‘I’d like to speak to Chuck Allen please,’ I say as clearly as I can. I sound likeDonna.
‘Putting you through to mergers andacquisitions.’
Ooh, mergers and acquisitions. That soundsfancy!
I tap my fingers against the phone, while Seth stands there, appearing to be studying an old calendar on thestoreroomwall.
‘Good afternoon, Mergers andAcquisitions.’
‘Hi there. May I speak to ChuckAllen?’
Please let him still work there. Please, jeebus, let him still workthere.
‘Mr Allen has left for a meeting with a client,’ the woman on the other end informs me. ‘He will not be in the office until tomorrow. May I take amessage’
I gasp. ‘He’ll be there tomorrow?’ I do a little excited wiggle. ‘In the morning?Definitely?’
‘Yes he will,’ the woman says in a clipped voice. ‘May I ask who iscalling?’
My heart lifts with relief. This is okay. I can make this work. I have located ChuckAllen!!
‘It’s Olive. Olive Brewster,’ I say, a huge smile on my face. ‘Can I make an appointment with Chuck? Fortomorrow?’
The woman’s voice turns suspicious. ‘Mr Allen is a very busy man. I’m afraid he’s pretty tightly booked for the next month, at least. What is thisregarding?’
‘Oh… um… It’s personal business. It’surgent.’
‘Then you can get him on his personal number. We don’t make appointments for personalbusiness.’
Ugh, this woman is a right snootypatootie.
‘Of course. And his personalnumberis?’
‘Who are you? Is that you, Diane? Chuck said he never wanted to hear from you again! Stop calling. It’s over,Diane!Over!’
This is going downhill veryquickly.
Pull it back,Olive!
‘Excuse me!’ I say imperiously. ‘This is not Diane! This is Olive. I… I need to see Chuck Allenimmediately.’
My shift in tone causes Seth to turn around from the wall calendar, a surprised half-smile on his face. He leans right in close so he can hear what’s going on. He’s so close. Really close. His ear is almost touching my ear. I feelpeculiar.
FocusOlive.
I clear my throat. Somehow I don’t think the fact that I have a letter from Chuck’s old girlfriend is going to cut it with this suspiciouswoman…
‘I… I have a large investment to make,’ I say. ‘I am leaving Manhattan tomorrow evening on, um, a private plane.Myprivate plane actually.’ I make my voice sound much posher. ‘This investment is of the utmostimportance.’
Seth’s eyebrows shoot up and he covers his mouth as he does a whispery laugh. He shoots athumbsup.
‘Your query is financial, not personal?’ thewomansays.
‘Finance is personal to me,’ I say haughtily. ‘I have some investments and some acquisitions to make and… merge. You know. Always Be Closing, as I like to say. I don’t mean to be crude but we are talking business worth at least…ninefigures. Oh yes. It would be ghastly to have to tell your boss that he missed out on a very valuable client, especially after he was recommended to me so heartily by my friends at well… I shouldn’t say. Billionaires are a discreet bunch, asyouknow.’
I have no clue what I am saying. Even if I’m making sense. I just know that I need this appointment with Chuck and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Seth is enjoying all of this immensely. His shoulders are shaking with silentlaughter.
I think I might have completely fucked this up. I prepare to have the phone slammed downonme.
