‘Then let’s get started and I can think of
no better place than with your nails, they say a lot about you and they say
things to others about you as well. From
there we’ll progress but firstly you need to choose a style,’ Wendy explained
as she called up a selection on her tablet.
Arlene looked them over, her eyes darting back and forth
until she was torn between oval and almond.
‘I like these two, but if I had to choose, it would be oval,’
she answered.
‘Excellent choice, that or the almond. They convey professional, but stylish, but of
course that can all be ruined by your choice of nail polish, so what will it
be?’ Wendy said opening a side panel of her cosmetics case to reveal numerous
choices.
Arlene was unsure. ‘Hope you don’t mind my asking but what
will the scenario be this time?’
‘You see, you have instincts you didn’t even know you
had. Excellent question, just like your
clothes everything must be accessorized for the event. It will be the same location.’ Wendy informed
her.
Arlene waivered back and forth between shades of the same
colour scheme before picking Opal.
‘Why that choice, remember think like you’re an agent
already.’ Wendy said.
‘It’s a classy place, it was full of people who were
professional, they all dressed really well, conservative, but stylish. Anything that stood out, a bright colour say
might single me out as a bit of an outsider, maybe put people off I think, this
colour seems to declare to me anyway a toned down yet stylish professional, but
sill feminine,’ Arlene answered.
‘Where was this woman before,’ Wendy smiled. ‘Now begin by shaping your nails, don’t
worry, I’m here to help,’ she added as the spy handed Arlene a nail file.
‘Flare your fingers so you get a prospective for each nail as
you file, good then point one and work on it, excellent,’ Wendy offered as way
of encouragement.
It was slow going at the start but Arlene got better and her
pace improved enough to impress Wendy.
‘Now for your other nails, take just as good care of them as
you do the others.’
Arlene knew enough to round them but leave just a little
over the edge of the toes, she needed no prompting from Wendy.
‘I’ve never done this part,’ Arlene said very hesitantly as
she took the bottle.
‘Good as time as any, you’ll be a pro in no time. Just take your time and even strokes, always
away from you, smooth if you have to, no ridge lines,’ Wendy advised as she
shook the bottle and handed it to Arlene.
With one or two helpful hints Arlene mastered it and she soon finished
both sets.
‘What a vast improvement and we’ve barely begun,’ Wendy
mused happily as they waited for the polish to dry.
‘Let’s see what we have in this closet in terms of clothes
that don’t have a school marm look to them.
Well that was easy, nothing,’ she said closing the door. You should be dry by now come on we’re going
shopping!’
‘I don’t have this kind of money to shop along this street!’
Arlene said in alarm wondering what she had gotten herself into.
‘Not to worry, this is on me, I consider it an investment in
both our futures,’ Wendy smiled as she held the door open.
‘What can I help you with today,’ a smartly dressed woman
said as she addressed Wendy.
‘Nothing for me thanks, my niece needs a few things. She’s attending a small gathering this
Saturday at 88 Club and I want her to look, well smashing.’
‘Afternoon or evening,’ the woman asked looking at Arlene
who realised what the girl must thinking of her as she stood there in her baggy
clothes.
‘Evening,’ Wendy answered and the girl led her toward
possibilities within the store, Arlene kind of tagging along as the
afterthought.
‘Let’s look at her colours first, are you going to do
anything with hair colour or style before?’ she asked Wendy.
‘A nip and snip here and there, nothing with colour she has
fantastic chestnut brown hair already, gets that from me. As for style, I want a few more curls in it,
but nothing obvious that says so if you follow, again, such fantastic thick
hair. I’ve always told her with a little
care and fussing, well you’d have hard time keeping it that way with all the
men touching it, but did I get listened to, of course not, but now with this
crisis looming who gets turned to,’ Wendy said in a light hearted voice.
‘Yes Aunt Wendy is such a help,’ Arlene added trying not to
sound too strained.
‘I agree about the hair and of course, you’ll take care of
the makeup seeing as, if you don’t mind my saying, you’re so well put
together,’ the attendant added.
‘Yes we did her nails this morning, so to at least give
something back to the clothes,’ the spy added.
‘Excellent colour, choice and shape, very professional,
let’s see what we can add to that,’ the saleswoman said as Wendy nodded to
Arlene regarding the compliment.
She came back with about 6 or 7 dresses and The Brannock
Device to get her shoe size. She
disappeared again and came back in a flash.
‘The dresses are all hung up in the change room I’ve placed some shoes
in there as well, several varieties and styles just to get an idea to go
on. Please this way Miss,’ she said
addressing Arlene for the first time.
‘You see, respect is starting, she was impressed by the
manicure and also I saw by how wonderful your feet were, size and shape, wait
till she sees what comes out from that door,’ Wendy whispered as she closed the
change room door.
‘Arlene put on the first dress, picked the shoes she liked,
fluffed and teased her hair a little as she looked in the full length mirror
and made a few adjustments. She noted with
some humour and reflection that she had never done that before. Unaccustomed to heels she wobbled a little as
she opened the door using the frame to balance herself.
‘Oh my, I’m so sorry,’ the sales girl said and darted away,
Arlene looked upset.
