Chapter 24 #2
Neil Wallace is the head of the corporate division and my ultimate boss.
A lanky, wealthy-looking man, well spoken.
He made his name in his early thirties on two or three enormous deals and now, only in his forties, he earns seven figures a year.
He’s one of those charismatic men who can charm a client until they want to polish his shoes whilst writing the firm a hefty cheque.
I glance from my watch to the stack of documents on my desk.
The stack marked Eclectic Technologies that I’ve been trying to ignore since I arrived.
‘Tell him I’ll see him whenever he’s ready please, Margaret.’
‘Will do.’ The hem of her blue, tweed skirt twirls as she turns to leave the room.
‘Speaking of the billionaire,’ Amanda croons as she picks the top Eclectic Technologies document from the dreaded pile, ‘how are you guys? Is it super saucy?’
Her mischievous wink is usually impossible to resist, but today, it doesn’t lighten my mood.
‘It fizzled out,’ I say, taking the document back from a theatrically huffed Amanda and returning it to the pile.
‘He’s free now, Scarlett,’ Margaret interjects.
An invitation to Neil Wallace’s office is, I imagine, like an invitation to visit the king: an incredible honour but scary as hell. I would’ve chosen a different dress if I’d known. I’m not sure which other dress but I’m sure I would’ve chosen a different one.
What will I say to him? How should I say hello?
I’ve only spoken to Neil on a handful of occasions, mostly because he’s trawling the globe a lot of the time, trying to tap into the emerging markets.
When he is in the office, his door is not ‘always open,’ so to speak, although I have to wonder whether that’s just a phrase used by people taking up a new position to mask the truth.
What they’re really thinking is, Hi new team, I’m scared shitless that I’m not actually the right man for the job so I’m going to say something truly cliché that I read in a How to be a Leader book that I downloaded for free from Amazon, in the hope I can get you onside.
Perhaps one day, I’ll enter the higher echelons and find out for myself.
How do I even knock on his door? I think before gently tapping three times.
‘Neil, you asked to see me.’
‘Scarlett. Come in, come in.’ He rises from behind his light, oak desk and walks the excessive span of his office towards the door to greet me.
The office is as bright as the weather will allow, with daylight flowing through the floor-to-ceiling glass panes.
‘Sit down, please.’ He indicates for me to take a seat on the opposite side of his desk. ‘Now, before we talk about anything else, how are you? I’m terribly sorry to hear about your father.’
‘Thank you. He was ill for a long time but it’s still a shock.’ I hold my blink longer than intended.
The office door opens and the kitchen staff wheel in a trolley containing a pot of coffee, a pot of tea and four bite-sized cakes.
‘It’s not just a view you get then?’ I ask, changing the subject.
‘Thank you, Ashley, we can pour ourselves,’ Neil says with a pleasant smile.
Taking a cup and placing a piece of lemon drizzle cake on the side of his saucer, he tells me to help myself.
If perceptions could be more wrong. I take a piece of chocolate sponge and a cup of tea.
‘Now, why have I invited you here?’ he says once he’s chewed the last crumbs of his sponge.
He shuffles in his chair so that he’s leaning back slightly and takes the foot of one leg across the knee of his other.
‘Well, I’ve been watching your results for some time in any event but this recent transaction…
’ he casts an eye over a piece of paper on his desk, ‘…Eclectic Technologies. We’ve had superb feedback from the client and the figures speak for themselves.
In fact, they’ve thrown you over your targets for the year and I’m fully aware of the circumstances of that deal…
that you essentially carried the entire transaction yourself. ’
‘Erm, thank you,’ I mutter from behind my fingers, which are held a little in front of my mouth to disguise any possible rogue chocolate crumbs.
‘No, thank you . As you’ve been off for a couple of days, and arguably should still be off, by the way, you probably don’t know that Stephen Lawrence has been in touch about potential future work. And there’s plenty of it.’
My stomach sinks, in part from the thought of another convoluted deal but mostly from the thought that Gregory would rather delegate to Lawrence than speak to me himself.
‘They’ve specifically asked that you’re the point of contact for all deals from Eclectic Technologies and any of the GJR group’s companies.’
‘Wow. Great. That’s, that’s really great,’ I say, faking excitement.
‘Now for the good news.’
‘There’s more?’
‘Well, you don’t think it would be appropriate for us to have just a senior associate in that position, do you?’
‘Hmm, well, I hadn’t thought about it but I guess you’re right. I’ll speak to them and tell them that I can’t be the lead contact. Who would you like me to?—’
‘Scarlett.’ He laughs, resting his palms on his desk. ‘I’m offering you a promotion, to legal director.’
