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“This project,” I said, standing up and crossing to the center of the boardroom, “is one I’ve been wanting to tackle ever since I started this company.”
I pressed a button on the remote control for my PowerPoint, and an image of the Continental flashed up on the screen. An old-school hotel, built in the colonial style, the front of the place was weathered and distressed. But the charm of the building was evident, despite its dilapidated state. It was built on a craggy rock, high above the nearby beach, and flanked by an intensely green forest.
“We’ll be starting work on the refurbishment next week,” I said. “But this meeting’s about a lot more than just interior decoration, and renovation. This meeting is about how to make the Continental a special place: the ultimate luxury destination for travel on the island. It’ll take pressure off the main resorts on Honolulu and Hawai’i Island, and, more importantly, it’ll cement our place as one of the major hospitality companies currently running properties in this part of the world. So, I wanted to get all of you together to share your ideas, and give you a few of my own.”
“We’re excited to get to work,” said Karen. “Especially after the sale of the apartment complex has already been finalized.”
“Well, we have you to thank for that, Karen,” I said.
“I think it was Miss Chambers who did most of the legwork,” she said affably, gesturing at Lena.
A few of the executives looked at Lena, but most of them paid her no attention. Despite her beauty and the diligence and skill with which she was taking minutes for the meeting, most of them considered themselves too important to take notice of my bright, energetic new PA. Which was good, because I wouldn’t have to explain that Lena would be leaving us at the end of the week.
“Thanks, Karen,” I said. “Anyway, I’ve prepared some briefing documents here, outlining my key idea for our marketing and advertising. Why don’t you all take a second to familiarize yourselves with some of the pieces in here? I’ve had them printed up nicely to give you an idea of what I was thinking.”
I passed the envelope labeled ‘briefing documents’ to Jim, and he took out a couple of the thick, glossy photographs within. He paused and looked at them, studying them carefully. A few of the rest of the executives helped themselves to more photos from inside the envelope.
A silence fell over the room, as I looked at the photos.
“Interesting,” said Karen.
A few of the others nodded and exchanged a few of the photographs. But I was confused. There were supposed to be sample brochures and leaflets in there, not just single stills.
Had a mistake been made? I glanced at Lena. “Show me what you like, Karen,” I said, and she passed me the photograph that was in her hand.
In the gorgeous, colorful photograph, there was a swimming pool flanked by a set of tropical trees, pineapple trees, with thick, textured trunks.
And sitting by the swimming pool, in an elegant, red one-piece swimsuit, was none other than Lena Chambers.
“What …?” I said, looking at the photo. “Here, Jim, can I see that?”
Jim grinned. “I’m having too much fun just looking at this one, Alex. But if you insist.”
He passed me the paper. This one was also a photo of Lena. This time she stood leaning against the marble wall of a building. In the distance was another swimming pool.
I put them down on the table, and then, without warning, a flurry of excitement spread through the room. The executives were chatting, sharing their approval of the photographs of the beautiful woman who was currently sitting in the corner, shocked and with a blush rapidly developing on her cheeks.
“What did you …?” I said, looking at Lena, but she just shook her head and looked shocked. Meanwhile, the executives began to chatter.
“Looks beautiful. The picture of elegance …”
“It’s a bold strategy, but it just might pay off.”
“She’s the face of Honolulu Hotels. I think they’re wonderful.”
“Are these just tests, or is this from a photoshoot you did, Alex?”
“They could be on the cover of a magazine.”
One of the pictures had come to land by Lena’s seat. She picked it up and looked at it, and shocked, turned to me as if to open her mouth.
“Well, Alex,” said Karen. “You’re certainly full of surprises. Here we all were thinking Lena here was just your new PA. I had no idea you were such a talented model!” she said, looking appreciatively at Lena.
“I … I mean …” said Lena.
But it was too late now. What would happen if we confessed that somehow, my PA had switched up photos of her modeling with the carefully curated array of brochures and PR tests I’d had her fetch for me?
“Just what are you playing at,” I began to say to Lena, in a low, threatening voice. I was about to tell her to get out. That I didn’t give a damn whether she was resigning or not—she was out, that there was no way I was going to put up with this kind of behavior in my boardroom.
