Chapter 02
At eight thirty the following morning I was parking my car in its marked bay at ITI-Franks. I sat there for a couple of seconds, steeling myself to show the kind, considerate leader of men that I was, and not the nervous little schoolboy that was churning my stomach as he tried to get out.
Then with a purposeful and confident stride, I was out of the car and walking up the steps and through the doors to Reception. No sooner was I in the lobby than I was approached by a woman in her mid-forties, smartly dressed and quite attractive.
"Mr Bennett? I'm Carole with an E Thorsen. I was Secretary to Mr Bauer. Welcome to W R Franks & Sons."
I took her proffered hand and shook it, "Thank you, Carole with an E. I hope you haven't been waiting here since the early hours?"
She laughed, "Good Heavens! No. I like working here, but there are limits. No, I got in at eight, but I hoped it was going to be before you. Let me show you to your office." She turned to the security guy on the desk. "George, we'll sort out Mr Bennett's passes and security later. OK?" But she didn't give him time to answer.
She whisked me off until we got to an office suite with an outer office which I assumed was hers. Then she opened the door to the room beyond. I stood at the door way. Somewhere, at the other end of this stateroom there was a desk and a huge chair behind it, but really you'd need binoculars to see them.
"You must be joking! Did Henri Bauer give ballroom dancing lessons as a sideline? It's enormous. I don't need this!"
"Mr Bauer was rather into nice surroundings and status."
"Obviously. Oh, well, I'll sort it out later. What's lined up for me."
"Nothing too much. Lots of introductions, but a pretty flexible day. Most people seem to be keeping their powder dry, at least until tomorrow. But Tim Johnson of IT wants to see you urgently."
"What about?"
"He has some idea about you talking to all the staff that he wants to put up to you."
"OK. Well he can wait. Show me where the Gents is so that I can wash my hands. I guess I've got a lot of handshaking to do, and clean dry hands would be a good start. Then you can give me a conducted tour."
"Your bathroom is through there." She pointed to a door off my office, just a little bit down from where the band would play for tea dances.
"I get my own bathroom?"
"Of course, Mr Bauer was very particular about things like that."
I felt my eyebrows go up an inch, but I didn't say a word. To criticise Henri Bauer to his no doubt loyal PA would be unfair on her.
She waited for me while a went into 'my' bathroom. And it wasn't just a place to piss, or sit and do the crossword. Shower, toilet, a large dressing table with inset basin, and all soft lights, warm coloured tiles and mirrors. But no music playing, Henri Bauer missed a trick there.
Carole was still waiting for me when I came out. I looked around my palace, "There's no conference table?"
"No, Mr Bauer always used the Boardroom. It is expressly kept for use by directors only. But mainly he used to see people in here, and he had a way of letting them know how much in favour they were by how close to his desk they had to stand. If they were really good they were allowed to sit in the visitors' chairs."
I watched her, she was deadpan, I don't think she was joking.
We set off to do a tour of the building, I confirmed my understanding that we had a specialist engineering workshop, building prototypes and solving problems, down in Exeter. I knew from my reading the company history, this was a small engineering company that had been bought a few years ago, but had been left as an autonomous unit. I also confirmed that our only other premises were the Laboratories at Marston Abbey, somewhere out of town.
I was impressed by the whole office-factory complex. Not only was it architecturally very attractive, a showpiece on how to convert Victorian buildings to modern standards, but by the people and the factory itself. It did seem that we were already mainly doing assembly rather than manufacturing, except for some unique specialist parts, so my initial hope that I might make a quick win on insisting on more outsourcing was instantly dashed.
We didn't seek out the bosses, we just toured the building and I shook hands with anybody and everybody I met, irrespective of their role. Of course, I shook too many hands, and was introduced to too many faces. They seemed a nice bunch of people, I was rather happy with the cross mix of people we seemed to have. But, I had to apologise before I started that everyone was becoming part of a sea of faces, and I'd have to be re-introduced to them all over the coming days.
When we got back to my office, some two hours later, I asked Carole to get me a cup of coffee, and then she could ask Tim Johnson to come up and see me.
When she brought me my coffee, I was reading some marketing brochures that I'd picked up on my tour. "Mr Bennett, could I say something please?"
I looked up, "Of course. And it's Chris, by the way."
She smiled, "I just wanted to say that I understand that the relationship between a director and his secretary is very important, not only for both of them, but for the Company."
"I agree."
"Well, if you would rather make your own appointment, I am happy to go and see Personnel and see what else they might have for me."
"Have I upset you that quickly?"
I didn't fluster her for a second, "No, but you should be free to choose your own secretary."
"Well, thank you Carole. Let's just see how we get on. How long have you worked here?"
"Sixteen years. I came as a secretary to a junior director. He got promoted all the way up to being Managing Director until TDF bought the company. I remained as Mr Bauer's secretary then."
"Well, I'd be a fool to turn my back on all that company knowledge and experience unless I had to. Tell you what, what's in the diary for tomorrow?"
"Nothing."
"Well, I'd better be around here for lunch today, but book us a long lunch somewhere outside. Not over the top, but nice. And we can get to know each other. How about that?"
"That's very kind. Thank you, Mr Bennett."
"Chris." I reminded her, as she went out of the door.
Soon after that Tim Johnson came in, he seemed a nice guy, and he had an idea that I might like to introduce myself to everybody by doing a network broadcast. Everybody, including those at Exeter and Marston Abbey had easy access to a screen. I thought it a rather good idea, and instantly agreed, although I hadn't any idea what I would say. Five minutes after he arrived, he was leaving to send out an email alert for half past four.
Then I called to Carole to ask if all other directors could join me in my office, as soon as possible, to give me a briefing on all issues of the day.
That went well, and took us up to lunch. Now I'd seen the staff cafeteria on my tour, and my quick five minutes in the kitchen had looked as if they served decent food. And so, off we all set for lunch.
We got to the corridor with the canteen off it, when they opened a door to me, I looked in; it was set with several tables, neatly laid for lunch.
"A Directors' Dining Room?" I asked incredulously.
"Oh, no. We can't have one of those these days, it wouldn't be acceptable. No, here you pay fifteen percent more than in the cafeteria. It's still buffet service, but a waitress does lay the tables, and clear them for us."
"So, who uses it?"
"Well really just us, a few other senior managers, some of the girls if it's someone's birthday, and sales if they've got a client in."
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing a lot of it. But for today, I'll go to the usual cafeteria, it'll be a chance for me to meet some of the troops. But you guys can go where you want, I'll be chatting to others over lunch. But let's all reconvene in my office in an hour say."
And I left them there wondering what the hell to do!
Having gone round the serving run, I stood and looked at the canteen. Then I spotted exactly what I wanted. A table for six, but with only five people sitting at it, and I was pretty sure I hadn't been introduced to any of them. "Excuse me, I'm new here today, may I join you?"
They obviously didn't recognise me, "You chose a good day to join, mate. You're in good company. We've got a new managing director starting today."
Then another, "Have you seen, he's giving a presidential broadcast at half past four?"
"Sounds typical. Talk to the workers, but don't actually come into contact with them."
The only girl in the group spoke up in my defence, "I didn't see him, but apparently the new guy did a tour of the building this morning. Didn't any of you lot see him? Martin Chyte said he seemed OK."
The guy on my left said, "I heard he shook a few hands." He turned to me, "What's your name, and what department you in?"
"I'm Chris, and I suppose you'd say I was in sort of Management."
Most of them looked a bit nonplussed. It was the girl who caught on first, "Shit! You're...Ooh sorry ... pardon my French, but you're him, aren't you?"
After that we had quite a good chat. I noticed that some of my hand shakers of the morning had also spotted me there.
When I got back to my office, Carole looked up and smiled, "Well that put the cat amongst the pigeons."
"You heard?"
"News travels fast."
When my fellow directors had reconvened there was a loaded atmosphere. I went straight to the point: "Look, I'd just spent well over an hour with you guys, and I knew we were going to spend more time together this afternoon. Don't you think it did me more good to be seen by everybody, and chat to some others with a different point of view of the Company?
It was Bill Elswood, the Client Service Director, who spoke, "Well, actually it made me think. It wouldn't do me any harm to have lunch with a few of my juniors once in a while. I hardly remember their names.
We hadn't got much further when Tim Johnson turned up with cameras and monitors and trailing cables.
"Oh, I'd hoped your office would be where you'd want to do it from. But I can set up somewhere else." He looked slightly bewildered.
"No, we'll clear out and go to the Boardroom. You set up in here. How are we going to do it?"
