Chapter 1 - ... Go to the Fundraiser
It was always awkward coming to events like this. Yeah, I was a VP at Megadyne, but I didn't start with a silver spoon in my mouth like most of the people here. I started in the mailroom, twenty years ago, and slowly managed to climb my way up through a combination of hard work and lucky breaks. My colleagues, like most of the others in attendance, were the products of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton; ended their signatures with alphabet soup honorifics; and were about as at home in the black-tie tuxedos and evening gowns that were the dress code for this evening as I was out of place.
"Ned, I'd like to introduce you to some people." Bob grabbed my arm and started directing through the quietly yammering crowd before I had a chance to politely decline. Bob, or Robert McVoy III if I was introducing him to a new client, is my boss, a good guy probably set for life between his corner office, trophy wife, and golden parachute. He's also got a well-earned reputation as a grabber. Me? By the arm. Women? By other, more sensitive areas. He also had a reputation for not taking no for an answer and tonight seemed like it was no exception in my case. I stopped minding so much as the target of our march started to become apparent. Bob let go of my arm to bow briefly and then reach out to shake the hand of a well-dressed Asian man, I would have guessed Korean if you made me take a bet, flanked by two almost equally stunning Asian women.
"Mister Yan, this is my vice-president of research and development, Ned. Ned, this is Mister Yan, Sole Owner of Studio K Fashions."
I bowed politely before reaching out to shake Mister Yan's hand with both of mine, thanking my stars for having some guess at etiquette from my martial arts training. I thought I noticed a small hint of a genuine smile on Mister Yan's lips as he returned the gesture, before introducing the two women to either side of himself.
"My wife, Jennifer," to his right. She smiled demurely and offered a little nod. "My daughter, Camille." I turned as he motioned to his left and then, probably for too long based on the blush that rose to her cheeks, stared. Camille was gorgeous with perfectly manicured black hair that waved slightly down to where it rested on her shoulders. She was dressed impeccably, her bright blue gown hugging her curves in all the right places, and she seemed to glow with an internal radiance that lit up the room. She nodded to hide the redness that was creeping into her cheeks. She closed her hazel eyes that I thought I had seen a glimmer of interest in as I was drawn back to the conversation that had started between Bob and Mister Yan by the discreet clearing of Mrs. Yan's throat. Less discreet was the narrowed gaze that Mrs. Yan now leveled upon me until I was clearly paying attention to the business discussion that had begun instead of her daughter.
Bob was speaking, ".. that is why, Mister Yan, I believe this is an excellent opportunity for synergy between Megadyne's advanced robotics and Studio K's innovative style and revolutionary designs. Wouldn't you agree, Ned?"
I swear Mrs. Yan smirked as I blinked and tried to quickly process whatever I had clearly missed. "Absolutely, Mister McVoy. A closer relationship between our R&D department and Studio K's design team could absolutely shatter the status quo in the mobile device, home theatre, and personal entertainment markets." Thank god, it struck me where I recognized Camille Yan from. She was the face of Studio K's Advanced Design Team and the subject of a recent article on the merger of fashion and electronics that Bob had insisted I read last week. Now seemed like a bad time to admit that I had only read the article for the pictures, but the captions of those photos might be enough to save me. I prayed.
"We shall see, Mister McVoy. Studio K has many suitors, as you can see." Mister Yan gestured towards the rest of the crowded room. "If things go well tonight, perhaps we will arrange for further discussion. For now, please, join us. It is time for the entertainment to begin."
The crowd shifted away from the hors d'oeuvres towards the tables that had been set up for the evening's entertainment. Clearly things had gone well enough during the discussions before we arrived tonight that Mr. Yan directed us to where we would be seated with him at a semi-circular table at the front, facing the stage. He directed Bob to one end to sit next to him, positioned his wife, then daughter to the other side of him. That left me in the only other available seat, next to Camille. I wasn't going to complain.
As we settled in, I tried to make some polite small talk, "Camille, wasn't it?"
"Miss Yan," came the reply from her mother beside her.
Camille blushed more furiously than she had previously before smiling and responding herself, "Mother, please. It seems that we will be working together soon enough. Camille is fine, Mister...? I don't believe Mister McVoy gave your given name?"
"Ned is fine, thank you Camille. As you said, it seems we'll be working together soon enough." I winked. I probably shouldn't have, but I'm just a constant flirt.