barucai
[Story] Little man, Big Deal
Published: September 10th 2024, 7:00:10 am
Hi Hi ✨
I've been writting a series of shorter, quick stories to finish up some ideas on the fmg-35 universe. Not saying I'm not going to write anymore on it, but I might take a break from it and start writing something else. Anyway, this is one of those stories, hope you like it! Alt images from other women in the cold streets of Beijing available for T3 & T4 members. T1 & T2, you can download the full res image in your folders too.
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Little man, Big Deal
"Mr. Smith, are you ready? They're expecting us in five minutes," Mei Li's deep, melodious voice rang out as she ducked through the doorway of John's temporary office.
John looked up from his laptop, his eyes widening slightly as they always did when he saw his towering guide. Even after a week in Beijing, he still wasn't used to the sight of her 7'4" frame filling a room.
"Ah, yes, quite ready," he replied, standing up and smoothing down his suit. "Just going over the numbers one last time. Wouldn't want to get caught out, eh?"
Mei smiled, her head nearly brushing against the light fixture. "You'll do fine, Mr. Smith. Remember, I'll be there to translate and support you."
As they walked towards the conference room, John couldn't help but notice how Mei's powerful legs, encased in a tailored skirt suit, ate up the distance with each stride. He found himself having to walk briskly to keep up.
"Remind me again, Mei," John said, slightly out of breath, "who exactly are we meeting with today?"
Mei slowed her pace, looking down at John with a mix of amusement and sympathy. "We're meeting with the board of Huaxin Technologies. The CEO, Ms. Zhang, will be leading the negotiations."
John nodded, trying to quell the butterflies in his stomach. "Right, right. And they're all...?"
"Yes, Mr. Smith," Mei said patiently, "they're all women who have been affected by the virus. Average height in the room will be around 7'2", I believe."
They reached the conference room door, and John took a deep breath. Mei placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, nearly enveloping it. "You've got this, Mr. Smith. Just be yourself and focus on the deal."
With that, Mei opened the door, and John stepped into a room that seemed to shrink around him. Five enormous women sat around a large, reinforced conference table, their powerful frames making the furniture look almost doll-like.
At the head of the table sat a striking woman with sharp features and piercing eyes. She stood as they entered, her 7'5" frame unfolding like a tree reaching for the sky.
"Mr. Smith," she said in accented English, her voice a rich contralto, "welcome to Huaxin Technologies. I'm Zhang Wei, CEO." She extended a hand that could easily palm John's entire face.
John steeled himself and reached out to shake her hand, feeling like a child greeting an adult. "Ms. Zhang, it's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having me."
As they all sat down, John couldn't help but feel like he was at the kids' table at a family gathering. He cleared his throat and opened his briefcase, pulling out his materials.
"Now then," he began, his voice only wavering slightly, "shall we discuss how Smith & Co. can help Huaxin Technologies revolutionize its supply chain management?"
As John launched into his presentation, he felt Mei's steadying presence beside him. Despite the intimidating audience, he found his confidence growing. This was his territory, after all. Size wasn't everything in business, and he was determined to prove it.
"Well, Mr. Smith," Ms. Zhang said, leaning back in her chair with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "your presentation was certainly... compact. But before we make any decisions, I think it's important we get to know each other a bit better. What do you say we take a short break?"
John nodded, grateful for the chance to stretch his legs. "Sounds lovely, Ms. Zhang. Thank you."
As the group stood up, John couldn't help but feel like he was in a forest of redwoods. Ms. Zhang clapped her hands together, her enthusiasm seeming to fill the room. "Excellent! Let's head to the break room. I believe our catering team has prepared some refreshments."
The procession to the break room was an exercise in contrasts. John found himself practically jogging to keep up with the long strides of the Chinese executives, while Mei tactfully slowed her pace to stay by his side.
"Doing alright?" Mei murmured, concern evident in her voice.
