by R L Burgess
“Why don’t we sit at yours?”
Zoe’s cubicle was neat and functional with a touch of the personal. A photograph of a striking man with a bushy ginger beard and Zoe’s eyes was taped to the wall on her left. Although you couldn’t see his mouth for the beard, his eyes indicated he was smiling.
“Danny, my brother,” Zoe said, following Reyna’s gaze. “He won an award recently for a book he published.”
“Nice,” she said. “He looks just like you.” They were seated side by side in front of Zoe’s computer, Reyna on a swivel chair Zoe had borrowed from her neighbour’s cubicle. The cubicles were really only built for one, and their elbows bumped as Zoe manoeuvred her mouse to bring up the presentation. Reyna relaxed into her chair, allowing Zoe to lead her through her work. It was quiet on the floor, most other desks abandoned at the late hour.
She was impressed. The presentation Zoe had put together was carefully thought out, showcasing a program clearly designed to help those without the skills to successfully manage their own money.
“I think we should look at expanding your program, Zoe,” Reyna said. She allowed herself to lean closer as she pointed at a graph on the screen. “This section here where you measure knowledge before versus afterward, how did you do this?”
“I got everyone to fill out a questionnaire.” Zoe flicked her mouse to the next screen. “It’s a basic financial health check people do at the start of the course and then again at the end. You can see people have reported a better understanding of how to design a budget, how to manage yearly expenditure on a fortnightly income, et cetera. It’s all here. In terms of expansion, I was actually thinking I could put this together as a package that could be run by anyone from any of our centres. We could even develop an online course for people in regional areas who can’t make it in to one of our centres.” Zoe’s eyes shone with enthusiasm as she spoke.
“It’s really fantastic work.” She looked admiringly at Zoe. Here was a young woman who was hitting bull’s-eyes in her corporate work, who still wanted to do more. It was a rare quality. “I like your ideas and I think after FinCo we should discuss this further. I’d be happy to support you to spearhead this program for the firm nationally.”
“That would be ace.” Zoe beamed, directing the full wattage of her smile at Reyna who felt she could almost bask in the warmth of it. She liked how down-to-earth Zoe was. She wasn’t stuck-up, trying to guard her work or self-aggrandise. She knew many of Zoe’s colleagues wouldn’t have missed a chance to self-promote to their boss, but Zoe was refreshingly different. She actually seemed to want to make a difference in the world.
She checked her watch. “I’d better get moving. My conference call is in five and I need to prepare a couple of documents.”
“Of course.”
“I won’t be here in the Melbourne office for the next few weeks, so I won’t have a chance to catch up with you again before FinCo. I’m happy for you to email me through the final presentation for a look over, but otherwise you’re clearly on the right track and I’ll see you there.”
“No problem. Going somewhere nice, I hope?”
“I’m just working from home before the trip. My nephew…” She paused, unsure how much detail she wanted to discuss. It would be easy to share with Zoe, with her open smile and clear brown eyes, but she should be careful of her boundaries. Then again, Zoe had already seen her with Holden at the psychologist’s office so she had already had a window in. “My nephew has been through some rough times. I just want to be around more for him before I go away for the week.”
Zoe nodded encouragingly. “Sounds like you’re a very caring Aunty.”
Reyna shrugged. “I do my best.”
Chapter Twelve
Reyna (Monday, two weeks later, Alice Springs)
The plane touched down on shimmering black tarmac with a bump that made the passengers collectively gasp. A few further skips, like the plane was some kind of giant rabbit, and they pulled up sharply at a freshly painted red railing, next to a sign that read Welcome to Alice Springs Airport. Some passengers clapped, and there was a general buzz of chatter and excitement throughout the plane.
“’Scuze me honey, do you mind?” The grey-haired American tourist sitting next to Reyna waved her camera. “Just wanna take some photos.”
