Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
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Chapter 9 – Initial Meetings
Late Morning…(Day 17)

“Brian, Susan Weaver from Eyeconics is here.” Cynthia said, standing in Brian’s office.   “She said she doesn’t have an appointment but she thought that you might give her a few moments.  There is someone with her from Belluss Occhiali.”

Brian thought to himself, ‘So this is how it all begins.’

“Cynthia, please send them in.  I’m sure I can spare a few moments,” Brian said with a smile.

Susan Weaver walked into Brian’s office.  Following her was a beautiful woman, tall, slender, and impeccably dressed.   Brian was suitably impressed.

Brian motioned for them to be seated.  They chose to sit on the sofa rather than the chairs, so Brian made himself comfortable in the adjacent chair.

“Brian, I apologize for barging in like this, but I have someone I wanted you to meet,” Susan began.  “Brian Kinney, this is Maria Silvestri.  She is VP of marketing at Belluss Occhiali.”

“Well, I’m please to meet you.  I’ve heard a lot about you.  It’s good to meet you at last,” Brian commented.  “How do you like working in the family business?”

“My father has often complained that my mother created the perfect torture for him by having only daughters,” Maria began with a laugh. “He used to think that he could marry us off and get the sons he had always been hoping for.  Several years ago he finally gave up on that idea and brought my sister and I into the business.  Evidently we have proven ourselves or else we would still be serving coffee to visitors.”

Everybody laughed at the comment.

“Speaking of coffee, can I offer you anything?”  Brian asked cordially.

Everyone indicated they were fine.

“Well Brian,” Susan began. “How is the campaign coming?  I sure hope you’re going to wow us?”

“That’s my plan,” Brian said confidently with a smile.

“Mr. Kinney…” Maria started to say, but was interrupted.

“Brian, please,” he said graciously.

“Very well… Brian, we have had six of the top international firms working on campaigns.  They have been most disappointing.  They don’t understand the products. They don’t understand our company.  It has been a disaster.  Susan seems to think that you will have all the answers. I know about all the awards you’ve received.  But I’m still skeptical,” Maria stated candidly.

“I know that you have been dealing with top notch firms, but now you’re dealing with Kinnetik.  We’re a boutique agency, so we specialize in unique campaigns to serve the needs of our clients,” Brian explained.  “I saw the three new products that your two firms created together.  Those products will basically fly off the shelves once the public gets a chance to see them.  Our job is to merely frame the product in the proper setting.  We think you’ll be pleased with what we’ve come up with.  If not, we’re prepared to work with you and your ideas, until we make you happy,” Brian reassured her.

“Really, you’re willing to work with us?  You’re ready to exchange ideas with us?  That’s a change.” Maria admitted with surprise.  She was very pleased by this turn of events.

“We’re creating two distinctively different campaigns to show you at our meeting. Of course my hope is that you’ll like the direction of at least one of those campaigns.  But failing that, our hope is that you’ll find at least a few elements from our campaigns that appeal to you, and then we can create exactly what you have in mind during our meeting,” Brian said, again restating his intent.

“So Brian, just out of curiosity, who’s going to direct the art on our project?” Susan asked, now that her curiosity had been sufficiently piqued.

“Well of course my entire art department is available for support.  And everyone is feverishly working on your boards as we speak.  So I wouldn’t be concerned Susan, trust me.” Brian reassured them.

“So is our project important enough of a priority that you assigned George or Murph to us?” Susan asked smiling.  Her curiosity was getting the better of her.

“Neither, I have someone special assigned to this project.” Brian said, with a knowing smile.

“Well who?  Where is he? We’d like to met him,” Susan continued to ask anxiously.  She was dying to meet this ‘someone special.’

“Unfortunately he had to fly to Cincinnati on business.  He’ll be back tomorrow.”  Brian said calmly.  “Susan will you relax.  Kinnetik will have everything ready for the meeting in two weeks.  Besides I created the campaign for your joint venture personally.  Your account was too important to relinquish to another ad exec.” 