John flashed her a quick smile. "Never better. Though I might need a pair of stilts if we do much more walking."
As they entered the break room, John's eyes widened. The space was clearly designed for the new average, with high ceilings and countertops that reached his chest. A spread of food covered a large table, steam rising from several dishes.
Ms. Zhang gestured towards the food. "Please, help yourselves. We have a mix of traditional Chinese dishes and some Western options."
John approached the table, realizing with a start that he could barely see over it. He stood on his tiptoes, reaching for a plate.
One of the executives, a woman John remembered being introduced as Ms. Liu, noticed his struggle. "Oh, let me help you with that, Mr. Smith," she said, easily grabbing a plate and handing it to him.
"Thank you," John said, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. He began to pile some food onto his plate, noticing that the serving spoons were comically large in his hands.
As everyone gathered their food, the differences in portion sizes became glaringly obvious. While John's plate held what he considered a reasonable lunch, the women's plates were piled high with food.
Ms. Zhang noticed John's gaze and chuckled. "Ah, you must forgive us, Mr. Smith. Our appetites have grown along with our statures. I hope you don't think us greedy."
John shook his head quickly. "Not at all, Ms. Zhang. I'm just impressed by the variety. These dumplings look delicious."
As they ate, the conversation flowed more freely than it had in the conference room. John found himself relaxing slightly, enjoying the banter and cultural exchange.
Suddenly, Ms. Zhang's eyes lit up. "Oh! I just had a wonderful idea. We should take a group photo to commemorate this meeting. It's not every day we have international visitors, after all."
There was a chorus of agreement from the other executives. John nodded, though he couldn't help but wonder how they were going to manage this.
Ms. Zhang pulled out her phone, which looked tiny in her large hands. "Mr. Chen from IT should be able to help us. He's quite the photography enthusiast."
A few minutes later, a man of average height entered the room, carrying a professional-looking camera. He looked around at the group, a slight frown creasing his brow as he considered the logistics.
"This might be a bit tricky," Mr. Chen mused. "Perhaps if we use the wide-angle lens..."
What followed was a comedy of errors as they tried to arrange themselves for the photo. John found himself shuffled from spot to spot, the executives towering over him no matter where he stood.
"Maybe if Mr. Smith stands on a chair?" Ms. Liu suggested.
John laughed nervously. "I'm not sure that's necessary—"
But before he could finish, Mei had already grabbed a chair and was ushering him onto it. Now eye-level with the women's shoulders, John felt distinctly out of place.
Mr. Chen shook his head. "Still not quite right. Ms. Zhang, could you and the other executives kneel down a bit? And Mr. Smith, perhaps you could stand on your tiptoes?"
After several more adjustments and a few near-falls from the chair, they finally found an arrangement that worked. John stood on the chair in the center, with Mei right behind him, her chin nearly resting on his head. The other executives knelt or crouched around them, creating a semi-circle of amused faces.
"Alright, everyone," Mr. Chen called out. "Say 'global cooperation'!"
The flash went off, capturing the bizarre and slightly comical scene. As they dispersed, John couldn't help but laugh. "Well, that was certainly an experience. I don't suppose I could get a copy of that photo? I have a feeling no one back home will believe me otherwise."
Ms. Zhang smiled warmly. "Of course, Mr. Smith. In fact, why don't we all exchange contact information? I have a feeling this is the beginning of a very interesting partnership."
As they headed back to the conference room to conclude their meeting, John felt a newfound sense of camaraderie with the group. He glanced up at Mei, who gave him an encouraging nod.
"You know," he said to her quietly, "I think this might just work out after all."
Mei grinned down at him. "I told you, Mr. Smith. In business, it's not the size that matters, but how you use what you've got."
John chuckled, straightening his tie as they re-entered the conference room. He had a feeling the rest of the negotiations would go much smoother now. After all, they'd quite literally seen eye-to-eye, even if it took a chair to make it happen.