Confrontational level Essay Example for Free

Confrontational level Essay Shown by Helens sheer lack of thought for her daughter Jo, she has no consideration for her feelings. She continually ensures the suppression of her daughter and at one stage has the audacity to express this on a confrontational level. I have to consider something far more important than your feelings.(Pg 1)  This is further confirmation of Helens severe disrespect and heartlessness towards her daughter. An attitude which stemmed from her initial rejection to motherhood and forthcoming child. She blames Jo for her divorce-her birth being the event that revealed Helens unfaithfulness to the husband she described as a retard. In my judgement, she has not learnt to handle her problems and take full responsibility for her immoral doings. This has proven very costly in both her and her daughters lives. Cathies mothers consideration for her can be described as the other end of the extreme. Her calm, quiet approach to the situation reveals how valuable she sees their relationship; enough not to be damaged in a way that Helen made possible.  The fact that Helen doesnt know much about her daughter and Cathies mother feels she knows her daughter is of significance in their relationship. Helens reaction to Jos personal drawings was one of shock, yet pleasant surprise. I didnt realise I had such a talented daughter.  This demonstrates not only the fact that she hasnt spent quality time learning and bonding with her daughter, but the sad reality that Helen hasnt desired to. Prior to the above quote, Helen implied that she expected her daughter to tell her everything about herself she has a right to know.  I thought you said you werent good at anything  Here, we see that Helen has just taken Jos word for the matter; she has simply accepted it and not bothered to know otherwise.  The fact that some daughters are able to talk to their mothers about boyfriends/relationships shows the closer friendship a mother and daughter can share. Helen didnt know whether or not Jo ad a boyfriend, and this mirrors the lack of confidence Jo has in Helen as a Mother, let alone a friend. Helen doesnt seem to possess A Mothers Fondness the built-in, unconditional, love and interest a Mother has in the welfare of their child. On the other hand, Cathies mother feels that she knows her child all too well. She is confident that her daughter wouldnt understand her if she showed she was angry:   I knew that she would not see my anger, as love for her  The Mothers maternal instincts lead her to believe something was not right when her daughter didnt arrive home on time. This shows that Cathie is respectful of her Mothers wishes to be home on time. Her mother is familiar with her character and feels she knows her. She says:  she would have poured to tell me if she was going away anywhere.  When each Mother-daughter relationship begins to encounter difficulty, the Mothers react differently. Cathies Mum blames herself for her daughters behaviour. She is fully aware of her parental responsibilities/duties. She knows that her actions have a deep impact on her daughter and their relationship status. I had failedit was my fault she was as she was. I had brought myself pain.  The Mother distinguishes the problem and wants to make amends to their estranged relationship. She does her best to prevent yet another hurtful row and keeps silent; praying it wont happen again.  Helen however, (as mentioned previously) doesnt spare a single thought for her daughters feelings. She quite willingly expresses her thoughts and emotions in a rude and obnoxious manner and openly declares that she is not responsible for her daughter or their situation.  Have I ever laid claim to being a proper mother.  This quote shows that she is not hypocritical about herself, which in a way is a good thing. However, there is nothing positive about Helens approach to motherhood. Unlike Cathies Mother who blames herself, Helen points her finger at Jo:  Its your fault In act__scene__, Helen attempts to justify her reasons for neglecting Jo.  QUOT   The way in which the daughters are portrayed in the text differ in that so much sympathy is evoked in the audience for Jo. She has had to live her life and grow up without a true Mother. She has not had someone to look up to, someone to show her love and be a backbone, especially during the time of adolescence. The atmosphere at the flat is one of hopelessness, tension and distress, which is why we feek sirr for her. SETTING ON STAGE In A Mothers Fondness we sympathise with the Mother as she cares so much for her daughter who feels as if she doesnt.  Despite the many differences in each mother-daughter relationship, there are also many similarities. One of which is the way both daughters use some form of escapism to avoid facing up to their problems. When Cathie learned that her mum had been everywhere looking for her, she asked her friend Elaine if she could stay and not return home. She had missed two busses and expected that her mum would be very upset with her. She would be furiousThis meant another row.  Elaine, I dont want to go home. Cant I stay here?  It is evident from this quote that Cathie would rather remain with her friend, away from home and the prospect of another argument with her mother. This teaches the audience that the disagreements she had with her mother were emotionally very damaging she couldnt bear another instance wherein she and her mother were on bad terms.  Unlike Cathie, Jo recites nursery rhymes for fun with Geoff. This can be read into and analysed in a psychological sense: the nursery rhymes bring her laughter, which aids in transporting her to the childhood she never enjoyed. You look like a spratt. Jack Spratt, whod eat no fat, his wife would eat no lean and so between then both, you see, they licked the platter clean. Did u enjoy that dramatic recitation? (pg51)  Her question at the end prompts a positive response from Geoff who doesnt want to deflate her cheerful mood. She encourages that he joins in, wanting someone to play with as it were.  You say one We can imagine that this was said with a happy expectant look upon her face. Geoff then proceeds to recite another rhyme and upon completion, she expresses how much she enjoyed it: I like that. Do you know any more?  Jo is keen that this playful, childlike interaction between them continues. She gets much more out of it than would any other average person. The fun factor and distraction nursery rhymes brought about were doing her good she was not dwelling upon thoughts of her broken family.  Both Jo and Cathie feel as though they are not receiving enough care and attention they want to feel loved. This is another similarity found in each relationship. During the car journey Cathie and her mother made home, they remained silent (as previously highlighted). Though most other teens resent the fact that in the same situation, their mums would talk endlessly about how worried they were and so on, Cathie would rather that was the case. I was angryshe was acting as if nothing had happenedShe simply didnt care about me  In any relationship, it is important that there is balance between certain factors. Cathie and her mum are at one end of the extreme maintaining their silence no fuss. This is the absolute opposite to Jo and Helen who are at the other end of the extreme.  In Jos case, she threatens to jump out of the window in order to determine whether or not Helen cares about her. She wants to hear someone does actually care for her. Her desperation and longing for love is made evident in her dramatic actions. Jo is aware that the concept of actions speaking louder than words is never going to be a reality for her. Therefore she resorts to grabbing any ounce of love Helen had to offer her even it was mere words. This attention seeking is to be expected from Jo, as Helen never really gave Jo a mothers love. We can be certain that a lack of communication is common within each relationship. Weve seen how Cathies mother found it difficult to express her upset to her daughter and visa versa. We also know that the effects of this were negative: Cathie felt that her mother didnt care for her, and her mother felt that Cathie hated her. The two of them are alike in that they pretend that everything is ok between them when there are clearly important issues to be tackled and discussed. It is important that each mother and daughter feel they can talk to each other on a mature and serious level. At times, we see Jo making attempts to do so. However, Helen does not respond to this very well and is constantly changing the subject showing her inability to listen to her daughter.

