what Grace had taken it upon herself to produce at her own expense. She'd met with Patrik, the temperamental director, and the budding superstar Allen Foray, and then scripted a twenty-second television commercial with serious intentions of commandeering the beverage company's thirty-million-dollarmarketing campaign. Grace's boss, Ted Lansford,sat nervously and fidgeted because he'd not been given the privilege of previewing the strategy which could double profits for Pinnacle Marketing, the firm he'd built from the ground up. Furthermore, Grace made Ted promise her a partnership if 100 Grand bought in on her idea.
itting around the conference table were seven of the top executives from 100 Grand sports drink, all anxiously awaiting what Grace had taken it upon herself to produce at her own expense. She'd met with Patrik, the temperamental director, and the budding superstar Allen Foray, and then scripted a twenty-second television commercial with serious intentions of commandeering the beverage company's thirty-million-dollarmarketing campaign. Grace's boss, Ted Lansford,sat nervously and fidgeted because he'd not been given the privilege of previewing the strategy which could double profits for Pinnacle Marketing, the firm he'd built from the ground up. Furthermore, Grace made Ted promise her a partnership if 100 Grand bought in on her idea.
With all eyes on Grace, she composed herself to hit the ground running. She wore her best-fitting business suit, a Donna Karan gray flannel ensemble tailored in the European tradition and cut high in the waist. She stood, smiled assuredlyat Ted, and then started in with her idea of acquiring a sizable piece of a growing industry.
“Gentlemen and lady,” Grace began, with a wink to the only other female in attendance, “I'm glad that you've agreed to take this meeting with us, and I'm certain that it will be time well spent. As you all know, the sports-beverage industry has enjoyed tremendous growth in the past decade, with no apparent reason for that trend to decline. When I learned that you were looking for a firm to usher your new product into the competitive arena, I lay awake at night thinkingabout the perfect pitch. I came up with a gem.” Grace felt a little sorry for Ted, still antsy beyond belief as she pressed the remote control to close the thick-panel window blinds. “Hold on to your seats, because the next twenty secondswill forge a lasting business relationship and make all of us a bunch of money.” Everyone but Ted laughed when Grace's lighthearted humor alleviated the escalating tension. “Lights, camera, action,” she said, pressing the control again to darken the room. The wall-sized viewing screen remained black with flickers of white mixed in, reminiscent of an old silent movie.
Suddenly Allen Foray's familiar voice started in while the screen came to life with a shot of him moving in slow motion,bare chested but wearing workout shorts and running shoes. “Growing up, there was this kid who lived on my block,” his deep voice began. “He was a better dancer, more athletic, and a whole lot stronger than me.” The frame shifted to Allen in the weight room, dark shadows as his only companions. As his muscles flexed with each powerful bench press, the solemn voice-over started in again. “I gave up dancing ... But I never stopped training. That other kid, he's all grown up, too, but now he has to buy a ticket to watch me play.” Several frames of Allen's highlights dashed across the screen. The beverage execs were oohing and ahhingover the impressive, lightning-quick, full-court acrobatics.The last scene showed Allen hitting a winning shot as the buzzer sounded in a packed arena. While the crowd cheered, Allen looked directly into the camera and flashed a brilliant set of perfect teeth. “Oh, yeah, dancing is way overrated. Ain't life grand?” Before the screen faded to black again, thunderousapplause rang throughout the conference room.
When the lights came up, Ted was standing to applaud Grace's genius. “Bravo!” he shouted “Bravo!
“Well done, Grace,” hailed 100 Grand's chief marketing executive, Healy Wilcox. “Using a term I know you'll appreciate,it's a slam dunk. I'm sure that I speak for everyone in saying, where do we sign?” Grace's boss couldn't control himself. He was so elated that he hugged Grace too hard and took her breath away. “You're a lucky man to have talent like Grace on your team, Ted,” Mr. Wilcox beamed.
“I'm smart enough to know what to do about it as well,” Ted replied. “It's not every day a man gets to see his partner shine like this. Right, Grace?”
