Marta Rocks Ivan's World, And The Girls Parents Get A Surprise Call

When they got to Ivan's office his secretary said he was in a meeting with a man from the set building shop, Dmitri just grabbed Marta's hand and barged into the office anyway, he apologised to the construction man saying he could visit Ivan later, pushing the guy out of the office.

"Sorry about that, but what Marta is about to tell you is going to rock your world."

Marta now realized just how important Dmitri thought her idea was, so she clearly and carefully repeated the idea just as she had earlier, at the same time watching Dmitri watch Ivan for his reaction.

Ivan's first reaction after a short pause, was to call his secretary for tea and cakes, when she came in he told her he wasn't taking any calls until further notice but he may be having some more staff in, so be prepared with more tea, coffee, and sticky buns.

"Well Marta I knew you were working on something big, but I didn't see that coming, of course up until now I doubt if anyone had thought of the forum as anything other than a talking shop for members, it was only recently that sales started to make any real use of what they were talking about. Until you and Anna started learning English I think there were only six or seven of us on the staff who could read English that well"

"This is a really clever idea, something that the members will love, real interaction with the girls, so I need to address all the people who can help launch this project, we need to get it right first time, but we will need to wait until there are a sufficient number of girls to join in, maybe just weekends or twice a week to start with then build up from there."

Dmitri joined in, "We need an introduction page to tell the members how they are expected to behave, no smutty language or questions that might be inappropriate, or they will not be allowed to speak to the girls, we will have to work up a set of rules."

"You could tell them that not many of us have learned how to speak English, which is why the forum is starting slowly, some guys might want to help sponsor their favourite model to take English lessons", both men looked at Marta amazed at yet another gem of an idea, "Of course they will be able to see when a new girl joins she will be slow and sometimes use the wrong word, but will get better with practice."

Ivan was busy scribbling down a list of names, he then called in his secretary, telling her to call all those people for a lunchtime meeting in the big conference room, order a deluxe buffet lunch with plenty to spare in case more people turned up, and he also wanted all the white-boards she could round up, and to see if she could find Anna and Valya as well.

They sat for a while longer kicking around points they wanted to expand on in the coming meeting, when Ivan halted the discussion to ask Marta a question, "Marta am I right that there are six in your family?", at her nod he called his secretary back to contact property agents and get details of nearby five bedroom apartments or houses.

Marta wondered about the sudden change of topic, until he started on about their family moving to Kiev as soon as possible, and how he would speak to her parents tonight.

The next thing she knew Ivan, Dmitri and the secretary were leaning over her and helping her up from the floor, she had fainted, she had never done that before, Tanya the secretary helped her to the ladies room, where she freshened up and washed her face, then applied a little make-up, before returning. She was still trying to come to grips with the fact Ivan meant that her family should be living in a house with five bedrooms - one each!

It was only with Anna's contract extension, Marta's job, and then Anna's recent super set that their father had started to consider a move, but he was thinking maybe next year, this would be a shock, they better be sitting down tonight when Ivan called.

She saw Anna heading for Ivan's office, so she grabbed her sister and returned to the ladies toilet, where she updated her on what had been happening since she spoke to Dmitri and Ivan this morning, hand in hand they walked back to Ivan's office, only to be redirected by Tanya to the conference room, where some of the people had started to assemble for this hastily arranged meeting.

The level of conversation dropped in the room when the caterers arrived with trays full of sandwiches, snacks, pastries, individual creamy desserts, and a large bowl of fresh fruit.

More staff came in to set down plates and silverware, and soft drinks, it seemed the room had it's own tea urn, and coffee machine at the far end of the side table. Valya sneaked up behind them and put her arms around both girls, squeezing them, and asking what Marta had done to get Ivan in such a lather, "You'll have to wait and see like everyone else" said Ivan who had in turn approached silently behind Valya.

Some while later Ivan tapped a glass to gain everybody's attention, "Ladies and gentlemen if you are all fed and watered please come and sit at the table, Marta and Anna up this end please" Marta took hold of Valya's hand to join them near the end of the large oval table.

Ivan apologised for any inconvenience he may have caused by calling a meeting at such short notice but soon everyone would realize what the fuss was about, he then asked a stunned Marta to present her idea.

Marta felt Anna and Valya who were sitting either side, each squeeze a hand.

She had never spoken in a meeting bigger than the school chess club, but she got to her feet and started hesitantly, cleared her throat, and tried to pretend she was a member of the debating club instead, to be sure everyone could hear about her proposal.

