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Ahead of us, the sliding glass doors to the boardroom open, and the guys look over as we go inside.
“Hey, Aroha,” Henry says, and the other two echo his greeting.
“Morning, guys.” Aroha smiles at them all, then bends to greet Alex’s dog, Zelda, as she runs up. “Happy New Year.”
“Great that you’re joining us,” Tyson says. “We really need some help.”
“I’m looking forward to getting stuck in,” she says. She looks to her right. “What a great view.” Another pair of sliding doors that are currently open lead onto a private terrace with stone steps down to the Avon. Willow trees trail their fingers in the water, while ducks paddle slowly upstream.
“It’s not a bad place to work,” I reply. I gesture to the table against the right-hand glass wall. “Help yourself to coffee anytime you want, and pastries are on the table. Morning tea will be around ten—we normally have some muffins delivered. Lunch at one—again, it’ll be delivered, just club sandwiches and stuff.”
“Okay. Would any of you like a coffee?”
I finish off the last mouthful of mine and hold the mug out to her. “Yes please, that would be great.”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” she says.
I lift an eyebrow as the others laugh. “Is this what I’m going to have to deal with while you’re here?”
She presses her lips together and takes the mug. “Just teasing.” She walks over to the coffee table. She’s wearing a white blouse, a black pencil skirt, and high-heeled sandals. Her toenails are painted cherry red. God help me.
As she bends forward to pick up a fresh mug for herself, her tight skirt reveals her shapely butt. I try not to groan. She was put on this earth to torture me.
I inhale and look away quickly, discover Alex watching me, and blow the breath out. His lips curve up. I’ve already had the ‘we don’t bang the secretaries’ speech. I give him a sarcastic look and take my seat.
“We’re just talking about the presentation,” Tyson says to Aroha, “and clearing up what we want it to look like.”
“I’ll be working on handouts, right?” she asks, changing mugs to make my coffee.
“That’s the plan,” I reply. “We’re assuming there’ll be three hundred and fifty attendees. It’s probably going to be nearer three hundred, but I’d rather over- than underestimate.”
She brings our coffees, and I take mine. “Thanks.” I beckon with my head for her to follow me to the table on the other side of the room.
I gesture to a large pile of white cardboard folders with the Kia Kaha logo that haven’t yet been folded. “These arrived from the printer last week. They need to be folded into shape. Each one is going to have about a dozen items inside. So far we’ve only got a couple finished.” I show her the documents that are ready. “The pamphlets need to be folded in thirds with the logo on the top.” I fold one to show her, and she nods. Then I indicate the three piles of double-sided A4 sheets that list the products we’ve designed and their specifications. “These need to be collated, one of each, and stapled in the corner.” I do one to show her. “That should keep you busy for a while.”
“Okay, thank you. I’ll get started.” She pulls up a chair by the table and sits.
I go back to my seat. “Right. Where were we?”
“Case studies,” Tyson says. “You want to start with me?”
“You think that looks too much like an ego-wank?” I ask. “Talking about ourselves and how great we are?”
Henry shakes his head. “I think we should go personal. Play on their emotions. One of our friends was in an accident and was told he’d never walk again. But we were all determined to help, and look at him now.”
“Like Lazarus,” Tyson says. “I could lie on the floor, and then you could demonstrate how you made me get up and walk.”
We all laugh, and Aroha chuckles as she begins shaping the folders.
“Henry’s right,” I say. “We should always focus on the personal.”
“On helping people walk again?” Henry says.
“Yeah, but not just that. It’s a good time to reiterate that the aim isn’t always to get people on their feet, because that’s not always possible. It’s about setting realistic goals and working with the patient. We’re about giving people more independence, and handing them back some control over their own lives. Something small to others might be a huge improvement to another person.”
Aroha glances at me, and I’m sure she’s thinking about her brother. I meet her gaze and smile, and she returns it before she goes back to the folders.
An idea occurs to me then. It’s not the time to discuss it, so I jot a note down on my phone. I’ll think about it later, maybe have a chat to Henry.
