Ch 3 – Conference Dinner
After leaving Mathilda, Kate and the Beauty Spa I headed into the resort lobby. I couldn't help but notice and feel that most of the male eyes followed me as I headed to the Lobby Bar. I suspect a few female eyes as well. The gown certainly showed my curves off to the best advantage, as well as exposing a considerable amount of skin.
When I reached the Lobby Bar James was already there seated at the bar. He looked around as I approached him.
"Wow." Was his initial response. After a couple of seconds he composed himself enough to say "You look stunning." As he gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks. I understand you suggested a couple of the alterations to the gown?" I replied.
"Ummm. Yes. Just a couple of suggestions, which I think improved things dramatically. Does it bother you?"
"Well I probably wouldn't have made all the alterations, but you're paying for it, and ... ummm ... for me." I smiled and sat on the stool next to James.
"Yes that is true. Mathilda said you had a good session at the beauty spa." James remarked.
"Yes. They were very thorough." I replied.
James smiled. "We need to run through a few things for tonight. Let's get a drink then find a table to talk. What would you like?" James asked.
"Hmmm Gin and Tonic." I responded.
James ordered our drinks. The bartender was very prompt in serving them. We got up and James led me to a quiet booth. We slipped in and got comfortable.
"OK. Better get the business over with before the pleasure. You've seen my business card?" James commenced.
I nodded.
"The company I work for supplies industrial equipment and the software to run it. Our clients are generally manufacturers, in a range of industries. Chemical, Manufacturing, Automotive, you name it. You probably don't need to know much about the company but here's a quick blurb." James continued passing me a brochure which I started to look through.
"You said you're in PR?" I nodded in response. "OK. If asked say you're in sales support. If you get asked any technical questions direct them to me. I suspect most of the conversation will be 'small talk'. I bet you can handle that?"
I smiled. "My speciality. I can do small talk with the best of them, even with complete idiots. That's not inferring anything about present company or the company expected tonight."
James smiled. "We're going to be seated with four guys at the dinner tonight. Two each from two of our biggest clients. David and Paul. Eric and Alan. Here are brief profiles on them." James gave me four sheets of paper to read.
"I see you're very thorough." I said glancing over the profiles.
"When I said biggest clients we're talking 10s of millions of dollars. Both companies are looking to build new plants this year and we want a part of the action."
I nodded my head. "Let me have a read and I'll see if I have any questions."
James nodded and we both sipped our drinks while I read the brochure and profiles.
"OK. That all looks fine. I should be able to remember most of that. You'll have to make sure you get the introductions correct. What's happening at the dinner?" I said once I'd finished reading.
"Pre-dinner drinks. I'll introduce you then. There will probably be others around as well. Dinner itself starts at 7:30. Entrée, Main, Dessert, Coffee. Pretty much what you'd expect. An introductory speech. A speech after the main course. Some entertainment as well. We should be finished by 11 at the latest."
"And after the dinner?" I inquired
"Ummm ... I suspect there may be a request for a nightcap and some entertainment. Hopefully one of the guys will suggest using their suite. If there aren't any offers we can use mine. It's better if they offer as it is easier for us to excuse ourselves rather than kick them out."
"I assume I'm part of the entertainment package?" I asked. James nodded. "Have you told them anything about me?"
"No. I was going to say you're sales support here to help me. That way there's no expectations. We can see what happens at the dinner. Though I suspect they will want to get to know you quite intimately." James said winking.
"Condoms." I said. James looked at me a bit blankly.
"You'll have to tell them they have to wear condoms. And you'll have to make sure they wear them. OK?" I continued.
"Yes that's fine. I can't see any problems with that. Do you have any?" James asked.
"Actually I do. Mathilda arranged my clutch and it seems to have a couple of packs in it. Do you think she was expecting something? I said, laughing at the end.
James laughed. "Mathilda is very efficient. I think I said I'd trust her with my life."
"OK. No more questions from me. Is it time to head in? I assume the dinner's in the ballroom?"
"Yes it is. But I've got a couple of surprises before we go in." with that James pulled out a small box from his pocket. He opened it and it contained a lovely pearl necklace and matching earrings.
"Wow." I said looking at them.
"I've borrowed these for tonight. Let me put the necklace on. I'm no good at earrings so you'll have to do them."
I swivelled around so my back was to James. He put necklace around my neck and fastened the clasp. Then he gave me a quick kiss on the back of my neck. I put the two earrings in and made sure the clips were on solidly.
