seemed perfectly nice, in a loud, colorful Texas kind of way. She was sure her story was deeper than what she was telling, but then again, whose wasnât? And that Rebecca Vossel was a mess. Her personality cocktail of youth, enthusiasm, and desperation could prove to be an annoying combination for the team. Still, Pia fought the impulse to judge her.
âWoo-hoo!â Flo cheered, lifting her wineglass to everyone at the table. âTo the future weapons of mass seduction.â
âBook me on the first flight back to New York tomorrow,â Pia barked into the phone while navigating the hotel lobby on her way back to her room. âAnd then pack up your desk. Youâre fired. And I really mean it this time.â
â
Chica
, you just got to California. Youâre supposed to be in class learning something,â Dee said, ignoring her boss.
âYeah, well, we just finished dinner and hereâs what Iâve learned: Thereâs no way Iâm doing this. Iâm not going to subject myself to some stupid workshop with a bunch of desperate housewives and man-hungry singles. You punked me. The confirmation letter said this was a workshop called Weapons of Mass Seduction: The Impact of Video Vixens on Society, not some bombshell excavationâ¦Oh my God, you actually created that letter yourself, didnât you?â
âWell, you wouldnât have gone otherwise. Come on. Make this your resolution. Itâs a new year, only two weeks old. Time for a new, flirty you.â
âI donât do the resolution thing.â
âYou need professional help,
chica
. Stay and get it.â
âIâm not crazy, Dee,â Pia hissed into her cell phone. âI canât believe you tricked me into coming to this thing. Do you know anything about this workshop?â
âYes, Iâm looking at the ad right now,â Darlene said, and began to read.
Â
Need to restock your amorous arsenal?
Is there someone youâd like to meet or a relationship youâd like to renew? In four days you can become a deliciously dangerous
Weapon of Mass Seduction
The WMS workshop will teach you the skills necessary to create a loving, sensual relationship with yourself and others.
Youâll learn everything you wanted to know about
Â
⢠sensuality vs. sexuality
⢠winning the flirting game
⢠making your life a more enjoyable, passionate and awe-inspiring experience
âSounds like fun,â Dee concluded.
âWell, itâs not. There are lectures, homework, and tests. And Joey Clements, well, sheâs a piece of work. Sheâs supposed to be some sort of international flirt expert, but she looks more like an escapee from a commune. I mean, she is kind of sexy, but what is some hippie broad going to teach me about flirting with New York men? AndââPia shook the workshop folderââI can do this myself.â
âI have just two words for youâ¦Bill Dorante.â
âSo our date only lasted an hour. We just didnât hit it off.â
âOkay, two more words: Theo Johnson.â
âWoman, you need a bigger vocabulary,â Pia said, cringing in residual embarrassment. Even though it had been more than six weeks since their crash-and-burn lunch together, she still felt mortified by the mention of his name.
âWell, we had to do something. Grand Nelson is the only man left on the
papi
list, and that makes him the golden sperm. If you blow that, then what?â
âI have no damn clue,â Pia replied as she opened the door to her room.
âExactly. And thatâs why you are out in California trying to learn to be a civilized girl again. Now you go do your homework and Iâm going home to write my Hector. God willing, weâll both get laid soon.â
Chapter Four
ThursdayâIndividual Sensuality
I t was 7:50 A.M . and Pia sat alone in the WMS makeshift classroom, taking her first exam since