She guessed it was going well, they paid attention, didn't talk over her as adults did some-times and they gasped in all the right places, when she finished her presentation she sat down to cheers and applause from her audience, but the only thing she was aware of was the look of adoration from her younger sister who had a tears in her eyes, so she leaned over to give her a hug, and slipped her a tissue.

Ivan thanked Marta for her fluent and concise summary of her idea, and told the gathering of the broad scope of ideas Marta was responsible for, and how she and Anna had spent nearly every spare moment in recent weeks learning English in order that Anna would be able to meaningfully address their clients in a new range of videos.

Ivan then asked if there were any questions before they got down to brain storming, when he had sorted those he called on four people to go to the white boards, where each person wrote a heading, Business, Technical, Presentation, and Sales, saying he expected some issues would show on two or more boards.

What followed started out quite orderly, but soon became a stream of comments and suggestions all overlapping one another with the white board attendants busily writing or rubbing out as the meeting progressed, fortunately Tanya came round topping up drinks for everybody.

Two hours later a fag and bathroom break was called, Marta asked Ivan if she, Anna and Valya could slip away as they had no way to help with the topics that were now being dealt with, and she wanted to talk with her sister about the video. Ivan thought that would be a good use of their time, but not to work too hard, and he would see them later and take the three of them out this evening.

The first thing Marta did was phone home, she found the boys were at a friends home so her mother could speak freely, she told her mum that it would be a good night for the boys to have supper and sleep over at Nana Olga's, and no there weren't any problems, and they would get a nice phone call later, and they might want to sit down to listen, and no she wasn't going to say what it was about, and yes that was Anna laughing.

All three went to the spare office near Dmitri's work area, where Anna had been practising earlier, and Marta asked to see the routine she had worked out for her video.

Anna started stepping about with high kicks as she began her chant.

"T - I - G - E - R - S, go tigers go", at the same time waving imaginary pompoms, turned then bent over and shook her bum at her audience of two, then resumed her chant.

"Tigers, Tigers, make that play, Tigers, Tigers, make our day", the performance continued with similar inane shouts and provocative movements, until Anna ended in a bow.

Her audience of two gave a short ovation, both agreeing it was a good imitation of the type of demonstrations they had seen in the video clips, but Anna sensed her big sister was in some way unsatisfied with her effort, and asked what she had done wrong.

"You didn't do anything wrong, in fact you were brilliant, I'm just unsure if this is the right subject for your first video, we will use it, I even asked the costume department to make you an outfit", Anna was impressed by Marta's boldness, "but I think we should look to do one of the other options for your first shoot"

Marta got out her 'video plot book' and the three of them looked at the various script ideas and plot outlines, until Valya suggested they do the cookery one, as it was more 'innocent' and a real domestic setting would give the audience something they could relate to.

They went over to Dmitri's work area to sort through the stacks of magazines, even finding a few new titles Valya had added to her subscription list. They eventually settled on baking something, either brownies or cup cakes, eventually deciding on the cup-cakes as Marta said they provided more interesting opportunities, and wrote a list of all the ingredients they would need, saying they should get extra to do a practice run before filming.

Valya said they should go and drop the cases at the apartment and then they could check what they needed to buy for the shoot, so they set off taking the magazine with them.

The kitchen really was useless, a few side plates, cereal bowls, cups, glasses and cutlery, that was all that was there, so they made a list of what they would need. Measuring jugs, scales, bake-ware, utensils, oven gloves and apron, and that was before they even got to the ingredients they would require to make the cakes. Valya took them to a shop where they were able to get all the cookware including two cup cake baking trays in order that Anna could show her audience 'some I made earlier'.

Then they shopped for the eggs flour,butter and such that were needed, Marta thought they should include jam and squirty cream for it's artistic potential, and coloured sprinkles, and sugared candy shapes, just because she could.

They had just finished putting everything away in the kitchen when Ivan called to say he would be round at half past six, then he would call their parents before going out to supper.

By the time he arrived all three were ready wearing their stylish new dresses, ready for an evening out, and Ivan complimented them saying how lucky he was to have such pretty dining companions.

He handed the girls a folder containing several glossy brochures, each displaying photos of luxurious new apartment buildings, both inside and out, there were also two houses among the information and each set of details even had a map showing where in the city they were. Ivan and Valya stood there grinning as the two girls, shuffled through the property details spread across the table as they marvelled at features of each one.

