ALICE Ch 67

“We have two representatives here in Melbourne now,” Glynda says, tapping her desk.

“Oh gosh,” Alice says nervously, sipping her coffee. “Great. Perfect. Love it.”

“Both are from boutique luxury brands. One is wristwatches and the other is perfume.”

“Ooh,” Alice says, perking up. “This seems fun.”

“Not so fast. If you’re endorsed by a wristwatch company you’ll have to wear one of their watches. You might also have to pose for a photo advert,” Glynda adds. “Things like that. Should be a mite less demanding than perfume.”

“Really?”

“Yes. With perfume you’ll have to wear the scent, but to advertise it properly there’ll be apparel and the marketing side of it might be more involved. They’ll be upfront about all this,” she adds. “Still, know what you’re in for. Wristwatches are quite masculine. They’ve no doubt chosen you because you’re tall. Meanwhile, perfume is not targeted toward men. Two different brands with two very different sets of sensibilities.”

“I think you’re making a big deal of nothing. People do endorsements all the time. Lewis is covered in stuff. Everybody is.”

“Alice, I’ve no doubt you can do this. I just don’t want you to get into something that you don’t like because I need you focused when you drive. Make sense?” Glynda smiles patiently.

“OK. Fair enough.”

“The wristwatch lot is Dom Ford. It’s an English company, old and traditional. They’ve been around for ages,” Glynda says.

“But they’re small enough to want me?”

Glynda sighs. “The way that these proper luxury brands operate is mad. There’s no other word for it, and the less you try to understand, the better. But it’s all smoke and mirrors.”

“Right. It’s all made it sweatshops for a dollar,” Alice says.

Glynda winces. “I’m going to schedule you for a chat with PR. Looks like we need to refresh on what you can and cannot say, Alice.”

“I won’t say that! What’s the other one?”

“Diorgasm. French company. Dom Ford is all business. James Bond wears a Dom Ford timepiece. Diorgasm is a little more modern and willing to push boundaries.”

“I don’t speak French, so this seems like an easy choice,” Alice says.

“It’s an international brand, Alice. Diorgasm is well-liked around the world. Any representatives that they send to you will speak English. That doesn’t matter. What matters is what you think will get in the way of your driving the least.”

“A manly watch,” Alice says, deepening her voice comically. “Or a delicate, ladylike perfume?”

“If that’s how you have to think of it. If you sign a deal with Dom Ford, you’ll have to deal with… them. And if you sign with Diorgasm, you’ll have to be a part of their marketing campaign. Which has some sensibilities in common with FUTA, you might say.”

“Hmm.” Alice frowns, thinking. Thinking is hard.

Meet with a rep from Dom Ford?

Or a rep from Diorgasm?