Would You Marry This Man
Copyright© 2025 by A Kiwi Guy
Chapter 2
Venue: The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Conference Room 3
Feeling very much at sea, Roy paced the floor of the conference room. Anne and Celia had done a good job of instructing the hotel staff about the day’s requirements, and everything appeared to be well prepared. Chairs were scattered rather than in rows, to give a more casual look, and they had sizeable arm rests to allow room to write on the forms already in place. A chilled water station sat in one corner.
One or two women had begun to arrive, and Roy gave them welcoming smiles. Thankfully they looked normal to his eyes, and he relaxed a little. Just as he was beginning to feel a bit less like a lamb to the slaughter, his mother entered hurriedly. “Roy,” she whispered urgently, “a television reporter and cameraman have arrived downstairs.
“What! That’s the last thing we need. Stay here and I’ll go and try to nip this in the bud.” He exited at the run, almost tripping on the stairs in his hurry. Outside the hotel, a crew from ChTV1 were setting up to begin filming. Roy rapidly made his way over to them.
“Excuse me, can I ask what you’re doing?”
A young woman came forward. “I’m Sonia Street, from ChTV1. We’re here to cover the marriage mart.”
“The WHAT? Lady, I don’t care who you are, this is a private function. I’m Roy Burke, but you probably know that. Firstly, because this is a private function, you have no right to film the people attending. And secondly, this IS NOT a marriage mart. That’s a shocking denigration of what this is about.”
“It might be a public function inside, Mr Burke, but the footpath is a public place, and we have the right to film.”
Roy swallowed hard, and tried to lower the aggro.
“Look, Miss Street. Can I appeal to you to mix your professionalism with some compassion. Can you put yourself in the position of these ladies. Many of them will be coming with huge trepidation, probably embarrassment – just as I am embarrassed. This event was not my idea, but so be it. They are putting themselves – and maybe their reputation – on the line. It takes a lot of guts to admit that you are single, especially if you don’t want to be. It’s very possibly not of your own choice. It takes a lot of courage to admit that, and I want to honour these ladies for having that courage. If you film them against their will, in a very real way you are publicly shaming them. If you were one of them, is this a gauntlet that you would want to run?”
“So you just want me to shut up our camera and walk away? I’ve been given this assignment, and it will not go well with me if I don’t produce.”
Roy swallowed, and thought hard.
“Look,” he said, “can I suggest a compromise? If you don’t film out here, but wait quietly in the foyer to the conference room ... When everybody has arrived, I will ask if any would be prepared to be filmed. If any agree, I will group them in one corner of the room, and you can film them – only them – and myself for a brief time. Then when they break for lunch, you can interview any who are willing after the others have left. And I will be willing to be interviewed also.”
Roy noticed his mother standing behind him, cell phone in hand. “I’m videoing this conversation,” she said. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want this video to be fed to a rival TV channel.”
Sonia Street grimaced. “You appear to have me somewhat over a barrel, Mr Burke.” She paused. “Okay, I’m willing to agree to your terms. If this costs me my job, I’ll be making your life a misery.”
“Miss Street, threats don’t become you. I’m sure you’re better than that. And within the scope of what I’ve just offered, I’ll do all I can to co-operate, within reason. But please ... it’s important for these ladies that you protect their privacy. And it will be very helpful if you can move your gear upstairs so anyone coming isn’t intimidated.” As an afterthought, he added: “You are welcome to sit inside the conference room without the camera, and watch what goes on. In fact, I’d be delighted if you take part by filling in the questionnaire that I’ll be asking everyone to do. It would look odd if everybody is writing and you just sit there.”
Sonia was non-committal, but when she gave a signal to her cameraman, he shouldered his equipment and followed her inside. Roy breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Thanks, Mom, that was a brilliant idea of yours. You saved the day.”
“It would have been even more brilliant if I had actually turned my cellphone on,” she grimaced, “but I think we dodged a bullet.” Roy laughed, took her hand, and the pair made their way back upstairs.
Back in the conference room, Anne raised her eyebrows at Roy’s reappearance. “What was that all about?” she asked.
“A bit of a run-in with a TV reporter, but I think we’ve headed them off at the pass. We’ll just have to modify how we introduce the session this morning.” To himself, he wondered how many of the early-comers might have been put off if they had spotted the camera.
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