Revolving Doors (11 page)

CHAPTER
17

~*~*~

I had been counting down the days to meet Di. I couldn’t wait to discuss becoming a Romantica consultant and once the day finally arrived, I was raring to go.

What attracted me to the venture was not just the fact that Di had become so successful doing the work, but that women showed up in droves to her functions in an attempt to remove their relationships from life support.

There were many women dedicated to reviving the
ir romances. I wondered if the men they were doing it for even cared, or had most of them turned a blind eye to the efforts because they already had an answer – external to home.

I’d encountered those men at Paraiso Belo. Valentina built an entire business on the needs and desires of those men.

“
Ahhh
!!!” I yelled aloud, as I paced around my living room.

S
o much mind activity that I didn’t want! Why even think about that aspect of it at all? I shifted my thought process back to the moment. I was so ready to go so I could see if Romantica was about to change my life.

As the clock ticked, I grew restless. When
my brain wouldn’t quiet, and I couldn’t find anything to watch on television, I decided to call Natalia and share the news with her.

She kicked into overdrive as soon as I mentioned toys.

“You
have
to send me some of your inventory when you sign up! I
love
toys!” she exclaimed. “My absolute favorites are the glass dildos and the rabbits and…”

For the next 20 minutes I listened to her go on excitedly about how she puts hers in warm water before use. I was also subjected to hearing some other details about her
sex sessions that I wished I hadn’t been privy to. 

I was half listening because she had my head spinning,
even more than it was before. She was talking a mile a minute, and hadn’t slowed her pace once since the initial call.

I wanted to yell,
stop already
! But I refrained. She was enjoying herself far too much for me to interfere.

What was clear was that Talia was miles ahead of me with her familiarity. The most I’d ever used, before my purple wonder was KY jelly, and a blind fold – and even that was only twice that I recalled. That was the extent of it for me.

I prided myself on being a skilled lover and didn’t feel like I needed enhancements in my bedroom. Until such time that an irresistible man entered my realm with suggestions, I preferred a warm body that I could do freaky things
to
…
with
.

I knew that signing on as a consultant would potentially evoke some curiosity as to how much fun could be attained with toys in the equation, and I prepared myself for that.
I would have to test the product…to know the product.

Whether I decided to incorporate them into my personal dealings or not, there were a whole lot of people who were dying to get the items into their lives – and I wanted to be the person to give it to them.

When I arrived at Di’s house for brunch, we were joined by five other women – two I recognized from the party. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one who was sold on the idea that fateful night.  I could see and hear the excitement, but I was sure none of them were as ready as I was to get started.

I had already initiated a client list, and was anxiously awaiting the rules, regulations and starter kit so I could spring into action.

I listened to everything and took as many notes as I could manage. I wanted to be on information overload – better too much, than not enough.

Excelling as quickly as possible was the only thing on my mind.
There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that I would be a success within the Romantica family.

As Di navigated her way through the details of the business, she proved once again that she was a subject matter expert to be reckoned with.

There was no way any of us recruits could go wrong if we tuned in, and adhered to everything she said.

I made sure to write down my questions and get them answered to a point where I understood them fully, and could explain them fluently, should some ask me. With those questions, my mind generated more.

The more knowledge, the better the return investment
– one of the many lessons I learned throughout my coursework.

I was on a scavenger hunt for information that would prove beneficial as I built my business.

Di explained to us that our business could be as lucrative as we made it and that the level of success we attained was highly dependent upon the time we planned to invest in the areas of marketing, networking and party hosting.

She provided us with website links that had additional tutorials, tips from other consultants, an onslaught of other information, and resources to get us going. 

Finally, she discussed what I was the most eager to learn about…the hierarchical structure.

Signing as a consultant in her upline raised her status within the franchise – the same would apply to us as we brought on new recruits.

I acted as a sponge and was packed with mass amounts of information that would serve to drive me to a victorious beginning.

When orientation concluded, I purchased two deluxe starter packages – one romantic, one fantasy – and immediately went to work. 

When I left the new consultant training, my focal point was on building my upline which according to Di, was the quickest way to brand, and propel myself to the next level. 

I ordered my business cards online as soon as I sat in front of my computer. I designed brochures that would arrive the following week, and I created fliers that I took with me to campus.

Kelli kept fliers as well and handed them out to people she knew in her other classes and at the dorm rooms.

I thought
her helping to increase my presence would be somewhat of a conflict of interest, but as she pointed out, “I doubt that my mom would care at this point. She is financially set, for the most part. Besides, whatever business you generate, she benefits as well.”

~*~*~

By the end of the following school week, I had two parties booked – one for a surprise bridal shower and the other for a girls’ night out. Kelli agreed to accompany me, not just to support but to assist.

The most humbling was Di making a surprise appearance to oversee. Afterwards she took the time to provide critique of my performance, and shadowed as I conferred with clients in the private ordering room.

“You did your thing, Gabriella! I was very proud watching you and admiring your comfort level with the products and your audience. You’ve studied. I’m impressed.”

I enjoyed myself. It was great meeting people, and seeing the different dynamics play out amongst the women.