"Anna could you imagine living in that house, the views down over the city, and a garden where Greg an Peter could play, and mum could grow flowers, don't pinch me I'm worried I might wake up and find this is just a dream"

"It's no dream girls, I want you to move here as soon as it can be arranged, so let's call your folks and see how they feel about coming to live in Kiev", with that he picked up the phone and called, speaking to their dad who had been awaiting the 'nice' call that he and his wife had been speculating about since his return from work that day.

Ivan explained how both girls had become such valuable assets to the studio it would be a lot easier for everyone if the family were to live nearby, and how he had already found some properties that the girls were reading about as a new family home, by the end of the call it had been arranged for them to travel to Kiev on Friday evening with the boys so they could spend the weekend viewing the prospective properties.

Igor and Ella were beyond stunned at the latest news, especially as Igor had come home that evening with news of troublesome rumours of job cuts at the company where he worked, now more than ever it seemed that Anna's little dream of helping her family through hard times with hopes of building a small nest egg were exceeded many-fold.

During their meal that evening Ivan answered many of their questions about their parents impending visit this coming weekend, how they would be staying in another apartment in the same building, and how he would have someone from the property agents show them a range of places available that they could lease. When Marta expressed her worries about city prices Ivan assured them this would not be a problem as the earnings of either one of them, would justify the lifestyle they were about to become accustomed to, and still allow a nest egg for their future.

Then the girls were concerned about the boys schooling and also for their own, at which point Ivan said their brothers school would depend on where they decided to live but for them, as they could use the transport system by themselves, they might like to go to one of the two schools favoured by some of the other models who had moved into the city.

When they voiced concerns about how they would fit in at a new school, Ivan said when they had chosen where to live he would call together some of the models who lived in the city to tell them about the schools, and they would share a common bond with some of the girls at whichever school they preferred. He also reminded the girls he had promised to introduce their father to several local businesses, so he was bound to quickly find a job.

After a day so full of excitement and upheaval they fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow, none of their usual night-time chats. The next morning Valya crept about so as not to wake them, so they could have a lie-in.

When the girls did rouse themselves, Marta was worried they may be late, but Valya told them the studio would be in turmoil for a while just working out how to deal with her last idea, and maybe they could just work from the apartment today. After breakfast Marta and Anna started on a list of things they wanted to do that week, before the rest of the family turned up.

Anna wrote the list while Marta organised their thoughts, "We need to do a practice run on the cakes, while we work out what we will do on the video, and we should visit Vladimir and the props department for any additional ideas, and I want to find out if Dmitri can let us know how to read the members forum to see what they are saying about you, and it would be neat if we could get a preview of the properties, and we need to learn more about using the internet", Valya then jokingly asked what they would do after lunch.

They went through a dry run on the cake making, Anna just getting all the packets, and things, pretending to make the cakes while Marta and Valya added suggestions about what improvements they could think of at each stage. At eleven o'clock Anna tried the real thing, wearing an old skirt and tee shirt so they could test out the effects they were trying to achieve. They proved two things, that Anna could be as messy as required for the video and that the cakes were perfectly edible.

They did go to the studio after lunch, dropping off a few cakes, then asked Tanya, Ivan's secretary if it was possible to call the property agent she had spoken with, to see if they were available that afternoon to show some prospective clients around the properties, listing the ones that they were most interested in seeing. With this in mind they had washed and changed after their baking adventure that morning, now trying to look the part of girls who might live in that sort of property.

Later the agent had to wait while the receptionist called up to tell them that the man was here for their tour of the homes they wanted to view. After the initial introductions he more or less ignored the girls when they had been settled into the back of the car, and spent his time trying to ingratiate himself with Valya as they headed for the nearest location.

Meanwhile in the back of the car the girls looked at one another and had one of their near silent conversations, coming to an agreement with few words spoken. The first apartment was in a beautiful park like location, with an elevator to the sixth floor, where they discovered there were only two apartments at each level. Marta winked at Valya as she and Anna set off looking around while the man gave Valya the full on 'sales' talk.

The girls went from room to room, taking in the air of spaciousness, and the views presented from three sides of the building, and noted from the one full bathroom plus the addition of a guest toilet this was at the lower end of the specified listings.

The man wore a tolerant, but vaguely annoyed expression to be interrupted from his spiel by the girls returning, and Anna's announcement she didn't think it was suitable, Valya was straight onto the girls game, "Yes Miss Anna I'll get him to show you something else"

He now realized he had been wrong footed, he had done a lot of business with the people at that office complex, so he didn't dare treat this as a practical joke, but how was he meant to deal with a school aged client, and she wasn't even the eldest of the two kids.

