“Oh Mr. Nichol’s, what he like then?” as soon as he said it he cringed, shit he’d gone there. Rebecca carried on answering him, describing him looking like the guy who worked with ‘Sir Alan Sugar’ on the BBC version of the apprentice, except where ‘Nick Hewer’ had a fun personality, Mr. Nichol’s was quite dry, but she thought he was a lovely gentleman, although others didn’t seem to get on with him, she did.
Jackson sat there relaxing back into his chair with the thought of this ‘Nick Hewer’ looking chap. But there was no mistaking it, he was bloody jealous if he had to be honest
Yep, he really liked this girl, but he knew that yesterday when he had stood toe to toe with the suited man in his office.
They talked for 30 minutes, about what? He couldn’t tell he just loved hearing her sultry tones; they carried on chatting until Rebecca noticed her watch.
“Oh Genie Mac Jackson I have to go, I have to jump in the shower, I’ll have Mr. Nichols knocking on my door before I’ll know it, and I have to be ready. I’ll call you tonight …. Oh maybe I won’t, what with the time difference, I don’t want to disturb you, you could be in a meeting or something” she sighed “I’m going to have to go” as she looked at her watch. Jackson sat upright again,
“Ahhh don’t go yet, talk to me some more, I’m heading to bed, you can talk me to sleep,” he cringed again god he must have sounded so needy this was why he didn’t wait around after he slept with someone, he didn’t want all the gooey gooey yum yum stuff that came with it... Until now.
Over the last couple of months, he had found himself liking this girl more and more. Yesterday at his office, he knew it all too well with his behavior.
“I can’t Jackson, I have to jump in the shower to wake myself up, and I’ll try and call you when I get back in, okay?” Jackson knew he had to let her go.
“Okay….but call me tonight…YES?.... don’t worry about the time, just call, okay?” yep there he went again.
“Speak to you later Jackson” she laughed “I really have to go”.
“Night, I mean Bye, call me later, and promise you will?”
“I promise, Jackson I really have to go, I really have to go, and Mr. Nichol’s will be here”.
He sighed to himself,
“Okay but call me later my naughty girl, and I’ll talk you to sleep, Okay” he wasn’t taking no for answer.
Rebecca knew Jackson’s telephone technique all too well after years of his phone calls and they were on a business level but with extreme amounts of flirting from him.
“Okay but I really have to go”. She was missing him. She would have rather have been in London, back at her apartment in her bed, and with him. Rather than going to a meeting, undercover, at the other side of the world
“Okay but call me as soon as you’re back in the Hotel”
They hung up after the customary ‘You hang up, no you first’ routine. He stood up and stretched, reaching for the ceiling, fuck, he had two weeks to wait till she was back, as he walked to his room.
“Roll on two weeks”.
Rebecca surprised herself with her superhuman abilities. She was in and out of the shower in minutes, having decided there was no time to wash and dry her long hair and be ready to go in time for her 1 p.m. start.
She was flying around the suite when she heard the knocking at her door. She was still to put on her black Mary Jane’s as she walked to the door; looking like the hunchback of ‘Note Damne’ as she tried to do the small fidgety side buckles. Rebecca stood upright, only when she opened the door to Mr. Nichols.
“Let me just get my bag” she smiled at him, and he at her, leaving the door open as she walked back grabbing her beloved Lemiena Signature, Orabella Matt Velvet Python Handbag, which held her company notebook and everyday personal belongings, Closing the door behind her, as they both walked to the lifts, while Mr. Nichols reminded her of the names of the Senior management they were going to be meeting with.
The journey to the company’s office wasn’t long, even with the Melbourne traffic. Their driver was proved by the company they were going to. The driver had introduced himself as Kevin, and that ‘he’ would be their driver for the duration of their stay.
They pulled up outside the premises, and once out of the vehicle they both walked towards the entrance to the reception desk.
“Mr. Nichol’s and Rebecca Armstrong” He said to one of the four receptionists who greeted them both, handing them security passes, while she explained they would be using these passes for the 2 weeks, she smiled as she joked.
“So try not to lose these” Mr. Nichol’s looked at her blankly.
Rebecca took the passes from her smiling politely, as they walked to the waiting area to the black leather couches. They were waiting for about five minutes, when a well presented woman exited from one of the four elevators, and walked across the large lobby towards them.
“Mr. Nichol’s, Ms. Armstrong, please to meet you, I’m Deborah Kerr, I am the Group Head of People & Culture”. She extended her hand out to both shaking each with a firm grip. “If you would, both like to follow me”.
Once they entered the lifts she spoke again.