International marketing importance and role

International marketing importance and role International marketing is simply the application of marketing principles to more than one country. A great number of economists assures that international marketing is an on-going historical process, this process leads to the increasing integration of the production of goods, services, ideas, culture, communication and environmental pollution on a world-wide scale, imparting locality of populations and labor. Importance of International Marketing A firms international marketing program must generally be modified and adapted to foreign markets.   This international marketing program uses strategies to accomplish its marketing goals.  Within each foreign nation, the firm is likely to find a combination of marketing environment and target markets that are different from those of its own home country and other foreign countries.   It is important that in international marketing, product, pricing, distribution and promotional strategies be adapted accordingly.  In order for an international firm to function properly, cultural, social, economic, and legal forces within the country must be clearly understood.   The task of International marketing is more difficult and risky than expected by many firms.   One of the most controlling factors of international marketing is management.   It is very important for managers to recognize the differences as well as similarities in buyer behavior.  Many mistakes can occur if managers fail to realize that buyers differ from country to country.   It is the international differences in buyer behavior, rather than similarities, which cause problems in successful international marketing. Who is responsible? An international marketing manager is a manager responsible for facilitating the exchange of products between the organization and its customers or clients. Sometimes an international marketing manager will find difficulties in completing the exchange of products.  Many surprises in international business are undesirable human mistakes.   An international corporation must fully understand the foreign environment before pursuing business matters.  To be effective in a foreign market it is necessary to understand the local customs.   Knowing what to do in a foreign country is as important as knowing what not to do.   Failure to understand local customs can lead to serious misunderstandings between business people. Important Factors It is very important to be able to interpret the different means of communication in international marketing. It is almost impossible to attain complete knowledge and understanding of a foreign culture.   As established, culture plays an important role in the drama of international marketing.   Of all the cultural aspects, communication may be the most critical.  It is certain that communication has been involved in a number of cultural confusion.  Good communication linkages must be set between a company and its customers, suppliers, its employees, and the governments of the countries where it performs business activities. Issues with International Marketing Communications Poor communication can obviously cause various difficulties.  One source of difficulty among starting companies is that of effective communication with potential buyers.  The problem is that there are many possible communication barriers.  Sometimes messages can be translated incorrectly, regulations overlooked, and economic differences can be ignored.  Other times when the message does arrive, its ineffectiveness can cause it to be of no value. Every now and then a buyer will receive the message, but to the companies disappointment, the message was sent incorrect.  It is normal in multinational businesses to send and receive messages on a regular basis.   Many well-known people have incapacitated public speech introductions by using inaccurate titles and names.  Not all communication problems are verbal.  Some serious problems have occurred as a result of non-verbal communication.  Non-verbal communication exists in numerous forms.   Sometimes a persons appearanc e can convey a stronger message than intended. The perception of the product characteristics plays an important role in the international marketing strategy.  One must realize that the importances of a certain product traits vary from country to country.  Multinational corporations, therefore, must consider varying promotional tactics.   Adapting the product but using the same promotional mix is a strategy used when a product will not appeal to different local tastes. This international marketing channel is sequence of marketing organizations from nation to nation that directs the flow of products.   Most industrial products use shorter channels. One of the most basic levels of international marketing is licensing.   A license is a contractual agreement in which one firm permits another to produce and market its product and use its brand name in return for a royalty or other compensation.  This grant may be in the form of a direct sale of rights or be limited to a certain period of time. International licensing can be tied to joint ventures between the parent and the subsidiary. International marketers tend to concentrate on higher income countries as either personal, disposable, or discretionary.   For obvious reasons, marketers tend to concentrate on higher income countries.   Some producers have found that their products are more likely to sell in countries with low income.   As in domestic marketing, the determining factor is how well the product satisfies its target market.   International marketing encompasses all business activities that involve exchanges across national boundaries.   A firm may enter the international market for many reasons.   Whatever the reason international marketing can provide and efficient way of entering the market.   A firms marketing program must be adapted to foreign markets to account for differences in the business environment and target markets form nation to nation.   The marketing mix may require the modification of cultural, social, economic, and legal differences. Foreign marketing requires the under standing of various additional costs, which tend to increase the prices of exported goods.   The marketing program of an international company must adapt to the necessities of a foreign market. The strategies it uses to accomplish a firms marketing goal should be the main priority of the marketing program. Communication involves the skilful use of all the capacities of language organized into a system of tools, techniques and transmission devices. For example, if the idea of advertising is to create in the customers mind utility and value, this means that the marketer has to position the product in a way that makes it desirable to the customer, enabling transference of a basic need into a want. International integrated communication involves the formulation of vision that results in a strategy and implementation of an integrated communications plan in more than one country in various parts of the world, as opposed to the entire world, which would then make it global. Problems with International Marketing Communications Both the international marketing and marketing communications literature deal with this by adding some international elements to the basic process. The task that the sender has is to use socio-cultural cues and symbols familiar to the receiver and to select media that are socio-culturally and legally appropriate (if available). The increased difficulties are underscored by the idea of both the senders and the receivers realm of understanding and field of experience. Clearly factors affecting communication in the international context are such things as language for example brand names perception for example colour, values and beliefs for example veneration of the elderly or local advertising regulations for example comparative advertising. The complexity of the situation is clear to see. The difficulties of getting the message across the sender-receiver can be difficult These difficulties are exacerbated in the international setting. Marketing communications in  international markets  needs to be conducted with care, some of the factors that need to be considered in relation to  international marketing communications  (Promotion) are: The work ethic of employees and customers to be targeted by media. Levels of literacy and the availability of education for the national population. The similarity or diversity of beliefs, religion, morality and values in the target nation. The family and the roles of those within it are factors to take into account. International marketing is much more than just translating your advertising campaign.   