Thinking he had better try and redeem himself he asked if they had seen the listings he had sent, and if they favoured any one in particular, so he could show those, or any he had that were similar, at the same time he was desperately trying to remember the name of the other girl who he thought was probably 'Miss Anna's' older sister.

Marta produced the folder that Tanya had placed the brochures in, and pulled out the ones they had liked best, handing them over with a few comments about the preferred aspects of some of them. Now feeling he had regained some ground he sorted through the selection, to determine a route, then asked more questions in the hope he could hastily close the transaction.

By the time he shut the door on the third property the girls had given him some idea of what they liked or disliked about each one, and true to his trade he had held the better prospects till last in order to make them stand out from the crowd.

The next offering was a two story house facing a park where children were playing, his having caught references to younger brothers thought this ticked many of their boxes.

The girls liked it but were disappointed with the small rear garden, while they were upstairs inspecting the bedrooms, there was a squeal of brakes followed by shouting. They rushed to the window in time to see a driver telling off some lads for chasing into the road after their ball. "To dangerous for the boys" they said in unison.

By the sixth property he was beginning to wonder if he was in the right job. A five bed, two story house with great views, not with the original listings, so he had driven them back to his office to collect the keys in the vain hope they would either bite or go elsewhere.

Marta and Anna checked the road, no through traffic as the road ended 200 metres further on, master bedroom with en-suite, two bedrooms linked with a shared bathroom between them, theirs, and a communal bathroom for the boys to use, there was even a further toilet off the entrance hall. The ground floor had a lounge, a study, dining room, and a great family kitchen which was easily big enough to eat in, and in addition the was a built in garage for a car they didn't have, although their dad could drive.

They gave the house a thorough inspection, checking all the built-in wardrobes, each of the bathrooms, the kitchen fittings and appliances, even the garage come workshop, then they moved to check the outside of the house and look at the gardens, noting that there was room for the boys to play ball. As the man looked on he couldn't help thinking the older girl, from her remarks appeared to know what she was doing, not knowing that in previous summers she had at times helped her father who was a maintenance man.

"This is my first property deal" the ten year old said to him, which didn't come as any surprise, "my sister normally handles business matters, but I would like my family to see the house on Saturday before we conclude our transactions, as they will be arriving by train, do you have a minibus for bringing them to this or other places on Saturday?"

He was able to assure her that would be possible, then Anna asked if he could show them the local amenities, already having checked the location of the nearby school that would not require the boys to cross any main roads. There was a small parade of shops a short walk away, a very nice park with a play area and a swimming pool within a short bus ride.

Marta suggested they needed to buy a local map, but the man said he had one they could have, with a deal in view, he could buy a new one from his commission. They thanked him for his patience, and agreed a meeting time for Saturday morning at the apartment block where they were staying, although the girls were keen on the last house they had viewed, they said if he thought of anything similar, they could also view those with the family.

That evening Valya gave them another new experience, they went out for a Chinese meal, which they all thoroughly enjoyed. On Wednesday morning it was decided they would visit Dmitri, though busy working on Marta's 'talk to the models forum' he was happy to set up the computer in the spare office so they could access the members forum, only it wasn't a spare office any longer, it now bore a new nameplate.

Marta - Development Consultant & Natasha's manager.

"Mum and dad will shit themselves when they see that", Marta slapped her hand over her mouth and turned red when she realized she had spoken out loud, everyone else just laughed and congratulated her. The office desk had two nice chairs, with a computer linked to the main network server, with their own user-names and passwords, also there were all the cables to set up their laptop. There was now also a separate table they could use for meetings with six chairs.

They had brought in with them the laptop, phrase book, and dictionary, hoping they would be able to look at the forum, Valya left them alone to look at it as her knowledge of English was quite limited compared to the girls. Paging back through the history of the forum they were now able to read many of the posts about about 'Natasha', some of the crude and earthy remarks caused Anna to blush, but Marta pointed out though her fans had made naughty comments, none of the people had anything negative to say about her.

To get a more balanced view they also read posts about other models, and Marta noted the amount of comment about any particular model generally rose and fell in line with the release dates of their photo sets or videos, and she wanted to explore at some time if the number of posts about a model was reflected in sales figures.

To be continued in chapter 10