This story is a continuation of the characters and plots developed in the story "Rebecca Becomes a Party Girl," Chapters 1 through 7 (under username edisonCaroline). Reading those stories first is helpful, but not necessary.
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I. Rebecca Helps Betty with Her Presentation
Rebecca had always been very impressed with Betty and her business sense. She had built up a consulting firm to support victims of natural disasters. Recently she had asked Rebecca to serve as a mock audience member so she could practice a presentation she was going to give to the Howser Foundation, an organization that provided funds to growing businesses. 'Helping those in need," was their slogan. Rebecca was happy to help, too
After several practice presentations, the day finally arrived and Betty asked Rebecca to tagalong for moral support. Rebecca dressed smartly in a nice dark maroon dress, with the length just below her knees and the neckline showing just a modicum of cleavage. She followed Betty into the Howser Foundation building and up to the fifth floor.
"Wish me luck," said Betty.
"You're going to do great," said Rebecca, as she watched Betty being escorted into the conference room.
Rebecca found herself a fairly comfortable chair across the hall from the conference room, where another woman was already waiting. She sat down and picked up a magazine from the small table next to her. Betty had said that the presentation was an hour, followed by a discussion, and that she should be finished in less than two hours. Rebecca settled in for the wait.
"Are you waiting for someone as well?" said Rebecca.
"Yes," said the other woman, looking up from her magazine. "She's giving some sort of presentation. I'm just here to keep here company."
"Me too."
The woman seemed nice, thought Rebecca, even perky. Rebecca began to look through her magazine, just to pass the time. The hallway didn't have a lot of traffic, so there wasn't much in the way of distraction or entertainment.
"Hello," said the well-dressed gentleman who emerged from around the corner of the hallway. "You two are both waiting while friends of yours are giving presentations, yes?"
"Yes," said Rebecca.
"I believe those presentations are scheduled for at least an hour and a half, maybe longer" said the man in the blue suit. "Come with me, we can make you more comfortable. I'm Mitch, by the way."
"I'm Rebecca. Thanks, but I'm fine here."
"No, really, we can make you more comfortable. Follow me."
Before Rebecca could object, she found Mitch moving away down the hallway. She didn't want to be rude and didn't want to do anything that might negatively impact Betty's prospects, so she put down the magazine and followed Mitch and the other woman. A few doors down they entered into a lounge area that was filled with several tables and chairs, a couple of couches, what appeared to be a computer workstation, and a small banquet of food and coffee. Not a large room, but a friendly room.
"I think you'll find this much more comfortable," said Mitch. "Help yourself to coffee and food and I'll let those in the conference rooms know where you are."
"Thank you," said the other woman.
Rebecca nodded in agreement. As Mitch left, Rebecca poured herself a small glass of water and wished she had brought the magazine from the hallway along with her.
"I'm Natalie," said the other woman.
Rebecca noticed that Natalie was dressed in a nice dark skirt suit. She was younger, with short hair.
Rebecca shook her hand. "I'm Rebecca. I guess there's not a lot to do while we wait."
After a few minutes, Rebecca watched the door to the lounge open and in walked Mitch and two other men. They were all wearing similar dark suits and Rebecca assumed they worked for the company as well.
"Rebecca and Natalie," said Mitch. "This is Ted and Calvin. They're the money guys for the programs your friends are applying for."
Rebecca smiled as Natalie stood up and shook both their hands. Natalie was quick to shake people's hands, thought Rebecca. Rebecca stood up and shook their hands, as well. Ted and Calvin, like Mitch, seemed just a bit older than Rebecca.
"So, you're here with Betty?" said Ted. "And, you're here with Marsha?"
"Yes," said Rebecca. "We're here for moral support."
"That's great," said Ted. "It's good to have friends willing to help."
"I am not sure I really help," said Rebecca. "I mostly just listen."
"Same here," said Natalie. "A friendly face."
"That's definitely helping," said Calvin. "We all need people who make us feel better."
Rebecca stood next to Natalie while the three men poured themselves some coffee. When they returned, the five of them formed a makeshift circle in the middle of the lounge, no one yet sitting. Rebecca felt that being the first one to sit might be impolite.
"Betty and Marsha both have nice proposals," said Calvin. "We've all looked them over and they have promise."
"They do," said Ted. "But they could really use something to push them over the hump in order to get funded. The groups they're presenting to now make recommendations to us, then we decide on the funding."
Rebecca was happy to hear that they thought Betty's proposal had worth, but she was concerned that they weren't yet sold on the idea. She knew how important this funding would be for Betty.
"Is there anything we could tell her to help them?" said Rebecca. "Like we said, we're here for support."
"I think there might be," said Calvin. "You're both beautiful women."
"And, beautiful women can be quite convincing," said Ted.
Rebecca could feel her sixth sense humming in the background.
"I can see where this is going," said Natalie, "and I want no part of it. No, thank you. I'll wait in the hallway."
Rebecca, along with the three men, watched Natalie move quickly out of the room. Her leaving was assertive, but respectful. Rebecca was impressed, but still somewhat confused. It was clear that Natalie understood the men's intent more than she did.