"Well, I thought you'd just sit at your desk and talk." He said, somewhat lamely.
"No, I'll come round the front of the desk, perch my arse on it, and do a shirt-sleeved, friendly chat."
We left him to set up, but I was back by half past three, to rehearse a bit and understand how it was going to work. I wrote myself a few notes of what I was going to say, but I decided that I'd do it off the cuff, unscripted, and honestly admitting that I'd been too busy on my first day to really sit down and write out what I wanted to say.
Apparently it went well, several people, including Carole with an E, were impressed. The PR girl from Marketing wanted to know if she can work on getting me a few external interviews and appearances.
After that, for the rest of the day, it was taken up with Admin. Getting myself security passes so that I could get around all parts of the building. Getting myself a whole set of computer passwords for various systems and generally becoming a member of staff.
I sent Carole home just before six o'clock, and I didn't take too long to leave as well.
I grabbed a Chinese on the way home, and just sat and watched television that evening. But just before eight o'clock my phone rang.
"Hi, Chris, it's Keith."
"Oh, Hello Keith, I wasn't expecting to here from you."
"No, but I wondered if you fancied a pint?"
"Honestly? No. It's been my first day....."
"Of course, sorry, I should have asked: How did it go?"
"Good. But considering I didn't really do very much all day, it was absolutely knackering. I'm dead on my feet.."
"Nervous exhaustion I expect. Tomorrow will be easier."
"Yes, I'm sure it will. So, how about tomorrow evening?"
"Can't. I've got an old client buying me a farewell dinner."
"Wednesday evening?"
"Sounds good. Why not my Golf Club? I might as well get full benefit out of membership while I'm still here. And you used to like it there, and they do a great steak these days."
"Sounds good to me. Seven thirty OK with you?"
"Great, I'll see you."
First thing Tuesday morning I sat in on the weekly Sales and Marketing meeting, two hours to learn five minutes worth of facts, but it was worth it in getting to know the Company. When I got back to my office I stopped at Carole's desk for any messages.
"Neil Davidson has asked to see you urgently."
Now I knew Neil from yesterday, he was the Personnel Director.
"Any idea what about?"
"He wouldn't tell me. But he has Dr McBaine with him."
"Who's head of Marston Abbey if I remember my organogram. But you didn't answer my question." I raised my eyebrows and waited.
Carole smiled, "I think they'd better tell you."
"OK. Fetch them over. And I guess you better get some coffee for everybody."
About two minutes later Neil was coming into my office accompanied by a man that I would guess was in his late fifties. He was average height, short grey hair, gold rimmed spectacles and very blue eyes.
"Chris, this is Dr Piers McBaine, Head of our Laboratories out at Marston Abbey."
I shook his hand. "I'm looking forward to coming out to Marston Abbey and seeing you all."
They looked at each other, "Will you tell him or I?" asked Neil.
Just then Carole came in with a tray of coffee which she put down on my desk, and I suggested "Well why don't you both sit down, and then one of you tell me."
Dr McBaine looked at Neil, "I'll tell him." He looked round at me, "I had my deputy come and see me this morning, he is very upset and worried. His name is Peter Davies......"
THANK YOU GOD! I believe in you now, and you're not such a bastard after all!
I busied myself to pour the coffee. I hoped my face did not show how I felt, I hoped I was just sitting there looking thoughtful, as I took my first sip of coffee.
"My ex-wife's husband?"
I was looking at Dr McBaine, and he answered, "Yes. He fears that you will make his working here impossible."
"And what did you say?" I noticed Neil was sitting there, sipping his coffee but watching this conversation, or probably more accurately, watching me.
"I told him that his work was important to the company, and he has my full support. Then I phoned Neil and came straight over here."
"You did the right thing." I looked straight into Dr McBaine's exceedingly blue, and I thought intelligent eyes, "Whatever I think of Mr Davies, he is an employee here. He has the full support and protection that the group personnel policies provide for everyone. He is no exception. You should make that clear to him." I turned to Neil, "And Neil, if necessary you should go over to Marston Abbey and tell him as well."
Piers McBlaine looked at me, picked up his coffee, "Would you come out to Marston Abbey, or could he come and see you to reassure himself?" He drank some coffee, but he was watching me intently.
"Certainly not. As I said, he is no exception. I do not chase around to reassure individual members of staff because they have got it into their heads that they may be bullied or unfairly treated. That's Personnel's job. And as you heard, I have told Personnel to do it."
Piers McBaine smiled. I wondered what he was thinking, but I smiled back and closed the meeting, "Well if that's all for the moment, then I guess we're done. But I did mean it, I do want to get over to Marston Abbey soon, perhaps you could sort something out with Carole as you leave, sometime next week say. And make sure that you and I have plenty of time for a lunch together, I want to learn more about all your work and what goes on." I smiled again, but so as they would know that the meeting was over.
They both put their coffee cups down and got up to leave, as they got to the door I called out, "Oh, Neil, if you've got a minute...."
He looked round at me, as Piers McBaine headed for Carole, I waited, Neil turned back into the room, "Close the door." I added.
As Neil approached my desk, I asked, "That was the reassurance I was meant to give?"
"Perfect, but I felt there was an undercurrent from you."
"You felt right then. I think Peter Davies is an immoral little shit. If I ever meet him on a dark night .....well. let's say that if this place had a choir then Peter Davies would end up well qualified to sing soprano."
Neil smiled, but looked worried.
"I think he's a miserable human being. He stole my wife...."
"But I've met her. They seem happily married....."
"Maybe they do. But it started by a man spotting an attractive woman, and despite the fact that he knew she was married, despite the fact that he knew she was the mother of two young boys, he chatted her up. That was an immoral thing to do. The fact that she eventually succumbed, and that they even fell in love, is all subsequent to his immoral act. Until Peter Davies came along I had a wonderful marriage to a girl I adored, and I thought adored me......"
"I don't know how they met, but they seem happy enough now. Not that I know them at all well. But I do know that he is very important to this company. A lot of the good work of the research labs was under Peter."
"Look Neil. I called you back to help me, not to argue. I don't doubt that Peter Davies is good at his work. But I think that as one of God's creatures he is pretty far down the food chain. But precisely because I think he's a shit, is precisely why I won't risk my career, or ****** this company to a multi-thousand pound lawsuit. He isn't worth it. I won't tread on a slug, if that slug is going to cost me that much."
"OK" Neil sounded hesitant.
"So, if you hear or see that I have done anything towards Peter Fucking Davies that could be open to a negative interpretation, then you are to run here as fast as you can and tell me, so that we can put the matter right. I'll be doing my best, but I am only human. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good, Now go and catch up the good Doctor."
Within a minute Carole was in my office. "How were they?" I asked.
"Dr McBaine seemed quite happy. He booked you to go over to Marston Abbey at eleven o'clock on Wednesday of next week, by the way. Mr Davidson seemed more troubled. May I ask what you said to him?"
"I reiterated what I'd told Piers McBaine, only I also told him that I may have difficulty sticking to it, and it was his responsibility to keep me on the straight and narrow."
"You really are upset with Peter Davies?"
I looked at her, wondering how much I should tell her or could tell her. "Something to talk about over lunch, now what have you got for me?"
"Well you had an easy day yesterday, but the war starts today. Here are your messages, some you won't be interested in, others are simple and some you can deal with. But for the last few, I suggest you talk to me first."
"OK, I'll go through them." I took the sheets of papers she held in her hand. I glanced at them, and was surprised at the detail and accuracy with which she had annotated each message. This lady was good.
I looked up, she was watching me "Anything else?"
"Yes. Mr Bauer was big on committees. You've inherited the chairmanship of thirty eight working committees inside the company, and he sat on a couple of external committees as well. And, of course, there's the Board, and the committees that it sets up."
"Well, I can tell you now, I have absolutely no intention of sitting on thirty eight committees. I doubt whether we actually need thirty eight committees, whether I sit on them or not. Can you draw up some details, exactly what they are, what their purpose is, how often they meet, who else sits on them, you know the sort of thing. Then we can go through them and sort out that mess."
"OK, I'll get onto it. You will see in your messages that the BBC wants to interview you for their local news programme. I guess it's the usual two minutes on a major local company being taken over, so they want to ask about changes. What do you want to do about that?"
"I'm OK with it, but get someone from PR up, and get all the HQ Press Releases that they've put out, then I can tow the party line and not put my foot in it."
As she turned to go, I added one more thing, "Can you get hold of whoever is in charge of these offices, and get them to come and see me. I need to get out of this stupid room."
