"Never trust a politician," Kasumi said with a sigh.
"Why did you say yes?" Erkath asked.
"Because she's going to find out soon enough anyway," Rowena replied.
"Why?" Erkath asked.
"Ohhh, is this to do with the brood's big secret you promised to tell me?" Kasumi asked with a smirk before adding, "It's not surprising that it has something to do with blood."
"You're going to tell her?" Erkath asked in surprise before adding, "Are you sure that's wise? Doing that will go against the brood progenitors' orders."
"It's a fair exchange, a race secret for a race secret," Rowena replied simply.
"If you say so," Erkath replied in a doubtful tone before asking, "So what did you call me for? I hope it's about Earth Fashion as that's about to launch."
"That and a couple of other things, but why don't you give me an update on that first since you seem so determined," Rowena replied.
"Why does it seem like I'm the ONLY determined one? This is your company too," Erkath replied in an annoyed tone before she began her report. "The selected photos from the photoshoot have already been sent out to all fashion media, who will release them when the non-disclosure agreement ends tomorrow morning, along with Erkath Fashion posting them on Xer-verse and all other social media accounts.
The first batch of selected clothing will go on sale in two days; however, we are limiting the amount of stock supplied to stores to keep sales and interest high for as long as possible."
"What about accessories like those sunglasses?" Rowena asked.
"We are planning to launch them along with the swimwear," Erkath replied.
"Swimwear!" Rowena replied in surprise before asking, "I thought swimwear was exclusive to Jacques Swimwear."
"See, this is what happens when your new boyfriend takes you back in time for a date and I can't contact you to give you important updates," Erkath retorted before realising what she had said and quickly asked, "Please tell me she knows about that."
"She does. I told her earlier, speaking of I need to speak to you about keeping quiet about the whole time travel thing," Rowena replied in a serious tone.
"I used to be a Universal Senator. Keeping quiet about stuff is old hat to me."
"Says the woman who thought she had just let it slip," Rowena replied with a smirk before adding, "Then make sure to talk to Malacoss about it."
"He's the leader of a planet, so I'm sure he knows what he needs to keep quiet about unless he wants to upset Adam," Erkath replied with a wink before adding, "But I will mention it to him just to be sure."
"Thanks," Rowena replied before asking, "So what's this about Jacques Swimwear?"
"We reached an agreement where we can sell Earth swimwear in exchange for us allowing them to sell some of Earth's summer clothing," Erkath replied.
"Is that okay? I thought Adam gave each of you exclusive access?" Rowena asked in surprise.
"He did, but I have the small print on the contract his AI sent over and it clearly states that while those products are exclusive to each of us, we have the right to share them out with other companies he has provided exclusivity to," Erkath explained.
"Is that right, Spector?" Rowena asked curiously.
[[Affirmative. As long as all parties come to a mutually beneficial arrangement and Adam receives at least two percent of all after-tax profits, then it is allowed.]]
"Two percent!" Kasumi, who had been listening in with interest, remarked in surprise.
"He seems to like two percent for some reason," Erkath said while shrugging.
"Isn't that a rather specific clause? It's almost as if he or Spector anticipated this," Rowena remarked.
"I thought the same, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth since it's not my…. Our competitors receiving it," Erkath replied.
"Well, since that's the case, you can probably help me out," Rowena said with a smirk.
"With?" Erkath asked suspiciously.
"Help me recommend some bikinis and swimwear for Kasumi here and also Eri," Rowena replied.
"Are they both joining you on Aqua Primus?" Erkath asked with interest.
"Yup, while Eri is travelling with us, Kasumi is heading there herself since she's already in that sector," Rowena replied.
"Hmmm, maybe I should join you. I will need a break once the first batch of Earth fashion is launched. I've hardly slept these last few weeks," Erkath said in a tired tone.
"Feel free. But will it affect the next batch to be launched?" Rowena asked.
"I can put everything in place and then monitor the launch remotely. If we do get any issues, it will probably happen with the first batch; it usually does," Erkath replied before smiling and thinking, "This could also give us another opportunity."
"What kind of opportunity?" Rowena asked curiously.
"For a bikini and swimwear photoshoot on the beach, obviously," Erkath said with a smile before looking at Kasumi and asking, "Have you ever done any modelling, Kasumi?"
"Me?" Kasumi replied in surprise while pointing to herself before saying, "Only for marketing purposes on new movies and TV shows, but never modelling."
"That's fine, Rowena can teach you the steps, so what do you say? Want to join Earth Fashions model line-up?" Erkath asked with a business smile.
Before Kasumi could reply, Rowena coughed and said, "I'm afraid you will have to take such a proposal through her entertainment company."
