Just Breathe (16 page)

Dee’s eyes flew open. She gasped.
Health Life meeting. Today.

She hugged her knees to her chest and breathed deeply. Don’t think about it, Dee. Big circles with the right leg, big circles with the left, extra pull on her hamstrings. Cat stretch – oh dear, her back was tight. She’d have to work on that. When the warm-up was finished, she rolled onto her yoga mat, systematically working through her vertebrae, binding and gagging all thoughts of the meeting until she finished her practice.

Patrick was waiting at his front door before she had a chance to knock. ‘It’s going to be hot today. This humidity really upsets my psoriasis.’

‘I’ll bet it does. How’s your neck?’

‘Not bad. My knee’s playing up again, though.’

‘Why don’t we try a bit of gentle stretching on it today?’ Dee threw her yoga mat on the floor and sat down before he could add to his list of ailments. Her brain was too crowded with thoughts about the meeting to process any more of Patrick’s injuries.

It had taken Health Life only three days to set up the meeting with Dee and various department heads. Lucy said it indicated their enthusiasm about the DVD project but it was still more than enough time for Dee’s anxiety to crank up for another out-of-comfort-zone moment.

She’d tried to alleviate some of her dread by building a catalogue of business-meeting advice. When she went to Amanda for fashion help, she came away with hand-me-down power suits, spike-heeled pumps and instructions to act normal (meaning less hippie) and to behave like she had a clue. As she didn’t have time for an acting course, she’d have to wing the last one.

Leon told her to ‘be present’. ‘Don’t go off on some mental trip to India when it gets
boring or you’ll miss something.’ Like she’d do that. She’d be too nervous to think about the markets and the mouth-watering smells from the food stalls and the beautiful saris at that shop around the corner. And … Focus, Dee.

Hollywood Tom warned her that Health Life’s ideas would be commercially driven and to be conscious of any attempt to manipulate the yoga ethos. Hmm.

Arianne said it was important to think before she spoke, speak clearly and don’t throw up.

‘So what’s on today?’ Patrick asked when Dee brought his meditation to an end.

‘Huh?’

‘You seem distracted.’

Dee felt a stab of guilt. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let it affect your class. It’s just that I’m going to a big-wig business meeting this morning and I’m, well, anxious.’ When she told him about it, he looked impressed, which made her feel a little more anxious. ‘Have you got any advice?’

‘Don’t say yes to anything until you know exactly what you’re putting yourself up for and how much you’re going to get paid. Plenty of new players lose a bunch of time and money getting caught out with that one.’

‘That sounds sensible.’ Act knowledgeable, be present, speak clearly, don’t say yes. And don’t throw up.

She squeezed into the rush-hour traffic, rolled bumper to bumper down the road to her seven-thirty private then on to the yoga school for the 9 a.m. beginners’ class. At ten-thirty she had just enough time to shower and gulp down coffee at the café up the road.

Dee hung Amanda’s jacket on the back of her chair, tugged at the straight black skirt, kicked her slightly too big shoes off and stirred her cappuccino. This meeting better get her
closer to Shit Together, she thought, because she cancelled a private lesson to be there. She couldn’t wait for it to be over now. She knew nothing about DVD production or health insurance or marketing. She felt like a kid going to a grown-ups’ party – as though she’d understand the words but not the meaning.

She picked up her ringing phone and smiled at the display. ‘Hey, Ethan.’

‘Just wondering if you want to grab a coffee after your meeting. Talk about how it went. Maybe when you come in for Lucy’s lesson?’

He knew her teaching schedule? ‘Sure. Although I may need something a bit stronger by then.’

‘That’s right, you’re a meeting virgin. It’s only natural to be nervous the first time but I’m sure they’ll be gentle with you.’

The giggle in her throat eased a little of the tension. ‘I’ve had a busload of advice. Would you like to add any?’

‘I think the usual for virgins would apply. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do, don’t get pressured into something and remember no means no.’

‘Okay. I think I can manage that.’

‘Have you got protection?’

‘I’m all out of condoms but I’ve got a mint.’