“Well that makes me feel a little better,” Susan teased.

“Now is there anything else I can do for you?”  Brian asked patiently.

“No.  It’s been nice to meet you Brian.  I’m really looking forward to our meeting in two weeks.” Maria commented with a smile.  “By the way Brian, I was admiring the paintings in your lobby.  They are magnificent.”

“Thank you.  Yes, we’re quite pleased with them,” Brian said with a knowing smile.

“They give your lobby a special feeling.  I like that.” Maria continued.  “Susan was telling me that this building used to be a bathhouse.”

“That’s right.  Let’s just say it was a historic building that I had to see preserved.”

“I’m impressed by a man who, would turn a bathhouse into the corporate office of Kinnetik.  Brian, that says you’re definitely a man of vision.  I like that.  And I really like your lobby, especially those paintings.”

“Why thank you.”

“Well, we’re going to leave now and let you get back to work,” Susan said finally.  “Thanks for seeing us on such short notice.”

“It was my pleasure,” Brian responded with a smile.

“We’re looking forward to working with you and your team,” Maria remarked, extending her hand to shake hands with Brian.

Brian walked everyone to the lobby, where Maria once again lingered over the paintings.

“Brian, these are original oils not lithographs, and judging by the number of paintings, I have to assume that you’re acquainted with the artist.”

“Yes, you could say that,” Brian said with a smile.

“His work is so emotional,” Maria said, continuing to stare at the paintings. “You know Brian, maybe we should meet next week at the Eyeconics offices instead of here.”

“If you wish.  The change of venue isn’t a problem. But I thought you like my offices?”

“Oh it’s not that.  My sister is coming over for the meeting.  She’s the artist in the family.  Once she sees these paintings, we’ll never be able to get her out of the lobby, and we’ll never be able to get her to focus on work,” Maria said with a laugh.  “Don’t worry Brian, I’m just joking about changing the place for the meeting.”

“Well that’s a relief,” he said with a smile.

“Brian, we’d better get going and let you get back to work.  We’ll see you in two weeks for the meeting,” Susan interrupted.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Brian confirmed.

***
When everyone had left, Brian returned to his office and once again settled comfortably at his desk.  Within fifteen minutes, Cynthia breezed back into his office.

“Well that was a surprise!  How did the meeting go?” Cynthia asked, dying of curiosity.

“Remind me to add a bonus to Justin’s consulting fee,” Brian said with a laugh.

“Why?”

“Thanks to him, that surprise visit went soooo smoothly.  I can see where there would have been tensions all around.  I would have handled them, that’s not what I mean, but that was a smooth first meeting.  For the moment at least, we’re all on the same team,” Brian said, smiling with satisfaction.

Cynthia smiled as she realized that calling Justin in on this project was a smart move on her part.  Everything was proceeding along smoothly.  The art department was all excited to be working with Justin.  The process of having Justin and Brian meet about the artwork, and then having Justin make sure it got done, was making things so much more interesting at the office.  Brian had never been easier to work with.  Brian had never been happier.

“Cynthia, I’m leaving for the a few hours,” Brian announced.

“Now, where are you off to?” Cynthia teased.

“There is something at the house I want to take care of before Justin gets home.  I’ve put it off long enough.  I’ll probably be back sometime later this afternoon.” 

And with that, Brian left the office.

***
Meanwhile in Ohio, at the Cincinnati Art Gallery, a meeting was about to start between Justin and Tyler Larson, the managing director of the gallery.  

Justin had arrived a little early for the meeting so he would have a chance to tour the gallery and see some of the exhibits and collections.  Having a feel for the perspective gallery made it easier for him to create the paintings to be exhibited.

“Well the artist himself, it’s wonderful to meet you Mr. Taylor,” Mr. Larson began, after the gallery assistant announced Justin’s arrival.

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you too, Mr. Larson,” Justin said, extending his hand for a warm handshake.