Reyna leaned back, allowing the woman access to the little oval window. She held her breath as the woman oohed and ahhed, smelling heavily of the plane’s burnt coffee. Terminal staff on the ground wore broad-brimmed hats and dark glasses to ward off the harsh glare of the midday sun, set in an overwhelmingly bright blue sky. The windows of the terminal building behind the railing were also set with a dark glass, but the white bricks caught the light and threw it back, causing Reyna to rub her tired eyes. She had pulled late nights to stay on top of her workload over the past two weeks, fitting in as much time with Holden as possible around school hours, and she felt edgy. That happens if you burn the candle at both ends, she thought ruefully.
“It looks hot outside, don’t it?” the lady asked, shifting back into her own seat. Reyna took the opportunity to retrieve her handbag from under the seat in front of her and fished out her sunglasses.
“It certainly does.”
“I read on the innernet that they’re having a heat wave. Unseasonably hot for the beginning of September. I can’t wait to get some sun on my skin.”
Reyna was also looking forward to the warmth. Melbourne had served up an icy cold snap over the last few weeks, complete with frosty mornings and single-digit temperatures. Holden had been jealous when they had looked up the expected temperatures for the week ahead, begging her to take him with her.
“I wish I could, darling, but you’ve got school.”
“I can take my schoolwork with me, Aunty Rey. I’ll be so good. You’d hardly even notice I was there. I heard we could go for a camel ride in the desert there.”
It had been hard to say no to him, but she had promised him they would go back together for a holiday in the future.
He would have loved the hotel. Little sets of units dotted amongst sandy vegetation, ringing a sparkling blue swimming pool with a diving board at one end and a kid’s splash pool at the other, complete with a waterslide in the shape of a giant frog. A small group of children took turns sliding down its shining pink tongue with shouts of glee.
In the middle of the pool was a swim-up bar where a man in a crisp white shirt and hotel regulation blue shorts perched on a shaded platform serving fresh coconuts and cocktails. Room key in hand, Reyna settled her sunglasses on her nose and followed the young concierge to her room, allowing him to wheel her suitcase over the cobblestone path. She could already feel the heat radiating up from the path through her thin flats and was glad of the shade provided by a row of trees. It must take a lot of water to keep all this going, she thought.
“These individual units here closest to the pool are our executive suits. We call this the Banksia section,” the concierge told her as they stopped at her door, with a wave of his hand at the surrounds. “The hotel goes in concentric circles. Behind these are the Wattle units, and behind those are the Yellow Gum units. The double-story complex at the back is the Desert Spring Circle where most of the regular rooms are.”
Reyna nodded to show she was following along.
“You would have seen the main building when you came in. That’s where the conference centre is and also the bar and restaurant. If you need anything during your stay, Ms. Azoulay, please just press nine from the telephone in your room.”
He took her swipe key and brought her bag into the room for her, pulling back the heavy drapes to reveal a small back veranda with a tasteful cane table and chair set. The branch of a large, smoky-blue gum tree hung over the setting, providing some much-needed shade. The air conditioner already purred, and the temperature of the room was a welcome relief from the dry heat outside that seemed to suck the very moisture straight from her skin.
“Here is your mini
bar,” he said, opening a cupboard to reveal the prerequisite fridge stocked with champagne and chocolates that she would not consume. “And here’s your tea and coffee. It’s complimentary of course.”
She thanked him and pressed a small tip into his hand saying, “I can take it from here.” He flashed her a toothy grin and repeated his instructions to just press nine if she needed anything at all and closed the door with a click behind him.
She kicked off her shoes and lay back on the bed. Thankfully it was nice and firm. There was nothing worse than a soft hotel bed. God, she was tired. She longed for a quick nap, but there really wasn’t time. The conference program would begin in an hour and she needed to freshen up before she got started. She wondered briefly if Zoe had arrived yet. She had almost expected to see her on the plane, but there had been no sign of her in the boarding lounge, and Reyna had not spotted her when she had taken a walk down the plane’s aisle to stretch her legs. She yawned and stretched, rubbing her neck to ease the tension. Perhaps a cool shower to freshen up, and then she would head over to the main building to sign in for the conference and claim her name tag and conference bag.
