Rise of Roxy Ch. 02

"This is preposterous," yelled the CEO Bette Hill. "Mal get this prima donna in here and we'll rip into her."

"I've tried contacting her without success. She is meant to be working from home today and no one knows where she is."

"Well team," said Bette, "let's start going through our list of presenters. God this will mess up schedules and summer vacations. I can't believe how we could get into this mess."

"I accept responsibly," Mal said, and pulled out his vibrating phone that told him he had a new message. "But remember in this project we have outside partners of influence in the university and a big financial contributor."

Everyone eyed him impatiently as he read the message.

"Roxy is in the building," he said. "I'll go and grab her myself. We want her in here now!"

When Mal left Nick said, "Right guys, let's take this carefully. I'm aware from brief contact that this Roxy Reeves is no pushover."

Everyone listened but looked ready for blood.

"Well let's back-off, at least initially," Bette said, looking ready to blow steam.

"Guys if you are thinking of telling here to name her price to fill the gap, you might blow your chance of winning her over," Nick warned.

"Nick she's that new employee we saw having that screen test," said the head of the company's legal department. "Within reason new employees, in fact all employees are obliged to do what they're told."

"Is it reasonable to ask an eager new recruit to lay aside her career path ambitions, already covered by contract approved by your department, and send her to Italy for two months to work her butt off on a project not related to what she has been contracted to do?"

The director of marketing said she'd be willing to take her butt to Italy for two months or even six months and others joined in jocularly to add their irrelevant comments.

"That's enough," Bette said. "Remember we appear up to our necks in this and have no way of recovering current outlay if the university withdraws from the project."

The chief attorney asked, "Well let's slowly build pressure on this ungrateful recruit. God in bygone days she could have been fired instantly for refusing to cooperate."

"Lionel that comment is not helpful," Nick said and Bette agreed but she believed any other new trainee would have swapped being trained as a weather presenter to go to Italy for two months in summer.

"Yeah and probably would be prepared to do the job without pay," someone muttered.

Most of the assembly laughed.

Mal almost ran into Mrs Smith's office.

"Thank god you're here. Did Mrs Smith tell you what the crisis about?"

"She only knew there was a crisis involving Chesterfield University and some project we have under the wraps. I guessed Sally has issued threats and thought you might want to know I was in the building and could explain my position to the meeting if required."

"Come quickly and please excuse us Mrs Smith."

"Yes off you go and watch your backs with that lot. They will be attempting to impress the new chairman."

They jogged to the elevator and Mal briefed Roxy. They entered the boardroom and were generally greeted with hostile looks.

"Hi everyone," Roxy said brightly.

That was greeted in silence.

"Oh-oh," she smiled.

"Miss Reeves, this is a hugely serious matter. I take it Mal has briefed you?"

"Yes Mrs Hill."

"And you position is?"

"It's unchanged. I guess Mr Robbins has briefed you."

"We want you to go to Italy and be the presenter in this movie project."

"No."

"And why not?"

"Because the job is too big for me, I've had no training for it Mrs Hill."

"That's a risk we are prepared to take. All of us here who have seen your film test are aware that it's not a risk."

"But I need to work to establish a platform from which I can launch to advance as a presenter."

Jill Kennedy, head of training, said that was commendable but this was a crisis. "The university has issued an ultimatum that if you are not the presenter then they will withdraw."

"But that's just Professor Brookes being vindictive because I said no to her."

"That's rubbish Miss Reeves," the CEO bristled. "You should get your facts before you speak out like that. The university has advised me they consider Professor Brookes has enough on her plate without being presenter as well and besides her screen test didn't produce the pleasing result that was expected."

"Well I still..."

"Roxy would you do this for me, please?"

Everyone looked at the company chairman who sat unfazed.

"Come on Roxy, what would it take?"

"I would need a confidant and I thinking about that I know the person who'd support me."

"Mrs Smith?"

"Well possibly if this other person is not available."

"Agreed," Nick said. "Do we know this person?"

"Yes and you met her with me very recently. She's Mr Scott's wife Sophie."