Successful global brands communicate by understanding and adapting to local markets. One of the issues discussed in International marketing communication helps in uncovering how to reformulate products for local palates for instance HJ Heinzs wanted to market its oat based baby food in china. Research showed that the Chinese were not familiar with oats and hence it introduced methods of international marketing communications. Globalization in the sense of firms from all over the world interacting and dealing with each other is expected to be the normal state of affairs for the majority of businesses. In the industrial or business-to business sector, this pattern may be even more pronounced because advanced communications and transportation technologies have the potential for enabling the laws of comparative advantage to be realized to a very high degree. Thus, businesses that were used to dealing with other businesses from all over the country will now seek relationships from all over the world. Internet-based B2B E-commerce, has, of course, been at the vanguard of the expected revolution in the way global business will be conducted in the future and has led to uncounted predictions of a worldwide e-business revolution where virtually all industrial firms will be linked together in a gigantic electronic global network . Yet, this scenario seems a bit too simplistic. All of the hype about global B2B E-comm erce, networks, hubs, electronic auctions, etc., implies that the only thing standing in the way of electronically linked businesses on a global scale is the right technological hardware and software that, once put in place, will have global businesses operating with the precision and reliability of a Swiss watch. After all, this technocentric view suggests that the only difference between operating around the block or around the world is geographical distance. Therefore, it is just a matter of having the right satellites, telecommunications networks, and supply chains in place to solve this problem of distance. In an era of relatively instantaneous contact between organizations across the seemingly shrinking globe, why should one consider cultural distance at all? Simply because culture affects virtually all of human behavior. For example, culture has been defined as the software of the mind.Hofstedes extensive research on culture has helped conceptualize one of the most popular theories of cultural types, as evidenced by well over 1000 citations from Cultural Consequences reported in the Social Science Citation since 1980. His approach to culture initially identified four underlying value dimensions: (1) individualism vs. collectivism, (2) large vs. small power distance, (3) strong vs. weak uncertainty avoidance, and (4) masculinity vs. femininity (a fifth dimension, long- vs. short-term orientation was added later). The role of marketing communications in international marketing strategy has never been greater than in the emerging global competitive environment. A connecting fact in the literature is the understanding that the various elements of the communications and it shouldnt be isolated if they are to be utilized optimally and successfully these must be taken as part of a total concept for optimal results. Cultural issues may be even more prominent than they are for tangible goods. There are large variations in willingness to pay for quality, and often very large differences in expectations. In some countries, it may be more difficult to entice employees to embrace a firms customer service philosophy. Labor regulations in some countries make it difficult to terminate employees whose treatment of customers is substandard.  Speed of service is typically important in the U.S. and western countries but personal interaction may seem more important in other countries. A very complex and controversial issue is that of ethics. The varying norms and social values, many a time make the international business environment very intricate and perplexing. The term business ethics refers to the system of moral principles and rules of conduct applied to business. That there should be business ethics means the business should be conducted according to certain self recognized moral standards. There is, however, no unanimity of opinion regarding what constitutes business ethics. An international marketer often finds that the norms of ethics vary from country to country. What is ethically wrong or condemned in one nation may not be in another. Another issue is whether it is ethical to sell products are banned in some countries because of their harmful effects in other countries (often in developing countries). One issue is that if the government of a country permits the marketing of such a product, should a company give up the sales of the product on its own. If the harmful effects of a product outweigh the benefits, a company with sound ethics will not do business in that product even if there is no legal objection. With the increasing globalization of the business world, international segmentation becomes an ever more important concept in marketing. The globalization forces now at work push many companies to extend or reorganize their marketing strategies across borders and target international segments of consumers. Conclusion Business in the age of globalization has both facilitated and necessitated a move towards the internationalization of organizations of all sizes (Wood Robertson, 2000). However, while globalization is indisputably occurring in a variety of shapes throughout the world, there is as yet a considerable gap in the literature regarding the internationalization of businesses. Consequently, organizations engaging in international business frequently find themselves utterly unprepared for the environments they are entering and unaware of the potential risks involved in the internationalization move. This lack of preparation is already evident in the criteria applied to discriminate international markets against one another in order to select suitable countries for market entry. Often, countries for international business activity are chosen according to soft factors, i.e. factors such as proximity or personal preference, rather than hard factors such as market size, growth rate or accessibility

Food Supplies: Purchasing, Receipts and Storage

Food Supplies: Purchasing, Receipts and Storage The purchase, receipt and storage of food Choosing a supplier It is essential to purchase food from approved suppliers who have demonstrated a commitment to high standards of food hygiene Controls to minimize hazards from supplies/suppliers Select the least hazardous materials/ingredients e.g. pasteurized egg and ready-prepared vegetables. Specify the standard and quality of product required including the delivery temperature. Branded products usually preferable. Delivery and unloading of food The main hazards associated with deliveries are contaminated food and the multiplication of bacteria as a result of prolonged delays after unloading and before refrigeration. Unsatisfactory delivery vehicles or drivers or drivers may indicate unsatisfactory deliveries. High-risk food should be delivered below 5?, frozen food at-18?. Controls All food should be inspected before placing in storage. Deliveries should be checked for freshness, temperature, colour, odour, contamination, infestations and satisfactory packaging and labeling. Contaminated food from unapproved sources, perishable food above 8?, frozen food above -15?, food with evidence of pest activity and food which is not covered or in damaged packaging or which is out of date is suspect and may need to be rejected. The supervisor and the supplier should usually be notified. As far as practicable, external packaging should not be brought into food preparation areas. A separate deboxing area is recommended. Unloading should be completed as quickly as possible. Staff should be trained to deal with deliveries effectively and to prevent contamination occurring. Records of deliveries should be retained to enable traceability in the event or food poisoning or a food complaint. Safe food storage Correct storage is fundamental to the hygienic operation of any food business. Failure to ensure satisfactory in the event of food poisoning or a food complaint. Safe food storage Correct storage is fundamental to the hygienic operation of any food business. Failure to enable satisfactory storage conditions will result in hazards (contamination and multiplication of bacteria), mould, spoilt food, discoloration, staleness