As soon as the door closed behind her, I put the sheaf of messages down and sat back in my chair. What was I really going to do with Peter Davies working here? It was quite simple, I hated the man's guts. I didn't want him to just resign and go away and get another good job somewhere else. And if he did, he may move away from Bristol taking my boys with him. But I did want him to suffer, I wanted revenge. Revenge that made him suffer, but not my boys, certainly not me, and probably I didn't even want Molly to suffer (or not too much!). I'll just have to give it thought and come up with a plan. In the meantime, I'll do my best to avoid him, and leave him to be worried that his career has just come to a grinding halt.
I'd got about that far in my thinking when Carole was back with Neil Davidson again and a woman. I was introduced to Sheila Armstrong, who apparently looks after all office allocation, furniture and general housekeeping. I asked Carole to stay, as I thought this effects her as much as me:
"It's very simple, I want a smaller office. This just sends out the wrong message. It is neither my style nor ITI's. So, what can you do?
Sheila frowned, "Not a lot, unless you want to authorise a bigger budget. There is no easy answer, no spare office suite. The only thing we can do is get the walls and partitions changed to give this floor a completely different layout, and that will be money, time and disruption."
"Can't you just partition a bit of it off, punch a new door through, and we'd have another conference room?"
"And I'd dearly love that. We're desperately short of meeting rooms. But it won't work, there's no access, and anyway it would be on the Director's floor, it wouldn't solve the problem."
I looked around the three of them, they stared blankly back at me. Eventually, I had an idea. "Carole, didn't you tell me yesterday that the Boardroom was kept exclusively for directors?"
"Yes. That's the way Mr Bauer liked it."
"Well, he isn't here anymore. From right now, the Boardroom is just the best of our meeting rooms. It will remain that directors will have priority. After that, meetings with outside people come next, especially sales meetings. But then it's up for grabs by anyone. It is a company facility, not the special preserve of any one group. Someone will have to keep a diary, if that isn't done already."
Neil looked at Carole, and said "We can sort that out later."
I continued, "And as for this room, Sheila, can you get me a nice conference table for about six, maybe eight, with comfortable chairs for in here?"
"Yes, that'll be fairly simple. I think they still make this range of furniture , so it will match your desk and wall units."
"Good, and rearrange the chairs and sofas, I only need one conversation area, around one coffee table. Lose the rest somewhere." I smiled at her, "And just rearrange it to look nice, friendly and relaxed. It looks harsh and like a huge headmaster's study at the moment."
Carole smiled, "And all your committee meetings in here then?"
I smiled, "We'll see how many survive, but yes." I paused, "And one other thing. As far as I'm concerned, this room, like the Boardroom, is a company asset. If I'm not using it, then anyone is welcome to hold their meetings in here. But, Carole, can you make sure that my desk is clear of anything confidential before you let anyone in."
I smiled at Sheila, "There! Problem solved, and maybe I've eased your meeting room problem a bit. And that's all far more my style. Oh, and a final thought, any chance of a slightly more modest desk chair, this one looks like the villain's chair from a James Bond movie."
"If you insist. But all I can do is buy another one. That one is under a year old, and I daren't reallocate it, no one can end up with the MD's chair."
I sighed, "OK, forget it."
They all filed out, and I did start going through my messages this time.
Soon, or so it seemed until I glanced at my watch, Carole was back "We've got a lunch date, remember?"
I grabbed my jacket, "Yes. Where are we going?"
"A new restaurant out at Chew Magna. Its got good write ups, but I haven't been there. But you said we could take our time."
"Well, I know where that is, we'll take my car."
We drove along making small talk. I asked after her ****** and I did learn that Carole had been married for twenty three years, that she had two non-identical twin sons who were both at university, and that her husband, Rick, was a plumber. I also learnt that she came from a big ******, with loads of uncles and aunts and cousins, and that they were still loosely in touch with each other. That took us all the way to the restaurant.
Once we were settled, I looked at her. "Well, how am I doing?"
"Good, so far. You've done nothing dramatic, but the change in style is being noticed."
"I guess Henri Bauer was a bit of a stickler for formality."
She smiled, "You could say that."
"Is it really true what you said yesterday, that he would show what he thought about people by how close to his desk he would let them get?"
"Yes, but what he didn't know was that plenty of people just used to laugh at it. He didn't hear it, but I could. When they went down the corridor, some of them would make comments like 'Yesterday it was ten feet, today it was six. I'll be on the board by this time next week..' But some took it seriously, and could be very hurt if they had to literally take a backward step."
We laughed together, which was good. But then she asked, "Has Peter Davies taken a backward step?"
"That's to the point!" I observed, but she just smiled, "And I honestly don't know, but don't tell anyone that." I paused to collect my thoughts, "I had a good marriage; I loved my wife a lot. I remember when I first met her, she was twenty and I was twenty three." I smiled, "I remember her twenty first birthday. It was a good day for jewellery was how she described it. I spent all my money and bought her a single strand cultured pearl necklace. I was deeply in love by then. In the evening, her parents wanted to take her out to dinner, but they did invite me, so I guess they recognised what we meant to each other. Anyway, when I arrived at her house I was told to wait in the sitting room: she came into the room wearing her new necklace, and she looked so beautiful. I asked her to marry me as we stood there, I just knew. And she said Yes without a moment's hesitation. We told her parents over the dinner."
"Were they pleased?"
"Yes, I think so. Her ***, Ralph, seemed very pleased. I think her mother, Susan, was pleased, but in the later years she seemed a bit less enthusiastic towards me. I never found out what I did wrong. Anyway, the problem we had was that I had hardly any money to buy her the sort of engagement ring that I thought she should have, I'd spent it all on the necklace. But I did buy her a simple, small diamond ring the next day. It was just less than she deserved."
"I doubt whether she minded. So what went wrong?"
"I wish I knew. We got married and bought a tiny flat. Then we moved into a tiny house, and Jamie came along. Then we moved again into a bit bigger house, and Ben came along. Then we moved into the house of our dreams, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, it was just what we wanted to bring the boys up in, and then she met Peter Davies. She fell in love with him, and I was out of it. I was back living in a tiny flat, and she was back to living in a tiny house that he'd bought."
"There's more to it than that."
"Oh. Yes. Lots more. I wish I knew some of it. But that's the gist of it from my side." I wondered whether to give Carole my real rant and rave about what I thought of a man that muscled in on my marriage, but decided that it would be unfair to her. So, instead I asked what she thought of how important Peter Davies was to the Company.
Just then our food was served, so there was a lull in the conversation. But while that was going on, I noticed Carole was obviously choosing her reply carefully.
Once the waiter had withdrawn, we took our first mouthfuls, and then I looked at her and waited.
"I don't know how important Peter Davies is. I assume he's very good at his job, he's been promoted several times whilst I've been in a position to know." She paused and I waited, "There is a huge culture clash between Marston Abbey and the Factory. Out at the Abbey they are academic, they're scientists and researchers, living in their own little world. It's not part of what some refer to as real life in the rest of the Company."
"Don't tell me, that was one of Bauer's committees to improve that liaison?"
"Yes it was. Mr Bauer believed that Research was the future for the Company. He was very close to Dr McBaine, and quite close to Peter Davies. They won't like it if there is a rift between them and upper Management, but some others might like to drive the wedge in."
"I don't have a problem with Piers McBaine. In fact, I rather liked him. He struck me as rather nice."
"Well Peter Davies is his protégé, and he'll be protective, so he might not like you so much."
"So, who else is not going to like me very much?"
"On the Board? I don't think you'll have any trouble with Neil Davidson. John Wheeler and Bill Elswood from Sales and Client Service already love you, because you'll be good with the clients, and doing presentations and things. Mr Bauer was more of an acquired taste, and some customers never acquired it. Most of them are fairly neutral at the moment. Your problem will be Dennis Murrell."
"Production."
"And been here man and boy for too many years. No one knows how it should be run better than Dennis. And it's quite simple, it should be run as it was in 1960 when Walter Franks himself was still in charge."
"I got some bad vibes off him yesterday. Thanks for the warning. Why isn't Piers McBaine on the Board?"
"I don't know, I guess because of the culture problem. Same's true for the IT guys, they have a different culture as well. Mind you Tim Johnson is probably a bit young."
"And that's another angle. It's all very chauvinistic and ... let's say mature."
She laughed, "It is a bit. But if you're going to try and change that, well won't we have fun!"
For a while we talked small talk, mainly about the restaurant and the food. But then Carole played a blinder: "Is Helene going to come and join you?"
I stared at her, she smiled sweetly; she knew exactly what she'd asked.