There were murmurs and Nick said, "Yes I can understand your thinking. You all need to know Sophie is acting almost a confidante role already to Roxy who is presently living with Robert and Sophie as their house guest. Roxy met Sophie who is director of HR as the law firm where Roxy last worked."

"Yes you have good recall."

"Thanks'," Nick said. "We would pay Mrs Scotts travel, accommodation and general expenses incurred as your... well as your chaperone."

Robert said, "I really can't speak for Sophie but imagine she would seize this opportunity and she gets a month's leave during summer anyway and as a long-serving senior employee is probably due for a sabbatical."

"Well if she can only be at my side for the first month that would be the worst of it over."

"This is an excellent compromise," Nick said. "What about salary?"

"If I'm to act as a senior presenter I would expect to be paid at that rate."

Nick looked at Better who said, "Agreed. Is there anything else?"

"Just one more thing. Mr Johns mentioned on the way up here when briefing me that the team leaves for Italy in nine weeks. I would like to receive two weeks intensive training on presenting and then be given work as a presenter during late morning or early afternoon TV."

"No problem. Please arrange that Mal. So you are with us on this project Miss Reeves."

"Yes 101% Mrs Hill."

"Roxy please call me Bette. Oh can you speak Italian?"

"A little."

"She's absolutely fluent," Nick said.

Better raised an eyebrow and said, "Great and welcome to our team that's going to Italy Roxy."

Everyone applauded and Bette said to Lionel the chief attorney she wanted him to work on Roxy's contract personally.

He said, "We should pay Sophie to cover insurance considerations and also to establish a contract with her. There's a lot at stake in this project Bette."

"Then please attend to that Lionel, we have the budget for contingencies. Roxy you may leave now. I suggest you call a cab and visit Sophie to break the news."

"That's an excellent idea. Well bye everyone."

"Goodbye Roxy," they chorused, most of them smiling.

When the door closed behind Roxy, Bette said, "Mal I suspect you attempted to twist Roxy's arm on the way up here?"

"Correct and isn't she a good actress? For a time in here I was sure she was rejecting going to Italy. I had told her if she didn't accept I might have to resign and she said then she would go. I then said if she made a success of being the presenter she'd never look back. She laughed and said then no way would she be responsible for my resignation because when she returned she'd want to become regarded as a senior presenter."

Everyone laughed and Bette said, "Well that's it everyone. Thanks for your attendance. Our crisis is over and I'll call the university now and then continue my regular meeting with the chairman and deputy chairman."

* * *

Roxy called Sophie and said she was on the way over.

Sophie said, "You sound excited."

"Yes I am. Can you be across at the coffee shop opposite your office in five minutes? It's important."

"Yes of course. You know I only swan around here."

They chatted while sipping coffee and Roxy said, "Have you ever been to Florence, Italy?"

"No, I had a two-day stay over in Rome. That's the total of my Italian experience."

"Would you like to live with me, mostly in an RV, for two months this summer, based in Florence?"

"Omigod, are you serious?"

"Yes absolutely. The trip would cost you nothing in terms of travel and accommodation and all you have to be is to be nice to me."

Sophie smiled broadly. "You me and sex?"

"Yes that too if you are that desperate," Roxy giggled. "Seriously, I am to be the presenter for Sally's project. It's just been decided and I said I'd go if you would be my chaperone even if that's only for the first month. But you'd be a fool if you couldn't stay for the two months. You'd find it glorious and Robert could get over there for some of that time I guess."

"Omigod," Sophie said, sounding breathless. "It's very tempting but why don't you share living with a guy, rather than me?"

"Because I'll be under pressure to perform and will need support from someone I trust. I expect Sally will become over-bearing at times when pressure gets to here. You know from the other night what this is about and the over-all budget is two million bucks so no way do I wish to be the under-performer."

"Then why do it? You turned down Sally, remember I was there."

"The university thinks Sally's workload on the project is heavy enough without her also doing the presenting and she didn't perform well on the screen test, so I've heard. She must have told her colleagues about me because the university told Channel 8 unless I went as presenter they would pull the plug on the project."

"Oh god, you poor thing. Are you okay?"

Roxy grinned. "There you go Sophie and that's why I want you with me in Italy."