"Very lovely. Please be careful. They have to go back at the end of the night. If anyone asks say they came from the jeweller here. Second surprise." Said James pulling another small box from his pocket. Inside what initially looked like a single earring. A couple of short chains with what looked like diamonds. I looked at it. It was lovely.
"I'd noticed you have a bellybutton piercing. This is to make that a bit more interesting. And to show off the gown a bit more. Do you mind?" James asked.
I shook my head and took the chains out of the box. I checked it out. A curved bar with a threaded ball at the top. I took my current simple bar out and threaded the new one through my piercing, doing up the ball tightly. If felt quite nice having the chains rubbing on my tummy. I leant back to show James.
"How does it look?" I asked.
"The finishing touch." Said James, giving me another kiss. "OK. Time to go. Are you ready?"
I nodded my head. We got up and headed to the ballroom. James escorting me on his arm. He had quite a smile on his face. A lot of people looked at us on our way out and smiled. I suspect they thought we were a couple heading out for a dinner and night out.
It only took us a couple of minutes to get to the ballroom. There were quite a few people there when we arrived. As I expected there were considerably more males than females. The usual case at the conferences I'd been to. But it does mean the females have a lot of nice attention.
I could see quite a few heads swivel as we entered. James headed to a group of people and did the introductions. None were the ones we were sitting with, but other clients of James's company. A waiter came through with drinks. I assumed it was going to be a long night so I took a white wine, intending to pace myself during the evening.
James was talking to couple of people in the group. Two guys, both mid to late thirties seemed to be trying to monopolise my attention. Both of them were having trouble maintaining eye contact, well with my eyes. They were maintaining eye contact with the dress very well. I managed to deflect most of their questions. "I'm in Sales Support." "I only got in today so that's why you haven't seen me at the conference." "James asked for a bit of help while he was here."
After a few minutes James excused us from the group and we moved on.
"How's it going?" James asked.
"Fine so far." I said "Small talk isn't a problem. Are there other groups we need to meet and greet? I assume the main contacts you mentioned will come later."
"Probably a couple of others. There are some other deals I'm working on a well. One group tomorrow for golf. One the day after."
"OK by me. I'm here for two weeks. Let me know what's required." I replied.
"The guys are over the other side. We'll make our way there but probably a few hellos in between. We might have to make them brief."
We worked our way through the crowd. James introduced me to a few groups then generally had to rescue me from the attention of the guys when it was time to move on. He would give me a run down on the various groups as we approached or left them. I tried my best to remember what James said, particularly the ones he said we would be meeting again later.
Eventually we reached the four guys we would be sharing the table with. James did the introductions. David, mid 40s, tall, dark hair which was just starting to get some grey. He was still in pretty good shape. Paul, late 30s, blonde, goatee beard, probably around my height. David and Paul were with the same manufacturing company. Dave was obviously senior to Paul. Eric, late 40s, distinguished grey, glasses, starting to show some middle age spread. Lastly Alan, probably mid 30s, shaved head, tall, very good shape verging on being a body builder.
The profiles James had given me were very helpful. David and Paul worked for a chemical company while Eric and Alan worked for a mineral processing company. I soon found myself talking to Paul and Alan while James was talking to David and Eric. Both were quite nice to talk to. We got the formalities over quickly.
We soon settled down to sport and exercise. Alan was a bit of a gym junkie so we compared notes for a while. Paul played football when he was younger and was now in a veterans' league. Both swam regularly.
The doors to the ballroom were opened and people started moving in for the dinner. Paul and Alan took me by each arm and escorted me in. Our table was on the side, against a wall. The guys directed me to a chair with the back to the wall and took the seat each side. James, David and Eric took the other seats at the table. Only six of us on this table.
I looked at James and motioned to see if he was expecting to sit next to me. He put his hand up and indicated it was ok. I suspected everyone would shuffle seats during the night.
A waiter came around pouring wines for everyone. I was sticking with the white wine but asked for a water as well. I was going to make sure I remained clear headed for the night. Paul asked for a beer. Alan was happy with the wine.
I was watching everyone coming in. I'd guess only about 25% females. A few looked like wives / girlfriends / partners. Probably come for a holiday while their partner was at the conference.
While I was watching Paul leant over and said "I'd say you're the best looking girl here tonight. Wouldn't you agree Alan?"
Alan nodded in response. "Yep. Definitely the belle of the ball."
"Well there's not a large pool of talent here." I said. "The usual male dominated conference I see."
Both Paul and Alan shrugged their shoulders.
"Don't worry." I continued. "I'm used to conferences and being out numbered."
