Chapter 52
After only a couple of hours of sleep, Jax was dealing with twelve huge egos looking up at him, trusting him to lead and guide them through all the trials, big and small, that the week would throw at them. He looked over at Bailey, who gave him a knowing nod, and started going through the strategy that they had devised the night before and earlier that morning with the rest of the team of challengers.
“So, here’s the plan,” he began. “First of all, we need to focus most of our effort on planning this weekend’s big event. We are going to need a dope venue, bangin’ music, stuff for an auction, and catering for a high-end menu. The best idea would be to leverage Shortfin Mako’s relationships with all of her charities. So I think we should hold a dinner for one of the charities unless anyone has another suggestion.” The room was silent, so Jax continued, “And on top of all those logistics, we gotta do a ton of promotion: social, commercial spots, and celebrity endorsements. The to-do list has six main items: promotions and commercials, charity and client, venue and vendors, celebrity endorsements and attendees, live music, and auction items.” Jax turned to his assistant from team building day, “Hey Ralph! Wanna reprise your role as my assistant?”
“Hell yeah!” Ralph answered eagerly.
“Great.” Jax addressed the rest of the group while pointing at a piece of paper that he was tacking to the wall, “I’m gonna need everyone to pair up and sign your names next to the line item that you want to be in charge of for the week. Since there are six action items and only ten of you, two of you will have to work solo. Ralph and I will be back in thirty minutes to see which assignments you chose, I need to attend to something, and at that time will work with each pair on your specific game plans. Alright?”
“Sounds good, bro!” June shouted enthusiastically. “Now get outta here and let us battle it out for our jobs.’
Jax and Ralph obliged. They had their own task to take care of anyway. If the message that arrived in Jax’s inbox was to be believed, the guest of honor would be arriving any minute now.
***
“I call client management,” Ashley announced with her hand in the air. “And, if it's alright with everyone, I prefer to work alone.” Nobody objected.
“Great, that’s one down,” Bobby said as he walked up to the task list and signed his name next to the live music action item. “I guess that’s two down and four to go. Welcome to Thunderdome!” He dropped his pen onto the coffee table in the middle of the crowd and stepped back. “Have at it, ya’ll.” As long as he was in charge of hiring the musicians for the event, Bobby didn’t care if someone decided to pair up with him. But he didn’t need a partner either. Whatever happened next was none of his concern.
June stepped up to try to assert some order over the chaotic group of huge personalities. “So basically, we have planning the party, planning the auction, promoting the party, and the celebrity guest list. Raise your hand if you have experience with party planning, interfacing with vendors, that sort of thing.”
Cecilia raised her hand, “My mom’s a caterer back home, and I’ve been on that side of things. I bet I could figure out how to procure food, chairs, decorations, that sort of thing.”
“Great!” June said. “Who wants to work with Cecilia on party planning?” She had a feeling she knew who would volunteer and wasn’t surprised as Megan sheepishly raised her hand. “One more down. We’re halfway.” June sucked on the end of the pen while she stared at the board. “Hey, Ken. You have some connections to the Herald world, right? Think any high-profile ones would show up to our party if you asked?”
“Not really,” he answered. “My mother and father are what you might call black sheep. Normally I would ask Lizzy, but seeing as how she is our opponent, I do not think that is an option.”
“No. Definitely not an option,” June said. Before she could make another suggestion, Bailey spoke up.
“I have some favors that I can call in back home. Put my name down there. And don’t you have some familial connections to The Herald world?” she threw back at June.
“I mean. I'm not sure I know anyone that would go out on a limb for me or my family anymore, but it's as good a spot as any for me, I guess,” June said as she signed her name, along with Bailey’s, next to Celebrity Attendees and Endorsements. “So all we have left are commercials and auction items.”
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“What kind of stuff do they usually auction off at these fancy schmancy parties?” Joel nervously asked.
“You know, Hawaiian cruises, golf trips, that sorta thing,” Bobby answered from behind the group. “You should probably do the commercials,” he added in aid of his friend. The thought of Joel trying to wrangle high-end goods and services would be hilarious if not tied to their success in this challenge.
“I have caviar and vodka dealer for auction,” Spencer cut in.
