Ira is feeling very pleased with herself on this Wednesday morning! Yesterday Maria from the banking and finance team had asked her to join the team for experience and development.

Maria said Ira would join her for a monitoring zoom call with one of their biggest banks this morning! Ira felt really enthused by this new opportunity! Ira had dressed the part of the high powered finance executive; she was wearing some snug black trousers, black high heels and a new metallic looking smart top with a v-neck and long loose sleeves. Ira had treated herself to some nice new black underwear.

It is in this super positive frame of mind Ira arrives at the office. In reception taking the early shift is Mira in a nice purple blouse that Ira thought was new as she had not seen it before. Mira's hair and makeup were as usual awesome so Ira passed through into the main office feeling a bit diminished.

Ira busied herself reading up on the meeting agenda. The bank had lent Robin Group money for one of their property projects and there had been a few delays in progress, nothing too serious but the bank had called the meeting to discuss the project.

Soon Maria arrived looking very serious in an all black business suit, and blouse but with her ever present wide smile. Maria asked if Ira was still ok to do the meeting. Ira assured her she was and was really looking forward to it. Maria said that was great.

Then Maria smiled and asked "Have you felt the tension in reception?"

"No" Ira replied "Mira seemed fine when I arrived"

"Ah, well now Yana is here wearing the same colour blouse and so they are frosty!" Maria laughed.

Ira nods sagely. This is the sort of thing that would irritate the two pretty receptionists.

Ira returned to work but could not shake the feuding receptionists from her mind and found herself asking "Would they be annoyed enough to use a pie if one was to hand?"

Try as she might Ira could not put the thought out of her mind. Soon she rationalised an excuse to go to reception and ask if the meeting room was booked for the video call with the bank. Yana was indeed there is a purple top as well as Mira. There did indeed seem to be some considerable tension.

Ira returned to her desk and came up with an idea. Ira popped into the kitchen and sure enough there were two pies there on the side with no obvious owner. Ira quickly took one in each hand and carried them out to reception.

A slightly grumpy Yana says "We already put the stuff in the conference room Maria asked for."

Ira ignores this but says "Oh, ok.. can I just leave these here while I. pop into the stationary cupboard?"

Both Receptionists grunt their approval without looking at each other. Ira disappears into the cupboard and waits. Ira starts to think about what Yana might have meant about things Maria needed in the meeting room but then she hears raised voices from outside in reception, a moment later she hears one 'Splat' followed quickly by another.

Ira struggles to keep a neutral expression as she comes out and sure enough the pies are now plastered over the faces of the two receptionists with a fair amount of mess down their purple tops! Ira tries hard but she is barely suppressing her laughter as she quickly strides back to the office.

Ira is feeling that the day is going very well, she sits down and does some work. Finds time to check her feed on the social network 'Splat' and is delighted to find her friend Vanessa in Cyprus had been tagged as she was sat in a huge cream cake at dinner last night while in a nice black mini dress! Ira leaves a celebratory comment amount all the many other comments.

Maria comes over and says "So are you ready?"

"Oh Yes" says Ira.

"Ok, you go and get the connection up and running on Zoom and I will be in a tick."

Ira goes off to the meeting room, walking through reception, the two pied receptionists give her a humourless look.

Ira enters the meeting room and goes to the table and turns on the TV on the wall and gets the connection to the bank's HQ setup. As the connection comes on-line Ira notices a large cream and chocolate syrup pie on the table. Before Ira can think about this anymore the team from the bank join the call from their end.

"Hello! I'm Irina and Maria will be here in a moment"

The bankers introduced themselves and by the time they have finished Maria comes in , takes off her black jacket and sits down next to Ira.

"Hello everyone!" Says Maria who clearly knows everyone on the call. The bankers seem very pleased to see Maria and Ira senses that the call will not be a difficult one.

A conversation between Maria and the bankers unfolds and it is clear that despite some of the delays they were generally ok with the project. The meeting seemed to be working its way toward a close and Ira wondered why she had been necessary. Ira's attention is bought back to the conversation as the lead banker says;

"So Maria, we can report back that the project should continue to get our support but we do have to observe the penalty clauses in the finance agreement for the delays."

"Yes of course so we will accept the extra fees if you raise the invoices" replies Maria

"And what about the special forfeit clause?" Presses the banker looking more enthusiastic than at any other moment in the meeting.

"Of course, of course" Maria says as she stands up "The forfeits have to be born by a member of our finance team and we can deal with those now!"

"Well, great" agrees the banker "So the first forfeit comes if there is any delay at all, which is a pie in the face"

Maria has now picked up the cream and chocolate pie which she showed to the camera.


To be continued.........