Intoxifresh

Chapter Two

Merrick and Smyth Pharmaceuticals Conference Centre

With his briefcase in one hand and his water in the other, George was helped by two of the receptionists towards the most important presentation of his life. They stopped outside the door and held it open for him. He thanked them and smiled to himself as he heard one of them wish him luck as they left, although he knew that luck wasn't needed, that everything was set in stone and the high profile board members were going to be seriously impressed beyond anything they'd ever witnessed before.

The atmosphere flowing around the boardroom was one of trepidation and, as George eyed each of the old men anxiously waiting, he noticed a few had their eyebrows raised in apparent despair at his late arrival. He walked around them, their eyes following his staggered movements, his glass of water swaying slightly in his hand as he neared the only empty seat. George could sense the increasing anticipation from them as he began to sit down but he knew that what he was about to show them would remove all concern, that any doubt would soon turn into amazement after his revelation.

He misjudged the angle at which the glass of water should have been placed down and a few drops of water splashed onto the surface of the large oval-shaped table. With briefcase still in hand he looked up with glazed eyes and was about to get the ball rolling when Mr Merrick, the senior partner of the firm, stood up from his seat and leaned across, both fists angrily clenched and supporting his weight. 'You're drunk!' George looked around at the other seven or eight old men; he wasn't in a great position to count with much accuracy. They were all mumbling and grunting and were shaking their heads. Mr Merrick continued. 'What's the meaning of this?' He thumped the table with one of his aged and veiny hands. 'You turn up late and you sit there drunk out of your God damn mind...Well?' George could see the anger growing as redness rose in the old man's features.

He took another sip of his water. 'Yes, I'm drunk. I'm drunk out of my mind but...' Mr Merrick thumped the table again as a few of the other old men began to stand up, disappointed and angry that they had wasted their time attending; the mumbling and grunting continued.

George stood up and laid his briefcase on the table, almost knocking it into his glass of water. "Don't go! Please, I know how this looks...' After a few seconds they patiently waited to hear what he had to say. 'I know this must look bad... I know but, I had to go and get drunk to prove to you that my new invention works.' Surprised that he was able to finish the sentence without slurring his words too much he looked up from the old and wrinkled hand in front of him. 'Please sit down, Marvin. I'll be completely sober in just a couple of minutes.' Mr Merrick contemplated for a few seconds, angry at being addressed by his first name. He sat back down in his luxury leather seat.

The only one standing now was George, who took another gulp of his water and proceeded with the presentation. 'I apologise for being late but it was necessary for me to consume a large amount of alcohol to show you the new instant sobering pill I've perfected. I lost track of time, I'm so sorry.' Greg and Marvin gave each other a look and, as the room fell to a silence, they gestured for George to continue. 'I had planned to explain everything about the new pill before ingesting one to prove its effectiveness but I... I think I'd explain everything much better if I took one right now.'

He took another gulp of his water and placed his hands at either side of the leather briefcase ready to click the locks open. George knew that this was his moment, his time to shine. He'd done a hell of a lot of hard work to get this far and deep down he couldn't wait to see the reaction to his new creation. 'Gentlemen, I give you... IntoxiFresh.'

George looked around the table and all eyes were poised as they awaited the revelation of the wonder drug. The sounds of the two locks clicking open were highly audible as his hands hesitated to lift the lid of the briefcase; he wanted to add a little suspense. Everyone's eyes were wide open as he fully opened the case and pushed his hand inside to grab the bag of small orange pills.