Weapons of Mass Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page A

was one mess of a woman-child. Her crinkled, honey-toned mane was brushed back into the standard can’t-do-anything-with-this-damn-hair ponytail, leaving the girl’s nut-colored face wide open for inspection. Hers was a genetic collage of biracial features—full lips and broad nose, high cheekbones and blazing green eyes—and the ultimate sign of mixed parentage—hair too curly to be straight and too straight to be curly. She wore no makeup, a denim dress that screamed “help” instead of “hip,” and sensible “feet don’t fail me now” sandals. Pia had seen the type before. Looking like she did, this girl knew what it was like to play second fiddle in an orchestra filled with Barbies.
    â€œI’m twenty-two and from Iowa…”
    Well, that explains the name and the dress
, Pia thought.
    â€œI just moved to Chicago to work as a receptionist at an advertising firm. I maxed out my credit card and borrowed the rest from my best friend, Cris, ’cause I really wanted to take this workshop, even though my parents would die if they knew I was here.”
    â€œI can’t imagine a cute thing like you having a problem getting a date,” Rhonda offered.
    â€œThe men in Chicago are way different from what I was used to in Cedar Falls. I haven’t had one date since I moved…not that I dated much at home either.”
    â€œAnything else you’d like us to know?” Pia asked.
    â€œJust that I hope Joey Clements is as good as they say, ’cause she doesn’t look like someone who knows how to flirt. I mean, she has a really cool voice, but she looks like somebody’s grandma.”
    â€œHey, we grannies are sexy too,” Rhonda said with bemused admonishment.
    â€œBut let’s be honest. Isn’t Rebecca sayin’ what we’ve all been thinkin’?” Flo asked with a conspiratorial smile. The truth of her statement caused the rest of them to burst into laughter and nod.
    â€œI don’t know,” Pia said, “there’s something…kind of sexy about her.”
    â€œAnd you are?” Tracy asked, directing everyone’s attention back to the final introduction.
    â€œHello, ladies. I’m Pia Jamison. I’m from New York; I’m an executive in the music video business.”
    â€œWhoa! You must know a lot of celebrities. Why are
you
taking this class?” Rebecca asked, in awe.
    â€œActually, I was tricked into attending. I
thought
I was speaking at a conference on the impact of sex in music videos on culture. Apparently my secretary felt it was in her job description to schedule an intervention.”
    â€œWhy would she do that?” Flo asked.
    Pia quickly threw to the back of her throat the real reason Darlene would hoodwink her like this. She had no intention of following Rebecca’s lead and bearing her soul to these strangers. “I guess she thought I needed a little help and knew I wouldn’t come to this…”—
bullshit
—“this kind of workshop on my own. All the long work hours and traveling haven’t left me much time to date these past few years, and to tell the truth I’m a little rusty with my girl skills,” she explained, settling on the half truth.
    â€œAt least all of yours are just rusty. I haven’t got any skills at all,” Rebecca interrupted.
    â€œWell, we all need something. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” Rhonda added.
    â€œLovelies, it’s about suppertime. If you haven’t selected your groups, please do so,” Joey Clements interrupted.
    â€œHow should we do this?” Flo asked.
    â€œLet’s make it easy,” Tracy suggested. “You three—one squad. Us three—another.” The six women murmured and shrugged their consent and immediately turned their attention from the whole to the newly formed parts.
    Pia quickly sized up her partners. Florence Chase