"No, is the simple answer to that." I paused, then I sighed and accepted she wanted a longer answer. "Molly, my wife, was the great love of my life. OK I lost her, there was nothing I could do about that, and it was all a long time ago anyway. But I doubt whether I'll get married again. It wouldn't be fair on either of us, and I now know it's bloody painful when it ends. So, no, I decided that it wasn't fair on Helene to ask her to join me in the UK. Now, satisfy my curiosity, how did you know about her?"
Carole totally ignored my question, "If she loved you, and wanted to come with you, wasn't that her decision?"
"She was getting close to wanting to marry me. And she deserves a happy marriage and children and to be in a loving relationship for ever and ever. I couldn't offer her that."
"So, you'll never marry again?"
"I doubt it very much. Oh, I'm not saying I won't have meaningful and loving relationships with some ladies in the future years. Maybe, one day some girl will get me to the altar again. But, I doubt it."
"That's sad. And before I answer your question, I've got one for you?" I was becoming aware that Carole was in charge of this conversation. She was a strong woman, but somewhere, somehow, I felt we were building a good relationship, so I was fairly relaxed.
"Which is?"
"Your marriage fell apart when you were at Jamesons, right?"
"Yes. Why?"
"That explains something." Now it was her turn to sigh and decide to explain herself, "When we heard that it was going to be you, last Thursday, well naturally I was very interested in who you were, what sort of person you were. Well, I had plenty of excuses to phone ITI London Office. And they gave you a glowing reference. Actually the girl I was talking to said that if she was ever transferred to a subsidiary company, then she hoped it would be the one where you are. She was sure that you ran a happy team."
I smiled, "You didn't get her phone number by any chance?"
Carole returned my smile, "No. But I did learn that you were previously at NDF and Jamesons. Well, I phoned NDF first, before they all went home with the time difference and all that. And they too gave you a glowing reference, in fact they were sorry to lose you. And that's where I learnt about Helene. But then I phoned Jamesons, it was easy to phone them, they're only just around the corner."
"Not quite true, but I know what you mean."
"Anyway, they said you started out as sort of pleasantly OK, no more and no less. But then you turned into a very strong boss, and were quite heavy with them. They really didn't like you. It had me worried. Now I understand why you were like that."
"You are very shrewd. Well done."
We'd finished eating, and the waiter came to clear the table. I opted just for coffee, but Carole couldn't resist the strawberry mousse from the trolley.
Carole had been quiet and thoughtful, digesting what she'd learnt. I watched her, her eyes had softened, and she looked straight at me, "You must have loved her very much." She paused, "You don't strike me as the sort of man to bear grudges. But I suspect that if you do make an exception in Peter Davies's case, then he'd better watch out."
"I'll stay inside Company rules." I observed wryly, and hoping to close this bit of the conversation.
But Carole was not going to be dissuaded from giving me her thoughts, "I'm sure you will. And please don't hurt yourself either. Convince yourself that it is all too long ago, and he isn't worth it. Please."
I decided to close the subject, "Well he's got a pretty powerful hand, if only he knew it. He houses, and is head of the household where my two sons live. And getting to know them again and becoming part of their lives is my highest priority."
"You aren't in their lives already? Oh, how could you? Sons need their father. You said their names were Jamie and Ben, how old are they? If you've dropped out, then you have really failed. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"Hold on a mo'. I'm not quite as bad as it seems. They're Jamie who's eight, and Ben who's seven. And as far as my parental obligations go, well, first I have never missed a single month's maintenance, and I've put it up as I've earned more. Nor have I ever missed a Christmas or birthday present. And I've always taken them on two weeks holiday every year, sometimes more often. And they've been great times. It's just the regular, once a week trips to the zoo and a McDonald's bit that I've missed."
Carole softened slightly, "Well, you were in Holland..."
"And before that I was on the international circuit with ITI. In eighteen months I only got four full weekends in the UK. How could I get down to Bristol as I should have? And before that, well I have less of an excuse. I was at Jamesons, but the divorce had only just happened, it was all very raw. I did try to be quite regular, but you have no idea how humiliating it is to wait outside your wife's new husband's house to have your own children sent out to you. I really hated it. After a few months I got my solicitor to arrange that I'd collect and deliver from Molly's parent's house. But that wasn't much better, somehow they seemed to think that the situation was all my fault. Well I suppose they couldn't afford to blame their ******** and new son-in-law." I shrugged my shoulders at my own weak defence.
"So what are you going to do now?"
"Well, I guess I've got to announce that I'm back, and ask nicely if I could borrow my own sons for a few hours at the weekend."
Carole frowned, "It won't be easy. I guess they've got used to having been deserted by their father. They could well react in all sorts of ways to you coming back."
"Do you think so? I think we get on quite well, or we do when I take them on holiday. We've been down to Australia twice to see my Mum, and to Euro-Disney, and to one of those camps-in-the-forest holiday centres. There wasn't a problem then."
"Well, you should start by talking to your ex. She's the one who'll have to deal with any fall-out. Have you talked to her yet?"
"No, not yet. Give me a chance, this is only my second day."
"Well phone her this evening."
"Yes M'am." I smiled. I knew I had to do it, it was just going to be an awkward conversation that I wasn't looking forward to.
Carole picked up on something, "Your Mother lives in Australia. Have you got any ****** in Bristol?"
This was a lot easier topic, "No. I was Bristol born and bred. But my father was killed when I was three, and my brother Brian was five. I hardly remember him. He worked on the railways, and got crushed by a rolling wagon. Mum brought us up single handed. We weren't poor, she had some compensation and a pension for ***, but we weren't rich either. But I went to the local school, as did my brother."
"You've come a long way."
"Thanks, but Brian is the one with brains. He went to Cambridge, and now lectures at Newcastle University, where he married another lecturer. I reckon he'll be a professor soon. Anyway, I went to London University, and then came back to Bristol to work. But, in my absence, someone had stolen my Mum's heart."
"Aah.. there's hope for us all."
"I reckon when she packed me off to University she felt her job was done, and relaxed for the first time in twenty years. And Len, that's her new husband, was visiting Bristol. He was a Bristolian as well, but when he got married to his first wife they emigrated to Australia, to Melbourne. Then his first wife died, and later, after a couple of years of grieving, Len was made redundant. But he now had enough money to decide to take his pension early. And he decided to have an open ended holiday in Bristol, looking up his old haunts. And he met Mum, and they fell in love."
"And had to decide where to live?"
"Exactly. Well, as I pointed out to Mum, Brian was in Newcastle, I was back in Bristol, but for how long? Brian had one baby on the way, I wasn't even married then. On the other hand, Len had two ********* and three grandchildren even then, I think it's five now, all in Melbourne. It was obvious what they should do. But they come back fairly regularly, for my wedding, for mine and Brian's children's christenings. They've been back less often in recent years, but I've taken the boys down to see them twice."
"Do you like Len?"
"Very much. He's a really nice guy. He's never tried to be a step-***, I was too old for that anyway. But we get on very well, he's easy to talk to. And he and Mum are very settled and happy."
"As I said, there's hope for us all."
"Not if we don't get back there isn't. I have the excitement of a whole afternoon with Accounts. Don't you just envy my exciting life? Where is it by the way?"
"In the Boardroom. Those sort of meetings are usually held there. By the way, they know you are an accountant by training, they are a bit nervous."
"You mean that the usual quality wool for pulling over the MD's eyes won't work, and they're going to have to use the good stuff? Good. But tell them it's in my room. We might as well get use out of all those sofas and chairs."
And a very boring, but necessary afternoon was spent with the Accounts Department. By the end of it I was aware of so many holes in their work and systems I really was fairly disappointed.
Once they'd left, Carole came in with her usual sheaf of notes.
I got in first, "A girl called Myra Hepsted is meant to be joining us from ITI London....."
"I've met her, she's ever so nice."
"Well, she's on holiday this week. And I know she's got some things to sort out in London, and they expect there on Monday. But can you get onto them. I expect her here as soon as possible. There's no rush, anytime up to nine fifteen on Tuesday will do."
She smiled. "I've spoken to the BBC, and they're coming in some time tomorrow morning to interview you. And you've started something downstairs in PR. Now they want to know if you can give an in-depth interview and profile for the Evening Post, on their business pages?"
"I guess there's no reason why not. But, can it be next week? I don't want my public getting tired of me with over-exposure."
Now Carole was laughing, "I hate to tell you, but you don't have a public."
"Fame is so ephemeral, so transitory." I proclaimed forlornly, "I guess I'll just have to make do with wine, women and song." I smiled.
"And sons. Phone your ex this evening!" I was told firmly.