The shower pressure was strong and she relaxed under the steady spray until she noticed the sign discreetly fixed to the wall, which said that Alice Springs relied on a finite supply of ground water and it would be appreciated if guests would keep their showers brief. Guiltily, she immediately shut off the shower and wrapped herself in a soft, white towel. Padding around the room in her bare feet she hung her shirts and trousers in the cupboard and put her toiletries in the bathroom. She actually enjoyed staying in hotel rooms, fitting her life into the new dimensions of one small room. It was like an enforced downsizing and she enjoyed the minimalistic experience of it. And although she already missed Holden with his goofy smile and his earnest eyes, it was nice to have a small break from stepping on Lego pieces and trying to create a semblance of order in the house.
She slipped into a wine-coloured cotton shirt, which had somehow managed not to crumple in her suitcase, matching it with a pair of white linen trousers. She knew the colour scheme made the most of her black hair and olive skin. She had chosen her outfits carefully for the conference, maybe even more so than usual, refusing to ask herself exactly why. Pushing thoughts of a wide smile and acorn-coloured eyes from her head, she had told herself it was always important to look her best at industry events.
Tucking her room key into her pocket, she grabbed her laptop bag, slid her feet back into her flats and left the cool of her room. The heat permeated the shaded path, causing her shirt to cling uncomfortably to her skin. Thankfully it was only a short walk to the main conference area. She looked longingly at the cobalt blue of the swimming pool, imagining the cool of the water breaking over her head as she dove in. She would definitely have to get up early tomorrow to swim before the conference program started. If she were lucky, there would be time for a quick dip tonight.
The conference check-in area was humming with activity as people located their name badges and conference bags, greeting each other with exclamations of recognition. Reyna gave her name to a delegate who crossed her off the list and handed her a special presenter’s pack. She would be giving her talk tomorrow, which was good timing. She could settle in and get the lay of the land, but she didn’t have to wait so long that nerves would take hold, or worse, people would be burnt out. She felt sorry for those people who had to give their presentations on the last day. Most of the audience had done their dash by then and were barely making a show of listening to be polite.
“Reyna,” a familiar, gruff voice called above the chatter. She turned to find Meryl, a short, stocky woman with the build of a garden gnome but the brains of a Nobel Laureate smiling placidly at her. In contrast, her partner, Stacey, was positively willowy, standing an entire foot taller and whippet thin. Together they produced some high-calibre outcomes for the firm, and Reyna thought of them as “the dream team.”
“Hello ladies,” she said warmly. “When did you arrive?”
“We came in yesterday,” Meryl said in her low growl. “Wanted to get a head start on looking around. Neither of us have been to Alice Springs before. Have you?”
“I have, but it never ceases to thrill me. Did you do anything special yesterday then?”
“We had dinner in the botanical gardens,” Stacey said, her eyes dreamy. “It’s called Olive Pink, and the sun set right over the park as we ate. It was seriously magnificent.”
“Well, from the magnificent to the slightly more mundane.” Reyna waved at the table. “Have you picked up your packs yet?”
“Yes, we got ours yesterday,” Meryl replied. “Did you see who’s giving the plenary address?”
“It’s Jessica Myers.” Stacey jumped in before Reyna could answer. “Her work with the Government around the GFC was absolutely pivotal to Australia avoiding a recession.”
Reyna raised her eyebrows appreciatively. The conference always waited to release the details of the plenary speaker until the first day, and Jessica Myers was a real coup. It would be interesting to hear what she had to say on such an important period in Australia’s recent history. And it would be good to catch up with her. They had gone to university together and Reyna had not seen her in many years, not since Jessica had moved to Canberra to work as a high-level political advisor.
