Fireworks: British Babe vs. All-American Girl Pt. 1
At the time of the “war”, I worked at a local advertising agency called Karrkine’s Signs. Due
to the owner’s advanced age, operational control of the agency fell into the hands of a talented local artist named Samantha Bryant. Samantha was the essence of the “All-American Girl”, from her bright, red-orange hair to the tiny freckles on her nose. She was as liberated as a girl could be, fearless, and self-assured. The vivacious beauty was always ready to give or receive a hug, and her silly sense of humor could always provide a few laughs. We met as children. In those days I called her “cupcake”, because of her fondness for them. They became her trademark. For me, it was a matter of love at first sight. I carried my crush on her down through the years. I wanted a serious relationship with her, but she insisted on keeping things more “casual”. Our relationship was on and off, hot and cold, but even when we weren’t seeing each other, the outgoing, bold beauty delighted in teasing me with flirtation and innuendo. Due to her friendliness and flirtatious behavior, I couldn’t gauge the depths of her feelings for me.
Samantha first heard the drumbeat of war when we learned Karrkine had sold the agency to a big company in Boston. Our new owners sent us a new boss. When she arrived, my jaw hit the floor. In the doorway stood a woman with an angel’s face and a body that seemed designed to fulfill a man’s wildest fantasies. The tan, light-brown-haired goddess was the most beautiful woman I’d ever met or even imagined. In a thick, British accent, the woman introduced herself as Jackie Harmony Addams. Jackie and Samantha locked eyes, appearing to size each other up. Neither woman seemed the least bit impressed by the other. The Englishwoman had come to take Samantha’s place as our boss, creating instant friction. The women took an immediate dislike to each other.
Sam stood and said, “Hi. I’m Samantha Bryant. I pretty much run things around here. I’ll be happy to get you up to speed on how we do things.”
Jackie replied, “No, Miss Bryant, I run things now. Take your seat and I’ll explain the new order of things.”
That was the shot heard ‘round the office.
War had been declared. In the weeks that followed their first encounter, the beauties from opposite sides of the pond became bitter rivals. They took pleasure in sinking their claws into each other. Jackie took every opportunity to remind everyone she was Samantha’s superior, while Sam delighted in using Jackie’s unfamiliarity with the region against her. As Sam tried to trip the Englishwoman up, Jackie delivered a devastating body blow by proving her artistic skills far outshone Samantha’s. It was a painful blow to Sam’s pride, but she fought back by convincing everyone she could that Jackie was an English snob. Sam turned the office against Jackie. Captivated by her beauty, I couldn’t give the Brit the cold shoulder. I became Jackie’s only friend on a hostile shore. My growing interest in the Englishwoman made Samantha’s blood boil! When Jackie learned of my on again, off again relationship with Samantha, the Brit started openly flirting with me, always in front of Samantha. She drove the red head half crazy. Feeling threatened, Samantha showered me with far more attention than ever before. Each woman tried to seduce me away from the other. I loved every second of it!
As weeks passed, the rivalry intensified. They tried to sabotage each other’s careers! Jackie had replaced Sam as the top local artist and openly tried to relegate the talented redhead to little more than a messenger girl. Infuriated, Sam looked for any way to strike back.
The tipping point came when I entered the office one morning and found a magnificent painting Jackie had made as a template for a major ad campaign. I found a note from Jackie explaining that she would be out of the office for several days. She instructed me to send her artwork to the printers. As I studied the work of art, Sam arrived. She took one look at the painting and insisted it wouldn’t do. After a quick call to the client, Sam decided to abandon Jackie’s idea for one of her own. I hesitated to disobey Jackie, but Sam practically begged me to back her. Staring into the pleading green eyes of a woman I had loved most of my life, I couldn’t turn her down.
I sighed. “You win, Cupcake. You know I can’t say no to you.”
She gave me a huge grin. Her artwork went to the printers in place of Jackie’s.
