A Fantasy about Love Pt. 05

There was a potential conflict of interest in contacting other companies in this industry sector (and we had had already some feelers from two), but if we were very careful to use only general and not specific data, and to analyze processes and not NT's secrets, I was certain that we could enter this market and perhaps even other sectors where management of big data flows was essential.

It took me almost an hour and when I sat down, Sir Allan looked at Frank and nodded.

¨This is what we need, Frank. Well done, James, but where is Peter?"

He asked his secretary to call Peter once more, when the door opened, and he entered.

"My apologies, but I had to redo my presentation after James reviewed it. It is much more decisive now."

Sir Allan and Frank both looked at me, then at each other. Sir Allen nodded as if satisfied: I had seen him nodding a lot recently when I was around him. Good or bad signal?

Peter made his presentation and it was not bad, but it could have been better. Frank said that it was OK, but he would suggest that Peter and I would sit down still this night and redo it once more. We agreed and were politely dismissed. We went back to Peter's office and spent the next two hours redoing it at least twice until both of us were satisfied. Peter was grateful: he promised me his second-to-last Grange Hermitage!

At home Maureen had again prepared a light supper since she knew that I was too exhausted to pay respect to her culinary skills. Tomorrow was the day, so I went to bed early and quietly.

Chapter 19: The Promotion

The next morning I arrived at the office early and Mary Ann brought me coffee: hot, strong and sweet as I liked it to wake me up; she had learned how I preferred my morning to start. For a moment I thought about how she had changed during the last months, becoming a competent member of my staff. If only she would think about her own appearance (somebody should really tell her how to dress!), but I had other priorities at this moment. I looked through my presentation once more and then worried about other customers. I made some calls, talked to some of my staff and they were all a bit uptight knowing who was visiting us, and waited for the afternoon to arrive. Then Peter and I were called to meet the visitor.

"This is Mr. Bill Cunningham; he is the General Manager of the Asian Region (as if we did not know this already) and we'll have two hours for the marketing presentation."

I welcomed the exalted visitor. "Pleased to meet you again, Mr. Cunningham." and he nodded to us. He was a very senior executive, well dressed and did not show any effect of the jet lag. I was lucky: I almost had selected the same tie he was wearing, and I did not know how this would have been taken. He had the professional smile that these people seemed to practice every morning in front of the mirror, but his eyes were cold. I had met him once in NY and knew about his reputation as a tough and usually fair manager, so I was prepared for anything. Our Director of Finance was also present. He was not a friend but did not seem to be antagonistic to my plans.

Frank had some talking points prepared, most of them copied from my presentation, and went through them at a fast pace. He finished saying that Peter would now present the small customer base and that I would do the large customer part. Peter was nervous but handled it well and his presentation was competent. Then it was my turn.

I went through the initial part a bit slower than Frank had done; after all, these facts defined my work. Then I got to the juicy part: large customers and prospects. I had gone through this so often I could have done it in my sleep, but considering the audience in front of me, I put extra emphasis on the key points. Answering a lot of questions -- and I was grateful that I had prepared all these backup charts -- it took me close to 90 minutes to finish. I wanted their support for the additional resources I had requested; without it my ideas had to be curtailed drastically.

Sir Allan thanked me, and Mr. Cunningham complimented me of the thoroughness of the data and the conclusions. Then we were politely dismissed, but at the last moment Sir Allan said that the financial presentation would be the next morning at 9:00 and that I should participate. After all, I had asked for a significant increase in marketing expenses, and it might be a good idea to be present and to defend my ideas. Obviously I agreed and we left.

Peter looked at me and asked what I thought about the meeting. I told him that it went well and to calm him down, I said that his presentation seemed to be well received. He smiled and said that he could not have done this without me, and I could collect my bottle of Grange on Sunday.