"Oh, you're right, I will contact Dynamic Entertainment later," Erkath replied as she forgot for a moment since she had gotten so used to dealing with Adam and the others directly regarding Earth fashion.
"No need," Rowena replied.
"Yes, do that," Kasumi replied with a scheming smile.
"What?" Erkath asked in confusion as she looked between the two.
"Why do you want her to contact Dynamic? You're leaving them in the next couple of days," Rowena asked.
"You're leaving Dynamic?" Erkath asked Kasumi in surprise.
"Yes, and I'm not the only one," Kasumi replied while looking pointedly at Rowena.
"You too?" Erkath asked, now totally confused.
"Adam's acquisition of Royal Entertainment is progressing. Only a few hours ago, he filed for a name change with the Universal Company Registration and Management Body, and once that is completed, we plan to announce Spector Entertainment's signing of me, Lorelie, Aphrodite, and now Kasumi," Rowena explained.
Erkath whistled before saying, "Damn, that's a hefty lineup. The entertainment industry's going to be thrown into turmoil."
"That's the plan," Rowena replied before looking at Kasumi again and asking, "So why?"
"What better way to say goodbye?" Kasumi said with an evil smirk.
"Oh, that's evil," Rowena said with an equally evil smirk before continuing, "You want them to get all excited about how Erkath Fashion has personally invited you to partake in the modelling of the hottest new clothing line, Earth Fashion, right before you terminate your contract with them earlier."
"Exactly, and if it's done right after Earth fashion launches, when it's all over the press, it will give an even bigger impact," Kasumi replied.
"How about this?" Rowena said excitedly as she continued to absentmindedly stroke Adam's hair while saying, "Erkath contacts Dynamic with the request and then we wait until they publish a statement regarding it. Erkath Fashion publishes a similar statement, but only mentions working with you and not Dynamic. You then terminate the contract."
"And Dynamic looks like fools because they made this big announcement only to be unable to follow through with it while Erkath Fashion and Earth Fashion get free publicity," Erkath finished while sharing the evil grin worn by the other two women.
"I love this idea, this will teach those brats to ruin the company their father spent his life creating," Rowena said while still wearing the same evil smirk before she thought of something and her face warped into curiosity as she said, "I wonder if I could get Revi to join the photo shoot."
"Revi?" Erkath asked curiously.
"She means Empress Revi. Apparently, she's going to Aqua Primus with them for a vacation," Kasumi explained.
"The Phoenix Empress is taking a vacation on Aqua Primus? Why haven't I heard anything about this?" Erkath wondered aloud.
"Probably because she hasn't announced it and wants to keep it quiet," Rowena replied before adding, "We only decided on it earlier."
"It will hardly be kept quiet when people see her on a beach, I mean, she's a universally recognised figure," Erkath replied while rolling her eyes.
"Good point, we also need swimwear and a bikini for Revi," Rowena replied as Erkath's words reminded her of that fact.
"Exactly how many people need swimsuits and bikinis?" Erkath asked in exasperation.
"Hmmm, let's see," Rowena replied before she began to list them off, "Me, you, Kasumi, Revi, Stacey, Lorelie, Tephe, Aphrodite and Eri. I think I got everyone."
"I should damn well hope so. Do you have any idea how much hatred is coming Adam's way when he turns up surrounded by all of us wearing bikinis?" Erkath asked.
"Yup, it's going to be so much fun," Rowena said with a teasing smile before looking down at Adam and, as she continued to stroke his hair, said happily, "Do your best to put on a good show, darling, if you do, I will reward you."
"Are you sure you're his girlfriend? A normal girlfriend wouldn't arrange such trouble for her man," Kasumi asked.
"Just because we're dating doesn't mean I can't still tease him. In fact, it means I can tease him even more since I have new and better ways to reward and apologise to him," Rowena replied happily.
"By sucking his cock?" Erkath asked.
"Among other things," Rowena replied while not even trying to hide her perverted grin.
"As long as you don't go fucking or sucking his cock in front of me, I'm not sure I could take that," Erkath said with a sad sigh.
"How are you dealing with the whole Vurguth thing? Have you kicked him out like you said you were going to do?" Rowena asked as she gave her friend a pitying look.
"Don't look at me with those eyes full of pity. We both know how relationships for long-lived races like ours work," Erkath shot before sighing and saying, "I've been stuck at work pretty much the entire time because of the Earth fashion launch, which is fine since I don't want to see that cheating bastard's face, anyway. I contacted him and told him to get the fuck out of my house before I go home, or I will kill him."
"Sounds like you need a good fuck, want me to lend Adam to you?" Rowena asked with a wink.
"Rowena!" Kasumi exclaimed while shaking her head.
"Shut up, bitch," Erkath replied while rolling her eyes as she said, "though if I thought you were serious, I might have taken you up on that."