Those Angstrom Men!. (15 page)

We’ll be following Daisy’s activities throughout the next year, keeping you informed
each month where she might be, so that you can make her acquaintance
.

David and Ian thought they would start their series in January, the same day that Wonder Women came off the presses. Tom informed them that would be January 16
th
...Ian scheduled the press run for
British Men
accordingly.

Ian and David met for lunch a couple of weeks before Christmas.

“I’ve been thinking about that cover we’re running on
British Men
next month,” said David.

“The skier?
It’s timely. Lots of men will be going to the Continent for winter holidays in January and February.”

“Well, Ian, I was looking at those shots Elizabeth took of Daisy, and if we took the one we’re running with the story, and cropped it, so just her head shows, we could have a terrific teaser across the front of the magazine.”

“David, you sometimes have great ideas, and this is one of those times. I’ll drop into the magazine office on my way back from lunch and see what the Art Department can come up with.”

“I think I’ll come with you, Ian. Perhaps get a print of the cover shot, and send it anonymously to Daisy...”

“Oh no, I think you should write her a signed letter, David,” insisted Ian.

“
I think your letters get under her skin, especially since you scored a hat trick with the Logic magazines that were stagnating under her guidance.

“
Which brings me to another point...have you time to devote to being the Managing Director of the magazine division? Because, frankly, Dad is stuck back in the last century and between the baby and that massive project I’ve got going in Italy, I’m stretched.”

David frowned. “You’re the financial genius in the family, Ian.”

“You’ve done very well with the four magazines you bought from Fowler,” Ian pointed out.

“Well, I suppose I could keep an eye on things for a few months, until you’re finished with Italy.”

Ian had no intention of taking the responsibility back when he was finished with Italy, but this wasn’t the time to share that with David.

“Thanks, brother. Maggie and I appreciate that. Eh...you’re going to be an uncle again in about seven months. My baby girl is going to become a big sister.”

“Congratulations, Ian. Not wasting any time, are you?”

“No, we want four children, and Maggie says she wants them all before she’s thirty-five...Margit is six months old now, so there will be just over a year between them.
This one’s due just about Maggie’s thirty first birthday.”

“Have you told Mom and Dad yet?”

“No. Mom will be over the moon...”

In the end, both brothers went to their magazine and David showed the Photo Editor exactly how he wanted the picture he chose cropped for the cover. They printed him a copy.

Back at his office, he propped it up on the bookshelf opposite his desk.

She really was a pleasure to look at.

He picked up the telephone, called the Photo Editor and asked for another copy, to be framed.
A classic black frame, he thought, with slate matting to bring out the gray in Daisy’s blue-gray eyes.

December 17
th
, he took Sarah Vantage out to dinner. She was indeed hot, with a wicked body and inviting brown eyes, but David kept thinking about the blue-grey eyes looking at him from his bookcase.

Sarah was a good conversationalist, and a great dancer, but holding her in his arms did nothing for his libido, nothing. He kissed her on the cheek when he
took her home.

The next morning, Daisy wandered into Sarah’s office
within minutes of her arrival. “So, how was your hot date last evening?”

“He took me to than new restaurant in Soho, Bevin’s,
the one you have to book a year in advance...turns out his cousin owns it, so he gets a table whenever he wants one. Then we went to to that new club, Zulu, to dance. He’s a great dancer. I laughed at him all night, he’s really funny. Had a super evening.”

“So, did he get to stay the night?”

Sarah looked sad. “Would you believe all I got was a kiss on the cheek? He was a perfect gentleman, even when we danced to the slow ones. I couldn’t get a rise out of him, if you know what I mean.” Sarah winked.

“When are you going out with him again?”

“He never asked me. I guess it
is
close to Christmas and he must have lots of engagements filling his calendar. I might ask him out for lunch in January when we do the photo shoot...”

Daisy went back to her desk. She didn’t understand why she felt relieved that Sarah hadn’t had a hot night with David Angstrom, didn’t understand it at all.

December 20
th
, David took the framed photograph and placed it between two pieces of hard cardboard. On top of the cardboard, he placed his letter. Then he had his P.A. wrap it nicely in very expensive silver and white Christmas paper (perhaps to remind Daisy she only had that silver statue?), top it with a wonderful white bow, attach it to the bottle of Krug in the matching wine bag, and courier it to Daisy at Fowler Publications. He’d called the reception desk at Fowler Publications to find out which office she’d be at today.

Daisy was wrapping up a deadly dull meeting with her Finance Manager when her P.A. brought the package in.

“Christmas present for you, Daisy,” he said with a smile.

“Thanks, James. Just leave it on the corner of my desk, will you?”

Both Vivian, the Finance Manager, and Daisy stared at the package, glad of the distraction from the financials from
Woodland Flora and Fauna
, which nobody had wanted to buy from Daisy.

“I think you should open your present, Daisy,” said Vivian. “Looks like a bottle of wine and perhaps a calendar?”

“Probably from one of our suppliers, Viv. I’ve received three bottles of whisky, two bottles of vodka and six bottles of wine so far, and four of them had calendars or desk diaries attached,” smiled Daisy. “Although, I must admit, none of them were as nicely wrapped as this one....”
  “Open it, Daisy. That looks too thick to be a calendar.”

Daisy smiled at Vivian. “You’re right, it does.”

She opened the wine bag first.

