Stunning Stoat !

"Give me your details and I'll let you know when it goes live" said the Uber driver as he dropped Debbi off at her company. "Don't bother" Debbi answered irritably. "You'll probably be told about it soon enough anyway, I reckon it'll go viral" suggested the driver.

"Afternoon Debbi. Good meeting ? I see they let you keep a sample ?" called the receptionist with a smirk as Debbi entered the lobby. She had been told the tale of Debbi's modelling debut but had not expected her to turn up back at work wearing just that white lace teddy. Debbi ignored her and, head held high, went straight to the lift. Her defiance waned and her face reddened as she alighted from the lift on her floor. She was greeted with gasps and wolf whistles as she made her way through the open plan floor to her own corner office. Her plan was to change into the workout kit that she kept in the office for any after work excursions to the gym. "No time for that" her assistant Carol told her urgently. "Jeff's livid and has been on the phone asking where you are every five minutes !"

Now even more flustered, Debbi turned and scuttled hurriedly to the conference room, ignoring still more amused glances and whispered comments. As she burst in the door, she almost collided with the Chinese delegation that were just leaving. "About time, where the hell have you been ? And why on earth aren't you dressed ?" Jeff yelled angrily. Then in a more considered tone to the Chinese, "Sorry about that gentlemen. We'll fill in Debbi here on what has been agreed." Susie and Charles, Debbi's erstwhile interns, sat alongside Jeff with satisfied grins on their faces.

"Well, what have you got to say for yourself ?" Jeff began grumpily once the door had closed on the Chinese customers. Debbi's explanation elicited a growing chorus of giggles from Susie, even though she carefully omitted any reference to the spanking she had received from Olga and the Tik Tok element of the cab ride. "You're normally so efficient but I have rarely come across such a level of incompetence as you have demonstrated today" Jeff concluded. Debbi opened her mouth to protest but Jeff continued. "I suppose you have shown that you're fit for one role at least. Luckily, the Chinese seemed more than happy with your modelling efforts. Thank god Susie here had the wit to suggest that option after you'd screwed up the booking."

"I didn't screw up the booking, that was..."

"Don't try to blame Carol. the buck stops with you. Anyway, Susie saved the day in more ways than one by handling the negotiations and clinching the signing of the contract. I think you owe her a word of thanks." Jeff looked at Debbi expectantly. "Er, yeah, well, um, thanks Susie. Good job" she mumbled reluctantly.

"Right, so, we'd better bring you up to speed with what was decided in your absence. As I said, fortunately the Chinese loved you as a model, so you're going over there for the brochure launch and to participate in the catwalk show ?"

"What ? But I'm not a model ? I'm a serious business woman" Debbi protested. "Then it's a pity you did not demonstrate that today. In any case, it's a question of continuity. As Susie pointed out, yours will be the face and figure in all the brochures and online sales material so it makes sense for you to model the outfits over there too. Plus it saves the company money. We don't have to pay for models and you just collect your normal salary. And you can be thankful we're still paying you that !"

"But how can I conduct business discussions and give presentations when they've seen all my bits ?" Debbi wailed. "You won't have to. Susie's leading those, you just have to stand there and look pretty." Debbi was left speechless.

"Don't forget the Stoat" Susie reminded Jeff. "Oh yes, on the ball as always Susie. The Chinese have obtained the licence for Stunning Stoat swimwear from the Kiwis and Susie offered our expertise to promote that for them and they are signing a further contract."

"Stunning Stoat ? Never heard of them" said Debbi. "Well, something else that shows you're not as on the ball as Susie here" retorted Jeff. "I expect even you have heard of Wicked Weasel ?" answered Susie smugly. Debbi nodded. "Stunning Stoat saw a gap in the market, sensing that the Weasel guys were too conservative" Susie continued. "Too conservative ? But there's nothing to their suits" Debbi exclaimed. "You'd be surprised what can be trimmed from the designs. And using less material means more profit" Susie explained. "Whatever, the clothing will be produced in China and you're going to model that too while we're out there ! They've already recce'd locations for an outside photoshoot."