“Perhaps it’s a good idea to go and find some seats,” Reyna suggested.
“Save me one, would you?” Meryl checked her watch. “I’m going to duck to the loo before it starts.”
Reyna and Stacey entered the main presentation room, finding a group of seats for the three of them at a large table fairly close to the stage. The table was dressed with a stiff white cloth, and there were glasses of ice water and bowls of mints at each setting. Reyna smiled politely at the other delegates at their table, most of whom were chatting in small groups. Preparations were clearly underway for the conference to begin imminently, as a technician tested the microphone and the lights dimmed. Reyna caught a range of different accents amongst the predominantly Australian chatter, signifying the international status of the conference. She particularly looked forward to catching some of the Asian speakers, as she hoped one day to extend the reach of her firm into Asian partnerships. She found herself craning her neck to scan the crowd, wondering if Zoe had arrived yet. Surely she would be here by now. She wouldn’t want to miss the plenary address, but with a few hundred delegates gathered in the room it was difficult to tell.
Meryl slid into her seat just as a balding man dressed in a sharp grey suit took to the podium and tapped on the microphone.
“Phew, just made it,” she whispered. “The line for the loos was ridiculous.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the man began and a hush fell over the room. “Welcome to FinCo.” He smiled expansively at the crowd, like he was taking an opportunity to show off his full set of bright, white teeth. “Before I invite our plenary speaker to the stage, I would like to review a little bit of housekeeping.”
She tuned out, having heard this type of speech many times before. He would tell them where the bathrooms were, the timetable for meals, and all the usual bumph that she could find out with a quick glance at the program. A flash of brown hair with telltale streaks of auburn caught her eye a few tables in front. Zoe. Her hair was up in its usual clip, exposing the nape of her slender neck. She appeared to be listening intently to the speaker, her head tilted slightly on an angle, and then, as if sensing Reyna’s gaze on her she turned around, locking eyes with Reyna. Reyna felt her breath momentarily catch in her throat as she nodded by way of greeting. Zoe returned the nod with a shy smile that made Reyna swallow nervously.
“And so, without further ado, I would like to introduce Ms. Jessica Myers.”
Zoe turned back to face the podium.
Reyna stared in front of her, clapping along with the rest of the crowd, barely seeing what was before her, trying to get a handle on her jumping pulse. What on earth had jus
t happened? Her mind raced as she reached for her water glass and took a shaky sip. She had been on her own for a while now, it was true, but it would not do to fixate on one of her employees. She almost blushed at the thought.
It was the thrill of the conference, she decided, pushing away the knowledge that she’d been to a hundred of these things and never felt quite as she did right now. And she’d definitely had way too many late nights recently. It wasn’t healthy to be so sleep deprived. She probably just needed to relax and enjoy herself a little. It would be good to have some adult company for the week. She enjoyed spending time with Meryl and Stacey whenever she visited the Sydney office, and the week to come promised to be full of intellectual stimulation and enjoyable adult conversation. She would get some sun, swim in that divine-looking pool, and catch up with her peers. That should be enough to get her back on track. And perhaps when she was back in Melbourne, she might let Samira and John talk her into one of their setups. Just not with Yana, she thought with a shudder.
Her eyes swam back into focus as a woman in a tight red dress mounted the stage and walked with a swing in her hips to the podium. She adjusted the microphone and flicked her lustrous black hair over her shoulder. The crowd, already mesmerised, waited in hushed anticipation. Jessica had always been a showstopper.
“Good afternoon everyone,” she said in a husky voice. “What a pleasure it is for me to stand before you today here in the heart of Australia, Alice Springs. I would like to acknowledge that this meeting is being held on the traditional lands of the Arrernte people and pay my respects to elders both past and present. I would like to acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. I know some of you have come to us this week from overseas, and many from interstate. I hope you will join me in enjoying all that this town has to offer while we are here together over the next five days, exploring new ideas, learning from the past, and imagining what could be for the future.”