“Really, bro?” Connor asked excitedly, “That's rad, dude!”
“Nyet, moron. Just Ruskie humor, my friend.”
“Shit! I’ve never tried caviar,” Connor said. “Well fuck, sign us up for the auction anyway. Spencer and I can sweet talk some fancy folks outta some swag, no problem.”
June did as she was told. “So that leaves Ken to help Joel on the commercials. You okay with that?”
“Yes. I believe I have some ideas that might work. If Joel will tolerate working with me.”
“Of course!” Joel was happy to be working with Ken. They hadn’t spent a ton of time hanging out, but Joel respected Ken’s dedication.
“Done! And in record time,” June said as she signed the last letters of Ken’s name next to Joel’s on the signup sheet. “I guess we should get with our pairs and prepare our pitches for our meetings with the team captain.”
***
While the team was busy pairing off and preparing for their strategy pitches, Jax and Ralph headed down to The Spire lobby to meet up with Shortfin Mako. Jax was nervous. Even though he had met so many Heralds over the course of his childhood, he had never been responsible for their image before. He expected this up-and-coming Herald to be traveling with an entourage, or at least an assistant, but as he and Ralph descended to the plaza at the base of The Spire, he noticed that she was standing alone.
Dressed in her gray and black costume, Shortfin Mako stood apart from the milling passersby. Even though she was shorter than Jax had envisioned, her stature was undeniable. She was almost oblivious to her surroundings as she penciled in a notebook she was holding. Though Jax was too far away to see exactly what she was writing, he was amused by the thought that Shortfin Mako might be as nervous as he was, taking notes to stay centered and prepared. This thought allowed him to address her with more confidence than he was actually feeling.
Showing deference to his captain, Ralph hung back to allow his team leader to make the initial approach. “Shortfin Mako?” Jax asked politely, giving her a moment to look up, which she did. “I’m Borealis, and this is my, uh, associate You Eff Oh-”
“You can call me Alf,” Ralph interjected, thrusting his hand out for a shake.
“Wait, what?” Jax turned to Ralph. “Why?”
“After the alien from that old TV show. I thought you knew.” He directed the next part to their guest, “Since I was abducted. And my name…” Ralph trailed off, realizing he wasn’t supposed to reveal too much about his secret identity, especially during moments that were likely to air on Top Seed. He silently thanked The Show for the digital masking and for being able to deal with these types of fuck ups.
“Huh, I never knew,” Jax mumbled before readdressing Shortfin Mako, “My associate, Alf… Anyway, welcome to The Spire,” he started again before realizing that as an official Herald, she would have been to The Spire or Herald Towers Complex for her swearing-in ceremony. “...again.”
Shortfin Mako laughed, “Thanks Borealis. And you can call me Shortfin. In fact, my friends call me Shorty. Wanna be friends, Borealis?”
Jax silently counted to five in an attempt to settle himself. His expression seemed to amuse Shortfin even more. “You’re cute, Borealis. So, tell me, what was it about me that attracted you.”
“What?! But I’m… I don’t-”
“If I can speak for our team leader here, I believe it was your philanthropy and dedication to the betterment of the planet that led us to choose your profile,” Ralph stepped in to save his buddy.
Jax left his appreciation for Ralph’s help unspoken for now and snapped back to his planned remarks, “Yes! You have an impressive body, of um, work. Your resume, that is. And we felt that you would be the right fit for our team, to, you know, win the challenge and build up your new OnyxSocial profile. Hopefully, we will be able to do you proud.”
Shortfin Mako was grinning from ear to ear. “I have no doubt, Borealis. I’m aware of who you passed up for me. It shocked me, to be honest. I thought Silver Scream would be the first choice.”
“She’s great,” Jax thought back on the vote last night and the arguments Bailey had made, “But not the right fit for our team. And speaking of the team, they’re upstairs right now preparing for your arrival. Well, sort of, anyway. I didn’t actually tell them you were here. But they are up in our dorm, ironing out the details of our strategy. Wanna head up for introductions?”
“I always like a good surprise,” Shortfin said, still smiling. “I hope your teammates feel the same. For your sake, anyway.”