At eight thirty the following morning I was parking my car in its marked bay at ITI-Franks. I sat there for a couple of seconds, steeling myself to show the kind, considerate leader of men that I was, and not the nervous little schoolboy that was churning my stomach as he tried to get out.
Then with a purposeful and confident stride, I was out of the car and walking up the steps and through the doors to Reception. No sooner was I in the lobby than I was approached by a woman in her mid-forties, smartly dressed and quite attractive.
"Mr Bennett? I'm Carole with an E Thorsen. I was Secretary to Mr Bauer. Welcome to W R Franks & Sons."
I took her proffered hand and shook it, "Thank you, Carole with an E. I hope you haven't been waiting here since the early hours?"
She laughed, "Good Heavens! No. I like working here, but there are limits. No, I got in at eight, but I hoped it was going to be before you. Let me show you to your office." She turned to the security guy on the desk. "George, we'll sort out Mr Bennett's passes and security later. OK?" But she didn't give him time to answer.
She whisked me off until we got to an office suite with an outer office which I assumed was hers. Then she opened the door to the room beyond. I stood at the door way. Somewhere, at the other end of this stateroom there was a desk and a huge chair behind it, but really you'd need binoculars to see them.
"You must be joking! Did Henri Bauer give ballroom dancing lessons as a sideline? It's enormous. I don't need this!"
"Mr Bauer was rather into nice surroundings and status."
"Obviously. Oh, well, I'll sort it out later. What's lined up for me."
"Nothing too much. Lots of introductions, but a pretty flexible day. Most people seem to be keeping their powder dry, at least until tomorrow. But Tim Johnson of IT wants to see you urgently."
"What about?"
"He has some idea about you talking to all the staff that he wants to put up to you."
"OK. Well he can wait. Show me where the Gents is so that I can wash my hands. I guess I've got a lot of handshaking to do, and clean dry hands would be a good start. Then you can give me a conducted tour."
"Your bathroom is through there." She pointed to a door off my office, just a little bit down from where the band would play for tea dances.
"I get my own bathroom?"
"Of course, Mr Bauer was very particular about things like that."
I felt my eyebrows go up an inch, but I didn't say a word. To criticise Henri Bauer to his no doubt loyal PA would be unfair on her.
She waited for me while a went into 'my' bathroom. And it wasn't just a place to piss, or sit and do the crossword. Shower, toilet, a large dressing table with inset basin, and all soft lights, warm coloured tiles and mirrors. But no music playing, Henri Bauer missed a trick there.
Carole was still waiting for me when I came out. I looked around my palace, "There's no conference table?"
"No, Mr Bauer always used the Boardroom. It is expressly kept for use by directors only. But mainly he used to see people in here, and he had a way of letting them know how much in favour they were by how close to his desk they had to stand. If they were really good they were allowed to sit in the visitors' chairs."
I watched her, she was deadpan, I don't think she was joking.
We set off to do a tour of the building, I confirmed my understanding that we had a specialist engineering workshop, building prototypes and solving problems, down in Exeter. I knew from my reading the company history, this was a small engineering company that had been bought a few years ago, but had been left as an autonomous unit. I also confirmed that our only other premises were the Laboratories at Marston Abbey, somewhere out of town.
I was impressed by the whole office-factory complex. Not only was it architecturally very attractive, a showpiece on how to convert Victorian buildings to modern standards, but by the people and the factory itself. It did seem that we were already mainly doing assembly rather than manufacturing, except for some unique specialist parts, so my initial hope that I might make a quick win on insisting on more outsourcing was instantly dashed.
We didn't seek out the bosses, we just toured the building and I shook hands with anybody and everybody I met, irrespective of their role. Of course, I shook too many hands, and was introduced to too many faces. They seemed a nice bunch of people, I was rather happy with the cross mix of people we seemed to have. But, I had to apologise before I started that everyone was becoming part of a sea of faces, and I'd have to be re-introduced to them all over the coming days.
When we got back to my office, some two hours later, I asked Carole to get me a cup of coffee, and then she could ask Tim Johnson to come up and see me.
When she brought me my coffee, I was reading some marketing brochures that I'd picked up on my tour. "Mr Bennett, could I say something please?"
I looked up, "Of course. And it's Chris, by the way."
She smiled, "I just wanted to say that I understand that the relationship between a director and his secretary is very important, not only for both of them, but for the Company."
"I agree."
"Well, if you would rather make your own appointment, I am happy to go and see Personnel and see what else they might have for me."
"Have I upset you that quickly?"
I didn't fluster her for a second, "No, but you should be free to choose your own secretary."
"Well, thank you Carole. Let's just see how we get on. How long have you worked here?"
"Sixteen years. I came as a secretary to a junior director. He got promoted all the way up to being Managing Director until TDF bought the company. I remained as Mr Bauer's secretary then."
"Well, I'd be a fool to turn my back on all that company knowledge and experience unless I had to. Tell you what, what's in the diary for tomorrow?"
"Nothing."
"Well, I'd better be around here for lunch today, but book us a long lunch somewhere outside. Not over the top, but nice. And we can get to know each other. How about that?"
"That's very kind. Thank you, Mr Bennett."
"Chris." I reminded her, as she went out of the door.
Soon after that Tim Johnson came in, he seemed a nice guy, and he had an idea that I might like to introduce myself to everybody by doing a network broadcast. Everybody, including those at Exeter and Marston Abbey had easy access to a screen. I thought it a rather good idea, and instantly agreed, although I hadn't any idea what I would say. Five minutes after he arrived, he was leaving to send out an email alert for half past four.
Then I called to Carole to ask if all other directors could join me in my office, as soon as possible, to give me a briefing on all issues of the day.
That went well, and took us up to lunch. Now I'd seen the staff cafeteria on my tour, and my quick five minutes in the kitchen had looked as if they served decent food. And so, off we all set for lunch.
We got to the corridor with the canteen off it, when they opened a door to me, I looked in; it was set with several tables, neatly laid for lunch.
"A Directors' Dining Room?" I asked incredulously.
"Oh, no. We can't have one of those these days, it wouldn't be acceptable. No, here you pay fifteen percent more than in the cafeteria. It's still buffet service, but a waitress does lay the tables, and clear them for us."
"So, who uses it?"
"Well really just us, a few other senior managers, some of the girls if it's someone's birthday, and sales if they've got a client in."
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing a lot of it. But for today, I'll go to the usual cafeteria, it'll be a chance for me to meet some of the troops. But you guys can go where you want, I'll be chatting to others over lunch. But let's all reconvene in my office in an hour say."
And I left them there wondering what the hell to do!
Having gone round the serving run, I stood and looked at the canteen. Then I spotted exactly what I wanted. A table for six, but with only five people sitting at it, and I was pretty sure I hadn't been introduced to any of them. "Excuse me, I'm new here today, may I join you?"
They obviously didn't recognise me, "You chose a good day to join, mate. You're in good company. We've got a new managing director starting today."
Then another, "Have you seen, he's giving a presidential broadcast at half past four?"
"Sounds typical. Talk to the workers, but don't actually come into contact with them."
The only girl in the group spoke up in my defence, "I didn't see him, but apparently the new guy did a tour of the building this morning. Didn't any of you lot see him? Martin Chyte said he seemed OK."
The guy on my left said, "I heard he shook a few hands." He turned to me, "What's your name, and what department you in?"
"I'm Chris, and I suppose you'd say I was in sort of Management."
Most of them looked a bit nonplussed. It was the girl who caught on first, "Shit! You're...Ooh sorry ... pardon my French, but you're him, aren't you?"
After that we had quite a good chat. I noticed that some of my hand shakers of the morning had also spotted me there.
When I got back to my office, Carole looked up and smiled, "Well that put the cat amongst the pigeons."
"You heard?"
"News travels fast."
When my fellow directors had reconvened there was a loaded atmosphere. I went straight to the point: "Look, I'd just spent well over an hour with you guys, and I knew we were going to spend more time together this afternoon. Don't you think it did me more good to be seen by everybody, and chat to some others with a different point of view of the Company?
It was Bill Elswood, the Client Service Director, who spoke, "Well, actually it made me think. It wouldn't do me any harm to have lunch with a few of my juniors once in a while. I hardly remember their names.
We hadn't got much further when Tim Johnson turned up with cameras and monitors and trailing cables.
"Oh, I'd hoped your office would be where you'd want to do it from. But I can set up somewhere else." He looked slightly bewildered.
"No, we'll clear out and go to the Boardroom. You set up in here. How are we going to do it?"