Roxy handed Sophie the dates.

"Leave this with me. Half of that time comes within my vacation time and I'll apply for sabbatical leave earned through long service. I have the feeling I can pull this off and fortunately my deputy is taking her vacation in mid-winter to go to Austria to ski."

When Sophie returned to the office she went up and waited for Tom Baxley, chairman of the executive management team to become free.

"Hi Sophie, a problem?" Tom said, closing the door and then sitting opposite her with a coffee table between them.

"I hope not."

"I haven't mentioned this before but Roxy has been living with me and my husband as our house guest until she gets re-established."

"Oh thank Christ for that. We hadn't heard from her and thought she must have failed at her new job and had left the city."

"No she's fine and in fact is blooming. Roxy has found a position with Channel 8 and was to begin training as a presenter, beginning the role after some training as the relief weathergirl."

"She'll be good at that. She looks good and speaks well," said Roxy's uncle.

"I spoke in the past tense Tom. Something has come up. Roxy has been chosen to work in Tuscany, based in Florence, for two months with two camera crews and will present under direction five hours of edited filming of a documentary on Tuscany being the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Actual interviews will be filmed with Roxy presenting in both English and then Italian and she'll also do the voice-overs in both languages."

"Well knock me down with a feather. Our Roxy doing that? Although she speaks Italian and has immersed in Italian culture she'll know fuck-all about the renaissance."

"She'll work from a prepared script Tom. Roxy is not expected to do the research and write the script."

"Ah no, of course not. Sophie I'm so pleased you have come up with this wonderful news. My wife and I feel we are responsible for that poor young woman with such trying times behind her and my wife will be overjoyed that Roxy now appears to have her head above water."

"It's a major doco Tom, with a budget of two million bucks and our Roxy will have a key role to play."

"Jesus."

"Roxy has pleaded with me to go with her to Italy for the two months of filming, to be her confidante."

"I see, but can we spare you aware from the office that long?"

"That's for you to decide. The crew set up for filming in the beginning of July and work through to the end of August, catching the height of the tourist season. It will be hot and chaotic and so Roxy believes she will need my support to get through that along with the pressure of performing well in her role, and I think it's clever of her in anticipating that."

"Yes and I do too. Um can you take one of those months as your vacation and what about taking the second month as your sabbatical, you are a senior and have been here fourteen years and that's only a year short of the qualifying period for non-partners."

"Oh Tom are you willing to approve that arrangement, Roxy would be so grateful."

"Yes consider it done and accept the responsibility for ensuring Louisa is supported for the period she will be in charge. You know I can't wear the thought of Roxy being with a hard-ass camera crew and Italian males roaming around looking for your female targets. Roxy must be chaperoned."

"Thank you Tom, you can count on me and I expect to get wonderful experience out of it. Channel 8 will be paying my travel and accommodation and general living expenses."

"Ah good, I was wondering about that. Obviously Roxy made that demand when accepting the offer of the position."

"Yes they think she'll be a winner as does the woman who has devised this venture and raised the capital. A big advantage in taking Roxy is she speaks Italian fluently. I'm also finding she's a lot smarter than what many people think."

"Yes of course. Well off you go. Email me with the dates and I will get the formal approval back to you and advise heads of departments. I'm so grateful you are taking this motherly interest in Roxy. You're a lovely woman Sophie and I mean that. Please get Roxy to call us."

As soon as Sophie had told Roxy she had approval to take two months leave, Roxy called the head of Channel 8's legal department with that news and gave Lionel Sophie's cell phone number so he could call her to discuss details for her contract and to inform her about her role and weekly salary.

* * *

Professor Sally Brookes called Roxy and thanked her profusely for saving the project.

"How can I reward you?"

"Just being with you while we are on this project will assist in my career education."

"Well I can do better than that by formerly teaching you how to write and rewrite script for TV and edit to time restraints and keep good rhythm and to write appropriate for the target audience. I can also teach you about art appreciation and built on what you already know about Italian culture. I'd like to cook dinner for you a few times before we go and speak only in Italian. Talking Italian to you could improve my fluency."

