"You Two'll Make A Great Team !"

Debbi's one consolation throughout the debacle on Ingram's course was that she still had a better job than Diane, one earned by her own hard work. This had now been undermined by Jeff parachuting Diane in over her head in the company pecking order. True, she was not in her direct line management. But there she was on the company structural diagram, on the level above Debbi.

Debbi's mood was not helped when she discovered that on the wall of Diane's new office, and clearly visible to anyone who came in, was a framed copy of the captioned photograph; 'the reason one of these ladies is fully clothed and the other is only wearing her knickers is because only one of them had the benefit of a university education.' When Debbi complained to Jeff, she was told not to be so sensitive and to use it as an incentive to do better in future !

Diane's new team's first product launch was of a fingernail sized exercise monitoring device. It adhered to the skin and when it sensed that the wearer's pulse rate was falling below a preset optimum for the relevant exercise regime, it emitted a sharp electric shock as a stimulus to work harder. Debbi was sceptical when they met to discuss the launch. "Would there really be a market for a thing like that ?" she wondered. "Maybe not among slouches like you" Diane retorted. "But we've done market research and thrusting go ahead millennials will take to it in droves and that's the market we're after !"

"Exactly" Jeff agreed. "Don't be so negative Debbi. I'm tasking you with setting up the big launch event and I expect you to give it your best shot." Debbi seethed. Right, I'll show them, she thought. She and Carol contacted various gym equipment suppliers and arranged to hire a hall where a circuit could be installed on which a couple of hired models would exercise while monitors showed their heart rate and the intervention of the stimulus. Jeff was pleased. "Looks like you've put a lot of work and thought into this Deb." She was Deb again and not Debbi, he must be happy with it she thought.

"Yes, very good. Well done Debbi" Diane interjected. "You have been a bit free with the company's money though" she suggested. "What do you mean ?" Debbi bristled. She had costed this meticulously. "Well for a start, we don't need to hire a hall. There's plenty of space downstairs in reception. We can set up the demonstration there" Diane proposed. "Excellent, then we can entertain prospective customers in the board room upstairs" Jeff agreed. Debbi grudgingly supposed that could work. "And the cost of hiring two models is exorbitant" Diane continued. "We don't need them. I've seen you play squash and while you have no skill for the game, I've seen how you can run about. We can have you demonstrating the circuit for free" Diane concluded !

"But, but" Debbi stammered. "Another excellent idea, I can see now your ability to think outside the box Diane. You two will make a great team" said Jeff !