“I'd have it no other way, Ted,” she answered in her best business voice. Now that Pinnacle, Allen Foray, and 100 Grand were all in bed together, save the paperwork, Grace had time to breathe. She declined Ted's offer to crack open a case of champagne and throw a party to celebrate the biggest deal he could imagine, and instead retreated behind a closed office door and hid there. Her hands shook as she dialed Patrik'sphone number to share the good news. “Yes, that's right,” she confirmed. “They loved it. Yes, especially the director'skeen eye for detail.” Grace laughed when Patrik began spouting high-pitched jubilations in his native Italian. “English, Patrik. English!” she pleaded joyously. Actually, it didn't matter which language he reveled in, Grace understoodall the way down to her toes how it felt to be validated because of his work. She shared the same feelings about hers. When Grace hung up the phone, Patrik was still going at it and patting himself on the back. He probably didn't noticethat he'd been talking to a dial tone for quite some time, and likely didn't care.
Grace offered a few kind words of thanks to God for revealingHis promise to her. Then she turned her leather chair toward the window and stared out. Even with all the hoopla in the building, she couldn't help feeling that something was missing but she couldn't put her finger on it. As she searched her purse for Allen's business card, it hit her like a stiff winter breeze. Her victory was eerily hollow when she realized that her recent success paled in comparison to the thought of being loved by the right man, the one man whom God had created for her to spend the rest of her life with. Meeting that man would have been Grace's idea of a heaven on earth. In the meantime, she planned on keeping the promise she'd made while down on her knees. There was no way she'd let Him down, not if she could help it.
“Come in,” Grace yelled to whoever it was knocking at her office door.
“Congratulations,” Chandelle squealed, barreling toward Grace's desk. “I heard the good news. Shoot, everybody's so proud of you. Mr. Lansford is breaking his neck ordering your blinged-out business cards with âpartner' added behind your name.”
“Oh, Ted is just covering his bases so I don't go getting any more ideas that don't include him,” Grace suggested playfully. “Forget about that. Let's talk about something really important. I want to hear about your news.”
“You're so sweet to care about little ole me.” Chandelle blushed at Grace's thoughtfulness, knowing that she had more pressing business to attend to instead of sitting still and listening to a newlywed gushing over a honeymoon set in a tropical paradise. However, that didn't stop Chandelle from whipping out the bulky photo album she'd been hiding behind her back. “Okay, okay, look. These pictures were taken inside our hotel room. You know I had to remove the spicy ones of my Marvin before I came in.”
“Ooh, Chandelle!” Grace howled.
“Can't be too careful these days. Let a sistah find out what you got going on at home, and she starts wantin' it for herself.”
“I know that's right,” Grace agreed. “But it's not just the sistahs you have to watch nowadays.”
“I'm saying. That's why I was looking real hard at the redhead from the Photomart when I noticed my envelope came up a little light. Humph, some of my best action shots were missing. But, don't worry. I've still got the negatives.” Grace laughed harder than she wanted to, although it felt real good to see a newlywed recounting her wedding-night bliss.
After sitting through explanations over what inspired each photo in the album, Grace thanked Chandelle for sharing her private moments. Then she strongly suggested that any additionalsuch girlfriend chats take place after business hours or during lunch. The younger woman understood and headed for the door with the bundle of Mediterranean memories tucked safely beneath her arms. Suddenly, she spun on her heels. “Grace, I know that you've already given me more company time than you should have, but I wanted to ask you one more thing.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“I was kinda wondering about you and the stuff we discussedat church.”
“Yes, I remember.” Grace felt an ounce of apprehension wash over her because it was Chandelle's prodding that forced the changes in her life and the way she'd viewed it in the first place.
“Well, not that it's any of my business,” Chandelle stated before second-guessing her place in the office of the new partner. Grace looked at her as if to say, “And I'm sure that it won't be,” before Chandelle continued. “But I'm having so much fun getting to know Marvin, as man and wife, I mean. My mother never had a husband, and she died alone without one loving her like a woman is supposed to be loved. Please think about tomorrow while you're conquering the world today.” Grace considered the advice Chandelle offered, and realizedshe did have an occasion to smile, if for no other reason than the possibilities she hadn't given much deliberation.She was content in knowing that God was working on her man while doing a number on her too. Eventually, there would be the perfect someone to witness her life, while she did her best to improve it on God's terms, Grace hoped. All she had to do was keep right on living until he arrived.