My people were waiting for me with anxiety in their eyes and voices. It had not been only my work, but a joined effort of all of us and if our plans were accepted, there would be an upward move for some and a very positive evaluation for most of them. And there was that other question: the money? I told them that I had made a proposal to Frank and he had been in touch with the Financial Director of NT and we should have an answer tomorrow afternoon -- just in time to spend money at the pubs!

I went home and wondered what could be asked of me in the financial meeting. Maureen was very understanding and after a few kisses and caresses, she lay down on the couch and watched me manhandling spreadsheets. What if I got the resources I requested? What was the probable return? What if I got half? What if I got none? I fine-tuned my numbers and considering possible, but not too optimistic assumptions, I would bring in a lot more profit than doing our normal business. It looked good to me and I wondered what they would think of it. At least I was prepared.

The next morning, I was early in the office and called Peter. "Look, you know that I'll participate in this morning's financial meeting. I did not plan for this, and I want you to know that there are no plans I know of to do something drastic or go over your head."

Peter looked at me and smiled.

"First, do not worry about me -- I know my place and am happy, I still have a private life and anything farther up the management ladder would take the fun away. You, however, my friend, are different. You are ambitious, driven, and utterly competent. There are rumors floating around that might surprise you. I won't say anything since these are only gossips, but I believe that something drastic is about to happen. Good luck, my friend. You deserve it!"

With this remark he left, and I stared after him. What did he want to say? I knew I was not into the rumor mill, but I should have heard something at least! There was the call from Sir Allan, and I packed my laptop and a few supporting documents I had copied. Mary Ann looked at me and smiled: "Mr. Winter, the best of luck!"

What did she know? Even Sir Allan's secretary, Irene, looked differently at me. What was going to happen?

Sir Allan, Frank and Mr. Cunningham were already waiting, but I was not the last. Just after greeting them and sitting down, our financial staff entered. The meeting went well until the question of resources came up. Mr. Cunningham mentioned that they were worried in HQ over a general overrun of expenses and that new money would be extremely rare. It would need a detailed justification to even start to think about it.

"This means, Mr. Winter, that I liked your presentation and am certain that your execution of it would give us growth in sales and profits, but I do not see at this moment how we can afford it. Sorry. Perhaps you have some final thoughts?"

"Mr. Cunningham, I know that this is not the moment to throw money around. Let me show you some numbers I prepared last night. They are not as exact as I would like them to be (I did not sleep a lot during the night), but they'll give you an idea about the options I see for our company in Australia."

Thank God I had prepared myself and when I finished my 20 minutes of financial and marketing analysis, I looked at them and waited for a response.

Sir Allan and Frank nodded and smiled satisfied, and Mr. Cunningham looked at our financial people: "Do you see anything wrong with these numbers?" Our Financial Director shook his head and said that the logic was impeccable and the assumptions a bit aggressive, but yes, it could work, provided that new money was available. Long term it would be a significant increase in revenue and profit -- if I managed to make it happen.

"Mr. Winter, you have thrown more ideas into this scenario than I can process without some input from NY. We'll talk after lunch."

Before I left the room, I looked at Frank: "I've to talk to you for a moment, and it has to be now. Could you give me five minutes?" Sir Allan decided on a coffee break and Frank took me into his office.

"James, I thought that you could not surprise me anymore, but you did it again this morning. When did you do this financial analysis?"

I replied that it had cost me the major part of the night, but I knew that there would be restrictions on new money, so I was prepared for Mr. Cunningham's words; but that was not the reason I wanted to see him. How would we distribute the money from NT? I had checked with our legal staff and as long as everyone declared the bonus to IRS it was OK. Perhaps not 100%, but they were certain that if it were challenged, we would win whatever action would be brought against them. And it would give a huge boost to the morale of our people.

"I sent you a note on how I thought it should be distributed. Did you read it?"

"Yes. I did and I agree. I spoke with NT about their people who were in your team and they are happy about that, too. The only thing I don't understand was why did you not include yourself in this list?"

