Читать книгу Indiscretion - M.G. Crisci - Страница 17

Going to Hawaii, alone…

Lauren decided MJ’s emotional fragility required her to miss her first AFA advisor conference in two years. It was in Hawaii, and she felt he shouldn’t be left alone that far away for seven days.

We had a session with Dr. Sherry to weigh the pros and cons. In the end, he concluded MJ had made little progress in the past year, so pushing him at this stage could do more harm than good.

MJ’s timing was most unfortunate. We had spent six months planning AFA’s biggest and most expensive thank you ever — 1000 of our top advisors and their spouses were being feted for six days at the opulent new Four Seasons on the Big Island of Hawaii. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was our keynote speaker, and the Beach Boys were booked for a private concert.

From a purely personal standpoint, this was also my major coming-out party. I had ninety minutes of podium time to present four innovative, industry-leading programs we had developed and tested, and we’d made sure each presentation contained the same important subliminal message: AFA (post-Pete) was financially stronger than ever, more innovative than ever, and in very capable management hands.

With the long hours and the familial stress, I had forgotten one important thing. All the advisor entertaining had grown my neck size from 16 to 16½. I needed a few new dress shirts and ties before I got to the podium. I told Courtney to adjust my schedule because I needed to leave early and go shopping the next day. She led me to believe there was nothing important on the calendar that couldn’t be shifted.

On my way home that afternoon, my cell phone rang. It was Alexandria. “Blowing me off again?”

“What are you talking about?” I said.

“I was on your calendar to get a sneak preview of what you were presenting at the conference, so I’d look like I knew what I was doing. But Courtney called me an hour ago to say we had to reschedule after the conference.”

“Look, I don’t know anything about that. All I know is that Lauren bailed on the conference, and she’s tied up working late, and I need two new shirts and ties because I’m getting too fat.”

I could smell the wood burning on the other end of the phone. “Did you ever read the book Whenever God Winks by Reverend Jonas Bond?”

I’m stuck in a torrential rainstorm, traffic is moving at a snail’s pace on the FDR, and this zany broad wants to talk about some crazy book? I knew if I hung up, she’d call me back! “No, Alexandria, can’t say I have.”

“Reverend Bond says when one door closes, it’s because he just opened another one. Don’t you see? I am going to help you shop, and you’re going to fill me in.”

The idea didn’t sound half bad: shopping with some attractive eye candy on my arm. Besides, based on the way she dressed, she’d probably do a better job of color coordination than I would alone. It was just the “business fill-in” part that sounded like it could be painful.

“Hey! Are you still there? Calling Martin, calling Martin. Yoo hoo.”

“Saks Fifth Avenue,” I blurted.

“Perfect,” she said. “ I need a new pair of Jimmy Choo’s for the Giuliani opening-night black-tie dinner dance.”

~

We had a great time shopping for me. She asked me what color the suits were; then she began looking at every shirt on the floor, in price categories ranging from expensive to very expensive.

“May I help, madam?’ said the well-mannered, very gay salesman.

“Pleaaase, I’m fine,” responded Alexandria curtly as she rummaged through the counter and glass racks.

“Come here; I think we have just the right thing for your gray pin-striped suit.” She placed a Giorgio Armani fawn-camel shirt on my chest. “Perfect. I also think I found the tie to match. See, it’s got some black, muted grays, and touches of yellow to accent the shirt. Look in the mirror.” There was no question it was an attractive combination, something I would have never imagined.

“What was the color of the other suit again?”

“Dark blue pin-striped.”

She went back to work. I noticed the price tags. “Christ Almighty, $275 for the shirt and $150 for the tie?”

“What’s the problem?” she said with a straight face.

“I’ve never spent that kind of money on this kind of stuff in my life!”

“Stop,” she paused. “You can afford it. You’ve earned it. Occasionally spoiling yourself is a good thing.”

She had a point. Then she threw a dagger, just for fun. “For goodness' sake, at your age how many more of these conferences do you think you’re going to headline?”

Two shirts and two ties heavier and $1023 lighter, Alexandria and I headed to the shoe section. As we passed the costume jewelry section, she said, “Do you mind if I browse a minute?” I nodded okay. After all, Lauren was away at an overnight conference, so there were no deadlines.

She tried on a half-moon shaped necklace made from thin strands of silver.

“That looks fabulous on you!”

She watched my eyes. “You think so?” When she was confident I wasn’t kidding, she glanced at the price tag.

“It’s nice, but I really need a pair of shoes.”

I knew she didn’t want to say the necklace was too expensive. I walked behind her and looked at the price tag. At $425, it was a bargain compared to my shirts and ties.

I handed my credit card to the saleslady behind the counter, “We’ll take it.”

“I couldn’t.’

“Consider it your fee for helping me shop.”

Alexandria turned around and looked me straight in the eye. “This doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you!”

“I didn’t ask.”

“You were thinking it.”

“Alexandria, you have such an original way of saying thank you.”

~

When I packed for the trip, I made sure Lauren didn’t see the new shirts and ties. I wore both during my two speeches on the stage at the conference. It also realized that Alexandria and I never went shoe shopping.