‘Nothing to worry about my dear, she’s embarrassed, she made
a very bad mistake regarding you and has run off to fix it. That’s gives us time to work on your
walking. It’s difficult at first, we all
go through this, now just heel, toe, firm level measured steps, here take my
hands,’ Wendy offered as she guided Arlene back and forth until she was more
steady. You turn two ways, one on the
heel, like this, or on the flat like that,’ Wendy demonstrated, each has there
uses as you will learn. Just getting
ahead of ourselves a little, I’m not a big fan straps on shoes, makes them too
hard to come off when you need them to,’ she added as the girl returned.
‘So sorry Miss, my mistake completely on the clothes, I
think these are a much better starting point,’ she said.
Arlene told her it was ok and disappeared coming out a few
minutes later.
Wendy came to her feet instantly. ‘Oh my,’ was all she said as she walked
around Arlene then the attendant led her to the three way mirror. This comes in a charcoal as well, slightly
different cut with a gauze tail right about here on the legs and full length on
the arms.
‘You look insane in that dress Arlene, just a few nips and
tucks to fit you. I love the way it
sweeps in at the front with this little cut here allowing the legs to flash in
and out and to cross themselves, she said.
‘Yes, it pulls the woman in tighter visually, adds sexy
contours, not that you need it Miss, your figure is outstanding and honestly
this dress is such a tease for your legs, but I have some others I want you try
on so I can show you what I mean.
‘I like these shoes, but do you have something, hope I’m
expressing this right, in the same heel but with a taper to them?’ Arlene asked
and Wendy smiled.
An exchange of shoes, more dresses and shoes, a pile of
rejects and pile of accepts and Arlene had a basic wardrobe, so put on one outfit
that fit her perfectly to wear, the baggy clothes resigned to the garbage.
‘I’ll have a person come by for these a little later, we
need get her hair done and accessorise. Thank you so much for all your help,’
Wendy said as she paid.
‘Are you crazy? That was more than 4 grand of clothes!’
‘You should see my closet at home. Soon enough you’ll be thinking of those
purchases as everyday clothes compared to what FORCE with deck you out in. If you’re worried about the money, don’t be,
it gives me pleasure. Now, I want you to
watch how your treated from now on, no more tag along in the background, you’re
now front and centre so begin using that,’ Wendy instructed as they entered the
hair salon.
Right away Arlene was greeted and asked what so would
like. She repeated what Wendy had said
having though about it and deciding she liked the idea. Her stylist showed her a few pictures of what
she was describing and they agreed on what to do, she also recommend her
eyebrows be done.
‘It will hurt a little but a guarantee the slightest
movement of them will destroy the will power of any man you desire,’ she
explained and Arlene agreed.
Wendy took a seat and waited her last look a happy one as
Arlene elegantly took her seat her legs crossing perfectly as she did.
‘Total instinct,’ she thought.
Her hair done, instructions on how to maintain it and a few
products for that purpose the duo made their way to their next destination more
than a few looks coming their way as they walked along.
‘A little uncomfortable at the attention?’ Wendy asked.
‘A little, just because I’m not used to it.’
‘That Arlene wasn’t,
this Arlene better get used to it, after all you’ll need it in the future. Next we’re getting a purse or more
specifically a clutch. I should tell you
I’m not a big fan of purses, although they do come in handy in a fight,’ she
mused before continuing. ‘I’m more a clutch girl and just my opinion, I like a
certain size, which I will point out to you, but the choice is yours, so don’t
be bound by what I like.’
‘We have clutch and size rules?’ Arlene asked.
Wendy though hard for a minutes before answering. ‘You and I
are bigger girls, even though we’re not clumsy, clunky or whatever there could
always be that perception. In my
experience and those of my predecessors, the ones who trained me, a purse is a bulky
unattractive accessory that just reinforces that stereotype. As for a clutch, it’s elegant, chic, stylish
and sexy, but again the size is the thing.
A big clutch, just refer to what I said before, but the right sized one,
believe it or not, it’s a turn on for the male,’ she added. ‘Keep that in mind
when you’re looking at them, colour is also important, basic black white or
variants thereof are my personal preference, but don’t be swayed by me.’
Wendy did as she said and showed Arlene the size she liked
and why. Arlene could see why when she
compared them and looked into the mirror.
The ones she liked Wendy put aside but not before the trainee noticed
the prices and gave her a look.
‘Good quality has a price and style is never cheap and
neither are you,’ she answered.
Arlene took the advice, a basic black and a basic white but
she picked two others as well, a teal and a deep red, they were a little more
modern and gave her a flair she thought.
‘That was quick.
You’re getting much better at this.
That tells me you have confidence in your style and are starting to see
and know what you look good with and it took no time at all. As I said before, once you change what’s
upstairs the rest just follows,’ Wendy explained. ‘One last stop and here we
are and this time no looking at prices, this is my treat,’ she added as the
doorman welcomed them.
‘Question time. What
do you think makes a great ensemble for the dress you plan to wear? Think about that as you look. Like before this is on you to decide. Think about what you want to project, your
personality, your taste, things like that, be comfortable in your choices. Now off you go, come and get me when you’re
done.’