"Frank, I'm the bloody manager, not the person who sweated day and night. Let them have the money!"

"James, both NT and I do not agree. Without you, there would not have been a project, and there would not have been a bonus. We decided that you'll get the same amount as everybody else; at least this will pay for the lunches and dinners you paid out of your pocket for your people, and I was told the dinner was excellent and probably very expensive. Take the money and accept it with our thanks. Here's your list and you can tell everyone. The numbers changed a bit since we included you, but basically, your proposal is approved. Now I have to go back to the meeting -- wish me luck."

I went back and Mary Ann looked at me expectantly. "Anything happened, Mr. Winter?"

I was probably the only manager in the company who after more than seven months in the company, was still called Mr. Winter as it was just difficult for me to leave my German habits.

"No. Why? What did you expect?"

"Nothing specific -- there were just some rumors floating around that changes would happen."

"Could anybody please explain to me what rumors are floating around? Peter mentioned something similar, but he did not tell me."

"Well, Mr. Winter. They are just rumors and probably not very substantial, but good luck in any case."

This was getting crazier at every moment, but I did not want to be disturbed by it.

"Mary Ann, please call everyone into the meeting room in 10 minutes and I would like you to be present, too."

When everyone was assembled the tension was almost visible. I wondered whether I should draw it out, but decided against it.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I had submitted a proposal on the distribution of the bonus and it has been accepted. Let me explain briefly what I proposed. Basically, the amount is shared evenly by all people involved in the final proposal. Management decided to give the team leaders a 20 % extra share, and I insisted that our administrative staff would get a share also. NT is already excluded from the money available to you and you don't have to worry about them, they are covered. I had excluded myself from the pool, but Frank told me that they put me back in. This means that all the lunches, sandwiches, burgers, drinks and that wonderful dinner I paid for out of my pocket are covered, thank God! I do not have the information how to distribute the administrative pool. I expect you to come to an agreement that's fair to everyone. If I hear any complaints, I'll be seriously upset! One last note: You will have to see how you declare this to your income tax people. For this specific payment, I have asked tax to help you if necessary, and they agreed. Have fun tonight!"

They suddenly exploded in applause and shook my hand -- the ladies even tried a little kiss on my cheek, and Mary Ann hugged me for a moment and her kiss was not so little. Well, everyone was happy, and I had resolved another problem to my satisfaction.

Lunch was a sandwich and tea (I seemed to have become accustomed to the liquid), and I had time to go through my emails. Mary Ann was very competent as always and I wondered what would happen if she changed her clothes and spend some time on herself. Somebody had told me that she was engaged, but she did not seem to be very happy. I returned to my own problems and saw that, as always, she had sorted all documents to my priorities. I knew again how lucky I was with the people I had found in Australia! There were a few that had to be brought into line, but generally, the level of competence was very high. Some of the email I could answer immediately, others needed some thought. When I was ready to go home and dress for the dinner, Mary Ann called me and said that Sir Allen and Mr. Cunningham wanted to see me. She smiled from one side of her face to the other, and I asked her whether she was happy with the money.

"This, too, but the best of luck to you now. You deserve it."

I sat down and told her to come into my office.

"What is happening? I know that I am not an ingrained member of the gossip mill, but would you please tell me what is going on? I don't want to be caught by surprise. Am I going to be fired?"

She stared at me and shook her head.

"You really don't know what is happening? Are you deaf? Don't you talk to anybody in this company?"

I admitted that I was not into gossiping at the coffee machine; actually I preferred tea as she knew. She shook her head again and muttered that she had to teach me office politics -- after getting permission from my fiancé, obviously. This time it was my move to shake my head and I asked her if there were any secrets in this company? Not many, she replied, and secretaries talked all the time and please remember this in the future! And then she pushed me off to my meeting.

Sir Allan's secretary had the same funny expression on her face as Mary Ann, a combination of a smile, support, and happiness. For me?

Sir Allan, Mr. Cunningham, and Frank were waiting for me.