Later, as she grabbed her purse and floated out of the office to meet Linda and Shelia for lunch, a warm smile was still evident on Grace's lips. “That Chandelle's got an old soul,” she heard herself say as she pulled into midday traffic on the expressway.
While answering the summons of a vibrating cell phone, and feeling no less than perfect herself Grace stepped out of her car to valet park at Bijoux's. The fair-haired attendant flirted with Grace, but she didn't acknowledge his subtle proposition. Besides, the girls had arrived ahead of her and needed to get back to their respective jobs before too long. “Hello, this is Grace. Yes, Allen,” she smacked pleasantly, “I was going to call you. No, we haven't agreed on a firm figure yet, but I'd have to guess that Wilcox and his people will presenta nice round number you can't pass up. Remember, this deal is unusual because you and I shot it on the chance that it would pay off, so don't worry. It will. Just be sure to put your accountant on notice and put me in touch with your agent.”
Shelia flagged Grace down as she scanned the busy restaurant. When she approached the spacious booth in the back, Linda was rocking steadily to piped-in music streamingfrom an overhead speaker. Something by The Supremes had her singing along Motown style while perusing the lunch menu.
Grace waved back then pointed at the phone and held up her index finger, suggesting that she was wrapping up the call. “See, Allen, I knew it was gold, and because you believedin me, every other player will be wishing they were in your shoes. Not bad for one sweaty afternoon, huh?” That comment sent chills through Shelia because it sounded like something she could sink her teeth into. “All right, we'll talk, but I have two VIPs waiting on me. Gotta go, bye.” Grace flipped her tiny phone closed, then dropped it into her handbag. “Ladies, my deepest apologies,” she offered in earnest. “I know your time is important, but some men can be very persistent.”
“With sweaty afternoons and whatnot, I'll bet every other player would want to be in his shoes,” Shelia said, hoping to kick-start the spur-of-the-moment meeting Grace had convenedwithout explaining why.
“There you go, running through the gutter and getting all excited over nothing,” Graced commented, trying to minimizeShelia's query, but Linda jumped on the bandwagon and took the wheel.
“I'm all excited over nothing, too, if that's the case.” Linda was chomping at the bit to be thoroughly informed on what Grace saw fit to regard as nothing. “Tell us who that was on the phone, and we'll work backward to what stunts he pulled to get you all sweaty. Sound like a plan, Shelia?”
“That'll work for me,” Shelia chimed in on cue.
“Speaking of work,” Grace asserted, to scratch their itchy noses. “that's why I've asked you two to meet me here. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and the first part of my lifestyle modification has come to fruition. I was just speakingto Allen Foray.”
“All-World, All-Women-Want-Him Allen Foray?” Shelia asked, with her eyes about to fall out of her head.
“Whatever, Shelia,” Grace answered, not at all interested in her opinion of a man much too young for either of them.
“Whatever? Uh-uh. See, you've got it all wrong. He can have it whenever, wherever and however he pleases. All he'd have to do was let a sistah know when to stop, and go for ice water and warm towels. You hear me?”
Trying not to laugh along with her two closest friends, Grace shook her head disapprovingly. “No, it's strictly businessbetween us. I convinced him to shoot a commercial on my dime, and then I pitched it to a sports-drink company this morning. They ate it up, like I knew they would.”
“I don't know, Grace. Shelia's got a point,” Linda debated,offering her unsolicited two cents. “You might want to rethink your strictly business philosophy. I heard that Allen is
real tall
, especially when he's lying down.”
real tall
, especially when he's lying down.”
“You know what they say about opinions, Linda? Everybody'sgot one.” Grace had the hardest time getting out what she'd been wrestling with because of their overzealous carnalinclinations.
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