he most likely would be too upset at lunchtime to eat Elmo ordered the large French pastry basket for two with his coffee. Fran laughed before saying in a jovial tone of voice,
"Its lucky I have a generous expense account Elmo. But you said that your boss was going to chew you out later. What is her beef with you?"
Normally Elmo would reject any such attempts to get him to open up at that level. But it seemed right to be open and honest with Fran, so he replied in kind by saying,
"After I met you at the hotel bar yesterday I went straight to a business lunch. As it was my firm that was pitching the sales bid, we were paying for lunch. That proved to be a very expensive meal. I think my boss is going to chew me out for not watching my expense budget."
Fran was feeling sorry for Elmo. She tried to think of something to say to reassure him. Finally she said in a conspiratorial tone of voice,
"Look when I overspend on a client I point to the revenue that client brings in to my firm. It almost always works to deflect criticism from the barbs of the finance gooks."
Elmo considered her words then saw that this might be his way out of trouble. So he cheered up immediately then dug into the French pastries with Fran. They had a great time together and parted with promises to have coffee again real soon. Elmo's parting words were joyously given,
"Fran," he said "I don't know when I have enjoyed coffee and pastries more. Thanks for the advice once again. You should start charging me."
Smiling broadly Fran replied in a teasing tone,
"I'll put it on your account Elmo. Thanks for this. I had a great time."
With those words they parted.
Now Elmo had to go to see the 'Dragon Lady'. He was lucky that he had spent that happy interlude with Fran Upjohn. Still wrapped in the memory of her warm smile, Elmo raced back to be on time. One look at the Head Negotiator's Administrative Assistant's face was enough to almost burst Elmo's warm bubble. Gerald had all the hallmarks of a put upon assistant. He looked at Elmo with a male bonding plea to get sympathy. Elmo said in a bright voice,
"Its nice to see you again Gerald. How are you going this fine morning?"
Gerald winced at the words but was grateful for the concern. So he warned Elmo of the danger ahead. In a hushed tone of voice he said,
"Thanks for that Elmo. I needed a bit of cheering up after the morning I have just been through. SHE came in with a really bad mood....Well for her that's normal but this time it was a real stinker. Nothing I did pleased her. I stood in line at her favorite coffee shop at six o'clock this morning to get her 'double decaf mocha WITH chocolate sprinkles and her diet croissant with sugarless chocolate. But when she tasted it of course it was not hot enough for that cigarette ravaged mouth of hers. The croissant was somehow too hot and she insisted that the chocolate was NOT sugar free. Things got worse when she opened your email. So watch yourself Elmo. Plead the 'fifth amendment' if you have to, but say NOTHING.....Oh that is her "I think I have kept him waiting long enough" light.....You better go in quick but keep your shield handy just like St.George......"
Then into his smartphone Gerald said in a neutral tone,
"Elmo Evenings is here. Shall I say you will see him?"
A blast of invective language was heard even by Elmo from across the room. He heard clearly these words from Gerald's smartphone,
"SEND THAT GOOD FOR NOTHING EVENINGS IN AT ONCE! AT ONCE DO YOU HEAR!!!!"
Now it was Gerald's turn to look with pity on Elmo. He would not be going into that room for quids. Not with the mood that his boss was in at that moment. So he gave Elmo a weak smile and a thumbs up.
Elmo walked into the 'Dragon's Den' with his eyes averted. He was hit by the hot blast of further angry words. The term 'office rage' had just been invented by social media to explain all the angry outburst that had been reported in offices around the country. This was at the high end of what was meant by that term. All that Elmo could hear was insults. Janet Elsebrook hated being called 'Janny' and detested 'Jan' so her staff were told to call her MRS. Elsebrook. The fact that the original MR. Elsebrook had run off with their French maid made no difference to this hard woman. She merely sued him for half of his fortune but kept the 'MRS Elsebrook' to spite his mother.
After this first blast washed over Elmo, it melted away his bubble of self confidence. Happy she had reduced this junior to a quivering mass of depleted manhood, Janet Elsebook proceeded to play havoc with her victim. In a tone of voice more suited to the Spanish Inquisition she said,
"MR. EVENINGS can you explain why you took it upon yourself to DELETE A CLAUSE.....HUH I MEAN TWO CLAUSES...FROM OUR SALES CONTRACT???...WELLL??? CAN YOU???"
Elmo realized that he would have to respond to forestall another blast of angry invective words so he said in a meek tone of voice,
"It was... it was the only way to get the client to sign a contact .....I guess..."
The Head Negotiator's face went red as she sprung on his last few words. In a caustic tone of voice she yelled,
"YOU GUESSED? YOU GUESSED? WELL GUESS WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO?.....IF YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD GUESSER THAT SHOULD BE EASY...WELL MR. EVENINGS?"
Elmo's luck was in that morning. It was the only thing that saved Elmo from getting fired. As he held his gaze down his mind raced through a bunch of white lies. All seemed too feeble to be of any use in this emergency. So Elmo braced himself for what was surely coming. But then the miracle occurred. The Head Negotiator's smartphone rang. She looked at it as an automatic response. Then she took the call. Suddenly both the volume and tone of her voice became moderate if not even subservient. Mrs. Janet Elsebook actually said cringing words in the presence of Elmo. He could not believe that it was the same 'Dragon Lady' that had almost devoured him with sarcasm just a few moments prior to this phone call. Elmo listened still held in the awe of this woman's overpowering personality. She said in a tone of mock civility,
"Mr. Harrington how good of you to take time out to call little old me. How are you this morning?.....Happy with our efforts? ...I am pleased to hear that....Sorry you said what?...Ms. Henri Hunt's being on the phone to you?....She is overjoyed with the prospect of you both signing the contract she had negotiated only yesterday? ...She what?...Wants to congratulate me for sending such an astute negotiator? ....Oh I see, YOU want to congratulate me for sending him.....Ms. Hunt said what?...That she is going to try and steal him away from us?...Was she joking?...No, its just that he is such a junior negotiator. That's all I meant. I was not questioning her judgement. I know Henri Hunt very well. She is the toughest negotiator in the business....Well that is except for me. But why would she want our most junior negotiator?.......I see, you two have a business rivalry going back some years. That might explain it. She is doing it just to annoy you....No I am not downplaying your good news, Mr. Harrington, Sir....It's just that....What did you say?.....Under NO circumstances are we to allow Mr. Evenings to be headhunted by Ms. Hunt....Yes Sir, I am totally clear on that point. No Sir, she will not steal him away. Yes Sir, I will make sure of that for you...Thank you for the personal call.... Goodbye Sir."
Elmo had to sit very still as he saw emotions race across the face of his boss. She looked at him with utter contempt but the next words were treacle in comparison to her previous statements. She said with a new tone of grudging respect,
"Oh that was very clever of you Mr. Evenings.