morning at 10am to talk about arr angements, could I be available?
CHAPTER 16
Next morning I was in bright and early to prepare for my weekly 8.30 meeting with the sales team. This was really a meeting where my product engineering team and sales staff jointly reviewed progress on various projects that were currently under way. The meeting also included a review of prospective sales, with particular reference to what can be promised in terms of development deliveries and specifications.
The day started well with some good news. Ken Giles, our Sales and Marketing Director reported that CJP, one of the worlds biggest mineral resources companies was seriously nibbling at giving us a big contract. This deal had been bubbling along for more than a year now and we like others had been vying for consideration. The contract could be wor th upwards of?500 million over five years, so every company in the industry was after it, like bees round a honey pot! They had indicated we were the favourite because they believed we might have technology coming through which would be of great interest to them. An important question for them was what were we prepared to disclose to them about the new developments.
“Ken, have you discussed this with Alec? He needs to be involved in this.”
“I have mentioned it,” said Ken, “but he has been so tied up with float stuff that I have not really kept him up to date.”
“Well I think you need to go and break his door down, and go through this with him! My thoughts are that we would need to secure a very substantial commitment in the form of a down payment, and then under strictly controlled circumstances give them some ideas as to where we are going and how that fits in with their applications. Let me know if I can help.” We then moved on through the agenda.
I then left to meet with Alec and the security people, running about 45 minutes late. When I got there it had all been decided. There would be external security staff at reception and on each floor of the building, and they would supply two security staff to supplement our own overnight security personnel. In addition Alec and I would each have a security guard assigned 24/7.
When they had gone, I stood chatting with Alec for a few minutes and I mentioned the possible CJP contract that I had suggested Ken talk to him about.
“I will get to him,” Alec said
“Well make it soon,” I said, “it looks hot so don't allow these mundane float issues to get in the way of the important business!” I ducked out of the room before he threw something at me.
“Don't forget we are in London with the brokers tomorrow”, he yelled to my back as I made my way to the lift. My heart sank. Not my kind of thing. A meeting with brokers and major potential investors, the first of a number of presentations Alec and I had to do as part of a pre-float road show in London and Birmingham with a teleconference version to Paris and New York following later. We would be away together for a large part of the next week.
An hour later my security guard turned up. Not what I had expected. Tall, athletic looking, brown haired, mid to late thirties with a slight tan. He had a small scar to the left side of his chin and was wearing a smart grey suit and tie. He would have blended in to the background of most office environments, but not ours. The general wardrobe in our office was jeans and t ee shirt or other casual shirt, particularly amongst the men.
“ Mr Lever, I am from Security Services and my name is Jason Walgrave,” he said as he stepped forward in to my office and we shook hands. He had a strong grip, but not over firm.
“Well Jason, we are informal here and my name is Martin, I don't know how this works but welcome.”
“You tell me how you want it to work.” he said. “Normally I would k eep close to you, in the office, that is outside with your PA, travel with you wherever you go, stay at your place, keeping myself on hand but as inconspicuous as possible so as to keep out of your way.”
“Don't you get any time off?”
“Well the role is meant to be 24 hours until the end of the assignment,” he answered, “but sometimes I will take a few days off and someone else will take over. I want to blend in here so I need to follow your Company dress code.”
“As you can see it is casual, except if we are dealing with clients or the public. As you have probably been told we are off to London tomorrow.”
“Alright, I will get organised,” he said and left the room to sit and read the paper outside the office.
I spent the afternoon with a fellow who had been seconded to us fol lowing our meeting with the MoD, an interesting session. It was clear that he was an extremely competent engineer with a strong back ground in aeronautics. He was a pleasant guy and interesting to talk to, but we danced around each other a little, rather like sparring partners in a boxing ring, neither wanting to give too much away. At the end of the afternoon he got up and said he had to be away. As he did so he commented, “I am going to recommend that we really take what you have seriously, if that is accepted then we will need to get the paper work done so we can talk more openly,” he smiled and left.
I called Bill Williams our finance director and company secretary. “Hi Bill, Martin here. Look we possibly have a high level discussion about to take place with the MoD on the subject of ForceNet. We need to review the legal issues, everything ranging from confidentiality to the situation regarding government rights to restrict sales in the national interest. Can I leave you to get one of your people to look at that and keep Alec in the loop? OK, one more thing. CJP are beginning to get really warm on that contract. I know that you and Alec are snowed under with the float issues but if you or one of your people could catch up with Ken Giles it would be appreciated. I think the team knows what pressure you two are under, and are tending therefore to leave you both alone, but I think it needs your input. Thanks Bill.”
In my in- tray was a draft of the float prospectus for comment, largely a task for Alec and Bill Williams to review in detail, but an opportunity for me to comment in general and approve my own bio description. After scanning it and making a few observations I picked up my laptop and jacket and set out to go home picking up my shadow Jason on the way. In the corridor there were two burly uniformed security guards near the lift. First we went up to the top floor so that I could check out with Alec on the arrangements for the following day. We entered his outer office and sitting opposite his PA Penny and reading a newspaper was an extremely attractive girl in your typical grey office suit.
Hi Penny, has he got anyone with him?”
“No,” she replied, “go on in.” I put my head in through Alec’s door and checked on the arrangements for the morning.
As I was leaving I whispered. “Who's the gorgeous blonde out there waiting for you?”
“That, is my security guard,” he laughed. “I am not sure Lisa will be too happy, but at least she doesn't have to come home with me tonight as the WPC is still there.”
I left with Jason in tow. He grabbed a small bag from his car in the garage and we climbed in to my hire car. The insurance company had apparently called during the day to confirm that my Range Rover was a write-off and that I could choose a new replacement! I couldn't help but smile when I heard. It was a burnt out shell, hardly something that could be repaired.
On the drive home I learnt a little about Jason. He was ex-army SAS and had been with Security Services for three years. He liked the work, which he said paid well, and went up in my estimation when he said he was a keen rugby player! He was not married which presumably accounted for his willingness to cope with the unsociable hours. We stopped and had a beer in the village local where we bumped in to Jerry who had helped me the night I was attacked. I introduced Jason as a friend.
“Are you Ok after the other night?” he asked.
“A bit sore, but otherwise OK. I reported it all to the police so they may be in contact.”
The three of us ended up playing a few rounds of darts before Jason and I l eft. We then dropped in to the C hippy and picked up two cod and chips to take home.
When we got home and in to the house he said, “Martin, I don't want to alarm you but I think we have been followed home this evening. They followed us first in a red Ford and then a green van.”
