6 #2
7 p.m. London is 2 p.m. New York, so since I knew that Carmine was in class until at least 4, I called my father at home. Tuesdays are generally a Slippery Rock day for him. You never really know; it depends on his clients. But he telecommutes as much as possible. And I just tried it at home first.
“Shannon, how are you, love?”
“Dad, and I have to assume that you are home, not on a video call, or anything else.”
“You are correct; I was about to open a set of contracts that were delivered via overnight from London.”
“Well, that was fast; you mean electronic?”
“No, as in couriered from London to here direct. Someone wants this handled asap. Are you going to share? Or am I going to have to dig it all out?”
“Well, last evening, and this means they had to process everything last evening and send it overnight, I was introduced to two gentlemen from the UAE.”
“United Arab Emirates?”
“Yes, those places, whatever they actually are. The greater firm, the one I am working with, is Prestige Fashion, out of Dubai, I think. Not really sure. Some Prince or another owns Prestige Fashion out of the UAE and is part of the program to expand the UAE into an international destination thing.”
“I am aware of that movement. I have had a few contracts dealing with those folks. And before I say anything else, of all the people in the Middle East, these are the most reasonable and trustworthy; they want to earn what they want to achieve.”
“OK, well, Prestige is a firm that sells clothing, men’s and women’s, in the resorts and hotel markets associated with the UAE and in the surrounding region. Upscale, top of the line. The best of the best, and KK designs and has manufactured all of their casual women's fashions.”
“I can see that, go on.”
“And Byron, Lord Greyson, knows them very well and knows what they want in terms of models. Dad, apparently, Prestige walks a very thin line between what is allowed in an Islamic state and what their over-the-top clientele wants.”
“And again, I can see that occurring. Your part in all of this?”
“Well, Prestige uses one model per cycle, and that is a few years, for their line. They only use one face, some people do, some do not. Prestige does. And Byron had shown them raws with my image on some of the designs they are interested in. And they asked to meet me.”
“Dad, we met yesterday. Dad, the meeting lasted less than fifteen minutes.”
“And?”
“Well, I signed for two weeks this spring. Greyson was part of the entire deal and will be in touch with you very soon, like probably tomorrow. Byron wanted me to talk to you first.”
“So what did you commit to?”
“Ten days of shooting on location somewhere at one of the private resorts in the UAE. I do not know if the location has been selected yet. I will be the only model, and I do everything they want: catalog and advertisement, including billboards, wraps, and the big stuff.”
“Video?”
“None that I am aware of.”
“And all expenses paid?”
“Dad, all expenses paid, and I can bring a few friends and advisors with me; we will get back to that, as I would like you to be there.”
“Carmine?”
“No, she cannot take off class for that long. This will be in late February or early March.”
“Shannon, what did you sign for? I assume that you again signed without my being present.”
“Dad, Byron was there when I signed and said the contract is standard, and that is why he will be calling you. And Byron will be in Dubai with me, as the clothing is really rebranded KK Brands stuff. So he wants first to protect me and second, to protect his market from me. His words, not mine.”
“OK, the value, kiddo, how much?”
“OK, the contract is for two million dollars US, with a bit of a signing bonus, also residuals, but those are light as this is local on a small market. Maybe 100K print runs of catalogs, not millions as with some brands. Maybe less?”
“And the signing bonus. Ahhh… Dad, this is where I need the help, thing? OK? The signing bonus is for a dress.”
“Shannon, you signed for another dress?”
“Dad, this is a silver thread lame, and it retails for about $200K in the UAE.”
“OK, I think, more?”
“Well, there is also a $30K white fox coat.”
“Well, you are in London, and it is winter, so OK, I can see that.”
“And Dad, they offered me a car.”
“Did you accept it?”
“No, I refused. I told them that I wanted two.”
“What are they giving you, and giving is a funny word here, Shannon. A signing bonus is taxable.”
“I know.”
“So talk to me.”
“OK, two Porsche 911s, one performance and one luxury, with a right somewhere around $400K between the pair.”
“Why do I think this is not all of this?”
“And Dad, there is also some jewelry, Byron thinks that it is worth about two to three million at one of the resorts' jewelry shops. A lot less in New York or London. But still, maybe thirty to forty carats of diamonds?”
“And do you have this jewelry now?”
“Dad, I am holding it, and I do not know what to do.”
“So for two weeks' work, you are getting some five million or better in payment and bonuses?”
“Yes.”
“OK, I think I am first going to have a heart attack, and second, as soon as I can gather your mother, as she will be with me, we are flying out to London overnight. You are not prepared to deal with this.”
“Dad, I know.”
“But Dad, I wasn't warned. The Arabs told Byron that they had to see me in the silver gown before they decided to move forward. And that decision took me walking into Byron’s office in his house and sitting down, and they had made their decision.”
“Holy fucking shit, kid. You can step into some unusual shit.”
“But Shannon, why you? What was your attraction?”
“Threefold, first, I am the new kid on the block, and that equates to hot in the luxury world, just like with Byron wanting me first. Second, looks; they do not use a model who remotely appears to be from the Middle East and may be Islamic; that is not allowed.”
“But a blonde Irish blonde with blue eyes, Shannon?”
“Exactly, Dad.”
“Dad, there is one more reason. And this is very serious. Dad, I am out in the modeling world; we all knew that would happen immediately after Fashion Week, and we were prepared for it. My being born male is known in this world and is not a problem. Dad, in the Arab world,
they will never photograph a woman in swimwear.”
“And you are not a woman.”
“Exactly, Dad. I, in their eyes, am not a woman, not an Islamic, and therefore my wearing what Byron calls conservative swimwear is allowed under Islamic law in the UAE.”
“Shannon, you know I have to share this story at work, I hope that you do not mind, no one, absolutely no one will ever believe it. Only you, Shannon, only you.”
“Dad, I love you too... and Dad, I have to call Ellen as I am sure she gets a cut.”
“Shannon, does Byron also get a cut?”
“No, he gets a 50% finder’s fee for the contract, not the bonus, I think. I don’t know, Dad. I am so far over my head, and Dad, I was terrified, but you already know, it is now or the offer is withdrawn instantly.”
“I have learned that, Shannon. Not used to that, but I am aware of your reality.”
“Look, I will talk to your mother. Talk to Ellen, talk to Carmine. And Shannon, when you talk to Carmine, be gentle with her. Her mother is really hitting her hard right now. OK?”
My next call was to Ellen, and she was thrilled that I was honest and called her.
And yes, I do owe her for the work I am doing in the UAE, but strangely, I do not owe her for the signing bonus.
Basically, she was thrilled that my father was heading over to England, and would touch base with him once he got here.
And Ellen was shocked at the value of the contract.
Ellen said that she knew that the Arabs preferred transgender models, but had never figured out why.
Remember, Ellen is a New York agency, not one fixed in Europe; she does some work with KK Brands, but her European contacts are slim. And this was a first for her.
Hey, come on, it is really not as if I need the money, and Ellen has made all of this happen for me, without her, well, without her, there would be no Shannon. I had zero intention of modeling; I was at Grove City solely to support Carmine. I do not screw Ellen.