CHAPTER FOUR - Unexpected Encounters

Just as she was getting to the crux of her argument, however, the screen behind her flickered and went dark. Claire's heart skipped a beat. She tapped frantically at her tablet, but nothing happened. The screen remained stubbornly blank. "I... I apologize for the technical difficulties," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "If you'll just give me a moment..." She could feel the tension in the room rising as the seconds ticked by. Mr. Dayton shifted uncomfortably in his seat, while the clients exchanged skeptical glances. Think, Claire, think, she told herself. You know this material inside and out. You don't need the slides. Taking a deep breath, Claire set her tablet down on the table. "Gentlemen, while we work on resolving this technical issue, allow me to continue. In fact, I believe this situation provides us with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate one of the key principles of our proposed strategy: adaptability." She moved around the table, making eye contact with each of the clients in turn. "In today's rapidly changing business landscape, the ability to pivot and think on your feet is crucial. Let me walk you through a real-world scenario that illustrates how our strategy would work in practice." For the next twenty minutes, Claire held the room captivated. She drew diagrams on the whiteboard, used props from around the room to illustrate complex financial concepts, and engaged the clients in a lively discussion. By the time the IT team had fixed the technical issue, Claire had already covered most of her key points. As she wrapped up her presentation, Claire could see the impressed looks on the clients' faces. Even Mr. Dayton was beaming. "Ms. Langford," one of the French executives said, "that was truly impressive. Your ability to adapt to the situation and still deliver such a comprehensive presentation speaks volumes about your expertise and Dayton Enterprises as a whole." Mr. Dayton stood, clapping Claire on the shoulder. "That's why she's our best, gentlemen. Claire, excellent work. Why don't you take our guests down to the executive lounge for some refreshments while I have a quick word with the team?" As Claire led the clients out, she couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Despite the setback, she had pulled it off. Her elation was short-lived, however. As she returned to the boardroom after settling the clients in the lounge, she overheard Emily's voice through the partially open door. "...while Claire's recovery was admirable, I can't help but feel that this incident reflects poorly on our preparedness," Emily was saying. "If I had been in charge of this presentation, I would have ensured we had backup systems in place." Claire pushed the door open, her eyes narrowing as she locked gazes with Emily. "I wasn't aware that criticizing your colleagues behind their backs was part of your job description, Emily." Emily's cheeks flushed, but she held her ground. "I'm simply pointing out areas where we can improve, Claire. It's nothing personal." "It certainly sounds personal," Claire retorted, her voice rising. "Perhaps if you spent less time trying to undermine me and more time focusing on your own work, you'd have more to contribute to these meetings." "Ladies, please," Mr. Dayton interjected, his tone sharp. "This is neither the time nor the place for this discussion. Emily, while your concerns about our technical preparedness are noted, I think we can all agree that Claire handled the situation exceptionally well. Now, let's focus on next steps to secure this account." The tension in the room was palpable as Mr. Dayton continued the meeting. Claire could feel Emily's eyes on her, but she refused to give her the satisfaction of looking her way. As soon as the meeting concluded, Claire gathered her things and headed out, needing some air to clear her head. Glancing at her watch, Claire realized she was running late for her lunch meeting with a potential new client. She hurried out of the building, hailing a cab to the upscale restaurant where she had made reservations. As she rushed into the restaurant, slightly out of breath, Claire was met with a flustered-looking host. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Langford," he said, wringing his hands. "There seems to have been a mix-up with your reservation. We don't have a table available at the moment." Claire felt a headache coming on. "But I confirmed this reservation yesterday. My client will be here any minute." Just then, a distinguished-looking man in his fifties walked through the door. Claire recognized him immediately from his profile picture: Robert Chen, CEO of a promising tech startup that Dayton Enterprises was courting as a potential investment opportunity. "Mr. Chen," Claire said, stepping forward with a smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you in person." Robert Chen shook her hand, his brow furrowing as he took in the scene. "Is there a problem with our reservation, Ms. Langford?" Claire's mind raced. She couldn't let this setback derail the meeting. "Not at all, Mr. Chen. In fact, I thought we might try something a little different today. The weather is beautiful, and there's a lovely park just down the street with some fantastic food trucks. How would you feel about having our discussion over some of the best tacos in New York?" For a moment, Robert Chen looked surprised. Then, to Claire's relief, a smile spread across his face. "That sounds wonderful, actually. I'm always up for an adventure." As they strolled to the park, Claire and Robert fell into an easy conversation. By the time they had gotten their tacos and found a bench, the initial awkwardness of the restaurant mix-up had completely dissipated.