An Marie Kent
Chapter 3 Success!
THE PENTHOUSE – PH
Clark and Lana love their new digs. Lana's Fashions is doing so well that she/they can afford a lifestyle they could only dream of heretofore. Of course, they are not the type of people to splurge or flaunt her success and their finances. They live well within their means. The PH is their one outward sign of major success and financial status. They don't have luxury cars – he doesn't drive (he flies or runs!) and she can afford to use taxi cabs, and tips the cabbies generously. They did make one major upgrade to the PH; a sky-light that can be opened by remote control. So, Superman can enter straight down, and exit straight up. This reduces his exposure to prying eyes quite a bit.
One thing that embarrasses Lana quite a bit is the requisite financial reporting Lana's Fashions must do. She is not happy that it is common knowledge that her net worth as President & CEO is approaching $200,000,000! She does all she can with appropriate bonusing and affordable product to keep things in check. But her fashions are so superior that the $$$ just keep rolling in.
Her executive team has suggested the introduction of a mid-level priced clothing line. She is considering that, but she will not compromise quality or the creativity of her designers. She will not apply the brakes to her thinking designers. NEVER! Top quality and style just cost more.
Lana would rather start giving clothes away; and so, she has tasked a team of her top managers and designers to come up with a strategy of clothing giveaways. They are meeting monthly in Los Angeles – all expenses paid. She and Clark are slated to join them next month for their next meeting. Her travel is precarious due to An's arrival. Lots of flexibility is needed these days.
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LOS ANGELES
Lana & Clark do make the task-force meeting. Hetty provided a condo for them to stay in for 3 nights. In addition to meeting with the task force, Hetty requested some time to meet with them regarding An's status.
TASK FORCE
The recommendation was to have each boutique do a regular lottery for clothing to be given away (frequency TBD). The details would be up to each individual store; the assumption was that the better a store is performing, the more liberal the lottery would be. The overall country director would oversee this operation. Lana approved a 1 year trial of this plan; emphasizing that the lottery be slanted toward those less able to afford thee fashions. Everyone was satisfied.
An's SRTATUS
Hetty met Lana and Clark at their condo. She had called 3 of her contacts with little success. Right now, Vietnam was being very stingy in regards to letting children out of the country. Hetty did feel that bringing Superman into the equation might turn the tide. But that would risk exposure of Clark's super hero persona. That was a huge issue! Clark and Lana were going to work and pray! And seek more help.
MALIBU BEACH
Their last morning in LA, they spent some beach time with Densi and Neric. Lana set An on the warm sand for a few minutes; she shrunk back at first, then got to liking it. At the end she was patting the sand and giggling. It was hilarious!
Their CA friends promised to keep their eyes and ears open for possible helpful contacts. They did suggest talking with Jamie & Eddie. Jamie was a lawyer, and his dad was PC. You never knew who knew whom!
Lana bundled An up in a little parka for the trip back to Metropolis. The little girl did beautifully on her first trip via the C/K express!
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CONTACTS
SHERWOOD
Clark, Lana and An were spending an evening with Chloe & Oliver. After dinner they sat, talking.
"How long can you drag this out," Chloe was getting nervous.
"We really do not know," Lana admitted. "Nobody is asking questions, yet."
"But that won't last forever, will it?"
"Probably not," Clark admits. "Oliver?"
"Yes, Clark."
"That JNP captain. I wonder-
"I thought of him the other day. I will call him tomorrow, great idea." Oliver admits.
"But Japan?" Chloe wonders.
"We need to turn over every rock we can find," Lana huffs.
"Amen," Clark whispers.
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Jamko apartment
"Eddie here, Lana?"
"Yes, is Jamie on the call?"
"I am now. What's up?"
"We need some help naturalizing and adopting a Vietnamese child. A 3 m/o girl. Clark will tell you the story."
CK/SM tells the story, Lana chips in on recent events.
"Wow, that is so beautiful," Eddie exclaims.
"Yes, it is. But a huge problem, I imagine," Jamie cautions.
"It is. Do either of you have any advice, or contacts?"
"We don't," they look at each other and shrug. Jamie suggests, "I can sound out Erin and dad, Being very careful to not expose either of you."
"Yes, caution is the word of the day," Clark agrees.
"We'll keep you updated," Lana adds. "Bye guys."
"Bye, and send pictures, please," Eddie adds.
They do!
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BREAKTHROUGH
An gets lucky on two fronts:
Oliver's JNP captain friend has a friend in the Vietnam National Police, a Lieutenant Nguyen. The Lt was able to search records looking for parents who were asking about missing 2-3 m/o girl babies, in the general area where Superman was last working. He came up with nothing.
Hetty remembered the Japanese deputy ambassador who paid her delegation to the gala such high praise. She contacted him, and when he realized that Lana was the 'mom' asking for this consideration he was immediately on board.
These two individuals were able to leverage contacts and friendships to get the ball rolling. What pushed An across the finish line was all the work her savior, Superman, had done in country during the ecological disaster. He made an appearance in Ho Chi Minh City and the deal was done. An was naturalized and adopted! Proving that it's not what you know, but who you know! Unfair? Maybe.
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TBC