Monday morning, hurricane Jackie blew in. She stormed up to Sam’s desk, shouting, “How dare you disobey me? Who do you think you are?”
Samantha leaned back in her chair, slowly propped her feet up on her desk, and folded her hands behind her head, as if bored by Jackie’s challenge. Feeling certain Jackie’s unfamiliarity with the region had left the Englishwoman open to a knockout blow, Sam’s sly, green eyes and smug smile shone with satisfaction.
Jackie shoved Sam’s feet off the desk. Sam rose and faced off with the Englishwoman. The contrast was striking. Sam was a hippy-chick country girl who wore tank tops, cut-off shorts and flip flops to work. Jackie wore only high fashion, down to her stiletto heels. Sam was 5’7’’. Jackie stood about 5’8” in her heels. Jackie’s tan, perfectly proportioned body was a steel spring ready to strike, but the muscles in Samantha’s very long, pale legs flexed, ready to pounce! Jackie’s dark brown eyes smoldered. Sam’s emerald eyes blazed. Jackie stood hands on hips, thrusting out her slightly larger, firmer chest until it was inches from Sam’s own.
“I’ve worked with that local restaurant for years,” Sam said, trying to seem unfazed. “I know their needs. They always use our town mascot in their ads. Your design was all wrong for them. I’m sure the bosses in Boston will be thrilled I corrected your mistake and saved the account!”
With a thick, British accent, Jackie spat, “Pretentious fool, you have no idea what you’ve done! I was sent here to make something of your shabby little operation. I worked a deal to represent all the restaurants in the chain, not just the one in this town. My artwork left a blank space where the owners of each restaurant could insert the mascot of their choice. Thanks to your stupidity, we’ve sent every restaurant in this state ads featuring this town’s mascot! How do you think students from rival towns will react? The entire campaign must be done all over again. You’ve cost us a bloody fortune!”
The color drained from Sam’s face. Instead of delivering a knockout blow, Sam was left helpless on the ropes, wide open for a beating. Jackie was happy to deliver it. She gave Sam a humiliating dressing down in front of everyone in the office. I was shocked to see the usually fearless Sam reduced almost to tears, as she looked around at all her old friends, watching her humiliation. Sam tried to get to her feet, but Jackie pressed the palm of her hand over Sam’s face and shoved her back down into the chair! Jackie then thrust her magnificent leg out from beneath her tiny skirt, put her foot up on an open lower drawer, and used her tan leg to bar Sam’s escape.
Although I pitied Samantha, I couldn’t deny being incredibly impressed by Jackie.
After thoroughly humiliating Sam in front of her friends, Jackie marched Sam into her office and continued the tongue lashing. Jackie repeatedly threatened Sam, insisting she could have Sam terminated with one call to the bosses in Boston. I knew how much Sam’s job meant to her, but I also knew it was killing her to have to practically grovel before a woman she hated. Jackie thrust her phone in Sam’s face, daring her to call Boston and try to explain her mistake. Sam backed down.
My heart pounded as I saw each woman in turn looking out through the office window, staring into my eyes. Jackie had the wide, closed-lipped smile of the cat that ate the canary. Sam had been the canary. Jackie clearly wanted me to witness her domination over her rival. Sam looked at me fighting tears of shame. Her lips silently formed the words, ‘I’m sorry.’ I didn’t understand the need for apologies. I wasn’t in any trouble. Jackie reserved all her venom for Sam.
The Englishwoman continued to impose her will on the American woman for half an hour. When Jackie was done, no one had any more doubts about which woman was the boss. Samantha bolted from the building, red faced, fists clenched, biting her bottom lip in an effort to hold back tears of shame. I knew Sam desperately wanted to turn around and rip Jackie apart with her bare hands, but Jackie had won the day. Samantha had no choice but to retreat.
The incident became known around the office as “The Boston Massacre”, but the real battle was still to come!
To Be Continued….