and pest infestation. Dry food stores Rooms used for storage of cereals, dried and canned foods should be suitable for this purpose, vermin-proof and kept clean and tidy. Hazards encountered include soiled delivery trays, pest infestations, damaged and leaking cartons, out-of-date stock, soil from root vegetables and chemical contamination. Controls Keep stores dry, cool, well lit and well ventilated. Effective pest control measures, storage of food at least 15cm above the floor and stock rotation systems are essential. Care with deboxing/opening sacks will avoid foreign body contamination. Food should be stored away from the walls and pipes affected by condensation and on suitable shelves such as tubular stainless steel racks, or in mobile rodent-proof bins. Spillages should be cleared away promptly. If possible, fruit and vegetables should be stored separately from other food. Fruit should be examined regularly as mould spreads rapidly. Vegetables heavily contaminated with soil should be stored below, for example, fruit or lettuce on the vegetable rack. Potatoes should be stored in the dark to prevent sprouting or turning green. A separate store should be used for storing cleaning chemicals. Blown, badly dented, seam-damaged, holed or rusty cans should be rejected. Staff should be trained to store food correctly, to remove spi llages, how to rotate stock and to recognize signs of pests and unfit food. Chilled storage High-risk and perishable foods should be stored under refrigeration to prevent most pathogenic bacteria bacteria from multiplying and to slow down the rate of spoilage. Refrigerators and freezers should be sited in well-ventilated areas away from heat sources, such as oven and the rays of the sun. Operating temperatures and monitoring Refrigerators usually operate between 1? to 4?. The display temperature should be checked every time the fridge is used. It should be recorded at least twice a day. The actual food temperature should be recorded at least weekly and whenever the display temperature is unsatisfactory. temporary rises in display temperatures will occur if doors are left open or a large quantity of food at room temperature are loaded into the fridge, for example, bottles of soft drinks or lemonade. Temperatures should return to normal very quickly and food temperatures must not rise above 8?. Contamination and covering of food Raw food must always be kept apart from high-risk food to prevent contamination of high-risk food with food poisoning bacteria. Separate refrigerators are preferred, although, if in the same unit, the raw food must always be placed at the bottom to avoid contamination. Food should be covered to prevent drying out, cross-contamination and absorption of odour. Care should be take to protect foods such as lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers from dripping blood. Packing and stock rotation refrigerators must not be overloaded, and food should never be left between products for air circulation. Only perishable foods should be stored in the refrigerator. This includes vacuum packs and pasteurized cans of meat. Stock rotation is essential to avoid spoilage. New stock should be placed behind existing stock to facilitate stock rotation. Open cans of food Opened and part-used cans of food, especially acid food such as fruit, fruit juice or tomatoes, must not be left in the can as this may result in chemical contamination. The unused contents should be emptied into a suitable container, such as a plastic bowl, covered and placed in the refrigerator. Defrosting and cleaning Defrosting and cleaning should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Most units defrost automatically and should be cleaned and disinfected at least weekly. Bicarbonate of soda (one tablespoon to 4.5 litres of water) may be used, but perfumed cleaning agents must not. Food should be placed in another refrigerator whilst the cleaning is being carried out. Staff training All food handlers must receive instruction on the correct use of the refrigerator especially in relation to contamination and temperature control. They should be told not to keep the door open for longer than necessary. Corrective action If the fridge temperature remains too high this may be a result of overloading, e.g. completely blocking a shelf or because the thermostat is too high. Inform your supervisor immediately. If the problem cant be solved, an engineer should be brought in. Food should be placed in an alternative fridge, unless it has been above 8? for more than 4hours, when it should be destroyed. Freezers and frozen food Commercial freezers should operate at -18? or slightly below. At this temperature food will keep for a reasonable time with no bacterial growth. However, spores and dormant

The Silo Strangler- Creative Writing :: Creative Writing Essay

Slowly trudging through the swampy field silhouetted by the moon, was the fifth victim of the Silo Strangler. He was 15 years old, 5ft 6 and was the usual teenager who thought that the world revolved around him and that nothing could hurt him. His father laid down the rules in his house and the one he, made a point of most was that Andy should not sneak out of his bedroom and night to go and drink with his friends. Not only was it illegal for him to be drinking, the Silo Strangler was lurking around and had already killed four people in the vicinity of the village. It was violating this rule that got Andy killed. It started as soon as he climbed out of his bedroom window at 10:30PM. He shuffled down the cast iron drainpipe down the side of his house to the ground, he sneaked around the house in total stealth making sure nobody saw him. He crossed the well-lit main road, which spoiled the serenity of the village, bringing more people to the village who bought houses for obscene amounts of money and the Buttermilk Bluebeard. Then he climbed awkwardly through the barbed wire fence trying his best not to damage himself or his clothing as his parents would know he had been out if he did. Now he was in the field he could not run through it, he had to slowly walk, down the edge of the field, as there was corn on the cob growing in it so he had to take care not to stand on or trip over one of the corn plants. When he came to the end of this field he had could run through the next field then he had to walk through the woods to the other side of the village. The woods were strange place, especially in the dark when everything seemed to change. Trees looked like people. Branches looked like arms and normal noises like and owls hooting, or a bird setting of to fly made you feel like you were being watched.

Philosophy Statement :: Educational Teaching Teachers Essays

Philosophy Statement Education is one of the most important jobs I believe one can do because children learn what they need to succeed in life, along with responsibility, people skills, and leadership. I cannot imagine a job I would be more passionate doing other than teaching, especially since I love children. I want my classroom to be very exuberant and lively. I want to have paintings on the walls, along with educational and motivational posters. My bulletin board will be changed monthly. It will have a place to display students work, and a place to recognize students when they have their birthday. My bulletin board will be very colorful and fun. I will seat my students in either alphabetical order or in a boy-girl arrangement. Students cannot choose their own desks at such young ages because they will sit by their friends and talk all the time. I want to use desks rather than tables because I believe students need their own personal space to work and learn. Any projects that my students do I will display around the room before they can take them home. I want them to be proud of their work and have everyone in the class see how everyone does things differently. Projects that they do might be art or science projects. I would like them to have an art center, and a hands-on science center to do these projects in. I also want them to have a reading center that they can go to and read a book in peace. While I will have library books for them to choose from, I also want to have encyclopedias. Last but not least I would like to have a technology center. I want to have at least 2 computers, with Internet access, that my students can use for a certain amount of time each day. I believe that with all the advances in technology it is important that students learn how to use a computer, and the Internet. My classroom will be run in an authoritarian manner. I will demand respect from my students, and in return I will give them respect.

