30. NINA'S PROMOTION

The next day Nina received a call from the record company in the early morning when she was still drowsy. 

“Miss Nina, I'm the driver for the record company. In 30 minutes, I will come to collect it because today you have a photo shoot.” 

“A photoshoot? Nobody had told me ...!” 

“Miss Nina, I cannot give you any more explanations; I have only ordered me to bring you to the studios. Will you be ready in half an hour?” 

“Sure, but…!” 

“Then see you later, I'll honk my horn twice,” the driver interrupted, Then hung up the phone. 

Nina was puzzled and angry because no one had consulted her about a photoshoot. She called Marc because he should have known and warned her. 

“No, Nina, I did not understand, but that's their style: They decide something and carry it out without having the opinion of those interested. There are some sections of the contract that you signed that force you to accept all the initiatives that they may have for your promotion.” 

“Okay, Marc, I guess I'll get used to it, and a few poses don't kill anyone, but they could have waited even an hour more because I'm sleepy!” 

She barely had time to take a quick shower and finish dressing when the driver arrived. 

“Good morning, Miss Nina, we have to hurry, because there is a change of plans; they will not take the photos in the studio but in a junkyard on the outskirts of the city … 

“In a junkyard?” 

“Well, not exactly; in one of those areas where old cars are piled up for scrapping.” 

“And what are they trying to do, scrap me too?” 

“Haha, you have a great sense of humor!” 

“I just can't take it seriously, because it's for crying!” 

They drove a few kilometers along the northern highway, until, a few meters from the road, they saw an enormous space where piles of crashed or too old cars were piled up to allow them to circulate. 

“It must be here,” said the driver. 

Nina wondered who had chosen that dirty stage to promote her songs, most of the romantic. Why not on the beaches, which were near to there, or in some well-kept garden? She soon found out. The entrance was a parked caravan at the compound and a small group of people sitting in folding chairs drinking coffee from recyclable cups. When they saw the car arrive with Nina, who should have been the photographer, he went forward to receive her. 

“Good morning Nina, nice to meet you. I am Remi, your photographer. Don't laugh if I tell you that Remi comes from Remigio! What would my parents be thinking! Come, sit here and I'll explain what I want to do. Want a coffee? It must still be hot.” Nina nodded because the photographer linked one subject with another without stopping to speak for a moment. “Boy, bring a cup of coffee for Nina! Well, as I have chosen this site because my idea is to create images that affect the youngest, let the image of the living and the dead impress them; the beautiful and the ugly; the active and the passive. Do you understand, Nina? The contrast! Now you understand me!” 

Nina didn't understand, but she knew he didn't expect to hear her opinion. 

“Now You know what I want, while we prepare the lighting, Adela will show you your wardrobe in the caravan. I hope it is your size. 

It horrified Nina at what she should wear for that strange session. 

“But these clothes are for a female warrior thriller!” Nina exclaimed, visibly upset. “Also, I will pose practically naked!” 

“Talk to the photographer, miss, I am only in charge of the wardrobe, but I do not choose them.” 

“I think if he let me speak, I will ask him a few questions.” 

Nina protested the choice of wardrobe, but the photographer was not used to their aesthetic ideas being rejected, and he barely let her finish her question. 

“Look, Nina, I'm not a cheap photographer. With my images, thousands of products have been sold. I know what is best. Nina, you are a singer, and you will understand music, which is your thing, but you do not understand images, which is my thing. With this wardrobe and this background, we will give the image of a young fighter in the worst conditions, who overcomes adversity by combining beauty and strength. This image seduces any teenager! 

Nina tried to reply, but the photographer interrupted her. 

“No, say nothing. We agree on everything. Think about what you will earn thanks to my images for your songs' sales when they launch the promotion. That will cheer you up. But if you insist, we leave it, but you will have to face a legion of excellent lawyers who will sue you for breach of the clauses of the contract you signed, and you have very little chance of winning the lawsuits. Do you understand, Nina? Come on, be realistic, go to the caravan, and put those clothes on. We don't have all day! 

Nina was furious, but the photographer had been obvious and had no choice but to give in. 

“Marc has betrayed me! He didn't warn me of all this! ” She thought angrily. 

Her mood was not the most suitable for a photoshoot, and she had to repeat poses that she considered ridiculous among the remains of greasy scrapped cars. But the photographer seemed enthusiastic about the natural expression of her anger. 

“So, Nina, that's perfect! You are a fighter, and fighters don't smile!” 

The managing director was meeting with his directors with only one item on the agenda: Nina. 

“Young Marc has earned a promotion, he has a good nose. That girl may be a gold mine. I want you to organize a great concert and fill the stadium. That youthful woman has charisma. We will make her the new teen idol. Hiring the best opening act that attracts the youngest. Do not skimp on expenses, have a good promotional campaign. I'll get her invited to the music shows on television. Oh, and have a good video made of it! Choose the most creative director, no matter the price. Have you written everything down?” 

The directors nodded in unison. 

“Well then get to work!” 

When that laconic meeting ended, the managing director brought Marc into his office. 

“Well, young man, you have earned your promotion; you will no longer be an assistant, but a delegate of the artistic director. If you want to go far in this house, you have to climb step by step, and if you have tenacity and patience, in a few years, you can be one of my directors on the Board, but I prefer to call them “My trusted employees.” Your unused attachment office will be ready in a couple of days. If you continue like this, I would not be surprised if one day you take over my position. We are living in a world in a full revolution of unknown technology, but also of consciences. Every day there is something new. We old people can no longer adapt. This industry has to be renewed with directors who connect with all these innovations.” 

Marc endured that paternalistic speech because he wanted to know what they had decided in the Council about the future of Nina.” 

“She will give a great concert in some stadium overflowing with fans!” 

Marc understood that they had exploited the “Nina” phenomenon without too much ethical consideration. 

“Isn't it an excessive project for a youthful woman without experience?” 

“She is young, and youth can cope with everything. Fear not, I am never wrong. She will succeed! Well, that was all I wanted to tell you. Goodbye, boy, good luck in your new role.” 

And he led Marc to the door of his office. Marc had many questions about the specific plans they were planning for her promotion, but the managing director was not used to explaining his orders.