jonathandeacon
power-point presentation. ask,” replied Star, “but in answer to way they speak to people in e-mails
Squirrel extracted himself from the the question it’s Columbian arabica.” and on the phone. I’ve looked at your
clutches – or was it caress – of the She turned and removed her long site and you make recommendations
Audi, gathered his bag and followed coat to reveal a black top and silk for products. These must be
Star into the building. She walked pencil skirt combination: the outfit authentic. It makes a difference if you
with the ease and seduction of a cat was quality and probably Heaven and know what you’re talking about –
walk model her body swaying gently Earth thought Squirrel – and this side otherwise people will see through the
as she moved upon three pivot of a glass top desk it looked like hype and Google someone else’s
points: shoulders, hips and ankles, heaven. knickers.”
the stiletto heels presenting a self The décor in the office was She blinked and blinked again in
administrated impediment to minimalist and chic, white walls, grey quick succession.
accelerated movement, for which carpet, abstract poster art in the style “So even though we may never
Squirrel at that moment was quite of Steez on the wall and the meet the customer and only ever
thankful. Star ushered Squirrel into ubiquitous vertical blind to shade the communicate at a distance we should
the building and then unhurriedly into sun. What struck Squirrel was the all have personal experience of the
an office on the first floor, after she complete absence of lingerie, no frills, product portfolio in order to
had elegantly ascended the staircase. no spills no how do they pay the bills authenticate the value?” the question
By the time he had ensconced anywhere to be seen. She had caught was uttered more as an audible
himself into the leather of the tub his visual audit of the space as she thought than a reply and uttered very
spoke to a person charged with slowly.
coffee making duties some distance “Yes,” said Squirrel. “If you were
off. She replaced the handset, without selling coffee, how could you describe
taking her eyes off him – and did so a with any passion what that coffee was
little too slowly for his liking. like and how could you treat it with
“You’re a fan of Steez, Squirrel?” care if you had never experience the
“Not especially, although The Kiss java jive?”
has some artistic merit I think, the “I see your point,” said Star.
spray paint and graffiti reminds me At that moment and as if
too much of the inner city and a summoned by the mention of coffee,
rather delightful subway back in coffee arrived – the tray being
Wales.” Although as he now thought delivered by a tall, athletically built
about it – that very subway had male, in his mid thirties and to
become a backdrop for an episode of Squirrel’s trained eye more able to
Dr Who. You never know perhaps it take care of people in ways less
would make the Dr Who location tour accommodating than by offering them
sometime later this millennium. a cup of coffee.
Perhaps not. He passed a cup to Squirrel and
office chair he felt as if he had been “I couldn’t help but notice that in doing so exposed for a fraction of a
drizzled in treacle and wrapped in there is a distinct lack of underwear in second the face of the gold ring that
cotton wool – something, he thought, this room,” deliberately changing the he had on his right hand little finger.
is not quite right here, although he direction of the conversation and as Squirrel knew its significance instantly
knew a club in Hamburg where such he did so, he noticed a flicker of – it was a West Point class ring.
a service could be provided at a small subconscious recognition cross Star’s “Thank you.” said Squirrel, to the
extra cost... and all in the name of face, “given that you are a purveyor crew cut topped, lightly tanned face
customer service! of such things I thought that you may an arm’s length away.
“Coffee?” she asked as she have some of the samples on display, “You’re welcome, Sir,” came the
positioned herself behind a large and framed up as art, break the mould reply in a thinly disguised Upper East
glass topped desk. create the value – if you’ve got it Side accent.
“Is it instant?” Squirrel enquired flaunt it.” As Squirrel contemplated the
with the air of a poker player raising “We sell via the internet, not from coffee, the glass topped desk and the
the stake at a winner take all late the office,” replied Star, her voice lack of underwear, he just couldn’t
night game. He had an aversion to showing signs of tension, as if he had help but think: something was not
instant coffee. To him it was like temporarily spoiled her game, but he quite right here...
calling cream soda Champagne. had a sureness that normal service
He had been in New York recently would soon be resumed on that front. To be continued...
and noticed that apartments were “That’s all well and good, but what
now being sold on the basis of their about the people in the office, they Jonathan H Deacon wears red
close proximity to coffee stores – how need to have a constant reminder of socks and helps create the
close your nearest caffeine fix, who the business they are in, the quality businesses of tomorrow at the
needs off street parking. of the offering and the physicality of Newport Business School
“I’m disappointed you have to the goods – it comes across in the
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52