Sustainability and Environmental Standards

Sustainability and Environmental Standards: Seeking Competitive Distinction at Damai Lovina Villas . Executive Summary Throughout this analysis, my purpose is to clarify and condense the information so the reader will have a better understanding at the end of the analysis. This analysis will be broken up into six categories; the executive summary, issue statement, alternatives analysis, recommendations, actions and implementations, and data analysis. In the issue statement, there will be a brief overview on how the hotel companies and the environmental regulations clashed.Throughout the alternative analysis we will discuss different alternatives that Damai could have focused on to benefit and sustain his hotels. As we move to the recommendations our group will give clear advice on how we would’ve handled the situation. Actions and implementations will implement the steps that Damai took to clean up his name and benefit the locals that were on the island. The data analysis will be a break up of data to better explain the situation at hand. Issue Statement:One of the major issues impacting the Hotels was that the environmental regulations were lacking since existing standards were not enforced and growth often was promoted to the detriment of the environment. For years the Balinese government had promoted sand dredging to enlarge the island for more hotel development off the port of Benoa. By the continued dredging of the sand, this would in effect alter the water currents and the new currents have eroded the natural beaches bordering the town Sanur.Dredging projects rarely involved environmental impact studies or guaranteed protection of natural areas as required by law. Tourism was the island only source of income, but this source of income was causing serious social and environmental problems. For example the drinking water often slowed to a trickle during daylight hours due almost exclusively to the high demand for water in the resort area of Nusa Dua. Also the lack of a centralized waste collection system has encouraged alternative solution such as the formation of an informal collection system.Many hotels and residents left used paper and plastic outside of their properties. Despite these challenges the system successfully diverted a significant amount of waste from the landfill. Data analysis: As the benefits of advertising proactive environmental efforts were recognized by global hospitality hotels targeted environmentally conscious customers to gain competitive advantage as a result of which helped non luxury hotels command premium prices of $30/night in a very competitive industry. Marketing sustainability shows that participation in a VEP could be costly depending on the program.Adopting a formal EMS and certifying it IDO 141001 may typically cost $270-$1370 per employee depending on the extent to which the company had instituted proactive environmental and continual improvement procedures prior to implementing a formalize d Ems. Although more than a dozen VEPs and eco-labeling programs targeted the hotel industry by 2006 only handful of these were available to Indonesia hotel. Alternatives analysis: Damai has several alternatives to ultimately benefit and sustain its hotel.Damai could of considered voluntary environmental programs and take the risk of the hotels luxury to take a negative impact by lacking integration that can possibly have a major impact in the long run. Another alternative damai could of pursued was a better marketing strategy that fully described everything about the hotel in regards to its environment, community status overall. This could have been achieved through a brief slideshow that offered key components of information on the website or brochure developed by Damai.Damai should focus less on advertising its produces of food and more on the sustainability efforts. A better description and more detailed amount of information given about the hotels sustainability efforts along w ith other factors will ultimately create more attraction for business. Recommendations: So at to expand capacity by constructing additional rooms, Damai should ensure that existing room were filled and that the restaurant operated above its current 65% occupancy. This will bring improvement in the business as Knape hoped to better integrate Damai into the local network of eco-hotels and eco-tours.Damai should continue to rely on its website and local travels agents to promote the hotel’s sustainability vision because Damai’s website was the primary vehicle for marketing hotel’s various sustainability efforts which directed environmentally conscious customers to an organic resort link to learn about the hotel’s sustainability vision. Besides, these local travel agents will play an important role by promoting the hotel’s sustainability vision to customers, which will benefit the industry. . Action And Implementation:Through a partnership with IPSA, D amai helped the farming and fishing communities remediate the effects of management techniques that could be harmful to the environment and public health. The burning of agriculture impaired air quality and human health, which comes from the hundreds of small farms that operate in a single community. The hotel work towards teaching farmers composting methods and organic growing practices, using IPSA products to increase the pace of decomposition. Damai utilized a water recycling system that directed used guest water to on site tanks.All wastewater was filtered through a series to tanks containing volcanic rock, porous rubber, and sand and then reused in the hotel gardens. Even waste from the toilets, was then collected and treated using natural enzymes to break down the organic waste. This waste was then passed through a series of filters and re used in the hotel gardens. One of the hotel big implementations came when it decided that they should join forces with local farmers to rec laim eroded topsoil. Damai built a series of large rock wall filters in the river that ran through the property creating a series of waterfalls.At the bottom of each waterfall was a large pool of water that captured much of the topsoil from the hotel pools to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. Question: 1. The relationship between tourism and social/environmental issues in Bali was every thing that was resulted from tourism had impacts on society and environment of Bali. Although tourism plays an important role in Bali’s economic growth and financing, it also caused serious social and environmental problems. Bali’s hotel alone required 260 liters of water per second, which was an amount equivalent to the typical water consumption of 50,000 villagers when drinking water in Denpasar often slowed to a trickle during daylight hours due almost exclusively to the high demand for water in the resort area of Nusa Dua to the south. Besides this Hotel and retail chains ha d avoided locating in Lovina Beach of Bali because it was less accessible than South Bali. 2. Bali’s environmental status was affected by different government polices like the government’s focus on energy development and resource extraction, close relationship with developers, and lack of budgetary caused many citizens to lose faith in its ability or intent to protect Bali’s environment.Environmental regulations in Bali was lacking since existing standard were not enforced and growth often was promoted to the detriment of the environment. The Balinese government had promoted sand grudging enlarging the island for more hotel development off the port of Benoa. Dredging projects rarely involved environmental impacts studies or guaranteed protection of natural areas as required by law and when they did was almost never monitored for accuracy. The island had one government-operated landfill that was located outside Denpasar on reclaimed tidal land.Like many landfills in emerging economies, it lacked controls to guard against groundwater contamination. 