Chapter 11
June 1, 2010
I reported to work at Precision Robotics at 7:30 am. After meeting the receptionist and showing my ID, I was given a temporary badge before walking to the Human Resources Office to begin the check-in process.
After completing the necessary paperwork to update my current government security clearance, I was sent to a lab about a mile away for mandatory drug testing. I returned to HR and completed the benefits paperwork. By noon, I was ready to join my boss Ron Stevens for lunch in the company cafeteria.
I found his office after getting directions. His door was open, but I knocked lightly on it anyway. He looked up. "Matt, it's great to see you! Come on in."
"It's good to be here." We shook hands.
"Did you get all the HR paperwork done?"
"I think so. Also went for the drug test."
"Good. Let's go down and grab a sandwich and I'll fill you in on your first project."
During lunch Ron told me about the development team I'd be on and described the objective of my first project. We must develop a miniature drone for the CIA that would have superior nighttime vision capability. What made this drone very interesting to me was its small size - about that of an iPad - and it was to be solar powered. The specs required that it be able to fly for at least 48 continuous hours and take and transmit high definition photos and video 24 hours a day to a base station. The drone must also be silent to humans at 30 meters or about 100 feet. He said the CIA's main objective was to look into windows and find the bad guys at night.
My job was to design the electronics and energy storage for the solar powered operation. The other three engineers on the team were specialists in optics, super-light engineered materials and avionics. We'd also have support from senior CIA engineers as needed. We had 60 days to demonstrate a working model. Two other robotics companies were competing with us for the contract.
Our team met for the first time with Ron that afternoon. Each of us introduced ourselves and described our backgrounds and gave other tidbits of information. Ron challenged us to be a true team, not just a group of highly skilled individuals working together.
The other three engineers consisted of two guys in their late 30's from Cal Tech and Stanford and a woman about 30 from MIT. All three seemed friendly, capable, and very professional with several successful projects under their belts. I was "the new guy."
Our team met all afternoon and laid out a plan and timeline for the development that would accomplish our goals. We agreed that we would work collaboratively every morning for two hours and then spend the rest of the day in the development lab. Each of us was assigned a lab assistant. Mine was Jeri Jenson, a 33-year-old engineering graduate from Texas A&M. She was married with one child and had worked for Precision six years.
I could sense that this was likely to be a 12-hour a day job for the next 60 days with few weekends off. I hoped I was wrong because I didn't want to break that to Emily.
Jeri and I were able to meet at 4:30 pm and discuss our part of the development plan. Fortunately, she had worked with solar power miniaturization applications before and knew immediately that this drone would push the known limits of solar energy creation and storage. In other words, we would have to invent something.
I called Emily just before I left the office.
"Hey sweetheart."
"Hi Matt. How was your day?" She didn't sound happy.
"Busy, to say the least. I'm leaving now. Were you able to find a car?"
"Let's talk when you get here."
"What's wrong?"
"Everything."
"I'll be right there."
When I walked into the hotel room, she threw herself into my arms and cried.
"What's the problem, Emily?" She stepped back and sniffed a couple of times to control her tears.
"Damn car salesmen! They treated me like dirt. I couldn't get them to take me seriously."
"Tell me what happened."
"I drove into the dealership and parked in the customer area. I walked around the lot to look at all the models and read their window stickers. After 20 minutes or so, I had to go into the showroom just to look for a salesman."
"I'm surprised no one met you in the lot. They normally are like vultures waiting for their next meal."
"I was expecting that. Anyway, when I walked into the showroom, I guess they thought I was there to meet someone or was just looking. They looked my way and leered like guys sometimes do, but no one offered to help. After a few minutes of browsing, I went to the receptionist and introduced myself and said I wanted to buy a car. She said, 'We all do; sweetie.' I could have slapped her into next week."
"She didn't offer to get a salesman for you?"
"She did but the one she called was in a meeting with another customer. She tried another one but he said he was busy. Then she got real snooty and said I'd have to come back later. There were at least four other salesmen just standing there."
