Читать книгу The Contract - Anto Krajina - Страница 9

As soon as the interview was over, the cameras and the microphones were switched off and taken away. The members of the managing team approached Vivien and congratulated her with words full of praise.

“Dear Vivien, I would like to congratulate you and to express my admiration. It has been a great pleasure listening to you. The interview has been so smooth because your language is refined and your pronunciation is simply impeccable. You have been doing everything so well, because since the first day you have known what you want. We all in the team are trying to do all we can in order to help you fulfil your dreams,” said Mr Corner, obviously very satisfied.

All members of the managing team nodded and applauded.

Vivien’s face was glowing with happiness.

“Now I would suggest that Vivien and we all watch the interview together to see if anything else could be added or deleted,” said Mr Corner.

The suggestion was accepted unanimously.

Professor Frederic disappeared for a second, and when he came back he put a tiny tray with a big glass full of fresh orange juice on the table in front of Vivien. He didn’t say anything but just smiled at her. She pressed his hand to thank him. Vivien’s tender smile and her gentle pressing of Professor Frederic’s hand didn’t escape Mr Corner, nor did the jealous looks of the latter escape Professor Frederic. What Professor Frederic had done happened just a second before Mr Corner wanted to ask her if she would like a drink. While he was preparing everything Mr Corner had the impression that a cunning rival had managed to get the princess to give him the key to her chamber door.

Mr Corner urged all the members to write down any remarks they might have in connection with the interview. The recorded interview was projected onto the screen. There was perfect silence during the projection. After the projection nobody stirred. They were all waiting for Mr Corner’s opinion first before creating their own.

“I personally find the interview so overwhelming that I should like to suggest to you that we do not repeat it any more, because a better and smoother recording than this one is hardly possible. Tomorrow evening this interview will be broadcast on TV as already arranged. In the evening the day after tomorrow we all will meet here again and have a nice chat together. I don’t think there is any reason why we should meet again before that, because now everything is clear and already fixed,” said Mr Corner immediately.

His suggestion was accepted unanimously.

“Thank you very much for your support. Now, Vivien can be at her ease and needn’t think of the interview any more,” he added, looking at Vivien with a smile. All the others joined him in applauding and directing their looks at Vivien. Vivien’s face was radiant.

Professor Frederic suggested that Vivien and one of his assistants at the Institute of Psychology, whom he personally had chosen for the job, could go out and have a nice stroll in the town.

“Vivien should enjoy her last hours of anonymity before the interview on TV, that is, before her face becomes known to everybody,” he explained.

All the members of the team supported the idea.

Before Vivien and Doctor Ovale left, Professor Frederic discreetly reminded Vivien of her promise to come to his office and have dinner with him after her walk in the town. Vivien nodded with a smile.

The day before it became known that Doctor Ovale had been chosen for the task, Peter Strong, another assistant of Professor Frederic’s, an extremely good-looking, charming, intelligent young man, expressed the wish to accompany Vivien during her stroll in the town. Professor Frederic was sorry, but he had already engaged someone for the job and now he had to keep his word, he said.

Doctor Ovale was in the assistants’ room waiting for Professor Frederic’s call. Professor Frederic called him, and a minute later he arrived.

All the men in the managing team liked Professor Frederic’s choice.

Doctor Ovale was a rather short, chubby, humorous man in his thirties, not at all attractive, but very nice, charming, and well-read. In addition to a remarkable knowledge of biology and psychology, he was also well-informed and enjoyed speaking about politics, art, film and fashion.

As Vivien was delighted by the idea to go out and enjoy a pleasant stroll in the town, she and Doctor Ovale left immediately. She was wearing a pair of large sunglasses and a pink scarf. She was in such a glorious mood and in such a perfect disguise that even her former schoolmates and her parents wouldn’t have been able to recognize her.

They had a long pleasant afternoon ahead of them.