3. Firms did not need to wait for government in order to take action in addressing Bali’s social and environmental issues. Many Balinese began to get discouraged of how the government handled the environmental and social issues that occurred. Instead Balinese citizens took matters into their own hands and decided to rely more on communal code guided by strong social norms to influence behaviors 4. Damai’s focus was to sustain and distinguish their hotels.Since damai did not participate in the idea of voluntary environmental programs they were able to avoid the luxury status of the hotel to downgrade. It complemented the sustainability program because the hotels reputation remained the same by relying on other factors such as the website and travel agents that have the potential to create a positive impact. 5. There are numerous sustainability activities Damai had already implemented. Which activities can be described as pollution prevention, product stewardship, clean technology/innovation, and sustainability vision?Pollution prevention: Damai has made an impact on the local surrounding when it comes to preventing pollution, for example normally at the end of each growing season, traditional farming practices involving the burning of agriculture waste to generate ash for the fertilizing of the next year crops. But hundreds of farmers in the community lack the knowledge on how the burning of agriculture impaired the air quality and the human health. The continued of burning of agriculture drive a greatly needed source of income which is tourist away from the community due to poor air quality.Damai solution for this is through partnership with local farmers to educate them about different ways of making fertilizer, which is through the different composing methods and organic growing practices using products from IPSA, which would increase the pace of decompositio n. Product stewardship: Damai shift from paying a deposer contractor to lovina Beach, to pick up the hotel’s solid waste, which transports the waste back to a dispensary, had proven costly. So Damai develop an environmental efficient way by transporting plastic and bottle containers to their respective suppliers to be recycled and reuse.To save cost of the purchasing of the purchasing of water, the Damai hotel use waste from the toilets, which are collected and treated using natural enzymes to break down the organic waste. This waste then passed through a series of filters, which is then re-used in the hotel’s gardens. By doing this implementation of treating waste from the hotel, Damie water conservation efforts reduced hotel water use by 75%. Clean technology/innovation: Hotel works closely with local famers and village leaders to develop the best possible way to reclaim the community eroded topsoil.The eroded topsoil came about because of traditional irrigation wate r systems, and monsoon rains, which caused fertile topsoil to flow from the rice paddies and drain into the ocean. The problem of the loss of topsoil loss prompted more farmers to rely on chemical fertilizers to grow their crops. Damai address this issue by building a series of large rock wall filters in the river that ran through the property creating a series of waterfalls. At the bottom of each waterfall was a large pool of water that captured much of the topsoil lost from the seven villages surrounding the hotel.This showed the hotels continued efforts to better the community through is efforts, Damai went on to encouraged the local farms to reclaim their topsoil from the hotel pools to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. Sustainability Vision? The hotel had chosen to refrain from promoting its sustainability focus in guest rooms, restaurant and gardens. Damai also decided not to involve guest in an optional linen reuse program in order to maintain its luxury status, even though such programs had become popular in the US and European hospitality industry. . How does Damai’s current sustainability focus compare to the environmental performance criteria listed in the VEPs listed in case Exhibits C-H? Damai did not participate in any VEPs. However, the hotel was considering if it would be beneficial for the hotel to participate in the VEPs. Damai was not able to expand its capacity by constructing additional rooms; the most important way to improve the hotel was to ensure that existing rooms were filled and that the restaurant operated above its current 65% occupancy.By doing this, Damai had integrated itself into local network of eco hotels and eco tours. Damai has different sectors in which its market itself whether marketing through its website which directed environmentally conscious customers to an â€Å"organic Resort† link which help customers learn about the hotel’s sustainability vision. Damai provided travel agents with in formation about the hotel, some the travel agents began to market the hotel as being environmentally conscious by advertising that Damai produces 80% of its food local gardens. 7.Best Green Hotels and others have no financial charge listed. A 10% expense on lodging charge has to be paid by the owner that lists on the Eco Lodge even though the website is free of charge to utilize. The number of rooms and workers determine the fees for Global Green 21. Hotels with less than or equal to five workers or less than ten rooms pay $395, whereas hotels with less than or equal to 50 works or 70 or less rooms pay $1610. An independent external auditor must also be appointed along with the cost of becoming ISO 14001 certified. . I recommend that Damai join the Eco Lodge Program. The program offers ways to tutor guests and staff of environmental protection by recycling trash and water. Partaking in this program allows Damai to network with members who are not wasteful and proved to contribute to environmental protection. It also gives his future customers a way to view Damai on the Internet, which has over 600 travel agencies. Although there is a 10% commission it doesn’t compare to the benefits Damai will receive from being on the site.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 1

I wished the guy on top of me would hurry up because I was getting bored. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like he was going to finish anytime soon. Brad or Brian or whatever his name was thrust away, eyes squeezed shut with such concentration that you would have thought having sex was on par with brain surgery or lifting steel beams. â€Å"Brett,† I panted. It was time to pull out the big guns. He opened one eye. â€Å"Bryce.† â€Å"Bryce.† I put on my most passionate, orgasmic face. â€Å"Please†¦please†¦don't stop.† His other eye opened. Both went wide. A minute later, it was all over. â€Å"Sorry,† he gasped, rolling off me. He looked mortified. â€Å"I don't know†¦didn't mean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's okay, baby.† I felt only a little bad about using the don't stop trick on him. It didn't always work, but for some guys, planting that seed completely undid them. â€Å"It was amazing.† And really, that wasn't entirely a lie. The sex itself had been mediocre, but the rush afterward†¦the feel of his life and his soul pouring into me†¦yeah. That was pretty amazing. It was what a succubus like me literally lived for. He gave me a weary smile. The energy he'd had now flowed in my body. Its loss had exhausted him, burned him out. He'd sleep soon and would probably continue sleeping a great deal over the next few days. His soul had been a good one, and I'd taken a lot of it – as well as his life itself. He'd now live a few years less, thanks to me. I tried not to think about that as I hurriedly put on my clothes. Instead, I focused on how I'd done what I had to do for my own survival. Plus, my infernal masters required me to seduce and corrupt good souls on a regular basis. Bad men might make me feel less guilty, but they didn't fulfill Hell's quota. Bryce seemed surprised at my abrupt departure but was too worn out to fight it. I promised to call him – having no intention of doing so – and slipped out of the room as he lapsed into unconsciousness. I'd barely cleared his front door before shape-shifting. I'd come to him as a tall, sable-haired woman but now once again wore my preferred shape, petite with hazel-green eyes and light brown hair that flirted