I stand from my seat, causing it to rock backwards. ‘You’re what? Why?’
He smiles casually, genuinely. ‘So you’ll take it?’
‘Take it? Of course. Thank you.’
My hands wiggle uncomfortably by my side, unsure whether to shake his hand or go in for a hug. I decide to sit down, doing neither. But those seconds give me time to register the situation. I lost Dad for a promotion. I can feel tears knocking on the back door to my eyes and I know I need to leave.
‘Excellent! Do you want to discuss the finer details now or would you rather get the paperwork first and take it all in?’
I wonder whether he’s noticed the chemical change in my body, the way dogs can sense whether their owner’s happy or sad.
Nodding, the lump in my throat subsides just enough to let me explain that I’d rather read the paperwork first but that I’m grateful for the opportunity.
‘It’s all rather overwhelming, isn’t it?’
‘You’ve no idea,’ I say, shaking his hand. I can’t get out of there fast enough.
‘Sooo, what did he want?’ Amanda sings, her words reaching my office before her bouncing body.
‘Erm, he wanted to offer me directorship,’ I offer sheepishly.
‘What? Amazing! Crazy! That’s fantastic news, Scarlett; you really deserve it.’ She throws her arms around my neck.
‘Do I?’ I whisper.
She pushes me away from her body, her hands resting on my shoulders. ‘Of course you do. You work harder than anyone else in here.’
‘I just – I just don’t know if one deal means I really deserve it.’
Amanda shakes my shoulders. ‘This isn’t about one deal. This is about you working solid for years. You’re always the last person in here on a night and, rather distastefully,’ she adds with a forced regal accent, stiff upper lip and all, ‘you’re the first to refuse a cocktail in the name of work.’
‘I hope you’re right.’
‘I am. Now, let’s celebrate. Lunch somewhere nice? Your treat because you’re about to earn a lot more money than I do,’ she says with a wink.
‘I’d love to but I actually need to tie off some pieces for a deal.’ I glare at the pile of Eclectic Technologies documents that I’ve been trying to avoid.
‘See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about.’ She looks to the ceiling. ‘Okay, well, what are your plans for the rest of the week?’
‘I haven’t got that far yet.’
‘Would you like my opinion? I’ll give it to you anyway. You should go home and put your feet up. Pamper yourself, do something with Sandy.’
‘You know what…’ I sigh. ‘I think you’re right.’
‘I am,’ she states with her hands on her hips in jest. Then, softening, she tells me, ‘I’ll see you on Friday. If you need or want me before then, just call and I’ll be there in a flash.’
‘Okay.’
I hug my best friend.
* * *
The smell of fresh polish permeates the air when the elevator doors open on to the high-gloss floor.
The usual immaculately presented receptionists are in position beneath the gleaming Eclectic Technologies plaque.
Artificial lighting reflects in the windows, illuminating the space.
One man in a navy suit and red tie sits on the sofas, perusing the Financial Times and intermittently glancing at the flat-screen television playing BBC News .
‘Good afternoon, welcome to Eclectic Technologies,’ says Juliette, according to her gold name badge.
‘Good afternoon, I’m Scarlett Heath. I’m here to see Mr Ryans and, if they’re available, Mr Williams and Mr Lawrence too.’
‘Do you have an appointment?’ she chimes as she taps on her keyboard.
No, and part of me hopes you’re going to tell me he isn’t in the office then I can leave these documents with you and be on my way.
‘No, I don’t, but it’ll only take five minutes.’
‘Ooh, let me see… it looks like they’re all in a meeting together until?—’
‘I can wait.’
‘Oh,’ she says in a way that makes me think her blue, silk necktie is choking her. ‘Well?—’
The sound of his voice constricts my torso. I stare with wide eyes along the corridor as he draws closer, unable to move. I can’t do this! Sweat forms on my palms beneath the pile of documents I’m gripping tightly.
‘This has been a productive afternoon, Mr Cheung,’ he’s saying.
I contemplate running, hiding, dropping to the ground, but it is too late. He sees me. He stops dead in his tracks, his eyes locked on mine, his conversation suspended. All rational thought has escaped me. Blue suit. Crisp, white shirt. Hair neatly combed.
Williams coughs, breaking the near silence of the room. ‘Mr Cheung, allow me to introduce you to Scarlett Heath.’
‘Hello, Mr Cheung,’ I say, my professional alter ego kicking in. ‘I’m a legal advisor to Eclectic Technologies.’
He takes my hand in a limp shake. ‘It is a pleasure to meet you.’
I muster all the charm I can. ‘The pleasure’s all mine.’
‘They have a lawyer involved already. Should I worry?’