Chapter 6
From: J. Spearman
To: A. Walker
Subject: Tasks
I’m sending you the list of today’s tasks. If you could, please send my parents some flowers for their anniversary.
From: J. Spearman
To: A. Walker
Subject: Re: Tasks
Monday, April 4th 8:05 a.m.
Never mind, thank you for taking care of their anniversary present. What is the surprise you had arranged for them tonight at 6?
J.
From: A. Walker
To: J. Spearman
Subject: meetings and more
Monday, April 4th 1:53 p.m.
A caterer will be setting a five-course meal later tonight and on china since it’s their 36th anniversary.
Amy
Monday, April 4th 1:58 p.m.
JSpear84: You’re sending my parents to China?
AWalk90: No, I bought them some new china and a nice tea set—a trip to China would be nice though.
JSpear84: Oh, that sounds better.
AWalk90: I had no idea they lived in California.
JSpear84: How did you get their information?
AWalk90: Carla has notes about their anniversary. I thought you said you bought the presents for your family.
JSpear84: Not their anniversary presents.
AWalk90: How are the negotiations going in NYC?
JSpear84: Fine, I think I need a local lawyer, mine is taking too long. His excuse is that he doesn’t know shit about New York Law.
AWalk90: I’ll search for someone who can help him.
JSpear84: Thank you.
AWalk90: Email me if you need any further help, I’ll be around.
From: J. Spearman
To: A. Walker
Subject: Flight
Tuesday, April 5th, 3:00 a.m. EST
My brother was in a car accident, and I need to fly to San Francisco immediately.
Jackson
Tuesday, April 5th 3:10 a.m. EST
AWalk90: I can hire a charter.
JSpear84: When will that be available?
AWalk90: Immediately. I can have a car ready to pick you up in the next ten minutes, and by the time you reach the airport, you’ll be able to depart.
JSpear84: Let’s go with that route.
AWalk90: He’s going to be okay.
JSpear84: Thank you for your prompt response.
AWalk90: Contact me if you want to talk.
Tuesday, April 5th, 8:00 a.m. MST
AWalk90: How is your brother?
JSpear84: He’s in surgery. They’re rebuilding his left leg.
AWalk90: Do you need anything?
JSpear84: No, thank you for the coffee you had waiting for me when I landed in San Francisco.
AWalk90: Don’t forget the waffles.
JSpear84: Those were good too.
AWalk90: Is there something I can do for you, other than work?
JSpear84: No, just send me an email if there’s anything that needs my immediate attention.
AWalk90: You got it.
From: A. Walker
To: J. Spearman
Subject: meetings and more
Wednesday, April 6th, 2:25 p.m. PST
Mr. Spearman,
I hope your brother is doing better. I rescheduled all your meetings for next week, finished your pending tasks, and I’m attaching the acquisition contract for your review.
I found a firm in New York that can take over the transaction.
Everhart & Everhart. They also have a license to practice in Colorado.
I’m not trying to replace your legal team, just giving you options.
If you would like to speak directly to them, let me know, and I’ll connect you—don’t do it yourself. Trust me.
Wishing your brother a prompt recovery,
Amy
JSpear84: I got an email from your lawyer. I feel like I wasted an entire week of my life for nothing.
AWalk90: What happened?
JSpear84: He pulled some information from their last potential buyer. They inflated their numbers to sell at a higher price. I could renegotiate with them, but it appears there are a lot of patents that don’t belong to the company—and I wanted to acquire them because of the patents.
AWalk90: How is your brother?
JSpear84: Better than my mood. He’s going to be in rehab for several months.
AWalk90: Are you flying him to Denver soon?
JSpear84: No, he lives here, in San Francisco. Mom and Dad are staying with him.
AWalk90: Anything I can do for you?
JSpear84: I’ll contact you if I need anything else. Thank you.
From: J. Spearman
To: A. Walker
Subject: Legal fees and other mistakes
Thursday, April 7th, 12:47 a.m. PST
I just came to the realization that you’re one of “those women” who do nice things to pretend they’re working hard and care about others, but you’re just full of shit and don’t care about anyone but yourself.
Sending stupid cards, flowers, and food to the hospital doesn’t help when you’re damaging my business.
My lawyer sent me an email threatening to bill for the hours worked on the acquisition—you said you’d take care of the legalities of that transaction.
Mr. Genji called upset, you didn’t cancel my seven o’clock breakfast with him at The Plaza.
You made me look like an ass. What happened with the cancelation of the acquisition?
Are they going to keep my money? If these issues aren’t resolved within the next few hours, I’ll have your fucking job, and I’ll make sure you don’t work for the rest of your natural life.
J Spearman
From: A. Walker
To: J. Spearman
Subject: My job and the rest of my life.
Thursday, April 7th, 4:03 a.m. PST
Are you kidding me?