with gold. Like most of my life, my features danced between states, never entirely settling on one. I put Bryce out of my mind, just like I did with most men I slept with, and drove across town to what was rapidly becoming my second home. It was a tan, stucco condo, set into a community of other condos that tried desperately to be as hip as new construction in Seattle could manage. I parked my Passat out front, fished my key out of my purse, and let myself inside. The condo was still and quiet, wrapped in darkness. A nearby clock informed me it was three in the morning. Walking toward the bedroom, I shape-shifted again, swapping my clothes for a red nightgown. I froze in the bedroom's doorway, surprised to feel my breath catch in my throat. You'd think after all this time, I would have gotten used to him, that he wouldn't affect me like this. But he did. Every time. Seth lay sprawled on the bed, one arm tossed over his head. His breathing came deep and fitful, and the sheets lay in a tangle around his long, lean body. Moonlight muted out the color of his hair, but in the sun, its light brown would pick up a russet glow. Seeing him, studying him, I felt my heart swell in my chest. I'd never expected to feel this way about anyone again, not after centuries of feeling so†¦empty. Bryce had meant nothing to me, but this man before me meant everything. I slid into bed beside him, and his arms instantly went around me. I think it was instinctual. The connection between us was so deep that even while unconscious, we couldn't stay away from each other. I pressed my cheek to Seth's chest, and his skin warmed mine as I fell asleep. The guilt from Bryce faded, and soon, there was only Seth and my love for him. I slipped almost immediately into a dream. Except, well, I wasn't actually in it, at least not in the active sense. I was watching myself, seeing the events unfold as though at a movie. Only, unlike a movie, I could feel every detail. The sights, the sounds†¦it was almost more vivid than real life. The other Georgina was in a kitchen, one I didn't recognize. It was bright and modern, far larger than anything I could imagine a non-cook like me needing. My dream-self stood at the sink, arms elbow-deep in sudsy water that smelled like oranges. She was hand-washing dishes, which surprised my real-self – but was doing a shoddy job, which did not surprise me. On the floor, an actual dishwasher lay in pieces, thus explaining the need for manual labor. From another room, the sounds of â€Å"Sweet Home Alabama† carried to my ears. My dream-self hummed along as she washed, and in that surreal, dream sort of way, I could feel her happiness. She was content, filled with a joy so utterly perfect, I could barely comprehend it. Even with Seth, I'd rarely ever felt so happy – and I was pretty damned happy with him. I couldn't imagine what could make my dream-self feel this way, particularly while doing something as mundane as washing dishes. I woke up. To my surprise, it was full morning, bright and sunny. I'd had no sense of time passing. The dream had seemed to last only a minute, yet the nearby alarm clock claimed six hours had passed. The loss of the happiness my dream-self had experienced made me ache. Weirder than that, I felt†¦not right. It took me a moment to peg the problem: I was drained. The life energy I needed to survive, the energy I'd stolen from Bryce, was almost gone. In fact, I had less now than I'd had before going to bed with him. It made no sense. A burst of life like that should have lasted a couple weeks at least, yet I was nearly as wiped out as he'd been. I wasn't low enough to start losing my shape-shifting ability, but I'd need a new fix within a couple of days. â€Å"What's wrong?† Seth's sleepy voice came from beside me. I rolled over and found him propped on one elbow, watching me with a small, sweet smile. I didn't want to explain what had happened. Doing so would mean elaborating on what I'd done with Bryce, and while Seth theoretically knew what I did to survive, ignorance really was bliss. â€Å"Nothing,† I lied. I was a good liar. He touched my cheek. â€Å"I missed you last night.† â€Å"No, you didn't. You were busy with Cady and O'Neill.† His smile turned wry, but even as it did, I could see his eyes start to take on the dreamy, inward look he got when he thought about the characters in his novels. I'd made kings and generals beg for my love in my long life, yet some days, even my charms couldn't compete with the people who lived in Seth's head. Fortunately, today wasn't one of those days, and his attention focused back on me. â€Å"Nah. They don't look as good in a nightgown. That's very Anne Sexton, by the way. Like ‘candy store cinnamon hearts.'† Only Seth would use a bipolar poet as a compliment. I glanced down and ran an absentminded hand over the red silk. â€Å"This does look pretty good,† I admitted. â€Å"I might look better in this than I do naked.† He scoffed. â€Å"No, Thetis. You do not.† I smiled, as I always did, when he used the pet name he coined for me. In Greek mythology, Thetis had been Achilles' mother, a shape-shifting goddess won by a determined mortal. And then, in what was an astonishingly aggressive move for him, Seth flipped me onto my back and began kissing my neck. â€Å"Hey,† I said, putting up a half-hearted struggle. â€Å"We don't have time for this. I have stuff to do. And I want breakfast.† â€Å"Noted,† he mumbled, moving on to my mouth. I stopped my complaining. Seth was a wonderful kisser. He gave the kind of kisses that melted into your mouth and filled you with sweetness. They were like cotton candy. But there was no real melting to be had, not for us. With a well-practiced sense of timing that you could probably set a watch to, he pulled away from the kiss and sat up, removing his hands as well. Still smiling, he looked down at me and my undignified sprawl. I smiled back, squelching the small pang of regret that always came at these moments of retreat. But that was the way it was with us, and honestly, we had a pretty good system going when one considered all the complications in our relationship. My friend Hugh once had joked that all women steal men's souls if they're together long enough. In my case, it didn't taken years of bickering. A too-long kiss would suffice. Such was the life of a succubus. I didn't make the rules, and I had no way to stop the involuntary energy theft that came from intimate physical contact. I could, however, control whether that physical contact happened in the first place, and I made sure it didn't. I ached for Seth, but I wouldn't steal his life as I had Bryce's. I sat as well, ready to get up, but Seth must have been feeling bold this morning. He wrapped his arms around my waist and shifted me onto his lap, pressing himself against my back so that his lightly stubbled face buried itself in my neck and hair. I felt his body tremble with the intake of a heavy, deep breath. He exhaled it just as slowly, like he sought control of himself, and then strengthened his grip on me. â€Å"Georgina,† he breathed against my skin. I closed my eyes, and the playfulness was gone. A dark intensity wrapped around us, one that burned with both desire and a fear of what might come. â€Å"Georgina,† he repeated. His voice was low, husky. I felt like melting again. â€Å"Do you know why they say succubi visit men in their sleep?† â€Å"Why?† My own voice was small. â€Å"Because I dream about you every night.† In most circumstances, that would have sounded trite, but from him, it was powerful and hungry. I squeezed my eyes tighter as a swirl of emotions danced within me. I wanted to cry. I wanted to make love to him. I wanted to scream. It was all too much sometimes. Too much emotion. Too much danger. Too much, too much. Opening my eyes, I shifted so that I could see his face. We held each other's gazes, both of us wanting more and unable to give or take it. Breaking the look first, I slipped regretfully from his embrace. â€Å"Come on. Let's go eat.