Arlene having only ever had earrings and basic studs at that
looked about the display cases but her eyes quickly glazed and she was at sea
and could feel panic setting in over her uncertainty.
‘No, this is what you did before, you ran, no more, look how
far you’ve come in not even a day, be confident, ask for help. Is that guy looking at me?’ she thought to
herself as from somewhere she did know he had, her head turned and tilted and
she gave him an acknowledge smile that said I caught you.
She approached a display case and before she could even ask,
a women, very well appointed was there asking her what she would like to
see. Arlene explain and described her
dresses, the black one and the white one, adding with a smile and a little
laugh that she was undecided on which to wear so she’d thought she’d cover both
bases just to be sure.
‘We could do what I like to call a Harlequin arrangement,
the opposite for each dress, black for the white and white for the black and
nothing is more timeless than pearls.
Let me get a few things if you’ll come with me I can get you a tea or a
drink of your choice and a place to sit so we can do this in a more comfortable
setting,’ the woman explained and led the way to semi private seating
arrangements.
She was back in a flash with earrings, choker, bracelet and
a ring. Arlene loved everything except
the ring, she was not a ring person, but she looked fabulous in the pearls, the
white went as it usually does with most things, perfectly with the outfit she
was wearing, she decided to keep them on.
‘Do you have a necklace that would say come to here,’ she
asked indicating a few inches down from the top of her sternum and perhaps
earrings that dangle. I think I want to
stay with the pearl motif for both or if you know of something else I should
try that would be welcome as well,’ she asked.
There were soon boxes piled neatly one on top of the other,
a lot of boxes, as Arlene suddenly noticed.
‘I think I have enough for now, but certainly I will return
in the future,’ she said trying to sound calm.
‘Of course Miss, here is my card, it has been and will be my
pleasure to serve you in the future. I
will take these to the cashier and have everything packaged and waiting for
you,’ she added as she waved for another employee to assist her.
‘Feel free to cut it down any way you want, I plead
temporary insanity,’ she explained to Wendy as they made their way to the
cashier.
‘Everything is read for you Miss,’ the woman said and Arlene
realising she had not given her name.
‘Arlene Compton.’
‘It has been my pleasure Miss Compton, I hope to see you
again soon. Thank you again.’
‘Are,’ she started off in a slightly loud voice then decided
to lower it so not to attract the attention of passersby as they walked. ‘Are
you fucking nuts!’ Arlene asked.
‘Now who has the potty mouth,’ Wendy replied a lilt in her
voice bordering on a laugh.
‘That was $65,000.00 in jewellery,’ Arlene replied her voice
even lower and her head tilted into Wendy.
‘Yes, all this shopping, makes me hungry, care for lunch
there’s a delightful place up on the corner,’ she answered.
‘Ok maybe you didn’t hear me or my temporary insanity
transferred to you, but $65,000.00. I
repeat minus the swear word. Are you out
of your mind!’
‘I’ve got lots of money Arlene, I’ve been very well
compensated over the years both officially and unofficially,’ she said taking
her hands in hers across the table in the restaurant.
‘Our profession may be glamourous and full of adventure and eroticism
but it’s far from being completely virtuous in nature. Lose any idea you have of that notion going
in. I’m telling tales out of school but
you’ll find this out anyway once you get going and you’re assigned a mentor,
she’ll set you straight and help you get going to. Money, jewels, a myriad of things could be
lying around, you’d be a fool not to take it.
You get the access code to bank accounts of the bad guys, you transfer
that money. Being a good girl doesn’t mean you’re one all the time, it just
means you’re good and believe in the cause you’re fighting for, not
stupid. You leave the booty behind it
will just help finance the next scheme they hatch,’ Wendy explained looking
again at the menu.
Arlene’s head as swimming at little at that, so she pushed
it aside and decided to concentrate on her first statement.
‘We could have just rented those or similar items for a
fraction and then returned them when I’m done.’
‘And how would that have made you feel? Right back to the “I’m not worthy of these”,
the same feelings you had this morning.
No, No my dear, we don’t go backward we go forward and we’re always
worth it. You walk into the start of
formal training next week, you look your best, always, always, always remember
that. Take the time, make the effort,
get the others to complete with you, not you against them, let them play
catch-up. Some of those other trainee’s
are going to look at you and think “what’s she doing here” and discount you
right away. You look like you do now,
maybe they think twice, you perform the way I think you can, that thought will
be knocked out of their heads right away.
No Arlene, those are an investment in the future, your future. Don’t get a big head, it’s the surest way to
a quick end in this career, but you’re a knockout, all you have to do now is
prove it. Ah free drinks I was beginning to have my doubts about this place,’
Wendy said to the waiter as he set two cocktails in front of them. ‘Who are they from?’
‘The two gentlemen at the table two behind you on your
right,’ he said not giving anything away.
Wendy turned about, Arlene noticed her legs, bent and swing
out in an oh so sexy way, almost an invite, she made a mental note of the
motion, to acknowledge the two, an older man and a younger one, dressed in
office attire. Arlene smiled as well.
‘Want to pass your test right now?’ Wendy said to her.