Debbie looked into the mirror, applying the red lipstick to her lips, she finished her makeup. Lightly tussling her straight shoulder length hair she admired the new colour she had chosen when she last visited the salon. Her natural black hair was now almost entirely dyed blond except for an inch of the black remained at the end of her hair. As she adjusted the jacket of her business suit her husband, Barry, walked up behind her and cupped her buttocks in his large hands.
"Mmmm now you know I can't resist you when you power dress DeeDee!" He lifted her hair and kissed the nape of her neck.
"Now, pack that in. I have to get to work now." She turned and pecked his cheek. "We are due to have a new property in today which I will almost defiantly have to show tonight so I guess I will be back late honey."
"No problem DeeDee I will see you whenever."
She picked up her car keys and left the house. As she drove along she activated her hands free kit to hear her voicemail messages. A couple of clients had rung and she mentally sent aside the start of the day to call them back, that is once she had spoken to her boss about the new property that they had just been given instruction on.
Debbie had initially worked as a flight stewardess before she met her husband and changed her career to become an estate agent in the city. Now at forty-one years of age and after nearly ten years in the job she had established herself in one of the city's leading property sales and Lettings Company. Her sales record saw her reach a senior sales role, as well as the benefit of a company BMW, together with a very healthy salary (not to mention good commission). She indicated, turned the steering wheel, swinging her car into her allotted parking space.
******
"Morning Steve." She called as she walked through the office.
"Hi Debbie. Colin said can you pop into his office as he has that new 'five star' property in."
"Okay Steve." With that Debbie picked up her mail and walked down the corridor, past her office, to the Manager's office. She tapped the door before entering the inner sanctum.
"Morning Debbie. Coffee?"
"Cheers Colin." She sat in the chair opposite his desk, while he got up and drew two cups of hot coffee from the machine located at the rear of his office, she looked out of the window and admired the panoramic view of the city that her boss' office commanded. She dreamt of the day when she would be in overall control and would be afforded similar grandeur. When he returned to the desk he placed the cups on wooden coasters in front of their respective seats. As Debbie sipped her drink Colin walked over to the filing cabinet at the side of the room. He unlocked it and accessed the files within. Before he sat down he handed the papers to Debbie.
Opening the file she looked at the glossy marketing documents, the vivid descriptions, together with the quality photographs, which illustrated the opulence that this luxury residence could offer to the discerning client who would purchase it. Colin silently drank his coffee and watched Debbie as she scanned the information.
"So, what do you think?" He asked.
"Awesome. I have never had an instruction quite like this one."
"Glad you appreciate it Deborah. As you can see its location is the penthouse of the newest riverside tower complex. It boasts five double bedrooms, three bathrooms, fully fitted kitchen and is, as you would expect, in immaculate decorative order. Top of the range white goods, television, two stereos and a DVD recorder are part of the deal. However, in my opinion the best selling point is the roof terrace and its unobstructed views of both the river and the city. Trust me it has to be seen to be believed. I think, in the unlikely event we have difficulty in enticing buyers, a night time viewing is essential as that is when the view is at it's best!"
"I take it you have been there?"
"Yes, for both day and night."
"So why aren't you buying?" She laughed.
"That's the one downside, for me anyway, the last page will show you." She flicked to the last page and in small print the price was shown.
"One point three million pounds." Even her experienced eyes rolled.
"Quite, it really is going to be a case of if you have to ask how much it is you can't afford it. Anyway, as you and I sadly can't put in offers do you think you have contacts or clients who will be interested? When I say interested I mean at the full asking price or more, as I would love a bidding war to break out over this one."
She looked directly at him. "I am hurt you even have to ask me that."
"Good, because this one is your baby Deborah. Don't let me, or more importantly the company, down."
The chat then turned to less salubrious properties on which she was currently negotiating. When the discussion was complete she picked up the new details and made her way out into her own office to make a number of telephone calls so that she could line up a list of viewings for this new property. Gradually her diary filled with a dozens of appointments. She then made the calls that were needed from her voicemail messages.
Putting the telephone down there was a knock at the door. The office junior secretary walked into her room with a mug of coffee.
"There you go Debbie."
"Thanks."
She was aware that her colleague was lingering a moment in front of her desk. Debbie looked up and smiled. "Can I ask you a personal question Debbie?" the young girl asked.
"I am intrigued, go on." Debbie said grinning.
"Oh, it's nothing too personal. It is your mug." She said looking at the mug in Debbie's hand. Painted on the surface of the ceramic in bold blue was 'DeeDee's mug'. "Why DeeDee? It is a unusual shortening for Deborah and no-one here calls you that."
Debbie started to laugh before replying. Her secretary was fairly new and had yet to meet Debbie's husband. "It's my husband's nickname for me. See my maiden name was Dixon. I was Deborah Dixon, or as he called me, DeeDee."
"That's nice that you have something between just the pair of you."
"Yes, I never really thought of that before. I think you are right."
When Debbie got the room to herself she picked up the telephone and quickly typed in the number. The phone rang before being answered by a male voice.
"Hello, is that Mr White....It's Deborah Ferguson here....I am very well thank you, how about you. Good, I am ringing you as we have a really exclusive property that has arisen on my instruction which I think might be worth a viewing. Excellent, of course I can fit in with you; yes eight o'clock tonight will be fine. Look forward to seeing you later." She smiled as she put the telephone down.
She collected her bag and gathered together the items she would require today. Walking out of the office Debbie turned to one of the office staff. "I am going to be out of the office for the rest of the day conducting viewings. Colin is in conference so I haven't disturbed him but if he asks tell him I have half a dozen viewings of the new property today plus one in the evening. As usual I will only have my mobile on between the various appointments so if it is off leave a message then pick it up later. See you guys tomorrow."