† Seth lived in Seattle's university district – the U-district to locals – and was within easy walking distance to assorted shops and restaurants that lay adjacent to the University of Washington's campus. We found breakfast at a small caf? ¦, and omelets and conversation soon banished the earlier awkwardness. Afterward, we wandered idly up University Way, holding hands. I had errands to run, and he had writing to do, yet we were reluctant to part. Seth suddenly stopped walking. â€Å"Georgina.† â€Å"Hmm?† His eyebrows rose as he stared off at something across the street. â€Å"John Cusack is standing over there.† I followed his incredulous gaze to where a man very like Mr. Cusack did indeed stand, smoking a cigarette as he leaned against a building. I sighed. â€Å"That's not John Cusack. That's Jerome.† â€Å"Seriously?† â€Å"Yup. I told you he looked like John Cusack.† â€Å"Keyword: looked. That guy doesn't look like him. That guy is him.† â€Å"Believe me, he's not.† Seeing Jerome's impatient expression, I let go of Seth's hand. â€Å"Be right back.† I crossed the street, and as the distance closed between my boss and me, Jerome's aura washed over my body. All immortals have a unique signature, and a demon like Jerome had an especially strong one. He felt like waves and waves of roiling heat – like when you open an oven and don't stand far enough back. â€Å"Make it fast,† I told him. â€Å"You're ruining my romantic interlude. Like usual.† Jerome dropped the cigarette and put it out with his black Kenneth Cole oxford. He glanced disdainfully around. â€Å"What, here? Come on, Georgie. This isn't romantic. This place isn't even a pit stop on the road to romance.† I put an angry hand on one hip. Whenever Jerome interrupted my personal life, it usually heralded a series of mishaps I'd never wanted to be involved in. Something told me this was no exception. â€Å"What do you want?† â€Å"You.† I blinked. â€Å"What?† â€Å"We've got a meeting tonight. An all staff meeting.† â€Å"When you say ‘all staff', do you mean like all staff?† The last time Seattle's supervising archdemon had gathered everyone in the area together, it had been to inform us that our local imp wasn't â€Å"meeting expectations.† Jerome had let us all tell the imp good-bye and then banished the poor guy off to the fiery depths of Hell. It was kind of sad, but then my friend Hugh had replaced him, so I'd gotten over it. I hoped this meeting wouldn't have a similar purpose. He gave me an annoyed look, one that said I was clearly wasting his time. â€Å"That's the definition of all staff, isn't it?† â€Å"When is it?† â€Å"Seven. At Peter and Cody's. Don't be late. Your presence is essential.† Shit. I hoped this wasn't actually my going away party. I'd been on pretty good behavior lately. â€Å"What's this about?† â€Å"Find out when you get there. Don't be late,† he repeated. Stepping off the main thoroughfare and into the shadow of a building, the demon vanished. A feeling of dread spread through me. Demons were never to be trusted, particularly when they looked like quirky movie stars and issued enigmatic invitations. â€Å"Everything okay?† Seth asked me when I rejoined him. I considered. â€Å"In as much as it ever is.† He wisely chose not to pursue the subject, and he and I eventually separated to take care of our respective tasks. I was dying to know what this meeting could be about but not nearly as much as I wanted to know what had made me lose my energy overnight. And as I ran my errands – groceries, oil change, Macy's – I also found the strange, brief dream replaying in my head. How could such a short dream have been so vivid? And why couldn't I stop thinking about it? The puzzle distracted me so much that seven rolled around without me knowing it. Groaning, I headed off for my friend Peter's place, speeding the whole way. Great. I was going to be late. Even if this meeting didn't concern me and my impending unemployment, I might end up getting a taste of Jerome's wrath after all. About six feet from the apartment door, I felt the hum of immortal signatures. A lot of them. My friends' auras, familiar and beloved, sang to me instantly. A few others gave me pause as I tried to remember who they belonged to; the greater Puget Sound area had a host of hellish employees that I almost never interacted with. One signature I didn't recognize at all. And one†¦one seemed almost familiar. I couldn't quite put my finger on who it belonged to, though. I started to knock, decided an all staff meeting deserved more than jeans and a T-shirt, and shape-shifted my outfit into a brown dress with a low-cut, surplice top. My hair settled into a neat bun. I raised my hand to the door. An annoyed vampire I barely remembered let me in. She inclined her chin to me by way of greeting and then continued her conversation with another vampire I'd only met once. I think they worked out of Tacoma, which as I far as I was concerned might as well be annexed to Hell itself. My friend Hugh, dark-haired with a large frame, paced around while chatting animatedly on his cell phone. Jerome lounged in an armchair with a martini. His little-seen lieutenant demonesses stood in a corner, keeping to themselves as always. Peter and Cody – my good friends and the vampires who lived here – laughed about something in the kitchen with a few other hellish employees I only distantly knew. It could have been an ordinary cocktail party, almost a celebration. I hoped that meant no smiting tonight since that would have really put a damper on the atmosphere. No one had noticed my arrival except for Jerome. â€Å"Ten minutes late,† he growled. â€Å"Hey, it's a fashionable – â€Å" My words were cut off as a tall, Amazonian blonde nearly barreled into me. â€Å"Oh! You must be Georgina! I've been dying to meet you.† I raised my eyes past spandex-clad double-D breasts and up into big blue eyes with impossibly long lashes. A huge set of beauty pageant teeth smiled down at me. My moments of speechlessness were few, but they did happen. This walking Barbie doll was a succubus. A really new one. So shiny and new, in fact, it was a wonder she didn't squeak. I recognized her age both from her signature and her appearance. No succubus with any sense would have shape-shifted into that. She was trying too hard, haphazardly piling together an assortment of pseudo male-fantasy body parts. It left her with a Frankensteinian creation that was both jaw-dropping and probably anatomically impossible. Unaware of my astonishment and disdain, she took my hand and nearly broke it in a mammoth handshake. â€Å"I can't wait to work with you,† she continued. â€Å"I am so ready to make men everywhere suffer.† I finally found my voice. â€Å"Who†¦who are you?† â€Å"She's your new best friend,† a voice nearby said. â€Å"My, my look at you. Tawny's going to have a tough standard to keep up with.† A man elbowed his way toward us, and whatever curiosity I'd felt in the other succubus' presence disappeared like ashes in the wind. I forgot she was even there. My stomach twisted into knots as I ID'd the mystery signature. Cold sweat broke out along the back of my neck and seeped into the delicate fabric of the dress. The guy approaching was about as tall as me – which wasn't tall – and had a dark, olive-toned complexion. There was more pomade on his head than black hair. His suit was nice – definitely not off the rack. A thin-lipped smile spread over his face at my dumbstruck discomfiture. â€Å"Little Letha, all grown up and out to play with the adults, eh?† He spoke low, voice pitched for my ears alone. Now, in the grand scheme of things, immortals like me had little to fear in this world. There were, however, three people I feared immensely. One of them was Lilith the Succubus Queen, a being of such formidable power and beauty that I would have sold my soul – again – for one kiss. Someone else who scared me was a nephilim named Roman. He was Jerome's half-human son and had good reason to want to hunt me down and destroy me some day. The third person who filled me with fear was this man standing before me. His name was Niphon, and he was an imp, just like my friend Hugh. And, like all imps, Niphon really only had two jobs. One was to run administrative errands for demons. The other, his primary one, was to make contracts with mortals, brokering and buying souls for Hell. And he was the imp who had bought mine.