CHAPTER 1
The three principals of nut distributors Billings, Jolliffe and Oliphant, their wide range of tree and in ground products marketed under the BJO logo, had just completed interviewing the three top contenders for selection as the company's replacement CEO.
The previous CEO had absconded with an undisclosed amount of the company's money. A professional bounty hunter and had found him living in New Guinea with two women and she recovered all but $27,430 of the money and left him in a local jail waiting for charges to be heard against him for allegedly abducting two female hospitality hostesses.
The whiskies were poured and the cogitation began, lasting the time it took the three men to all leisurely drink three fingers of undiluted single malt.
"We have examined each applicant's merits, laying them open to the bone," Jeff Jolliffe sighed. "So who is it?"
"I pick William Morrow." Herman Oliphant said.
"And so do I," said Arnold Billings, removing a piece of wax from his left ear.
"Wait up you two," coughed Jeff, the company chairman. After the former smoker's cough stopped he said, "Our Mr Morrow has only the second-best qualifications and he served two terms as a politician. Everyone knows you can't trust a politician. Furthermore we obviously agree that Mr Greenways is unacceptable because most of his experience has come via the IRS and everyone knows a taxman screws everyone."
"Agreed JJ," Arnold said, "and to the reply to our question how many hours are day were they prepared to work, Mr Greenways said eight hours including an hour-plus for lunch, Mr Morrow said up to ten hours while the man with the outstanding credentials and experience, Mr Reeves, said for how many hours it takes."
"Yes that was greatly appealing and I almost went for him," said Herman. "But he then laid down the conditions for that. He said he'd settle for nothing less than a million bucks starting salary and demanded our boardroom with its magnificent views over the city and harbor be converted into a company apartment for his exclusive use and because of his long work hours the company must provide him with women."
"Yes, yes but why emphasis women when he made it quite clear that meant only one woman at the time," JJ said irritably. "What I didn't like was when he said he didn't want call girls and then had had the gall to suggest the pool of women for selection could include our wives, daughters and granddaughters. For heaven's sake, our granddaughters."
"Some are of legal age," Arnold the director of imports and marketing said.
"Yes," said Herman, director of administration, "and Jeff with you being director of finance and client liaison, it must occur to you that having our women in that pool could mean less trouble finding women for him and, as well, he is young and so is unlikely to want to choose our wives to take to bed and of course we should assume our daughters like being taken to bed."
"Hmmm," said Arnold. "On the other hand it could rev our wives up if they all received a robust month or so of bedroom attention from this guy."
"Well, we have exhausted our arguments and our whiskies have gone," Jeff said. "Which one is our preferred guy?"
"Mr Reeves."
"Mr Reeves."
"And I go for Mr Reeves too. Bring him in Herman."
* * *
Nash Reeves (38) had worked as deputy CEO at a big trucking company since leaving the Army four years after competing service in the Middle East, retiring with the rank captain and specializing in the Army in logistics and he'd spent his last seven years as a member of a tactical development team. He was required to give his current employer two months' notice and that was timely because by then his apartment would be ready. That would involve conversion of the little used boardroom and the adjoining rooms wastefully used as storerooms.
The directors had moaned that would be cramping them for space but Applicant Reeves had said why have a boardroom for just three directors when the chairman's office was plenty large enough for those irregular meetings. He said if they felt cramped for space they should look on the floor below their offices where there was a huge formal dining room scarcely used these days because most staff preferred to eat out. A small café would suffice.
The three directors had looked at him as if wondering where his ideas had come from. Conversely, the applicant was of the opinion the entire place was a commercial museum, having been left practically untouched for thirty to forty years.
He'd wisely asked what was the maximum he could spend on any one item without prior referral to the chairman. The board thinking he meant just on his company car set that figure at $25,000.
Nash then said he'd be making some changes around the place, possibly big changes, to lower internal costs.
Panic showed on the faces of the directors and they conferred and then announced he could change things on the first four floors of the building but not the fifth where their offices were. Any changes he thought of for their floor would have to be put to the board before a cent was spent on any proposed change. Nash had smiled and agreed and the partners relaxed.
* * *
Nash arrived at 9:10 on his first morning as CEO at Billings, Jolliffe and Oliphant and no one knew who he was. The three receptionists continued chatting about their weekend until Miss Harlow, the manager of HR, saw him standing there and shrieked, "Ladies this is Mr Reeves, our new CEO.