‘Fresh breath is good. Sounds like you’re all set. Good luck. I’ll be standing by with a post-meeting cigarette.’

She couldn’t wait.

‘Dee! Our Health Life yoga guru.’ Leonard Frost met her at the boardroom door. ‘I’m sure when you’ve heard what we’ve got to say you’ll be as excited about this project as I am.’

She smiled, relieved. This wasn’t so bad. Leonard was here to guide her through.

‘Let me introduce you to our crew.’ Dee shook hands with Toby from Marketing, Blair from Public Relations, Cameron from Advertising and Grace from Member Services, and almost hugged Damon the Director for being a familiar face. ‘So now you all know each other, I’ll be off,’ Leonard said.

Dee watched in horror as he bid farewell and closed the door behind himself. She was on her own now.

‘So, Dee, where’s your yoga mat? We thought you’d be giving us a demo.’ Toby from Marketing stood proud of the group, hands on hips, marking his territory as head boy.

She smiled uncertainly at her serious new friends. Was this boardroom frivolity or did they really expect her to drop to the floor, do a few forward bends and a headstand? She hitched at her skirt. ‘I’m not exactly dressed for yoga.’

‘Maybe next time, hey? Take a seat and we’ll get down to business.’

She took a seat on one side of the large table, mentally going through the check list of advice she’d collected.

‘So, Dee, what did you think of the ad?’ Cameron from Advertising asked.

‘It was very good.’ Act knowledgeable. ‘And beautifully filmed. And inspiring. In a health insurance kind of way, I mean. And, well, weird, actually. I’ve never seen myself do yoga before, except in a mirror, of course, and I thought I did quite well to keep my posture square in the sand, although I did turn my feet out a little too much in the revolved triangle.’ She looked around the table at blank faces. Okay, maybe too much detail.

‘What was the reaction in the yoga community?’ Cameron asked.

‘Well, I …’ Dee felt her face go blank. The ‘yoga community’ was a big, diverse group
and she hadn’t taken a poll. ‘I think they generally liked it.’ At least, she hadn’t heard anyone say it was a load of crap.

‘So they’re pleased we’ve given them our support?’

Dee didn’t think the ‘yoga community’ gave a hoot whether or not it was supported by Health Life. And why did Cameron from Advertising really care? He’d already made the ad without the consultation of the ‘yoga community’. She looked at Cameron, saw his eager, earnest face with perhaps a little tension in the left side of his neck. A penny dropped and a bit of her own tension slipped away. He didn’t want a discussion about the disparity between the commercial mindset and Eastern philosophy. He wanted a pat on the back. That was easy.

‘I think it’s nice the health benefits of yoga are being recognised.’ She smiled and he looked as though his opinion had been confirmed.

Toby cleared his throat then waited a moment for everyone’s attention. ‘We’ve seen your yoga and it’s certainly impressive. What else do you do, Dee?’

She tried to look sensible and professional. ‘I
teach
yoga as well.’

He paused a moment. ‘Is that all?’

‘It’s a full-time job.’

‘Nice work if you can get it.’ He laughed in a short, sharp burst. ‘Ever thought of adding to your repertoire? You could expand your market base if you included a couple more services.’ He grinned. ‘Especially after our members get to check you out on the DVD.’

Dee supposed it was meant as a compliment, but the way he said it made her feel a bit dirty. ‘I’m committed to yoga and –’

‘You could do Pilates, too. That’s big these days.’

‘Well, actually –’

‘Or aerobics. I can see you doing all that jumping around.’

‘Coffee’s here,’ Damon the Director interrupted.

Not a moment too soon. She took the opportunity to turn away from Toby and take a clean breath.

‘You’d look hot in those tinsy-winsy outfits,’ Toby said.

Dee looked back – big guy, barrel chest, some kind of back problem. She took her cup from Damon and tried to sort through the advice she’d been given. Act like you know what’s going on, Amanda had said. But she had no idea what was happening. This guy was rude and sleazy and nobody else seemed to notice.

