| Straight: Bosses: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Boss (2/5) |
 15 votes |
|||
Share This Story: BlinkList - del.icio.us - Furl - ma.gnolia - Spurl - Yahoo MyWeb - StumbleUpon |
||||
|
You know your stuff, Adams. We've got to woo these cowboys and get that contract. You make a good impression and can convince them we're good for them." She hesitated, then sat back and exhaled. "There's a lot riding on this contract," she continued. "I need your help to persuade these yahoos, Adams. You know men and you know what this means to us." She leaned forward again, lowered her voice, and spoke very clearly. "Help me get this contract and you'll receive a substantial bonus. Maybe a promotion, too." "Will Ms. Deitz be joining us?" I innocently asked. "I'd sooner bring a skunk," she spat. "She'd screw up everything with her scowl and her arrogance. I want you. They'll notice you." I had to agree. At 5'8", slim, neat, and with some nice curves, if I say so myself, I think I still have it. "I'm honored to be selected for so important an assignment, Ms. Pabst. I'm looking forward to working with you to secure this new business for our firm," I fibbed. I doubted I could stand her for three hours on the airplane, let alone three days on a business trip. But I was happy that I had been selected over sourpuss Deitz. "Good. Be ready to leave Wednesday morning. Our flight is at 7 AM." I came away from our closed-door meeting with a new perspective on Pabst. I still hated her, but I hated her less. She had a practical side that wasn't all business after all. I know men? What did she mean by that? If I had read her correctly, she told me I had sex appeal and knew how to use it. She had essentially ordered me to charm these men through feminine guile. The quid pro quo was a bonus and a promotion. Sexual harassment? Probably, but I didn't care. As long as it worked in my favor. My husband was against me travelling on business. "No way," he had yelled. "Quit that job." "This may be an good opportunity for me," I intoned. "I'll only be gone for a few days. Then I'll be back with you. Let's give it a chance." He protested vehemently, but I was going anyway. When my boss Dietz found out she'd be skipped over to attend negotiations and that I'd be going with Pabst instead, she became nastier yet. But she wouldn't dare taunt me lest she anger Pabst. She just seethed in her rage. Good for her. We arrived in Texas and met with our prospective clients. Things are different in Texas. The men haven't heard of gender equality just yet. "Hi Darlin'," was how the president of the company greeted me when we were introduced. Good looking and confident, he was full of himself. I wanted to slap him, but Pabst was there to rein me in. "Hi!" I said. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Brown." "Call me Bill." During contract negotiations Bill and vice president Dennis Gordon were openly flirting with Pabst and me. I was appalled, but Pabst played them at their game. We were two women, they were two men; they assumed they could roll us. "We need to build capital. We have these mortgage loans on our balance sheet that we'd like to sell. We'd consider a sponsored spinoff if that's what you thought was best," Brown explained. Pabst was cagy. "We'd have to examine the assets first." |
  |
Very Interesting negotiations :-)
