Chapter 1
The phone rang at 8am as Julie sat down at her desk. Dressed in her trademark pencil skirt and pale blue blouse with her hair tied up into a bun at her crown, she put on her glasses and answered the phone. “Julie Walters, Dockyard events” she spoke cheerfully into the handset. “Good morning, we were sent a recommendation from one of our partners, we're holding a charity event for an approximate 1400 people, sit down meal and entertainment, in 3 months’ time. We have a venue, and a guest list, we just need your expertise to help us to fine tune everything” the male voice down the phone said. Julie perked up. She rarely had phone calls from clients with such an extravagant number of people. “Of course, may I take some basic details?” she asked as she fished out her pen and notebook.
“My name is Daniel Stone, and I am the CEO of Stone Properties. I would usually let my PA handle this, but unfortunately she is on maternity leave and has left me somewhat short” he said with a light chuckle which sent a warm feeling through Julie. “No that’s fine” she replied with a light smile. “Can I suggest, as this is a high profile event, that you come in for a meeting, or meet at the venue so we can discuss what you have in mind?” the phone line went quiet for moment and Julie took the opportunity to shuffle back in her leather chair and twiddle the pen between her fingers.
“Yeah, I was afraid you were going to say that. I am due to fly out in two hours to Berlin and then onto the states and I am not due back till the day before the event. Is there any way I can email over a list of requirements and details and leave you to organise it all. Unfortunately I won’t be available much to help but I have heard fantastic reviews from partners and I have every trust in you”. Julie nearly fell off her chair in surprise. For a moment she couldn’t get any words out at all. Nobody had ever asked her to plan an event purely with just a guest list and a venue, and certainly not to the scale he wanted.
Gathering herself she cleared her throat and spoke as confidently as she could muster. “Of course, do you have my email address?” a shuffling of papers down the other end of the phone indicated he was hunting for it. “It’s here somewhere, ah ha, got it” he said as Julie giggled surprising herself. “I’m sorry” she said as she realised what she had done. “No don’t apologise, I live in a world of paperwork, I am surprised I still have it” he replied chuckling down the phone. Julie found herself smiling as the warm feeling grew within her. “That’s ok, if you can email me with all the details and any requirements I’d be happy to take it on and hopefully we can make the event a success”
Julie listened as she heard the tense sigh from Daniel own the phone. “I will do, and thank you for taking this on” Julie smiled as his voice took over her. It had a dreamy smooth sound to it, but a hint of roughness as well. “It’s our pleasure Daniel” she replied as they said goodbye and hung up. Sitting back she sighed as she let the dreamy voice surround her. A knock at the door to her office broke her out of her daydream and into the real world. Sighing she sat up and took the documents off her colleague before reading them trying to concentrate.
The ping of her email half an hour later alerted her to a new, incoming email from an unknown contact. Glancing up she looked at the sender then back to her paper, before re-looking as the name caught her eye. ‘Daniel Stone, Stone Properties, CEO’ Julie sat there and looked at the email before running the curser over it and clicking to open it up.
“Julie
Its Daniel Stone here. Here are the details for our charity fundraiser. I have attached a copy of the guest list and contact details for them all, but if you feel that there could be anyone else who I’ve missed just email me and I’ll run the names past our security detail.
The charity event is being held at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BY
The proposed date is 28th July starting at 18:00 hours.
The charity is for help for heroes and the Royal British Legion. I am funding the entire evening. However I have never hosted an event before and I literally have no idea where I am starting with all this, so I don’t know if you would have any ideas on where to begin?
For the evening, I would like a full sit down meal. I have no ideas with decorations or entertainment; normally I leave that up to my PA for small events but do you mind If you could over see that as well. I would eternally grateful.
If you have any questions it would be best to email me as with time differences and work schedule’s it makes phone call’s somewhat difficult. I will be back on the 26th/27th July depending on flights.
Regards
Daniel Stone
CEO
Stone Properties”
