Trilemma by Jennifer Mortimer

attention.
    A young waitress holds out a tray and offers me a miniature hamburger, an inch in diameter, stuck on a toothpick flying a Kiwi flag.
    â€œPretty,” I say, and take one. I try not to eye the tray too eagerly. I missed lunch and I’m hungry.
    â€œYes, they’re from Ruth Pretty Catering. Top up?” she gestures with the bottle. I shake my head. I will wet my lips, I will not drink.
    A fair-haired man with a hawkish nose and a square jaw greets me. “Luke Holden,” he says and reaches out a well-manicured hand. “You must be Linnette Mere.” He holds my hand a second too long.
    â€œLinnet,” I reply. “Are you in the telecommunications business too?”
    He smiles ruefully. “Afraid so. Is your husband with you?”
    â€œI don’t have a husband.”
    â€œBoyfriend?”
    I shake my head. “Not even a cat. And you?”
    Luke is signaling the waitress. “Let me get you a drink,” and he places a glass of red wine in my hand and smiles down at me. “Bit of a crush tonight. Do you know many people here?”
    I am whisked around the room to meet more guests. Tom catches up with us and takes my arm.
    â€œI must take Lin to meet—” he says and starts to move away.
    â€œSo you’ll join me at the ballet?” Luke asks, his eyes creasing into a smile just for me.
    â€œI would like that.”
    I smile back with a real smile as Tom pulls me away.
    â€œHenry, meet Lin Mere. Lin, Dr. Grey chairs the technology committee.”
    A thin man holds out a limp hand and gives mine a perfunctory shake.
    â€œAmerican,” he says, accusingly.
    â€œNice to meet you,” I reply.
    Dr. Grey grunts. “Tom, give me a call next week,” and he moves away.
    Luke appears beside me and puts his hand on my arm. “Do you want to meet Wilson?” he asks.
    â€œDoes he still have any power?”
    â€œNot much,” says Tom, glaring at Luke.
    â€œBut his opinion influences others,” Luke says.
    So we thread our way through the gaggle to where an older gentleman with a lined face, hairy brows, and a tired brown suit, is accepting homage by the window. He does not look out onto the city that sparkles beneath us. Instead, he looks down at his hands, busy demonstrating the latest technological masterpiece given him by some sycophant.
    The old guy looks at Luke and nods in recognition but does not relinquish his new toy. Luke introduces us and Wilson studies me briefly.
    â€œDo you know Larry Ellison?” he asks.
    â€œNo,” I reply.
    â€œBill?”
    Which one? Although it doesn’t matter because I don’t know either Clinton or Gates. I shake my head. “No.”
    Wilson grunts and turns back to his toy.
    â€œSorry,” says Luke with a quick smile as we move away and leave the aging politico to the admiration of his cronies. “He’s a bit of a fame groupie these days.”
    Tom takes my arm, swinging me away from Luke’s genial presence and leads me to a tall woman with a calm face and dark hair pulled back in a small bun that rests on the back of her neck.
    â€œGeorgette Meyer,” Tom says. “This is Lin Mere, our new chief executive. Georgette is the associate minister for the broadband initiative.”
    Georgette gives me a large hand to shake.
    â€œCongratulations on the new job. We’re looking forward to Hera’s involvement,” she says. “We need more international investment.”
    â€œBut as a junior partner,” I say.
    Georgette nods. “As a junior partner. No selling off the crown jewels to foreigners. How are you enjoying New Zealand?” she asks.
    â€œI spend most of my time in Wellington,” I reply. “But what I’ve seen is very beautiful.”
    â€œYou have to get out into the countryside,” she says. “That’s where the real New Zealand lies.”
    I nod and give her my polite smile.