The two men had only dealt with each other on and off for a year. And then it had been well over ten years ago. But you would not have known it, as they dissected and expanded every part of the deal and the resulting software project, in a thoroughly composed, measured and professional way, whilst they walked from hall to hall and exhibit to exhibit.

Derek had been and always would be oriented towards the commercial and business side of any venture and had been chosen as Managing Director of Medusa by the inventor of the technique and the original investors. He had stuck to his task, despite all the bullying from Maxwell and then later from Adams. Now that it was a success, he had more of a free hand, but one failed deadline, missed sale or slight hiccup and he knew everything would fall in on him.

Derek had been given full permission to talk to anybody by Adams, and he had identified various possible purchasers, most of whom were the established database software companies. They had already talked to two and today he was going to start discussions with a third.

***

Zyzzx was the shooting star of the computer and database world.

The company had been started only four years previously by a group of disaffected employees from various leading companies in the industry. They had obtained most of the finance from a rather unusual father and son partnership and the company had quickly moved into third or fourth place in the database league table in terms of sales. They had various reputations, for pinching people and software, and then protecting everything with some of the best yard-dog lawyers that money, women and other emoluments could buy.

They had stated that in three years time, they would be number one. Few serious commentators in the industry believed this statement to be incorrect.

***

No-one could miss the Zyzzx stand in the main hall, where it stood in a central position, in the second row back from the steps that led down from the upper level. It may not have been quite the tallest, although a large glass tower dominated all around. But it was certainly the best placed, the largest in terms of area, the gaudiest in colour, and they both estimated that it would be the most expensive.

On further inspection, the glass tower appeared to be some sort of tank, full of a clear liquid, probably water. Spurts of bubbles were being projected though and the whole tank was lit so that it sparkled and shone in all the colours of the rainbow.

However, that was not what made the stand so different to all of the others in the Exhibition.

It was not just the attractive girls on the stand; fair, dark and black. Or even the vast number of them. It was the fact, that all were dressed in co-ordinated bras and pants, stockings and suspenders, with mandatory high heels. It was a complete sexual kaleidoscope of colour; blondes in black, black girls in white, redheads in red and girls in green, blue and yellow with matching sparkling, acrylic wigs. As could be expected the stand was packed.

As they watched the action on the stand from the balcony of the upper level, they now realised why Zyzzx was going to be Number One! 'Apparently, last year it had been bikinis and swimsuits and the year before they were all dressed as Playboy bunnies.' Derek, as befitted the sort of man he was, had fully researched the Zyzzx Corporation. 'What is it going to be next year?'

'It might be worth coming to find out!' He was torn. On the one hand, all this blatant sexuality was the sort of thing that aroused and excited him, as it would most men. And it was probably extremely good for business. On the other, he was uneasy about the way the girls were doing the selling. 'I wonder how long, they'll be able to get away with all this?'

'They're in a unique position, in that all their development, technical and support staff are all based here at their headquarters in Las Vegas. I understand, they have told COMDEX, that if they can't do it the way they want to, then they'll set up their own exhibition in their own premises or at another venue.'

'So all those girls are employees, then?' He had not been to COMDEX for four years and until now had not experienced Zyzzx at first hand.

'Yes! They know their stuff too. I've seen them at work. Well trained. Very good at selling and support....' Derek stopped and pointed out a tallish man, more than a touch on the thin side. 'See him, the thin, gingery man with the big cigar, who looks like that Noel Edmonds. About forty! That's Russ Gilbert. All this is his idea. I've met him once and never warmed to him. He's the Chief Executive Officer, with his father as President. The father was the man who provided the money for the company. We've an appointment to see Russ at six-thirty and then to have dinner with him.'

'So you've already spoken to them?'

'Nothing serious yet. But it would appear that they're prepared to pay something like our price and can also afford it!'

They were interrupted by cheering and clapping from all around them, as many more joined them at the front of the balcony. 'What's happening?'

Derek pointed to the Zyzzx stand, which was now surrounded by hundreds of mostly-male people. 'The show is about to start! They do it every day at five, to finish off the day.'

Everybody was transfixed by the show which lasted nearly ten minutes.

It was now obvious as to the purpose of the large cylindrical tower. Four girls and two men, dressed only in the briefest of thongs rose from the depths of the water to the sound of rock music, which echoed throughout the large hall. They then swam, dived, entwined and danced in the water, in an erotic impersonation and characature of synchronised swimming. As a finale they all pressed themselves against the glass, thrusting their bodies and grinding their hips towards the audience, to the sounds of the Jane Birkin song, Je t'aime. Gradually, they slipped to the bottom of the tank, in an orgy of simulated orgasmic sex.

As they took their final encore and bow, by spinning in an almost innocent outwards-facing circle, with everybody holding hands and waving, the hall erupted. Everybody cheered, screamed, waved, whistled and blew kisses.

***

The two men looked incredulously at each other. In their many years of experience of the computer industry, they had never seen anything like the Zyzzx performance, they had just seen.

It was Derek who spoke. 'From what I've seen of their developments and plans, they are every bit as professional.'

'So, you feel you can do business with these people?'

'Look, I don't think you appreciate the situation.' Derek paused, whilst another whoop echoed. 'You've made your money and you've got a reasonably good living as well. On the other hand, I've worked for other companies for nearly all my working life. I get one chance to make a little money, so that I can have an enjoyable retirement. I've got a bastard like Adams, who wants to sell out prematurely. I've got a jerk like Gilbert, who's the most probable purchaser. I've got people in the business, who don't want to sell at all. And I've got to put together a deal and make everybody happy by next September.' He put his hands on his partner's shoulders. 'You are the one chance, we all have to make this work. As far as I'm concerned, I have to do business with these people.'

'I'm not that good. There must be others, who could do this programming for you!'

'Yes, there are!' Derek put his hands up to emphasise the points. 'You're one of the six best programmers in the world. But, you're the only one who's available. But above all you've done this game before. You know how to add buckets of charisma and jack up prices to the roof. I don't!'

***

At a few minutes to six, they finally approached the stand, which although it was now much quieter, was still the most crowded in the hall. They could see now, that each girl wore a velvet choker, in a matching colour to their uniform, with their name in a little gold brooch at the throat. There were also a few men on the stand, dressed very much like extras from some third rate romantic comedy. The only man in a suit was Russ Gilbert, who was seated at the back, talking to a couple of earnest-looking would-be clients.

They had been waiting only a few minutes, before they were approached by an immaculate, long-haired natural redhead, perhaps around thirty, who had been more than blessed at the accident of birth. Both men's hearts more than missed a beat, as a perfect face, body and legs, clad in very little red lace and stockings, matched to her hair, advanced towards them. She then proceeded to address them in the same way, any more than competent sales person would, about the company and its products. It was the paradox of it all, that aroused and appealed. Show the punters sex, sex and more sex to get them in, and then hit them hard with all the best in sales patter. The philosophy obviously showed into sales for Zyzzx.

'We've come to see Russ Gilbert at six-thirty!' Derek was stuttering. 'We're a little early!'

'Yes, he's expecting you.' The smile completed the picture. But the surprise was the accent, which was definitely straight from a top-draw English public school. 'You can see I'm Lucinda.' She pointed to her throat. 'From Canterbury in Kent, actually. I'm Customer Support Director. So, as we've got half-an-hour or so, shall we log you in and show you our products and how we support all our customers. Remember, we at Zyzzx pride ourselves in that support. It's the key to our success!'

Copyright 1999 by Ewart Higgins