Chapter Eleven.
The presentation.
Emily fumbled with the stack of files on her desk. Her hands trembled as she pulled one out and flipped through the pages, stopping at the highlighted section. She stared at it, took a shaky breath, and walked toward the conference room.
The room was silent. All eyes in the room were fixed on her, listening, waiting and eagerly interested to hear her pitch her idea.
For a moment, her pulse picked, her nerves rising, and confidence trickled to spill away.
She stood still in front of the board of directors from both companies Glam's and Graham's. Emily felt that quick, breathless pressure in her chest and recognised it. It was her mind telling her she would fumble. She tightened her grip feeling extremely nervous.
Emily didn't want to make a mess of herself; she breathed deeply as she composed herself. Her hands fidgeted and her whole body trembled. Standing in front of the board of directors, her gaze fixed on the members present.
She breathes in and out trying to push away the negative feelings. She had prepared for it and she reassured herself. Despite the impromptu notice by her boss this morning. She wished to deliver her best to them.
She stammered as she began her presentation. "The introduction of Coco pops cereals into the market is going to bring in huge profit for both Glam's and Graham's. We can make sales by advertising using TV shows, paid ads on social media, and the use of influencers elaborating on the need for consumption of healthy products for modern society especially the family ``.She said her voice was getting clearer as she presented her ideas to the board.
They all listened attentively, relieving the tension that surmounted within her. She was getting her point across. Emily's heart was filled with excitement.
She was utterly stunned as she was about to proceed when Rodrick, the CEO of Graham's Foods, raised a hand to interrupt her.
"We can't absorb the cost of a massive ad campaign," he said bluntly. "This product hasn't proven itself yet. Our usual model of distributing to retailers on credit is safer. If it doesn't sell, we don't lose much. But what are you proposing? It's a gamble." He said.
He seemed not to be buying the idea at all.
Emily opened her mouth, but before she could respond, Liam, her boss at Glam's, leaned forward.
He didn't give Emily the opportunity to speak as he raised his voice to air his opinion firmly. Emily smiled deeply pleased.
"Emily is right, we make the product known to our consumers first and with their curiosity and enlightenment about the product it will give rise to demand of the product, this will cause the suppliers to demand for our product and seeing that we have put in our best effort in to the production of Coco pops cereals our hands are cross that in no time it would be a household name, don't you have faith in what we have been able to produce" Liam voiced out authoritatively.
His gaze fixed on Rodrick.
"It's not that, we have to be strategic in planning with this product or else if it goes down like choco chips then we will have to bear the huge and terrible lose like before, I don't want to go through those process and gaining back the consumer trust will be hard due to the effect one product which wasn't accepted would have cost, I want us to go the easy way".Rodrick said vehemently.
He was adamant in accepting Emily's proposal. "I have been a C.E.O for 10 years and Graham's enterprises is one of the fastest rising firms in New York city". He said proudly.
"Emily has done extensive research. I trust her analysis. We owe it to the team and to this product to give it a real chance."
Rodrick still looked unconvinced, but said nothing more.
Liam was not ready to take a chance with Rodrick as well. He agreed to work with Graham's because he believed in the credibility of the product. He nods his head in approval of Emily's suggestion seeing Rodrick was becoming a hard nut to crack.
"Coco pops cereal will be a hit. Let's think outside the box most middle men have been corny with our goods, thereby lying that there's no sales even when it is obvious that the goods are making sales". He stressed his points further.
"Leaving us with a shortage on our path during those periods. If we explore the new innovative idea of my secretary Emily we will be able to see how well our product can succeed without falling for their lies". He looked towards her direction and said it in a tone that left Emily helplessly wet between her legs.
Her eyes went wide looking at him. His face was attractive but screamed danger at the same time.
Does he know that he had a powerful effect on her? Does he know that his gaze left her feeling emotionally weak.
His sharp and captivating steely grey eyes. The intensity of his eyes could render anyone immobile. Just like her.
She couldn't stand this man no matter how hard she tried.
She was helplessly in love with someone who would never see her more than what she already was. A secretary.
Emily responded with a smile and a slight nod of her head in intense approval.
All the while during the presentation his gaze never left her side as it roamed all through her body. She felt uneasy by his constant stare and averted her gaze as much as she could.
She sighed deeply, and gulped realizing it. She was glad that her technique would be adopted and scared what would happen if it failed.
When the meeting has officially ended and major members of the party have left. She gathered up her files carefully when Liam walked towards her "If this product makes a huge sales get ready for a promotion and a 30 percent increase in salary" Liam chipped in his voice making her speechless.
"Coco pops will also be offering you a share if this product takes over the market within three to four months of its introduction, it will be our little way of saying thank you for a job well done". Rodrick said, already standing up to leave as his secretary hurriedly stepped over to his side to collect his briefcase.
Emily shed tears of joy, this was a blessing as well as a responsibility to showcase her level of competence to the whole management team.
Liam looked at Emily and he could see that a new wave of responsibility had been bestowed on her. He wondered how she would be able to pull through with this new project.
" What are your plans concerning Coco pops, do you know any TV commercials you can work with, have you been able to speak to any?" He asked with concern evident in his voice.
She wondered why he was so concerned all of a sudden. It's her responsibility and not his. But she was glad he was helping her.
Graham had been adamant on her new idea but thanks to Liam who seems to have been a little bit impressed.
"No idea yet, and I really don't have any of their contact as of now, I will have to come up with concrete plans on how to get them". She told him.
"Come to my office by 9:am tomorrow I will make the necessary arrangements, I will schedule a meeting and let the teams know about it to see that the best hands in New York City get to work with this project to make it a hit, I will still need you to continue to do a proper research on how to make a high sales pitch on this new product". He said it in a voice so deep it left her helpless again as he handed the files to her. She felt her impulse weaken.
"Okay sir". She replied and picked the file.
"Have a nice day" She said as she was about to take a step away finding her way out of his office.
"Emily," he called. She stopped in her tracks and looked back at him taking a step closer towards his direction.
"Thank you for always working so hard" .He said to her with a calm demure voice.
Emily's eyes welled with tears. It was the validation she had worked so long for and the weight of responsibility settled in all at once.
She nodded, grateful and deeply overwhelmed.
"I am more than glad and greatly enjoyed working with you Sir" .She replied.
As she walked out of the room, her mind drifted back to her first day at Glam's.Her only hope is for things to always get better. As
everything depended on what happened next.