Capítulo 68: Chapter 68: Photo Book Big Seller
The shoot for the brand "Time Ciggarettes" was to take place at a tobacco plantation, specifically in North Carolina. So, Ethan flew there with Kaiden in the past few days, leaving only Jimmy back at the company.
Jimmy was also responsible for another project that had finally reached a crucial step: the photo book. He visited several publishing companies and finally selected a small publisher as a partner. Both parties would split the costs evenly, and the Cindy/Kaiden Poolside Duo photo book would be published.
Ethan had vetoed several larger publishers due to their high commission rates, as neither Kaiden nor Cindy were particularly well-known, and a few companies even suggested self-publishing.
Thus, Jimmy found a small publisher and started with a local release in New York. If it performed well, they would expand to national distribution.
To his surprise, demand exploded within just three days. New York bookstores began calling for restocks.
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"Pep! Send me all the copies you've got left! I need them all!" shouted Melsen, the owner of a corner bookstore, frantically speaking into his phone. Standing behind the counter, he could see a crowd gathered around the photo book section, discussing the photos while picking up copies. The dozen or so copies he had were nearly gone.
He didn't want to miss out on the profits, so he immediately sent a staff member to restock, yet the crowd kept growing.
A bald young man and a bespectacled guy squeezed their way through, staring at a photo of Kaiden and Cindy by the poolside, unable to suppress their excitement.
"Macden, don't they look familiar?" the bespectacled guy asked, adjusting his glasses, which reflected an image of the cover.
Macden patted him on the shoulder. "Those are the ladies from the clothing store and McDonald's, right?"
"Oh, you mean the ones from that Avril Lavigne music video! So hot—I didn't expect them to look this good without clothes on," the bespectacled guy said, straining to see the cover through gaps in people's arms.
Macden, being taller, had no trouble seeing the book in someone else's hands. "Yeah, they're hot, but Avril's still my favorite! My heart belongs to her!"
"Dream on," the bespectacled guy teased. "Even if you were handsome, you wouldn't get close to Avril. She's mine."
The bespectacled guy was so short that he was nearly off the ground, while Macden, with his height advantage, grabbed a copy from the crowd with ease.
After they paid, the two stepped out of the store. The bespectacled guy adjusted his crooked glasses and glared at the book in Macden's hands. "Come on, tear off its packaging—I want to dive right into those pages!"
"Hey! Take it easy, man," Macden chuckled, gently tearing off the wrapping and tossing it into a nearby trash can. "This is art, not something to be handled like that."
Although he said that, Macden flipped through the pages quickly, and the bespectacled guy kept straining to catch a glimpse.
"Wow!"
"So sensual!"
"Incredible—how did they even get this angle?" Macden mumbled, but it was driving the bespectacled guy crazy. He shouted, "FXXK! Macden, lower it a bit—I can't see!"
"Hang on, Shorty!" Macden crouched down so his friend could get a closer look.
The two of them squatted by the sidewalk, absorbed in the photo book.
Nearby, a few other onlookers joined in, asking, "Hey, how's it look, man?"
Macden pursed his lips. "These girls are something else!"
The bespectacled guy, brimming with excitement, added, "My body's practically exploding."
His comment made the others exchange awkward glances.
"What's wrong?" He frowned. "Don't tell me you guys aren't feeling anything."
"Alright, alright, cut it out!" Macden quickly shushed him, not wanting to get them both punched.
Luckily, the crowd was more focused on the photo book. "It's been ages since I've seen a photo book this good," one of them said. "The way the camera looks up at them—it's like you're right there."
He was talking about a shot where Kaiden and Cindy are standing together, looking down at the camera, the angle so immersive it almost feels like someone is lying between them. You can even see the taut skin impressions left by their bikinis and their enticing curves.
"I like this one," the bespectacled guy said, flipping to a photo of Kaiden's bare back against the pool, just enough of her shape visible to entice but not reveal. The hint of mystery made it all the more alluring.
Everyone had their favorite, and they huddled at the street corner, exchanging opinions, occasionally chuckling to themselves. Passersby gave them puzzled looks.
Scenes like this were playing out in bookstores and kiosks all across New York. Many who saw the book would eagerly recommend it to friends, much like how "New York Underground Art" once spread, but with the opposite reaction this time.
Rumors of the alluring photo book spread quickly. Some men openly entered stores to buy it, while others sneaked around, hiding it from their families.
Before long, it became one of the top three best-selling items in New York that month.
The night sales surged, Jimmy called Ethan with the good news.
"Ethan, our photo book is a hit! The publisher has reached out to several factories for reprints—they're working overtime. I can't believe it!"
Even though Ethan knew Jimmy was capable, he was surprised by the demand. He'd thought it would take a week or two to gain attention.
"Looks like our strategy paid off. Jimmy, tell the publisher to distribute nationwide. If he can't handle it, we'll find someone else, and we won't be fronting any costs this time."
"Don't worry, Ethan. With sales like this, no one will want to miss out!" Jimmy said, leaning back in his chair. "I bet the other publishers we spoke to are kicking themselves now. They'll probably call me back any minute."
"It's all about profits. As long as they're willing to negotiate, we'll work with them," Ethan reminded him.
"Got it. Profits above all!" Jimmy said with a grin.
As he hung up the phone, Jimmy hummed to himself and headed to the customer service area, where Lilina, with pink hair, wrapped her arms around his and whispered, "Hey, manager, I heard the photo book's doing great. When will it be my turn?"
She hugged his arm tighter, and Jimmy chuckled. "Soon. After a month of Kaiden and Cindy's photo book, you'll get your chance."
Lilina squealed in excitement, pressing closer to him.
Just as Jimmy was about to respond, the company phone rang.
He picked up with Lilina still by his side. "Hello?"
"Hello, is this Angel Agency?"
"Yes, it is."
"This is Wallace Publishing. We'd like to discuss the photo book."
Jimmy glanced at Lilina, sharing a knowing smile.
Just as he predicted, the publishers were circling back, like vultures drawn to fresh meat.
But this time, he held the advantage.
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