The room gradually filled with a range of people from the Group Directors to the Services team. Marie stood next to Kevin, the tall IT Contractor, waiting for the audience to settle down her palms sweating as she tried to control the nerves she felt having to present to the room. She was 27 years old and this was the first time she had stood up in front of so many people to deliver a presentation. Although she knew the subject in depth and was supported by the man beside her she felt the panic rising as quickly as the red face she was sure was shining like a beacon. She was sure her childhood stammer would return as soon as she began to speak.
Her only other ally in the room was her friend and colleague Amy who was there to take notes and actions from the meeting. Finally everyone was seated and Kevin greeted the group giving a brief explanation of what was going to be presented and introducing Marie.
They had practised the presentation in the office until nearly seven o'clock the previous evening then stopped at his hotel and ran through it again in the bar over a glass of wine before Marie had caught the last bus to the small town near home then cycled the remaining four miles to her cottage. Kevin could see she was nervous just talking him through the presentation so he suggested she thought of a secret that the audience would not know and use it as a kind of shield. He had given her an example that he had used once at a presentation albeit by accident. He had told her that an old girlfriend had slipped a note into his jacket pocket minutes before he had sat in a meeting to discuss a new million pound IT project with the female chief executive of a city council renowned for her distrust of IT and the people in it.
His girlfriend had told him to take it out and read to himself after the chief executive had opened the meeting. He had said that just thinking about the words on the paper had helped him seem confident and assured when addressing questions, not only getting the go ahead for the project but also a directive that had given him control of the budget to deliver it. When Marie had asked what the note said Kevin had just laughed saying, "It would be inappropriate to repeat in the modern politically correct world!"
Despite having all night to think of something Marie had drawn a blank until she, Kevin, and Amy had arrived in the meeting room in the morning. To top it all she had run late on her journey in to work and while hurriedly changing out of her cycling gear the zip on her dress had caught leaving her back exposed from the neck to her waist so grabbing a jacket she hoped it would cover her embarrassment long enough to get through the meeting.
Amy volunteered to go out to get coffee while Kevin setup the presentation on a laptop; he gave her money to get Marie's too.
Before she left the meeting room Amy whispered to Marie, "Are you going for another drink wi' him after work?"
Marie blushed and ushered Amy out of the room before saying, "How did you know we had a drink last night?"
"Jared's friend Mika works in't bar and recognised you from t'Christmas do?" Amy replied, "He said you seemed quite cosy. Did you snog him?"
"No, we just had a drink before I got the last bus home. He just helped with the presentation," explained Marie still blushing profusely.
"Shame, I think he would be good between t'sheets an experienced older man!" said Amy laughing her Yorkshire accent coming to the fore; adding, "I reckon he fancies you t'way he always calls to ask if you want a coffee on his way into the office. But he probably thinks you're not interested in an older man!"
"What makes you think I am interested?" asked Marie slightly annoyed that Amy had noticed.
"Because ever since he has been helping you out with t'project you don't stop fussing over him when he is in the office," Amy said, "And you squirm in your chair when he calls like he's got a finger up your fanny!"
"What!" Marie said blushing even more.
"Joking!" said Amy giggling, "But I wouldn't blame you if you did!"
"Go and get the coffees," snapped Marie, "I'm not in the mood for your jokes this morning!"
Amy sauntered off laughing as she went to fetch her coat.
While Amy was out of the room Kevin passed Marie a note and said, "Read this when the Group directors have settled in and I am doing the introduction."
But as she turned away to start putting notepads in each place around the meeting room Kevin said, "Interesting view!"
Flustered Marie asked "What?"
"I think you need a hand with that zip," he laughed, "Or is that your ice-breaker?"
Marie's face flushed as she tried to look behind her to see how much flesh she was showing.
"Come here I'll try to zip it up for you," said Kevin.
"I'll wait until Amy gets back with the coffees," replied Marie embarrassed to let him fiddle with her zip especially after her recent conversation with Amy.
"Amy will probably be sometime yet, I promise to be gentle," said Kevin with a slight smile on his face.
"Okay, thank you," said Marie finally as she slipped off her jacket.
"Stand still, I can see the zip is caught on the material," said Kevin, "Let me ease it down and it should slide up okay."
Marie felt his fingers brush her skin making her jump.
"Sorry," he said apologetically, "Are my hands cold?"
"No," replied Marie, "It just tickled a bit." Kevin twisted the zip jerking it free of the material and slid it down a little to ensure it moved freely. He noticed a strip of purple silky material edged with white lace underneath Marie's dress and realised it was a part of a suspender belt. Surprised but also intrigued Kevin eased the zip up carefully keeping the dress material out of the way. Even so his fingers brushed Marie's spine but this time she didn't jump but lifted her hair out of the way to let him zip her dress to the top. Kevin noticed her bra was made of matching material and smiled as his mind wandered imagining Marie clad in matching lace trimmed purple underwear.
About thirty minutes later the meeting began and just as Kevin started speaking Marie read the note he had passed her, "If you haven't thought of something secret, just relax as you are the most important person in the room and you are the only person they can trust to deliver the project. Also imagine them all sitting in their underwear and you are the only one with clothes for them all so they need you more than you need them!"
This brought a smile to her face and Marie surprised herself getting through the presentation without a problem, a stammer or even a hint of a red embarrassed face. She sat down as the directors began asking questions and Kevin squeezed her hand encouragingly under the table. Finally the finance director Marcia Young spoke up and insisted that Marie proved the project could deliver the savings forecast in the business case. Before Marie could reply Marcia said she expected a trial was run the following day and a preliminary report presented to her the following day at 5pm.
Marie tried to explain that the trials of the system were planned for the following week after the service crews had been trained but Marcia said she shouldn't need to wait as the trials could be conducted by Marie and the IT team without the service crews. Kevin tried to point out that he had not planned to be in the office the following day as he had an appointment in London.
Marcia dismissed any further arguments saying, "Well if you don't have the confidence that the solution will work and unless the business case is assured by the end of the week all further funding will be stopped!"
Kevin sounding slightly annoyed replied, "We are not trying to pull the wool over your eyes; I know the solution will work and I expect the business case is sound too. In fact, if you are unsatisfied by either after tomorrow I won't charge you for the extra consultancy days."
As Marcia left she said, "We shall see tomorrow. Thank you Mary for the presentation, I will see you and your IT man in my office at five."
"My name's Marie," whispered Marie under her breath as the rest of the directors trooped out after Marcia.
"It looks like I need to find a hotel room for tonight," laughed Kevin appearing calmer, "So much for having a quiet day tomorrow."
Marie looked worried, "You shouldn't have offered to waive your fee."
