This was going to be a long day, a late night, and an early flight home the following day. Grace decided to go over her presentation and then take a nap in her luxurious suite before getting ready for the afternoon meeting. Looking around, she wished she could share all this with Melanie, so she sent her a wish-you-were-here text and photos. A few moments later Mel texted back: Enjoy! You deserve it! and attached an emoji of a big smile followed by Good luck, you’ll knock ’em dead! and a thumbs-up.

Feeling buoyed, Grace switched on her laptop and got to work.

*

Grace arrived early at the Fullerton Hotel’s conference suite to check that all the necessary technology was in working order. Then she went to freshen up in the ladies’ room and calm her nerves.

When she walked back into the conference room the MGI executives were there. They introduced themselves and made small talk as Grace glanced at the door. This was it, she thought. Breathing deeply, she checked and rechecked her notes and equipment. Finally the Pangisar entourage were announced and made something of an entrance, their lateness annoying Grace, rattling her somewhat, though she was careful not to show it.

After some introductions and pleasantries, the CEO of Masari Group International, whose name was Farrouk Eljoffrey, finally opened the meeting, outlined its purpose and introduced Grace. He then introduced the consultant who’d be doing all the hotel’s publicity, an attractive young woman named Rosie Chow, who ran the biggest public relations company in South East Asia, and also re-introduced Hans Speyer, the MGI head of marketing, whom she’d already met. The group settled around the long conference table. The immediate Pangisar family was present: Johnny, his father, plus a sharp-eyed, scarlet-lipped, mature-aged Chinese-Indonesian woman wearing serious diamonds, who was introduced as Madame Pearl Kutarian. Grace later found out that she was the sister-in-law of Mr Pangisar Senior and an investor in MGI.

Grace was nervous. She’d put so much effort into this pitch. She really wanted this job and she knew she could do it well, though she also knew that was no guarantee of success. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, she told herself, and, taking a deep breath, she launched in.