Some were shy and barely said anything until they met me in the private space to order, while others were very vocal about all things sex and wanted the entire room of women to hear what they had to say.

I signed three women at the bridal shower, and two at the girls’ night out. So, within my first two weeks of consulting I had five recruits and that number continued to grow in a short amount of time.

It’s funny how life happens. 

I rejected the idea of college initially,
yet attending ended up working to my advantage.

I was in constant company with a million and one girls who were either putting themselves through school and working double duty to do it, or the very rare trust fund baby who wanted to have something “extra…fun” to do outside of spending daddy’s money. Oh! And a lot of them had mamas who were slumming as bored housewives.

I was in a major epicenter.
I had hit the jackpot
!

CHAPTER
18

~*~*~

The week before I graduated, I hit a mark: 123 girls within my hierarchy – directly and indirectly – that were from across the
United States, but predominately in California and Las Vegas.

Romantica recognized me as one of the fastest risers in 15 years to make it to the six-figure club.

They contracted me as their trainer for new consultants and asked me to be a guest speaker at several of the area conferences, where I highlighted the intricacies of marketing strategies.

For my hard work and the numbers I had pulled in, I was awarded a 1-week, all expense paid trip for two, to
New York City.

The day I received the tickets I treated my parents to dinner and there I broke the news to them about my involvement with Romantica.

I was well aware that my parents had very different plans for me, something that involved a cubicle housed in a large corporation.

It was never my intention to keep it a secret; it was more about being successful at it before involving them in the details.

It was important that I approached them with the career choice when I had something tangible to show them as proof of my success, and not just a vision of something I
wanted
to do.

As I
suspected, because of how supportive they had always been, they expressed pride. As long as I was safe, they were content with how I made my money. It wasn’t like I neglected getting my degree or didn’t have a need for it. I walked away with a mound of transferable information from my school journey that I would take into my business dealings.

After the reveal, I proudly gifted them with the
New York City trip that I had won. Since they hadn’t done much traveling, they were ecstatic.

While they were gone to
New York, Kelli and I took that trip to Disneyland that I promised her that night outside her mother’s house.

I invited Joi, my friend since childhood to tag along with us as well since I hadn’t seen her in a while. She and Kelli hit it off which was good since the two of them, and Natalia were the girls I was closest to.

Always in business mode, I’d worn my,
I Do Romantica Parties
tee shirt and received an inquiry from a woman standing in a line for ice cream.

It led to me giving her my business card, and a phone conversation with her when I returned home. She signed as a consultant shortly thereafter.

Over the next year, I grew further in status. It was happening fast. I loved it. I was a 22-year old powerhouse and enjoying life to the millionth power.

Not only had I managed to set Di up for the rest of her life with the hierarchical structure I created, I had made quite a name – and fortune for myself.

Confirmation for what I already knew was clear as a summer day – I had a knack for business.

When I started getting requests from women who were in relationships, about having their men attend parties, I didn’t think much of it. I simply gave the Romantica’s prompt about men not being allowed.

However, as the requests increased in frequency, I began having feelings that there was more I could do…that there were other plateaus I wanted to reach that could not be attained with Romantica alone.

Because of those inquiries, I experiment
ed with a monthly event of hosting parties with a twist – couples edition.

They were a huge hit.

I consistently received emails from attendees informing me how communication gateways had been opened, how the spark had found its way home, and how love was much more prevalent than before.

I was making a difference in their lives on a whole other level than I signed on for
, or that I even thought was possible.

As
much as I loved working for Romantica, the responses I was getting from the couples editions let me know it was time to branch out on my own.

My audience told me what they wanted and I needed to respond to their wants as best I could. To do that, I needed to spread my wings, and explore all the possibilities.

~*~*~

My two lives
: Paraiso Belo and Romantica, very much paralleled, allowing me to experience both sides of the spectrum.

On one side of the spectrum there were the men who made a sport of
playing
away from home, while on the other, there lived the women who sought ways to enhance their intimate relationships, by capturing and holding their mate’s interest, in an effort to keep them from the arms of women in a place like Paraiso Belo.

During parties and conferences I attended it wasn’t uncommon for women to approach with questions about not just product, but advice on sex and how to get their men on board with toy dabbling. 

I never considered myself a couple’s counselor and I told my customers as much. Yet, they still sought me out for answers, and I wanted to help in any way I could.

I had couples wanting to have more active sex lives, through the use of toys, and bringing them together at the same parties worked
to help them meet their goals.

T
here existed the women who wanted their mates to be on board with using toys and not knowing how to broach the subject for fear of how their intentions would be interpreted.

I decided to embark on a venture where I could combine all the ideas into one.

I could have a company that would allow for couples parties – without sneaking to do it, and without the risk of consequence for rebelling against policy.

I could also have a service that provided education to men and women on the benefits of using enhancements in their relationships since there existed misconceptions on both sides.

I could explore the possibilities of having couple’s therapy since there appeared to be quite a few couples having issues within their relationships, but who also wanted to work through them and didn’t always know where to begin.

I could also create my own product line! And there the idea for Goodie Bagg was born.

All the goodies in one bag and in one company location.

Here I come, world!