“We’re starting off with a board meeting, then you’ll be shown your temporary offices, they’re right next door to each other. We have meeting rooms at your disposal, whatever you need just ask, but I think we’ve covered all the bases.”
They were on the top floor, walking down a long corridor, till they arrived at the double doors of the boardroom. Mr. Nichol’s gave her a reassuring wink and they stepped into the room to the group of people that were standing with cups of coffee in their hands.
“Would either of you like a coffee?” she asked, as both nodded their heads yes, cups were instantly placed in their hands as they were introduced to the group.
“This is Mr. John Ross who is our Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer “as he leaned in to shake each of their hands, our Chief Financial Officer Group Head of Corporate Support Services and Company Secretary Group General Manager Merchant Energy Group General Manager Upstream Gas Chief Economist and Group Head of Corporate Affairs who is a professor Group General Manager Retail Energy (Incoming) Group General Manager Retail Energy(Outgoing) each taking turns to shake their hands as they were introduced.
The meeting had started.
Mr. Ross sat down at the boardroom table, each then doing the same, followed by Rebecca and Mr. Nichols. It was the M.D. who spoke first calling the meeting to order by asking as he turned on his swiveled chair like a villain in a ‘James Bond’ movie “So what do you know about us”.
It was Rebecca who spoke as Mr. Nichol’s sat there with a slight smirk on his face, as she done her thing;
“Well Mr. Ross, your Company is one of Australia's leading renewable energy companies. It’s also one of Australia’s largest; private owner, operator and developer of renewable generation assets. It has major investments in hydro, wind, as well as ongoing developments in key renewable areas including solar, geothermal, biomass, biogases and landfill gas”. All at the table were speechless as they intently listened as Rebecca continued;
“You also operate; retail, merchant energy and upstream gas businesses and have in excess of over three million customer accounts. However, in the last 5 years, you’ve had an extremely high turnover in senior management. Am I correct in saying it’s 17 to date?”
Rebecca looked at him and them to Deborah Kerr who was over the Human Resources function for the company. No-one would have known she was only with the company for a couple of months; she was like a well-seasoned professional. Yes Mr. Nichol’s was very happy, and so would be London when he called them later with his daily report. .
”We will start off the interviews today and they will run pretty much till the end of the week. So shall we get started?”
She asked with a smile as the suited gentlemen nodded in agreement. They all stood, with Mr. Ross then speaking once again happy with Rebecca’s knowledge of
their company and situation,
“And of course you will be discrete?” he asked, Rebecca smiled reassuringly at him.
“Don’t worry Mr. Ross, it’s what my company specialize in. We will of course be meeting with you at the end of the week with a report going forward.”
Hers and Mr. Nichol’s hands then extended to each, with Deborah Kerr then leading them out of the room to their offices. Once she was gone, Mr. Nichol’s sat on the top of Rebecca’s Desk as she seated herself in her chair.
“I’m bloody proud of you” he beamed at her, his glass lenses catching the light. “You handled yourself like you had been with us for years. To say I’m pleased with you is an understatement. Now we have our plan of action, if you need me, you know where I am”.
He made his way out, giving her a wink and smile as he closed the door, leaving Rebecca to setup her notebook and begin her interviews. It was going to be a long day.
Her first five interviews were a doddle, she made notes on each case, no doubt Mr. Nichol’s was doing the very same. Between them they only had four more interviews to complete the end of the day’s interviews and then Mr. Nichol’s and she would be returning to the hotel.
Their car pulled up, under the enormous canopy of the hotel. They were met by the casino staff as one young man stepped forward to assist Rebecca out of the vehicle.
Both she and Mr. Nichol’s then walked into the lobby of the Hotel. Although tired and very much feeling the effects of jetlag, Rebecca noticed the beauty of the ornate black and gold with flashes of white lobby. It had a real Asian feel.
There were flamboyant decorations adorning the lobby and the casino. Although it was vast, it still felt comfortable and inviting. The main reception was a huge space housed the group reception desks. Dividing these areas, a jewel-like object enclosed and disguised the guest luggage storage.
Rebecca looked up with dazed eyes, for them to be woken to the asymmetrically lit coffered ceiling, which ran the full extent of the ground floor. It repeated in the double height ceiling above, accentuating the voluminous space of the hotel lobby.
Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw the curved, rhythmic banded timber wall. It looked handcrafted and acted as a backdrop to the space with vibrant shots of color with large mural artwork.
As Rebecca walked, she took in the custom-designed carpets. Complementing the plush carpets and insert rugs to the seating groups, were rhomboid patterned honed bluestone flooring. There were seven sculptural timber balls which sat proudly on the bluestone, occupying the space between the two receptions.
