step down and retire. Done and done. Folks, we're going into the textile business. ”
Mona said, “ This meeting is adjourned. ”
Back in Cray's office, he turned to Angelica and said, “ Well, honey, that's the way we do it here. What's your impression? ”
She walked into his embrace and said, “ They love you and Mona and it's obvious why that's true. They admire and respect you as their leader, but you remain approachable and that works to your benefit. Your employees want to do well on your behalf. I'm so impressed. You didn't tell Mona you had it in the bag because of your talk with Mr. Grayson. ”
“ No, I wanted to surprise her and teach her a lesson. ” Angel cocked her head in interest. “ Mona tends to admit defeat before she's explored every available option. I've called her on it numerous times, so now she keeps her defeatist attitude to herself, but it's there and knowing her as well as I do I recognize when she's given up, but goes through the motions on my behalf. ”
“ She didn't believe the deal would go through because of the obstacles, ” Angelica said.
“ Right or she feared we'd pay too much for Grayson. ”
“ You had an ace up your sleeve. You decided to contact Mr. Grayson on a one to one basis, ” Angel said.
“ Yes. Our previous meetings were with an entourage of his people and ours. He's a courtly, southern gentleman and since his company has been in the family for generations he wants to leave a legacy. I respect that. He's old enough to be my father. This morning on the phone I treated him with the courtesy he deserves and he responded with openness and honesty. Our team is tough and heavy-handed. That's what it takes most of the time. This time we needed to use a gentler approach and it worked. ”
“ You're leaving him his dignity. ”
“ Yes and we'll benefit from his knowledge with him on the board. ”
“ Win win, ” she said smiling.
He returned her smile. “ Yes. It's best that way. ” He glanced at his wristwatch. “ We can go downstairs to the attorney offices anytime. It will get rowdy. They're a drinking crowd. The partners mandate that employees staying for the party take a cab to work. The partners pay the cab fare so no one will be driving drunk. ”
“ Explain why you use this law firm when your family is loaded with lawyers. ”
“ My family's firm is in White Plains and when I first ventured into this business I didn't want them aware of my company's financial and business dealings. It's cleaner this way and Dad understands. ”
“ How large is the firm? ”
“ Eleven partners, twice as many junior associates, paralegals, secretaries. It's big and they bill in the millions of dollars every year. ”
“ How rowdy will it get? ”
“ A Roman orgy has nothing on them by the time they stumble for home long after we'll be gone. ”
She grinned. “ Sounds like fun. Suppose I want to stay until the bitter end. ”
Cray chuckled. “ We can do that. ”
“ Would you stay if not for me? ”
“ I did that once years ago. Spent the night on the couch in one of the employee lounges. Not my finest hour. ”
“ Were you alone? ”
“ You ask too many questions. ”
“ You had a woman with you. Was she pretty? Does she still work there? Did you continue to see her after your night of debauchery? ”
“ Make yourself comfortable, sweetheart. This story will take a while, ” he said grasping her elbow to lead her to the sofa in his office.
Her eyes widened and she said, “ Are you going to tell me the sordid details? ”
“ In explicit language that leaves nothing to your imagination. I want complete honesty between us, honey. ”
“ I don't want to
Mona said, “ This meeting is adjourned. ”
Back in Cray's office, he turned to Angelica and said, “ Well, honey, that's the way we do it here. What's your impression? ”
She walked into his embrace and said, “ They love you and Mona and it's obvious why that's true. They admire and respect you as their leader, but you remain approachable and that works to your benefit. Your employees want to do well on your behalf. I'm so impressed. You didn't tell Mona you had it in the bag because of your talk with Mr. Grayson. ”
“ No, I wanted to surprise her and teach her a lesson. ” Angel cocked her head in interest. “ Mona tends to admit defeat before she's explored every available option. I've called her on it numerous times, so now she keeps her defeatist attitude to herself, but it's there and knowing her as well as I do I recognize when she's given up, but goes through the motions on my behalf. ”
“ She didn't believe the deal would go through because of the obstacles, ” Angelica said.
“ Right or she feared we'd pay too much for Grayson. ”
“ You had an ace up your sleeve. You decided to contact Mr. Grayson on a one to one basis, ” Angel said.
“ Yes. Our previous meetings were with an entourage of his people and ours. He's a courtly, southern gentleman and since his company has been in the family for generations he wants to leave a legacy. I respect that. He's old enough to be my father. This morning on the phone I treated him with the courtesy he deserves and he responded with openness and honesty. Our team is tough and heavy-handed. That's what it takes most of the time. This time we needed to use a gentler approach and it worked. ”
“ You're leaving him his dignity. ”
“ Yes and we'll benefit from his knowledge with him on the board. ”
“ Win win, ” she said smiling.
He returned her smile. “ Yes. It's best that way. ” He glanced at his wristwatch. “ We can go downstairs to the attorney offices anytime. It will get rowdy. They're a drinking crowd. The partners mandate that employees staying for the party take a cab to work. The partners pay the cab fare so no one will be driving drunk. ”
“ Explain why you use this law firm when your family is loaded with lawyers. ”
“ My family's firm is in White Plains and when I first ventured into this business I didn't want them aware of my company's financial and business dealings. It's cleaner this way and Dad understands. ”
“ How large is the firm? ”
“ Eleven partners, twice as many junior associates, paralegals, secretaries. It's big and they bill in the millions of dollars every year. ”
“ How rowdy will it get? ”
“ A Roman orgy has nothing on them by the time they stumble for home long after we'll be gone. ”
She grinned. “ Sounds like fun. Suppose I want to stay until the bitter end. ”
Cray chuckled. “ We can do that. ”
“ Would you stay if not for me? ”
“ I did that once years ago. Spent the night on the couch in one of the employee lounges. Not my finest hour. ”
“ Were you alone? ”
“ You ask too many questions. ”
“ You had a woman with you. Was she pretty? Does she still work there? Did you continue to see her after your night of debauchery? ”
“ Make yourself comfortable, sweetheart. This story will take a while, ” he said grasping her elbow to lead her to the sofa in his office.
Her eyes widened and she said, “ Are you going to tell me the sordid details? ”
“ In explicit language that leaves nothing to your imagination. I want complete honesty between us, honey. ”
“ I don't want to
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