“I know Cincinnati isn’t New York, but we like to think that we have a world class gallery here.”

“You do.  I got a chance to tour the gallery before our meeting.  Your collections are most interesting.”

“Wait until you see the new wing, especially with your work displayed.  It’s going to be spectacular.”

“I’m really honored that you even considered me as part of your emerging artist showcase, especially for such a major event as the opening of a new wing to the gallery,” Justin gushed.

“Our original plan was to include you as one of several the emerging artists.  But, after your agent directed me to your website and now that I’ve had a chance to view your work, we’ve changed our minds.  We would like to make you the ‘featured artist’ in the showcase,” Mr. Larson announced.

“What?”  Justin was stunned, this was more than he had ever expected.

“You have amassed an impressive body of work for one so young.  You seem to be continually experimenting with your art.  I like an artist that isn’t complacent.  I read the article about you in Art Forum a year ago and of course the entire art world heard about your Santa Barbara Exhibit.  You’re quite an interesting young man, Mr. Taylor.” 

“The press made too much of Santa Barbara…” Justin protested modestly.

“Not at all.  I saw the images of the paintings from Santa Barbara.  You even did a painting of comic book heroes and made them fine art.”

“The Superheroes wasn’t that much of a stretch.  As you know, I provide the illustrations for the gay comic book, Rage.  A friend and I created the comic several years ago,” Justin admitted with some pride.

“I’d heard about that.  The comic is very successful, I understand.  But I’m surprised that you would acknowledge it.  Most artists are snobbish about that sort of thing.  They don’t want their high class art tainted by the fact that they produce images for the masses.” 

Justin laughed.  “Mr. Larson, my work speaks for itself.  All of it!  I believe art should be enjoyed, whether in a gallery painting or a comic book.  A love of art can start at any age.  Besides I had two commissions for Superheroes’ type paintings, which were very lucrative, so I have no reason to be ashamed of any aspect of my art.” 

“That’s a good attitude.”

“Now, is there any particular theme or perspective you would like for the paintings for the show?”

 “I leave that up to your artistic expression.  We would like at least five, preferably ten paintings.”

“Well I think I can handle that.”

“We really appreciate your willingness to fly here to meet with me.  I hope it gives you a better perspective on things.”

“Yes, it does.”

“Mr. Taylor, my son is a big fan of Rage.  He wanted to skip school today when he heard that you were coming for a visit.  I convinced him to go to school today only because I promised to bring a picture and an autograph home.  Do you mind?”

“I afraid I don’t have any pictures with me,” Justin commented beginning to feel a bit flustered by the request.  “This has really taken me by surprise.  I suppose I could send him one when I get back to my studio.”

“Don’t trouble yourself.  My secretary has the digital camera to take a quick snapshot.  If you wouldn’t mind just signing the print.”

“Sure.”

“And my son is so looking forward to meeting you.  So don’t be surprised if you happen to be mobbed by teenage fans during the opening.  You have fans here in Cincinnati,” Mr. Larson said with a smile.

“Oh my goodness.  I never expected that,” Justin said with a smile.

“In fact, Mr. Taylor, I was wondering if you would consider staying over an extra day after the opening.  I know this is going to seem like an unusual request.  But several of the high schools will be touring the gallery the day after the opening.  I was wondering if you would stay an extra day to be available to talk to the students…sort of as visiting artist in resident.  I know the students would love it.  You’re young enough that they could actually relate to you.  I think it would be most interesting.”  Mr. Larson proposed.

“I like that idea, and I would love to do it,” Justin said, now beaming at the idea.

“I’ll contact your agent and work out the additional details,” Mr. Larson suggested.

With that concluded, they shook hands, and Justin left the gallery almost with a feeling of walking on air.

Justin’s first instinct was to call Brian and tell him the news.  Then he decided it would be better to share this news with Brian, in person, when he got home.

Justin checked the time and dialed the office of Dunbar and Smith.  Justin was about to have a reunion with an old friend, and he was really looking forward to this.