Stories of the Street - Forty

Two men are walking along the road.

The taller one has silvery grey hair combed back and gelled into something like a metal shield over his scalp. This hides a bald patch. He used to swim regularly until his wife filmed the family in the pool on holiday and he saw just how thin his hair was getting. He let the hair grow a bit longer, combed it back in a distinguished look, tried for a ponytail but decided that was not for him, then settled on this modern version of the Brillcream man.

He is wearing a light grey, summer woollen suit with a white, short sleeved shirt, dark red tie (double Windsor knot) and grey socks with simple, black slip on shoes. He has a leather briefcase bought for him by his wife. The initials G.R.D. Are discretely engraved on the front. His name is Gerald Robert Deeds and his friends call him Gerry.

Gerry’s companion is not a friend.

“Mr Deeds,” the companion is shorter and quite plump. His dark suit is less well cut and looks more uncomfortable than it actually is as he waddles fast to keep up with Gerry. “You must see that we have no option now.”

Gerry suddenly stops, causing the other man to stumble and almost collide with him.

“When we get to the meeting I want you to keep quiet. Do not speak unless you are asked a question. OK?” Gerry’s eyes lock onto his companions and he gives them the big stare.

“Of course, I..”

“Please,” Interrupts Gerry, “This is not a final meeting. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING has been agreed yet. You are going to be there to show that we can do our sums.”

“I understand, It’s just that we are not in a position…”

Gerry interrupts again. “Look, we can do this my way or you can go back to the office and I do it my way, on my own. What I really need… no, what the whole company really needs, is for us all to stick together. We went through this all of yesterday and much of last night. We do not need to let them know what our position is at this precise moment in time. They initiated the meeting; once we get talking I will decide what needs to be revealed. If you speak out of turn there will be blood on the carpet. Do you want that?”

“No, of course not.”

“One word from you and we may be facing a hostile takeover and I won’t be the only one to loose out.”

They start walking again and Gerry looks at his companion.

“What ever you think they might do for you if they take us over, think again.”

The other man tries to look confused or baffled but just looks embarrassed.

“I have been on the other side of these sorts of meetings many times. Remember, I have gobbled up more companies that your proverbial hot dinners. Every time, and I mean every time, I made sure that the finance director was as friendly as possible during the process, then I flushed him or her down the toilet with most of the rest of the staff.”

“But remember this,” they stop again, “I did it nicely. They never felt abused and I was always able to do business with them afterwards. These guys will not be as nice. They won’t even make the final decisions. They are just the hatchet boys.”

They walk on again and as they near the end of the street Gerry turns to his companion.

“Remember, let me do the talking.”

As they turn the corner, Gerry is thinking, “As soon as we get in there he is going to open his mouth. They know it, he knows it and thank God, I know it. What de doesn’t know is that I planned it this way. The fat shit does not know that he is part of my exit strategy; him and that greedy set of bastards are so busy preparing for a feeding frenzy that they have not noticed me! I know their game better than they do.”

He opens his jacket pocket and fishes out two Ibuprofen tablets and swallows them. “After today, the headache will be theirs”, he smiles to himself.