"Well, I thought you'd just sit at your desk and talk." He said, somewhat lamely.
"No, I'll come round the front of the desk, perch my arse on it, and do a shirt-sleeved, friendly chat."
We left him to set up, but I was back by half past three, to rehearse a bit and understand how it was going to work. I wrote myself a few notes of what I was going to say, but I decided that I'd do it off the cuff, unscripted, and honestly admitting that I'd been too busy on my first day to really sit down and write out what I wanted to say.
Apparently it went well, several people, including Carole with an E, were impressed. The PR girl from Marketing wanted to know if she can work on getting me a few external interviews and appearances.
After that, for the rest of the day, it was taken up with Admin. Getting myself security passes so that I could get around all parts of the building. Getting myself a whole set of computer passwords for various systems and generally becoming a member of staff.
I sent Carole home just before six o'clock, and I didn't take too long to leave as well.
I grabbed a Chinese on the way home, and just sat and watched television that evening. But just before eight o'clock my phone rang.
"Hi, Chris, it's Keith."
"Oh, Hello Keith, I wasn't expecting to here from you."
"No, but I wondered if you fancied a pint?"
"Honestly? No. It's been my first day....."
"Of course, sorry, I should have asked: How did it go?"
"Good. But considering I didn't really do very much all day, it was absolutely knackering. I'm dead on my feet.."
"Nervous exhaustion I expect. Tomorrow will be easier."
"Yes, I'm sure it will. So, how about tomorrow evening?"
"Can't. I've got an old client buying me a farewell dinner."
"Wednesday evening?"
"Sounds good. Why not my Golf Club? I might as well get full benefit out of membership while I'm still here. And you used to like it there, and they do a great steak these days."
"Sounds good to me. Seven thirty OK with you?"
"Great, I'll see you."
First thing Tuesday morning I sat in on the weekly Sales and Marketing meeting, two hours to learn five minutes worth of facts, but it was worth it in getting to know the Company. When I got back to my office I stopped at Carole's desk for any messages.
"Neil Davidson has asked to see you urgently."
Now I knew Neil from yesterday, he was the Personnel Director.
"Any idea what about?"
"He wouldn't tell me. But he has Dr McBaine with him."
"Who's head of Marston Abbey if I remember my organogram. But you didn't answer my question." I raised my eyebrows and waited.
Carole smiled, "I think they'd better tell you."
"OK. Fetch them over. And I guess you better get some coffee for everybody."
About two minutes later Neil was coming into my office accompanied by a man that I would guess was in his late fifties. He was average height, short grey hair, gold rimmed spectacles and very blue eyes.
"Chris, this is Dr Piers McBaine, Head of our Laboratories out at Marston Abbey."
I shook his hand. "I'm looking forward to coming out to Marston Abbey and seeing you all."
They looked at each other, "Will you tell him or I?" asked Neil.
Just then Carole came in with a tray of coffee which she put down on my desk, and I suggested "Well why don't you both sit down, and then one of you tell me."
Dr McBaine looked at Neil, "I'll tell him." He looked round at me, "I had my deputy come and see me this morning, he is very upset and worried. His name is Peter Davies......"
THANK YOU GOD! I believe in you now, and you're not such a bastard after all!
I busied myself to pour the coffee. I hoped my face did not show how I felt, I hoped I was just sitting there looking thoughtful, as I took my first sip of coffee.
"My ex-wife's husband?"
I was looking at Dr McBaine, and he answered, "Yes. He fears that you will make his working here impossible."
"And what did you say?" I noticed Neil was sitting there, sipping his coffee but watching this conversation, or probably more accurately, watching me.
"I told him that his work was important to the company, and he has my full support. Then I phoned Neil and came straight over here."
"You did the right thing." I looked straight into Dr McBaine's exceedingly blue, and I thought intelligent eyes, "Whatever I think of Mr Davies, he is an employee here. He has the full support and protection that the group personnel policies provide for everyone. He is no exception. You should make that clear to him." I turned to Neil, "And Neil, if necessary you should go over to Marston Abbey and tell him as well."
Piers McBlaine looked at me, picked up his coffee, "Would you come out to Marston Abbey, or could he come and see you to reassure himself?" He drank some coffee, but he was watching me intently.
"Certainly not. As I said, he is no exception. I do not chase around to reassure individual members of staff because they have got it into their heads that they may be bullied or unfairly treated. That's Personnel's job. And as you heard, I have told Personnel to do it."
Piers McBaine smiled. I wondered what he was thinking, but I smiled back and closed the meeting, "Well if that's all for the moment, then I guess we're done. But I did mean it, I do want to get over to Marston Abbey soon, perhaps you could sort something out with Carole as you leave, sometime next week say. And make sure that you and I have plenty of time for a lunch together, I want to learn more about all your work and what goes on." I smiled again, but so as they would know that the meeting was over.
They both put their coffee cups down and got up to leave, as they got to the door I called out, "Oh, Neil, if you've got a minute...."
He looked round at me, as Piers McBaine headed for Carole, I waited, Neil turned back into the room, "Close the door." I added.
As Neil approached my desk, I asked, "That was the reassurance I was meant to give?"
"Perfect, but I felt there was an undercurrent from you."
"You felt right then. I think Peter Davies is an immoral little shit. If I ever meet him on a dark night .....well. let's say that if this place had a choir then Peter Davies would end up well qualified to sing soprano."
Neil smiled, but looked worried.
"I think he's a miserable human being. He stole my wife...."
"But I've met her. They seem happily married....."
"Maybe they do. But it started by a man spotting an attractive woman, and despite the fact that he knew she was married, despite the fact that he knew she was the mother of two young boys, he chatted her up. That was an immoral thing to do. The fact that she eventually succumbed, and that they even fell in love, is all subsequent to his immoral act. Until Peter Davies came along I had a wonderful marriage to a girl I adored, and I thought adored me......"
"I don't know how they met, but they seem happy enough now. Not that I know them at all well. But I do know that he is very important to this company. A lot of the good work of the research labs was under Peter."
"Look Neil. I called you back to help me, not to argue. I don't doubt that Peter Davies is good at his work. But I think that as one of God's creatures he is pretty far down the food chain. But precisely because I think he's a shit, is precisely why I won't risk my career, or ****** this company to a multi-thousand pound lawsuit. He isn't worth it. I won't tread on a slug, if that slug is going to cost me that much."
"OK" Neil sounded hesitant.
"So, if you hear or see that I have done anything towards Peter Fucking Davies that could be open to a negative interpretation, then you are to run here as fast as you can and tell me, so that we can put the matter right. I'll be doing my best, but I am only human. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good, Now go and catch up the good Doctor."
Within a minute Carole was in my office. "How were they?" I asked.
"Dr McBaine seemed quite happy. He booked you to go over to Marston Abbey at eleven o'clock on Wednesday of next week, by the way. Mr Davidson seemed more troubled. May I ask what you said to him?"
"I reiterated what I'd told Piers McBaine, only I also told him that I may have difficulty sticking to it, and it was his responsibility to keep me on the straight and narrow."
"You really are upset with Peter Davies?"
I looked at her, wondering how much I should tell her or could tell her. "Something to talk about over lunch, now what have you got for me?"
"Well you had an easy day yesterday, but the war starts today. Here are your messages, some you won't be interested in, others are simple and some you can deal with. But for the last few, I suggest you talk to me first."
"OK, I'll go through them." I took the sheets of papers she held in her hand. I glanced at them, and was surprised at the detail and accuracy with which she had annotated each message. This lady was good.
I looked up, she was watching me "Anything else?"
"Yes. Mr Bauer was big on committees. You've inherited the chairmanship of thirty eight working committees inside the company, and he sat on a couple of external committees as well. And, of course, there's the Board, and the committees that it sets up."
"Well, I can tell you now, I have absolutely no intention of sitting on thirty eight committees. I doubt whether we actually need thirty eight committees, whether I sit on them or not. Can you draw up some details, exactly what they are, what their purpose is, how often they meet, who else sits on them, you know the sort of thing. Then we can go through them and sort out that mess."
"OK, I'll get onto it. You will see in your messages that the BBC wants to interview you for their local news programme. I guess it's the usual two minutes on a major local company being taken over, so they want to ask about changes. What do you want to do about that?"
"I'm OK with it, but get someone from PR up, and get all the HQ Press Releases that they've put out, then I can tow the party line and not put my foot in it."
As she turned to go, I added one more thing, "Can you get hold of whoever is in charge of these offices, and get them to come and see me. I need to get out of this stupid room."
