The Wages, An Illustrated Story | 11. Masterstroke | Charmer
When I arrived home Crystal was there, and there was a man with her, moving her drums from the front hall into the basement. He was about a foot taller than me, with hair of no particular colour that seemed to not be cooperating with some kind of style but looked better for its tousled cowlick. I liked the way his jeans fit too.
“This is my kind of house,” exclaimed the man. “Every time the door opens another beautiful woman bursts in!”
I laughed at this unexpected compliment.
“Hi, Brandy,” said Crystal. “This is Mark Fisher. He's a freelance marketer doing a bit of promo with Genuine Oak. He volunteered to help move my kit home. We’re on our way to lunch now. I’ll see you back here for rehearsal at 4 PM.”
“Hello, Mark the marketer,” I said. “I should thank you! I just heard my song on pop radio!”
“That’s great! What station?” Crystal asked.
“Congratulations, gorgeous!” Mark interrupted Crystal and said to me. “Promoting you is easy because ‘I Feel So Trashy’ is so catchy and fun! And it doesn't hurt that your photos are sensational. But as dazzled as I was by your pictures, now that I see those emerald eyes in person I would say those snaps don't do you justice.”
“This guy can give me more promotion any time!” I said, feeling my face warm.
“Mark doesn’t have our account,” said Crystal, “He’s a third-party man for a couple of the rock acts. The lunch that Mark and I are going to now isn’t work. It’s casual time.”
“But in the big picture I’m always in the middle of the promo machine. That means I boost Brandy’s song too! So, Raven Hair, what gave you the idea for your wonderful single?”
“I couldn’t tell you, mister! I never thought that song was my masterstroke!”