"Oh Sally I will love all of that and such close involvement with you ought to develop a closer relationship so that I work better under your direction."

"You are very sharp for a TV trainee Roxy. My feeling is we'll have fun as well as probably come to tears over some things, but that's what working intensely together can produce. Nick says you could be taking Sophie Scott as your minder?"

"My confidante and to support me in my role. Actually I found out less than an hour ago she has the approval of her law firm to be away for two months."

"Well that's great and she probably could help me as well, like kicking the butts of lazy camera crew who drink too much and wallow in sex with too many hot Italian women."

"Do you think the crew will really be like that when they know we'll be operating on a tight schedule?"

"Oh darling this project will be a big learning curve for you. Camera crews are fine when they are working, very conscientious in fact. The misbehavior and other problems arise from when they are not filming and it comes time for them to rise and shine next morning, if they can remember where they are and what they are supposed to be doing that day."

"We'll have night work as well I suppose?"

"Yes I will finish the filming schedule by Friday and I'll give you a copy to study to allow you to see the big picture. Oh don't expect the daily shoots to be in order from A to Z like the script. We shoot sequences out of order for a variety of reasons including to avoid running to and fro between locations like blue-ass flies."

Roxy giggled and Sally complimented her for having humor.

"Look the other reason why I'm calling you is my project team here would like to meet you as you will be a key player in the presentation. Is that okay?"

"Sure and although I start intense training tomorrow it will be in half-hour or so bursts and no fixed schedule. Name a time and place and I'll be there."

"Um may I speak frankly?"

"Sure, always do that with me."

"A couple of my team think you are too young to be the presenter. I suggest you try to dress and look older."

"And perhaps add sexy to that list?"

"Yes and thanks Roxy, I was debating whether to ask for that."

Roxy told Sally not to worry, that she would display confidence to win over the doubters.

The meeting at the university went smoothly. The 34-year old Sally, an assistant professor with a doctorate in education, greeted Roxy warmly with a huge hug and a kiss to the cheek.

She whispered, "Gee darling you don't have to do much with yourself to look sexy."

Sally then introduced her to the associate professor who led the project admin of five consisting of two academics and three administrators.

They sat in the meeting room after collecting coffee and a sandwich and associate profession Morgan Wright explained, "This is just an informal meeting Roxy. My team just wanted to put a face to the person who'll be articulating our educational documentary to the world."

"To the world, oh my goodness," Roxy said, looking stunned, and everyone laughed.

"It's okay Morgan, I was putting on an act. Sally has briefed me well to date," Roxy lied, as Sally has provided little information to date. "Look I brought this movie clip along. I suggest this would be an appropriate time to run it Morgan."

"Sure, good idea as an ice breaker, movie clips of you as a child and no doubt performing in a classical tutu. We are set up for audio visual presentations in this room," he said, handing the DVD to the senior lecturer in Greek and Roman history who disappeared. When the screen slowly wound down from the ceiling, Roxy said they were about to see an edited version of her Channel 8 movie.

"It's quite short and you might not be interested but at least it does show you what the camera sees in me.

"What the camera sees in you. Oh very eloquently expressed," Morgan said, picking up his attaché case from the floor.

"I hadn't intended doing this but since we have the projector going we may as well do this. "Here's a page of Sally's script. While we watch your clip you might like to go over to that corner table, switch on the lamp and read this page a couple of times to become a little familiar with it. After your clip we'll play the test opening scene of the planned documentary that Sally made to present to our partners in this venture. Are you comfortable to do that?"

"Yes of course. If I stumble over words you will accept I haven't been rehearsed."

"Yes of course. Before we start with our clip Sally will come over and check if you have questions."

The audience came alive when on her film test she acted out being a kidnapped white slave. They laughed and clapped and really clapped at the finished.

Sally came over and Roxy said no problems and Sally handed her another sheet.

This is a translation into Italian of what you have been reading. Read it first. Morgan is fluent in Italian and he's the one we need to impress. Then I'll replay the clip and you can read in English. Don't look at the big screen, just the use this small monitor that I'll switch on now. Just read at your normal voice with a 3-second gap between paragraphs and of course you may have to make minor adjustments to your pace."