Chapter 100

We dressed very conservatively – non-descript high end pantsuits, flat black shoes with minor heels, no makeup and hair pulled back into pony tails. Also, we each carried a scarf. I knew the rules for this part of the world - there was no need to make waves.

The five OPEC ministers we were to meet were in a group meeting at 0800 dealing with OPEC business. Our meeting with them was at 1100.

After arriving we were shown to a large elegant elaborately decorated room to wait. Majestic curved tables with chairs were positioned and we were shown where we were to sit. I read the official instructions and conduct for guests for this meeting.

A pecking order had been established as to the seating order. I was to the front of the curve, to my right were Charles, Milton and the attorneys. To my left were my girls. Behind all of us was my security detail.

We were to be notified when the leaders were coming down the hall so we could be at the table. They were to assemble behind a table on the other side where they would hold a private conference and once they were ready, they would walk around the table and approach us to begin an informal conversation before announcing they were ready to conduct business.

It was at this point I stopped and stared at the instructions. We were to offer gifts as a token of friendship and trust to each of the ministers. No one had said to bring any gifts and there certainly was no time to go find any.

I cornered Charles, Milton and the attorneys about the discrepancy. After much searching, they found out they had been given a rough draft and not the final draft for the conduct of this meeting.

To conduct the meeting without the gift offering would be considered an insult to the royal Ministers, Emirs and King of Saudi Arabia who was the primary signatory. To insult them could be catastrophic.

It was then I remembered the rolls of gold coins from yesterday’s meeting. They were still in my portable office that was being held by one of my bodyguards.

I went to the case and removed one roll and the promotional sheets I had been given while Charles, Milton and the attorneys were in a panic.

‘‘Will these do?” as I opened the roll and the coins rattled onto the table, getting everyone’s attention.

‘‘Absolutely!’’ the attorney said as he handed me the coin back that had made the rounds to the right. The girls had one, looking at one had made the rounds to the left.

When I looked up the King and leaders were in front of their table staring at the coins in front of me.

I guess gold coins pique interest, even when you have the most wealth there is in the world.

The King of Saudi Arabia walked to the table - still staring closely - followed by the others.

I stood and started to hand him a coin. An aide stepped to block my hand, only to be waved off by the King as he took the coin.

‘‘I have not seen one of these before. I have the twenty dollar gold piece,’’ he said as he looked at the coin intently. First turning it in his fingers feeling the engravings and the stamping marks, then at the fine polished look.

‘‘They are a new issue and are not to be released to the public until next month. These are the first from the mint - they call them director proofs. We inspected and approved them at the director meeting yesterday.”

‘‘You are the first non-bank officials that I know of to have one as a gift from JBG for friendship, trust and hopefully, a long business relationship,’’ I said as I gave one to each of the leaders, trying to remember the lines from the instructions.

‘‘I accept your gift of friendship and trust. We have many mutual interests and many mutual friends as well as enemies,’’ he said.

Then the King broke decades of tradition; he reached out and shook my hand as did the others. Cameras rolling, room lit by camera flashes. The gasps from the Arab media were enough to be a distraction.

‘‘We know your reputation, your valor and your determination. I understand you are called Lioness. Lioness may not be sufficient to describe your skills of the hunt and conquest,’’ he said.

The rest of the signings went smooth and fast; again, final handshakes and again, more traditions broken. Usually in pictures with the leaders, the guests were always facing them. There were pictures this time with us standing with them and shaking hands with their advisors and key people.