And then she saw the amazing black marble and gold sculptural ribbon staircase, which swooped up the double height lobby space, linking the ground to Level above. It was truly a magnificent Hotel, there was even a light and water show in the main lobby dancing brilliant blue, pink, green and gold fluorescent lights that kept you mesmerized losing all track of time.
Then she was hit by the centerpiece of the expansive Lobby of the ‘Crown Towers Hotel’. It was a chandelier, which was part of the subtle interior design. The furnishings, carpets and lower table lamps all contributed to the overall scheme.
The fitting is intended to be viewed from below and laterally from the upper Mahogany entry level. It was composed of delicate ‘chains’. The entire structure was suspended from a single point at ceiling level. The chandelier fanned out delicately forming a wide drum type shape. It was a great mass but it worked harmoniously with the voluminous lobby without over dominating the space. For this reason the open fanning structure and filigree gave it a sumptuous appearance in the Lobby. The chandelier was the result of fine details working together. Curved reflectors at the back of each lantern box captured the surrounding spaces and incidental movements which stretched the light and architecture like parlour mirrors. It was simply breathtaking a glittering lobby paved in solid black marble.
They took the lifts to the 15th floor, and walked to their suites with the understanding they would have dinner in one of the many restaurants housed in the huge complex. Although she was fit for bed, she knew they had to eat. She really didn’t fancy eating on her own, especially on her first night here. The agreement was to meet in an hour or less, he would knock for her.
She closed her door and walked into the suite, placing her handbag onto the desk as she made her way to the sofa with the corresponding ottoman and slumped down. As her feet hung over the edge, she looked at her feet still encased in her shoes. She thought momentarily about kicking them off, before remembering that if she did so, could she be bothered to put them back on again?
She looked at her watch. It was 18:30, and already she felt the flickers of her tired eyes and it was too early to call Jackson as it would only be 5:30 am London time. ‘Damn having to eat’ she thought, but she knew it had to be done. She wiggled herself off the ottoman, and headed for the door grabbing her key and made for Mr. Nichol’s door giving it a loud knock as her knuckles hit the solid wood doors.
“Sorry to disturb you Mr. Nichol’s, but I’m crazy tired, do you mind we eat now ?” she asked him having stopped herself from yawning a few times. He smiled at her
“No problem Rebecca, I’m feeling pretty tired too, if you grab what you need we can go now.”
She nodded her head and went back to her room to get her purse and off they set. By the time they returned to their suites it was gone 8am London time. As she undressed the tiredness hit her like a tsunami.
She crawled into the bed, she had every intension of calling him, but once she got into that fluffy bed, she was out like a light.
Thursday and Friday rolled into one. As the elevator ascended to the 15th floor they spoke about the day’s events.
When they reached the 15th floor housing their suites, Mr. Nichol’s had suggested they go to the casino that was in the Hotel complex. She had never been to a casino; gambling really wasn’t her thing. David had loved playing poker, he also loved the horses. No it was not her idea of a good night.
“I’m sorry Mr. Nichol’s but I have reports to complete for this case, actually there’s two cases in particular I would like to discuss, but I would like to prepare them first if I may?” she asked.
Mr. Nichol’s stood there almost pulling a duck pose face as he chewed the inside of his lip deep in thought.
“Hmm okay, that’s interesting. When do you wish to discuss this? Are you free tomorrow morning?”
“I am, is 11am good for you?” she asked him as he nodded his head in agreement.
“Right, I will knock for you tomorrow morning, and don’t work too late” he smiled as they each reached they’re prospective doors and entered.
Her routine for coming in was to place the bag on the desk on route to her bedroom. In there, she would peel off her clothes throwing them onto one of the armchairs, in preparation her shower. Once showered, she would adorn one of the fluffy robes, and the complementary slippers and then lay on the bed while speaking to Jackson.
She would often fall asleep while he was talking cooing sweet nothing to her, and what he would do to her the next time he saw her.
For her, this case couldn’t finish quick enough. After their weekend together, and then this separation, just seemed to bring them closer together, maybe that saying of absence makes the heart grow fonder’ was true. Jackson was really into her, and she him.
After speaking to him she rose from the bed still attired in her robe and sat at the desk pulling out the notebook from her bag and started to work.
Out of the fourteen people she saw that day, two raised red flags, and those two cases were the ones her report was going to highlight. It was after 1am that morning when she became re-acquainted with her bed and another call to Jackson to talk her to sleep.
Chapter 26
How to Catch Butterflies Page 27