"Please sit down." Sir Allan said. "We would like to thank you first for the excellent job you did on NT, the leadership you showed in guiding and developing your staff, the decisions you made under pressure, and the relationship you have nurtured with your customers and prospects. All in all, a job well done. We decided, however, that you're in the wrong position and will change your responsibilities."

I was utterly confused now -- I was applauded for my work and then I had to leave? My confusion must have shown on my face as Sir Allan smiled and continued: "Frank has accepted a marketing position in NY HQ and will leave in four weeks' time. We need a replacement and are offering you the position of Director of Marketing. Will you accept?"

I looked from one to the other.

"Have you thought this through? I'm here for less than a year and there are people who have much more seniority than I. How can I be sure that they'll support me? I have had experience in other countries and even in HQ, but this is a position with much more responsible position than I had before. I know that I can handle it, but are you certain? I am an expat -- what to do when my time ends?"

Sir Allan stepped in. "James, we thought it through, and we are certain that you can handle it. You've been here for less than a year as you said, but our contacts inside and outside the company are very happy with you and everyone will be happy to see you getting this promotion. You're engaged to a beautiful young Australian lady and that will give you enough incentive to stay here for a long time. I saw you handling a very delicate situation extremely well when we had our little difficulties with NT. We are certain that any difficulties you will have inside and outside the company -- and there will be many, especially outside -- you will resolve as quietly and firmly as you did then in Brisbane."

Mr. Cunningham added that he had talked already to his counterparts in HQ and in the countries I had worked in and all supported the promotion. It might even be difficult for Sir Allan to keep me here if I was going to be as successful as they thought: HQ always needed good people. He told me that I should prepare to come to HQ soon and visit the right people and then looked at Sir Allan and told him to keep good care of me.

I asked Frank whether he was satisfied to go to HQ. He looked at me and said that he needed HQ experience since up to now, he had only worked in Australia and perhaps that had clouded his vision in certain moments. It was a good position and he would learn a lot. I did not really know what to say, but I remembered one phrase I had heard a long time ago 'never miss a good chance to shut up' and wished him the best of luck. I would need the same in Australia to follow up the good work he had done here. Then they told me to go home and be back for dinner at the QUAY restaurant. I hoped that Sir Allan had the budget to pay for it, because I would certainly not!

I floated out of the office and Sir Allan's secretary had one look at me and came over to give me a kiss. "Congratulations, Mr. Winter. You deserve it. May I just give you a hint for your survival in Australia? It is quaint and shows your German education, but in Australia we call each other by his or her first name -- certain people excluded, obviously, but there are few."

"Does everybody in this company except me knows about this change?"

"Yes. It seems that you live in another world -- please come back and get involved. Your job now is much more about people management than seducing a customer. It was a good move to seduce the daughter of a prospect..." (and she grinned maliciously) "but stop there. There would be problems, my friend!"

I thought that she did not have the faintest ideas about the problems I had with that prospect, but kept my mouth shut. She was highly intelligent, pretty in a more mature way, and she had access to Sir Allan. That, I knew by now, was important.

"Thank you for your advice; it is useful, and I had not really considered this important before. So: may I call you Irene?"

"It is a pleasure, James. Keep it up. Who knows where you'll end up in this company or in any other?"

I looked at her and then smiled. "Are you part of the gossip mill that Mary Ann told me about today?"

"James, I'm the general manager of the mill, so be careful!"

When I entered my office Peter, two others from my group and Mary Ann were waiting for me. One look at me and Mary Ann jumped forward, embraced me and gave me a medium-sized kiss.

"Congratulations, boss. You deserve it and we are all very happy! " and she whispered: "A pity that you are already engaged..."

I stared at her; I remembered that she was rumored to be engaged also, but somehow, I gathered that that would not have been a great obstruction. And then Peter and the others stepped forward and congratulated me for my promotion. I looked at Peter and he shook his head.