As soon as the door closed behind her, I put the sheaf of messages down and sat back in my chair. What was I really going to do with Peter Davies working here? It was quite simple, I hated the man's guts. I didn't want him to just resign and go away and get another good job somewhere else. And if he did, he may move away from Bristol taking my boys with him. But I did want him to suffer, I wanted revenge. Revenge that made him suffer, but not my boys, certainly not me, and probably I didn't even want Molly to suffer (or not too much!). I'll just have to give it thought and come up with a plan. In the meantime, I'll do my best to avoid him, and leave him to be worried that his career has just come to a grinding halt.
I'd got about that far in my thinking when Carole was back with Neil Davidson again and a woman. I was introduced to Sheila Armstrong, who apparently looks after all office allocation, furniture and general housekeeping. I asked Carole to stay, as I thought this effects her as much as me:
"It's very simple, I want a smaller office. This just sends out the wrong message. It is neither my style nor ITI's. So, what can you do?
Sheila frowned, "Not a lot, unless you want to authorise a bigger budget. There is no easy answer, no spare office suite. The only thing we can do is get the walls and partitions changed to give this floor a completely different layout, and that will be money, time and disruption."
"Can't you just partition a bit of it off, punch a new door through, and we'd have another conference room?"
"And I'd dearly love that. We're desperately short of meeting rooms. But it won't work, there's no access, and anyway it would be on the Director's floor, it wouldn't solve the problem."
I looked around the three of them, they stared blankly back at me. Eventually, I had an idea. "Carole, didn't you tell me yesterday that the Boardroom was kept exclusively for directors?"
"Yes. That's the way Mr Bauer liked it."
"Well, he isn't here anymore. From right now, the Boardroom is just the best of our meeting rooms. It will remain that directors will have priority. After that, meetings with outside people come next, especially sales meetings. But then it's up for grabs by anyone. It is a company facility, not the special preserve of any one group. Someone will have to keep a diary, if that isn't done already."
Neil looked at Carole, and said "We can sort that out later."
I continued, "And as for this room, Sheila, can you get me a nice conference table for about six, maybe eight, with comfortable chairs for in here?"
"Yes, that'll be fairly simple. I think they still make this range of furniture , so it will match your desk and wall units."
"Good, and rearrange the chairs and sofas, I only need one conversation area, around one coffee table. Lose the rest somewhere." I smiled at her, "And just rearrange it to look nice, friendly and relaxed. It looks harsh and like a huge headmaster's study at the moment."
Carole smiled, "And all your committee meetings in here then?"
I smiled, "We'll see how many survive, but yes." I paused, "And one other thing. As far as I'm concerned, this room, like the Boardroom, is a company asset. If I'm not using it, then anyone is welcome to hold their meetings in here. But, Carole, can you make sure that my desk is clear of anything confidential before you let anyone in."
I smiled at Sheila, "There! Problem solved, and maybe I've eased your meeting room problem a bit. And that's all far more my style. Oh, and a final thought, any chance of a slightly more modest desk chair, this one looks like the villain's chair from a James Bond movie."
"If you insist. But all I can do is buy another one. That one is under a year old, and I daren't reallocate it, no one can end up with the MD's chair."
I sighed, "OK, forget it."
They all filed out, and I did start going through my messages this time.
Soon, or so it seemed until I glanced at my watch, Carole was back "We've got a lunch date, remember?"
I grabbed my jacket, "Yes. Where are we going?"
"A new restaurant out at Chew Magna. Its got good write ups, but I haven't been there. But you said we could take our time."
"Well, I know where that is, we'll take my car."
We drove along making small talk. I asked after her ****** and I did learn that Carole had been married for twenty three years, that she had two non-identical twin sons who were both at university, and that her husband, Rick, was a plumber. I also learnt that she came from a big ******, with loads of uncles and aunts and cousins, and that they were still loosely in touch with each other. That took us all the way to the restaurant.
Once we were settled, I looked at her. "Well, how am I doing?"
"Good, so far. You've done nothing dramatic, but the change in style is being noticed."
"I guess Henri Bauer was a bit of a stickler for formality."
She smiled, "You could say that."
"Is it really true what you said yesterday, that he would show what he thought about people by how close to his desk he would let them get?"
"Yes, but what he didn't know was that plenty of people just used to laugh at it. He didn't hear it, but I could. When they went down the corridor, some of them would make comments like 'Yesterday it was ten feet, today it was six. I'll be on the board by this time next week..' But some took it seriously, and could be very hurt if they had to literally take a backward step."
We laughed together, which was good. But then she asked, "Has Peter Davies taken a backward step?"
"That's to the point!" I observed, but she just smiled, "And I honestly don't know, but don't tell anyone that." I paused to collect my thoughts, "I had a good marriage; I loved my wife a lot. I remember when I first met her, she was twenty and I was twenty three." I smiled, "I remember her twenty first birthday. It was a good day for jewellery was how she described it. I spent all my money and bought her a single strand cultured pearl necklace. I was deeply in love by then. In the evening, her parents wanted to take her out to dinner, but they did invite me, so I guess they recognised what we meant to each other. Anyway, when I arrived at her house I was told to wait in the sitting room: she came into the room wearing her new necklace, and she looked so beautiful. I asked her to marry me as we stood there, I just knew. And she said Yes without a moment's hesitation. We told her parents over the dinner."
"Were they pleased?"
"Yes, I think so. Her ***, Ralph, seemed very pleased. I think her mother, Susan, was pleased, but in the later years she seemed a bit less enthusiastic towards me. I never found out what I did wrong. Anyway, the problem we had was that I had hardly any money to buy her the sort of engagement ring that I thought she should have, I'd spent it all on the necklace. But I did buy her a simple, small diamond ring the next day. It was just less than she deserved."
"I doubt whether she minded. So what went wrong?"
"I wish I knew. We got married and bought a tiny flat. Then we moved into a tiny house, and Jamie came along. Then we moved again into a bit bigger house, and Ben came along. Then we moved into the house of our dreams, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, it was just what we wanted to bring the boys up in, and then she met Peter Davies. She fell in love with him, and I was out of it. I was back living in a tiny flat, and she was back to living in a tiny house that he'd bought."
"There's more to it than that."
"Oh. Yes. Lots more. I wish I knew some of it. But that's the gist of it from my side." I wondered whether to give Carole my real rant and rave about what I thought of a man that muscled in on my marriage, but decided that it would be unfair to her. So, instead I asked what she thought of how important Peter Davies was to the Company.
Just then our food was served, so there was a lull in the conversation. But while that was going on, I noticed Carole was obviously choosing her reply carefully.
Once the waiter had withdrawn, we took our first mouthfuls, and then I looked at her and waited.
"I don't know how important Peter Davies is. I assume he's very good at his job, he's been promoted several times whilst I've been in a position to know." She paused and I waited, "There is a huge culture clash between Marston Abbey and the Factory. Out at the Abbey they are academic, they're scientists and researchers, living in their own little world. It's not part of what some refer to as real life in the rest of the Company."
"Don't tell me, that was one of Bauer's committees to improve that liaison?"
"Yes it was. Mr Bauer believed that Research was the future for the Company. He was very close to Dr McBaine, and quite close to Peter Davies. They won't like it if there is a rift between them and upper Management, but some others might like to drive the wedge in."
"I don't have a problem with Piers McBaine. In fact, I rather liked him. He struck me as rather nice."
"Well Peter Davies is his protégé, and he'll be protective, so he might not like you so much."
"So, who else is not going to like me very much?"
"On the Board? I don't think you'll have any trouble with Neil Davidson. John Wheeler and Bill Elswood from Sales and Client Service already love you, because you'll be good with the clients, and doing presentations and things. Mr Bauer was more of an acquired taste, and some customers never acquired it. Most of them are fairly neutral at the moment. Your problem will be Dennis Murrell."
"Production."
"And been here man and boy for too many years. No one knows how it should be run better than Dennis. And it's quite simple, it should be run as it was in 1960 when Walter Franks himself was still in charge."
"I got some bad vibes off him yesterday. Thanks for the warning. Why isn't Piers McBaine on the Board?"
"I don't know, I guess because of the culture problem. Same's true for the IT guys, they have a different culture as well. Mind you Tim Johnson is probably a bit young."
"And that's another angle. It's all very chauvinistic and ... let's say mature."
She laughed, "It is a bit. But if you're going to try and change that, well won't we have fun!"
For a while we talked small talk, mainly about the restaurant and the food. But then Carole played a blinder: "Is Helene going to come and join you?"
I stared at her, she smiled sweetly; she knew exactly what she'd asked.