The women ran into each other in their desperation to attend to him.
"Miss Harlow, I waited three and a half minutes for service before you arrived and that is appalling. Please arrange to have these women fired."
"Oh Mr Reeves, please. Omigod they have young families. Oh please," Miss Harlow said, looking at two of the women who were in tears and the third was so white-faced she appeared on the verge of fainting.
"Very well Miss Harlow. I have listened to you. Please arrange for these women to have motivational training and issue them each with an official warning as a result of their misbehavior this morning."
"Yes Mr Reeves but please excuse me: I don't know what motivational training is."
"Then find out. Take me to the office manager please. I need to bawl her out over this before she take me around the offices."
"Mrs Dempsey usually arrives a little late sir. She prefers to take her children to school herself because she doesn't think school buses are hygienic enough for her children."
"Then please advise Mrs Dempsey if she cannot get to work in time she can resign her job here, where immediate effect."
"But..."
"Hush Miss Harlow. No bleating. I did say if she couldn't get to work in time. I'll make my own way around the offices unaccompanied. Actually I prefer it that way."
Nash had to grin. Everyone in the offices he visited had their heads down working and when he approached each person then would look up and smile and say good morning Mr Reeves. At least the receptionists were efficient in getting everyone briefed.
He stepped into the elevator behind a woman in a gray skirt outline a trim butt. He ran a hand down her flank. She spun around arm swinging to slap him but he caught the wrist in blinding speed and gently lowered her hand. She bared her teeth as if to gnash her teeth into his neck but heard him warn her not to bite.
"Hi you are Jeff Jolliffe's daughter Marie."
"How the devil do you know that you stalker?"
"I'm the company's new CEO who is being paid to know almost everything. Your dad has your and your brothers and your mom's photo on his desk."
"But you haven't been near here in two months, or so that is my understanding. Daddy has been worn out doing your job as well as his."
"My contract starts from today. My contract with my previous employer terminated last Friday. I owed my loyalty to my previous employer until then, not to this company."
"Well yes I really do know that. I'm and attorney, but most people don't act with that level of commitment. Please answer me how could you remember my picture two months after glancing at my face only once?"
"Well during that glance I stood transfixed, believing I had glimpsed the most adorable female of our universe."
She giggled and said god he was funny.
"I'm Army trained and served in military intrusions into hostile territories overseas. It was part our duties to observe and remember things."
"Oh that's very impressive."
"Actually you have your dad's carriage and nose."
"Oh god that nose," she giggled.
"Don't get it altered. In ancient Rome you might have been mistaken for a daughter of the emperor."
"Omigod, how can you make something as common as a nose sound so exciting?"
"One gets a lot of thinking time in the Army. You civilians imagine we are killing people day and night."
"Ah yes. Oh god the elevator hasn't moved or have you thrown the switch?"
"The deal is you kiss me and like kissing me and I start the elevator. No tonguing."
She giggled, hesitated, teetered and then stepped in and kissed him and appeared surprised her didn't grope. He just reached behind without looking and hit the right switch.
"I've never said this ever about anyone but you are really amazingly interesting."
Nash said authoritatively, "The first fifteen-second impression of anyone is usually the best impression. After that it's all downhill."
She smiled and the elevator stopped at the 2nd and he stepped out and said, "Thanks for that gorgeous kiss. No doubt you will endeavor to meet me again."
She smiled.
It was morning coffee time when Nash reached the 5th floor. Jeff practically ran across the floor to greet him warming and then turning said, Nash may I introduce my wife Lily and my daughter Marie."
"I have already met your daughter."
Jeff looked very surprised. Nash looked at Marie and she looked back expressionless. Good god, she hadn't told her father that they'd met and how they'd met."
"Oh pardon me, that's possible my mistake. I'm always meeting beautiful women but not this beautiful and you are a great looking woman as well Mrs Jolliffe. I'm pleased to meet you ma'am. I believe you are wearing Love Intention Purple?"
"Good god, how do you know that?"
"Army officer training ma'am."
"Oh you are so bright, not at all what I expected. Please call me Lily Mr Reeves."
"Oh please call me Nash."
