Page 50 of Strictly Business

“He’s much more down to earth than I expected,” I say quietly to Wyatt after I have reviewed as much as I can.

“Yeah, he always came across that way on the phone,” Wyatt says. “But I wasn’t sure if he would be the same in real life, but he seems like a decent guy.”

“Yeah, I liked the vibe I got from him,” I say. “I hope the others he brings back in with him are as nice as he is.”

“Either way, it’s him we have to impress most of all,” Wyatt says.

I nod and then the conversation ends because Mr Bellisario is back. He is pushing a large trolley loaded with jugs of water and juice. He puts a jug of water, a jug of orange juice and a jug of what I assume is blackcurrant juice on the table near us and then he smiles and hands us a cup each.

We thank him. Wyatt pours himself a water and Ruth and I both have an orange juice. It’s sweet and refreshing and I’m grateful for something to wet my throat. Mr Bellisario sits back down in his original seat and moments later, another three men appear and come and sit down around Mr Bellisario.

Mr Bellisario makes the introductions and then he says he is ready for us to begin whenever it suits us. Wyatt and I look at each other and he nods at me encouragingly.

I take one more drink of my juice and then I get to my feet and walk over to stand beside where the slides will appear on the screen. I introduce myself and then the first slide appears, and I begin to talk. I soon forget my nerves as I talk to Mr Bellisario and the others about what the modern fashionista is looking for in a brand and how we can show them that Bellisario’s is the brand that can offer them all of that and more.

I talk for a good twenty minutes, but I keep a close eye on my audience, and at no point do any of them look bored. In fact, they look engaged, sitting forward in their seats, nodding along. One of them is even making notes on a sheet of paper. I think this is going really well and we’re not even into the really good bit yet. Wyatt will be doing that side of the pitch – the part where he reveals the branding and the strategy for getting it out there along with the message that Bellisario’s is a brand with quality, sustainable products that will take you from day to night and back again.

I finish speaking and smile around at the men.

“I will be taking questions at the end,” I say. “In the meantime, I’m going to hand you over to Wyatt, who is going to explain to you all how we have rebranded the company and what strategies and gateways we will use to get your name out there as one of the major players to watch.”

I sit back down, glad it went as well as I think it did, and Wyatt stands up and moves to where I was standing only a second ago. I glance at Ruth. She nods at me, a sign I hope that means I did good, and then her attention goes back to Wyatt and flicking through the slides.

I think I know Wyatt’s part of the pitch as well as I knew my own and I’m practically mouthing the words along with him as he talks. I keep sneaking glances at Mr Bellisario and the others and they still seem to be completely engaged and focused. I hope that means it’s a sure win for us. I don’t want to jinx it, but it sure looks that way to me.

I keep watching and then I freeze as Ruth brings up the slide for the logo. I don’t know what the hell that thing on the screen is, but it is most definitely not the logo that Wyatt and I designed for this brand. I can barely force myself to look away from the screen, but I do. I look at Mr Bellisario and the others. They have completely disengaged. They are sitting back in their seats and one of them is openly shaking his head.

I mean, honestly? I can’t say I blame them. The logo on display is an absolute atrocity. I don’t know what to do but I know I have to be the one to stop this. Wyatt is still talking, blissfully unaware of the garish monstrosity behind him on the screen and Ruth is oblivious to the fact that isn’t the right logo.

“Umm,” I say and then I clear my throat. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

Wyatt stops talking and looks at me in total shock.

“The slide that is currently displaying is wrong,” I say.

Wyatt looks at it and his mouth drops open when he sees it. He turns immediately to Mr Bellisario and the others.

“My most sincere apologies gentlemen. I have no idea how that got in there, but I assure you, that is not the logo we have designed for you,” he says.

“Then where is that one?” Mr Bellisario asks.

Wyatt shakes his head, as lost as the rest of us. He walks over to Ruth’s laptop and flicks backwards and forwards a few screens but there is no other logo. This monstrosity hasn’t just been added in, it has somehow replaced the real logo.

“Forgive me for speaking so bluntly, but in my opinion, it seems that you designed us that logo and your associate here saw our reaction to it and tried to save the pitch,” he says.

“I assure you that’s not true, Sir. I would be embarrassed to have designed that thing,” Wyatt says.

My mind is racing. How can we prove this was never their logo? An idea comes to me, and I flick back through my notebook until I find what I’m looking for.

“Mr Bellisario. Umm Roberto,” I say. All eyes focus on me, and I want the ground to open up and swallow me, but I have to show them this. “This is obviously an early draft and a very rough sketch, but this here is the actual logo we worked on for you. As you can see, it is in my notebook pages back with your brief and other things. It hasn’t just been inserted there today.”

I hand my notebook over to Mr Bellisario. He looks at it and he gives me a small smile and nods.

“This is much more like it,” he says, poking the design gently with his finger.

The others agree and then they pass my notebook back to me.

“Let’s carry on,” Mr Bellisario says. “If we are happy with everything else, you can send the final draft of that logo over for our consideration after the pitch.”

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