I’m not being nice when I send you what you need at the hospital. I’m being efficient and providing what my client needs.
It isn’t my fault that you have a predatory retainer contract with your lawyer.
My lawyer is working on getting you out of it as we speak.
I’m attaching the new contract with Everhart & Everhart.
The retainer is five thousand dollars which will be used to clean up your legal mess.
Afterward, you can hire them as your permanent lawyers—which I advise because you NEED someone trustworthy to handle the legal side of your transactions.
If you don’t tell me about your breakfast, there’s no way for me to know that you’re going to miss it.
I spoke with Mr. Genji’s secretary in Japan.
Mr. Genji understood that you had a family emergency and couldn’t cancel in time.
They wish a prompt recovery to your brother and would like you to know that if you were to need anything, they’d be happy to help.
About the cancelation of the acquisition, read the above paragraph. You can’t have my fucking job because VAES wouldn’t hire someone like you. If you talk to me like that again, I’ll make sure NO ONE works for you again. I know people too.
I hope your brother heals soon. The stress caused by your brother’s injuries doesn’t excuse you from speaking to me the way you did.
Just because I’ve been helpful and friendly, it doesn’t give you the right to treat me like I don’t have feelings.
I get it, someone hurt you badly and it’s hard to trust and be vulnerable.
It is scary to open up to others but staying isolated isn’t the answer. I hope you learn to trust again.
Amy
P. S. “Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.”
― Edmund Burke.
From: J. Spearman
To: A. Walker
Subject: Rudeness
Thursday, April 7th, 5:29 a.m. PST
I apologize for my behavior. Thank you for fixing everything. Attached is the signed contract for Everhart & Everhart. Please make sure to have my accounts payable department wire them the retainer money.
Jackson
From: J. Spearman
To: A. Walker
Subject: Flight
Thursday, April 7th, 7:17 a.m.
My family members are the only people I trust. I might not live close to my siblings, but we are tight.
Alex, my younger brother, is a jock. Seeing him struggle in bed after an accident caused by a drunken housewife who not only almost killed my brother, but her own daughter as well, is shredding my insides.
To top it all off, my ex came to the hospital.
She’s a cold person and a great actress.
It irritates me that my parents treat her like she’s still a part of the family.
But you’re right, I shouldn’t have sent you that message.
As you said, it isn’t easy to trust again.
You are … too nice and I keep wondering what your endgame is.
There has to be something behind the friendly, helpful exterior.
Carla has worked for me for years, and I don’t think we have ever connected the way you and I do.
Sorry for being an ass.
J. Spearman
P. S. I wouldn’t want your job if it involved dealing with people like me.
P. S. 2 I hope you stick around so I can show you how sorry I am.
P. S. 3 “Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past.”
– Tyron Edwards
From: J. Spearman
To: A. Walker
Subject: Travel arrangements
Friday, April 8th 10:47 a.m. PST
I need to fly back home on Sunday, please make the necessary arrangements. Thank you for everything you’ve done in the past couple of days.
J
Friday, April 8th 11:25 p.m. PST
JSpear84: Are you still awake?
AWalk90: …?
JSpear84: I take that as a yes.
AWalk90: That’s the most ridiculous question people ask when they text or call at late hours—along with, did I wake you? If people are answering, of course they’re awake. And even if you woke them up, they won’t tell you.
JSpear84: What am I supposed to say?
AWalk90: Try: Hi. If people don’t answer, then, they’re not awake.
JSpear84: Hi!
AWalk90: Hey, Mr. Spearman, how can I help you?
JSpear84: Are you still upset with me?
AWalk90: I’m pleading the 5th.
JSpear84: Are you doing anything fun this weekend?
AWalk90: Nope, I have a lot of work to do. I might go to the Bookstore on 3rd.
JSpear84: To search for treasures?
AWalk90: And work, they have a small cafe and Wi-Fi.
JSpear84: Why would you work during the weekend?
AWalk90: Some clients need us to help them on weekends, and not all the Virtual Assistants are available to support them.
JSpear84: Do they pay you overtime?
AWalk90: I get compensated, don’t worry about me. How’s your brother?
JSpear84: Quiet. I’m worried about him. He’s going to be in bed for another week, and then he has to start rehabilitation.
AWalk90: There’s a great medical center at Stanford. Otherwise, you can offer to let him move in with you and then hire some of the best specialists in the country, who happen to live in Denver.
JSpear84: Is there anything you don’t know?
AWalk90: Probably, but I research a lot. It comes with the territory.
JSpear84: Where do you live?
AWalk90: Online, obviously [wink emoji face]
JSpear84: Is there some policy against meeting clients?
AWalk90: I need to catch some zzzzs before tomorrow but contact me if you need anything.
JSpear84: Have a good night, Amy.