‘Hey, guys,’ Damon said, tapping his watch, ‘can we get down to business? I’ve got another meeting in an hour.’

Hallelujah.

Grace from Member Services outlined the project. There would be a series of DVDs aimed at encouraging members on their quest for a healthy lifestyle, the purpose being to demonstrate Health Life’s dedication to its members’ well-being. They would start with the yoga DVD, picking up on the success of Dee’s ad, then go on to Pilates, Tai Chi, aerobics and massage.

‘Do you do massage?’ Toby asked loudly across the table. ‘Even I’d try a bit of yoga if you threw in a massage.’ His mouth widened in a salacious grin.

Dee wasn’t sure she’d be able to follow Arianne’s advice about not throwing up. She glanced around the table and saw the others absorbed in note-taking and coffee. She smiled uneasily, wiping her hands down her skirt. She noted Toby’s wet mouth, stiff back, the shirt too tight around his fleshy throat. He was just a revolting person with no respect. Not unlike an old student who’d suddenly grown an over-active imagination, at least where his physical attributes
had been concerned. She’d set him straight with a gobful of yoga talk and, three weeks later, he’d cancelled his classes.

If she did the same with Toby, she might edit herself right out of the DVD project, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to do that. Aside from the Shit Together issues, it was beginning to sound attractive – a quality job, not some cheesy promo, Grace had said, and they were going to consult her on research and the script. Maybe best to be a good sport.

‘Perhaps I could sign up for a massage and just watch the yoga.’ Toby winked at her across the table.

Ah, stuff it. She sifted through her checklist, selected ‘speak clearly’. ‘I’m sure you know all this, Toby, but the practice of yoga as the Western world sees it, the postures and meditation, is only a small part of the philosophy. It also includes elements like breath-control, chanting and sensory withdrawal. It definitely doesn’t include massage, particularly the sort of laying on of hands you seem to be referring to. So, if you want someone to massage that obvious problem you have with your back, then I’d suggest a good chiropractor.’ She smiled. ‘Or a call girl.’

Down the table, Damon the Director grinned broadly and from the corner of her eye she saw Blair from Public Relations chuckle silently. But Toby straightened a little, squared his shoulders and gave her a shrewd, narrow-eyed look.

Well, there goes Shit Together.

He turned his attention to the others then. ‘Okay, Damon, can you run through your end of the project?’

As Damon talked about scripts and sets and scheduling, Dee began to tune out. She wouldn’t get the job now but at least she’d managed to keep her coffee down. She leaned into her soft high-backed chair and let her eyes wander to the spectacular view of Sydney Harbour.
Pretty neat place to hold meetings. How do they ever keep their minds on the job with the Opera House just down there and all those little sail boats scuttling around? She crossed her legs, let Amanda’s shoe dangle from her toes. So this is what a business meeting is like? Pretty tense, really. A lot of mental argy-bargy and jostling for position. No wonder they’ve all got stress points. Necks and shoulders, Damon continually clicking his pen, Grace’s rapid blinking. That must get tiring. Good refreshments, though, and …

‘Dee?’

She jumped. The shoe flipped off the end of her foot.

She looked along the table at the faces turned towards her. ‘Huh?’

‘A commitment, Dee? We need to get moving on this project ASAP,’ Toby said.

They still wanted her? What had she missed? Where was her shoe? ‘Well, okay.’

‘Great.’ Toby turned to Blair. ‘So that sorts the PR then. Should be plenty of promo opportunities for Dee, don’t you think?’

‘Absolutely. Demos, obviously, and how do you feel about public speaking?’

Dee’s mouth dropped. ‘Ah …’

Toby checked his watch. ‘You can sort through the details later. For now, I’m sure Dee will make an impressive ambassador for Health Life. Welcome aboard.’

She smiled tentatively and struck out a foot under the table in search of her shoe.

Beside her, Grace stood and collected her notes. ‘I’m looking forward to working with you.’

‘Thanks,’ she said. Under the table, her toe found the shoe and pushed it further away. ‘Dee?’ Toby said.

The others were gathered at the door for a group exit.