"I'll bet you didn't take that well."
"Damn right! I told her I wanted to speak to the manager. She said he wasn't there. That's when I called her some names and said I was calling BMW Customer Service and report her and the dealership for unprofessional conduct."
"What names did you call her?"
She stared at me but didn't answer.
"Emily, what did you call her?"
"Oh, just bitch, cunt, asshole, and moron, all the standard stuff. Nothing really bad."
I couldn't control my laughter. She glared at me and then began laughing with me.
"Yeah, that was very professional of you."
"I couldn't help it, Matt. She pissed me off no end."
"What kind of clothing did you have on?"
"Just my skinny jeans and a halter-top."
"Which halter-top?"
I could sense she didn't want to tell me.
After a moment, she responded, "The one you didn't like."
"Why did you wear that?"
"Matt, I thought I could distract the salesman and negotiate a better deal."
"So you were planning to use your looks to get a discount?"
"I read on the Internet that it works. I was trying to save you some money."
"Emily, that's noble of you but there was a better way. They didn't take you seriously because you scared them. All the sales guys could see their jobs go up in smoke if they got into a car with you. They probably thought you were a high class escort or even worse."
She frowned. After thinking a moment she replied, "I guess you're right. I overdid it. Matt, I've never bought a car before. That's the first car dealership I've even visited."
"Tell you what, let's go there now. Dress professionally. Wear nice slacks and that lovely purple blouse you have. Maybe add a scarf and some fine jewelry. Even put on your big ring."
"Full glamour makeup?" she asked.
"Not tonight, but certainly tomorrow when you go to the other dealership. We'll drive there and explain to the manager what happened and apologize for the events this morning. I'm sure he or she would appreciate knowing what happened and can make sure it won't happen again. I'll tag along with you tomorrow night when you visit another dealer just in case you need support.
"Do I have to apologize?" she whined.
"What do you think?"
She looked down and nodded. "I suppose you're right. I shouldn't have called that bitch all those names." We both broke down and laughed again.
"Well, she won't soon forget you."
****
We arrived at the offending dealership about 8:00 pm. Emily recognized only one salesman who was there earlier. As soon as we walked into the showroom, a man came over and asked if he could help us. We asked for the new car sales manager and were taken immediately back to his office. I introduced Emily and myself to Carl Wilson, the manager.
We explained everything that happened that morning. Emily apologized for her attire and for calling the receptionist ugly names. To our surprise, Carl laughed. He explained that she was the wife of the owner and was just substituting that day. He apologized to Emily, and leaned over his desk and whispered, "She is a bitch."
He tried his best to sell Emily a car, but she didn't want to trust them to service it after the sale. Once burned, twice shy, as they say. The one good thing... his best and final offer was $600 less than Emily was prepared to pay earlier. At least, she now knew the bottom line another dealer would probably accept.
We returned to the hotel and had a late dinner. She was relaxed and asked about my day. Because of the nature of my work, I couldn't tell her any details but did talk about my teammates and how exciting it was for me to be there.
"Did you get the signed paperwork for the townhouse?" I asked.
"Yes. I left the deposit check, and everything is on track. The rep showed me the samples for the quartz tops, and I brought them home for you to see. We need to pick one in the next day or two. The hardwood floor man will be there next week to begin installation of the ones we picked last night."
"That's great. Was anything said about timing?"
"He reconfirmed that it will be finished by July 20 so we might be able to celebrate our birthdays there."
"I called my banker in Iowa, and they will finance the house for us. They're emailing the forms to me in the next day or two, but the manager there assured me it was no problem."
"He knows about your financial capability?"
"Oh yes. His bank handled my grandfather's accounts."
"Does he know I'm buying a car?"
"Yes, he's also sending a form for you to sign and return. That will add you to my checking account there. We also need to open a bank account here."
"Wow, thank you. I didn't expect that."