“
Vintage Krug...1988...whoever sent this has great taste. That’s my favourite champagne. Great taste and deep pockets.”

“Yes,
it’s rather more expensive than vendors usually send, Daisy,” smiled Vivian. “Perhaps you have a secret admirer?”

Daisy shook her head. “What time do I have for secret admirers?”

“Perhaps it’s time you made time for secret admirers? You’re pushing thirty, girl.”

“If you weren’t my cousin and closest friend, I’d tell you that was an inappropriate remark to your boss.”

“Stow the cheeky comments to your elder, and open the bloody present.” Vivian was six months older than her cousin.

She was very curious to see who’d sent that champagne to Daisy. It was guaranteed to impress...

Daisy slowly unwrapped the beautiful paper. She picked up the envelope and opened it.

“Oh, it’s from David Angstrom. Wonder what he’s said to ruin my afternoon today?”

“Maybe he’s just wishing you Happy Christmas, Daisy. Read the bloody letter out loud will you?”

Dear Daisy:

  I just wanted to wish you a very happy holiday season and a prosperous and eventful New Year. I thought you might appreciate a copy of this photograph.

You have wonderful eyes, Daisy, wonderful eyes, a beautiful face and you epitomize womanly grace...

I have no doubt the men of Britain will appreciate looking at you as much as I appreciate corresponding with you...

Hope you like the Krug. It’s my favourite bubbly.
You can toast our ongoing communications with it if you like.

Season’s Greetings
and all that, I’ll have some new suggestions for the puzzle magazines in the New Year.

Your pen pal

David Angstrom

“Open the photograph, Daisy, don’t just stare at the cardboard.”

“Wonder what he means by that? That man...”

“Open the photograph or I will.”

Daisy
reluctantly unwrapped the photograph. She just knew it was going to be awful, embarrassing, since it was from David Angstrom. Another volley in their personal war...

It was a head shot, with her hair streaming wet, water drops glistening on her face, her eyes sparkling,
her cheeks flushed.

“Where the hell did he get this? I’ve never seen it before.”

“You look like you’re just coming out the shower, Daisy....”

“Vivian, that man drives me crazy.”

“Well, he’s paying you back for driving him crazy, I guess. Doesn’t he hate the fact you’ve made him Mr. January?”

“He seemed to, but now he’s agreed to some fashion shoots and actually took Sarah out for dinner the other night.”

“Did she enjoy herself? Did he stay the night?”

“Yes, she enjoyed herself, and no, she says he kissed her on the cheek and left her on her doorstep. And you know Sarah kisses and tells...”

“That’s a beautiful picture of you, Daisy. You look wonderful.”

Daisy stared and the picture and smiled. Vivian was right, she did look amazing. It might be the best photograph she’d ever seen of herself.

“Perhaps someone snapped me the other day when I got caught in that rain shower...”

“Whatever, it’s a great photo. You should use it beside your name on the masthead of
Wonder Women
, Daisy. It embodies everything the magazine tells women they can be, beautiful, vibrant, why you look open to adventure in this picture, and positively sexy.”

“Great idea.
Helen Gurley Brown ran a great picture of herself, didn’t she?”

“Helen Gurley Brown would tell you to use it in the magazine if she was here, Daisy.”

“I think I will.”

“You should drive David Angstrom a little crazier. No doubt he thinks this picture will drive you nuts. Drive
him
nuts, telephone him and thank him for his gift.”

Daisy grinned.
“ Really great idea, cousin. His direct number is here on this personal letterhead...”

S
he picked up her telephone, dialled and then pressed speaker so that Vivian could hear.

“Angstrom here.”

“David, this is Daisy Fowler,” began Daisy, eyes sparkling at her cousin, her voice pitched to a husky purr.

“I don’t know how you found out that Krug is my
favourite champagne as well. Thank you so much, and I see it’s from their Vintage Collection, 1988...I am impressed.”

“I’m glad you recognize how special it is. I bought a case recently...”

“Giving it as Christmas presents, are you?”

“Only to you, Daisy, only to you.”

“And thank you for the photograph, David. I’m amazed how good your photographer made me look. Who took it?”

“Er...a professional photographer who does some work for me. She was taking some shots, spied you, and snapped your picture.”

“I’d like to thank her.”

“I’ll arrange it, Daisy. I’ll arrange it.”

Daisy heard a man’s voice in David’s office.

“I can tell you’re busy...”

“Yes, I am, but thank you for calling,” and David hung up, a wicked grin on his face.

So, Daisy, you liked that picture, did y
ou? Let me send you another one that might bother you a little...

He called the Photo Editor at
British Men
and told her what he wanted her to do next. She laughed and told him he’d have it within two hours.

Two hours later, she waltzed into David’s office herself, with another framed photograph of Daisy.

“First one didn’t drive her crazy enough, eh?”

“No, she liked it.”

“Well, it is a gorgeous shot. This one, though should start her around the twist...”

David looked at it. “Oh, yes, Rebecca, you’ve really hit the mark here. Did you email a copy to Ian?”

“I did, and he called me roaring with laughter.”

December 22
nd
, the last working day before Christmas, Daisy was at her desk at the magazine, admiring the new masthead with her beautiful photograph.

Her receptionist walked in with a package. It was the same silver and white wrapping paper, with the same wonderful white bow.

Daisy tore it open. No letter, just a photograph in an identical black frame.

Same face, same eyes, same droplets of water
...