"No, is the simple answer to that." I paused, then I sighed and accepted she wanted a longer answer. "Molly, my wife, was the great love of my life. OK I lost her, there was nothing I could do about that, and it was all a long time ago anyway. But I doubt whether I'll get married again. It wouldn't be fair on either of us, and I now know it's bloody painful when it ends. So, no, I decided that it wasn't fair on Helene to ask her to join me in the UK. Now, satisfy my curiosity, how did you know about her?"
Carole totally ignored my question, "If she loved you, and wanted to come with you, wasn't that her decision?"
"She was getting close to wanting to marry me. And she deserves a happy marriage and children and to be in a loving relationship for ever and ever. I couldn't offer her that."
"So, you'll never marry again?"
"I doubt it very much. Oh, I'm not saying I won't have meaningful and loving relationships with some ladies in the future years. Maybe, one day some girl will get me to the altar again. But, I doubt it."
"That's sad. And before I answer your question, I've got one for you?" I was becoming aware that Carole was in charge of this conversation. She was a strong woman, but somewhere, somehow, I felt we were building a good relationship, so I was fairly relaxed.
"Which is?"
"Your marriage fell apart when you were at Jamesons, right?"
"Yes. Why?"
"That explains something." Now it was her turn to sigh and decide to explain herself, "When we heard that it was going to be you, last Thursday, well naturally I was very interested in who you were, what sort of person you were. Well, I had plenty of excuses to phone ITI London Office. And they gave you a glowing reference. Actually the girl I was talking to said that if she was ever transferred to a subsidiary company, then she hoped it would be the one where you are. She was sure that you ran a happy team."
I smiled, "You didn't get her phone number by any chance?"
Carole returned my smile, "No. But I did learn that you were previously at NDF and Jamesons. Well, I phoned NDF first, before they all went home with the time difference and all that. And they too gave you a glowing reference, in fact they were sorry to lose you. And that's where I learnt about Helene. But then I phoned Jamesons, it was easy to phone them, they're only just around the corner."
"Not quite true, but I know what you mean."
"Anyway, they said you started out as sort of pleasantly OK, no more and no less. But then you turned into a very strong boss, and were quite heavy with them. They really didn't like you. It had me worried. Now I understand why you were like that."
"You are very shrewd. Well done."
We'd finished eating, and the waiter came to clear the table. I opted just for coffee, but Carole couldn't resist the strawberry mousse from the trolley.
Carole had been quiet and thoughtful, digesting what she'd learnt. I watched her, her eyes had softened, and she looked straight at me, "You must have loved her very much." She paused, "You don't strike me as the sort of man to bear grudges. But I suspect that if you do make an exception in Peter Davies's case, then he'd better watch out."
"I'll stay inside Company rules." I observed wryly, and hoping to close this bit of the conversation.
But Carole was not going to be dissuaded from giving me her thoughts, "I'm sure you will. And please don't hurt yourself either. Convince yourself that it is all too long ago, and he isn't worth it. Please."
I decided to close the subject, "Well he's got a pretty powerful hand, if only he knew it. He houses, and is head of the household where my two sons live. And getting to know them again and becoming part of their lives is my highest priority."
"You aren't in their lives already? Oh, how could you? Sons need their father. You said their names were Jamie and Ben, how old are they? If you've dropped out, then you have really failed. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"Hold on a mo'. I'm not quite as bad as it seems. They're Jamie who's eight, and Ben who's seven. And as far as my parental obligations go, well, first I have never missed a single month's maintenance, and I've put it up as I've earned more. Nor have I ever missed a Christmas or birthday present. And I've always taken them on two weeks holiday every year, sometimes more often. And they've been great times. It's just the regular, once a week trips to the zoo and a McDonald's bit that I've missed."
Carole softened slightly, "Well, you were in Holland..."
"And before that I was on the international circuit with ITI. In eighteen months I only got four full weekends in the UK. How could I get down to Bristol as I should have? And before that, well I have less of an excuse. I was at Jamesons, but the divorce had only just happened, it was all very raw. I did try to be quite regular, but you have no idea how humiliating it is to wait outside your wife's new husband's house to have your own children sent out to you. I really hated it. After a few months I got my solicitor to arrange that I'd collect and deliver from Molly's parent's house. But that wasn't much better, somehow they seemed to think that the situation was all my fault. Well I suppose they couldn't afford to blame their ******** and new son-in-law." I shrugged my shoulders at my own weak defence.
"So what are you going to do now?"
"Well, I guess I've got to announce that I'm back, and ask nicely if I could borrow my own sons for a few hours at the weekend."
Carole frowned, "It won't be easy. I guess they've got used to having been deserted by their father. They could well react in all sorts of ways to you coming back."
"Do you think so? I think we get on quite well, or we do when I take them on holiday. We've been down to Australia twice to see my Mum, and to Euro-Disney, and to one of those camps-in-the-forest holiday centres. There wasn't a problem then."
"Well, you should start by talking to your ex. She's the one who'll have to deal with any fall-out. Have you talked to her yet?"
"No, not yet. Give me a chance, this is only my second day."
"Well phone her this evening."
"Yes M'am." I smiled. I knew I had to do it, it was just going to be an awkward conversation that I wasn't looking forward to.
Carole picked up on something, "Your Mother lives in Australia. Have you got any ****** in Bristol?"
This was a lot easier topic, "No. I was Bristol born and bred. But my father was killed when I was three, and my brother Brian was five. I hardly remember him. He worked on the railways, and got crushed by a rolling wagon. Mum brought us up single handed. We weren't poor, she had some compensation and a pension for ***, but we weren't rich either. But I went to the local school, as did my brother."
"You've come a long way."
"Thanks, but Brian is the one with brains. He went to Cambridge, and now lectures at Newcastle University, where he married another lecturer. I reckon he'll be a professor soon. Anyway, I went to London University, and then came back to Bristol to work. But, in my absence, someone had stolen my Mum's heart."
"Aah.. there's hope for us all."
"I reckon when she packed me off to University she felt her job was done, and relaxed for the first time in twenty years. And Len, that's her new husband, was visiting Bristol. He was a Bristolian as well, but when he got married to his first wife they emigrated to Australia, to Melbourne. Then his first wife died, and later, after a couple of years of grieving, Len was made redundant. But he now had enough money to decide to take his pension early. And he decided to have an open ended holiday in Bristol, looking up his old haunts. And he met Mum, and they fell in love."
"And had to decide where to live?"
"Exactly. Well, as I pointed out to Mum, Brian was in Newcastle, I was back in Bristol, but for how long? Brian had one baby on the way, I wasn't even married then. On the other hand, Len had two ********* and three grandchildren even then, I think it's five now, all in Melbourne. It was obvious what they should do. But they come back fairly regularly, for my wedding, for mine and Brian's children's christenings. They've been back less often in recent years, but I've taken the boys down to see them twice."
"Do you like Len?"
"Very much. He's a really nice guy. He's never tried to be a step-***, I was too old for that anyway. But we get on very well, he's easy to talk to. And he and Mum are very settled and happy."
"As I said, there's hope for us all."
"Not if we don't get back there isn't. I have the excitement of a whole afternoon with Accounts. Don't you just envy my exciting life? Where is it by the way?"
"In the Boardroom. Those sort of meetings are usually held there. By the way, they know you are an accountant by training, they are a bit nervous."
"You mean that the usual quality wool for pulling over the MD's eyes won't work, and they're going to have to use the good stuff? Good. But tell them it's in my room. We might as well get use out of all those sofas and chairs."
And a very boring, but necessary afternoon was spent with the Accounts Department. By the end of it I was aware of so many holes in their work and systems I really was fairly disappointed.
Once they'd left, Carole came in with her usual sheaf of notes.
I got in first, "A girl called Myra Hepsted is meant to be joining us from ITI London....."
"I've met her, she's ever so nice."
"Well, she's on holiday this week. And I know she's got some things to sort out in London, and they expect there on Monday. But can you get onto them. I expect her here as soon as possible. There's no rush, anytime up to nine fifteen on Tuesday will do."
She smiled. "I've spoken to the BBC, and they're coming in some time tomorrow morning to interview you. And you've started something downstairs in PR. Now they want to know if you can give an in-depth interview and profile for the Evening Post, on their business pages?"
"I guess there's no reason why not. But, can it be next week? I don't want my public getting tired of me with over-exposure."
Now Carole was laughing, "I hate to tell you, but you don't have a public."
"Fame is so ephemeral, so transitory." I proclaimed forlornly, "I guess I'll just have to make do with wine, women and song." I smiled.
"And sons. Phone your ex this evening!" I was told firmly.
