Doing such a deal with a known difficult client just to impress her. Think you're clever don't you? Well let me tell you something. I have read your job contract. You cannot resign without losing all your pension entitlements. After ...lets just see... Yes I thought so...After TEN years at this firm that is a lot of money. So forget about resignation....But this other term of employment might interest you...Or maybe not...Do you already know what it says?...Cat got your tongue? Well let me read it to you,
'The employee may keep pension entitlements IF said employee is fired or has this contract of employment annulled.'
What do you say to that?"
Realizing that he was been baited, Elmo was very careful with his comeback. In a submissive tone he said,
"I am very happy working here in my clerks' job."
Janet Elsebrook's face spoke volumes for her disbelief in a single word he had uttered. Not being one to avoid confrontation she said in a harsh tone,
"Ha! As if that's is true. Your little plan to get sacked has been exposed. You will NOT be fired today or any time soon. But I can wait! ... Yes I can wait. You won't be Henri Hunt's pet project for long. She collects young men like you. But she always moves on quickly to her next conquest. So Mr. Evenings get out of my office. That's all for now."
With that it was like Elmo ceased to exist as far as Mrs. Janet Elsebrook was concerned. Elmo slipped quietly from her office. He saw Gerald look at him with astonishment. Gerald whispered in a surprised tone of voice,
"You lucky bugger. I heard most of that ...Well the end bit anyway. Go buy a lottery ticket Elmo, this is your lucky day."
A weak smile fluttered across Elmo's face. By the time he got back to his desk Elmo was beaming. His work peers saw this after expecting a much worse outcome. Some were genuinely happy for Elmo. Others marked him down as a new threat to their own office ambitions. But Elmo kept smiling. He kept seeing Fran Upjohn's face smiling back at him over a coffee cup. With not a single ambitious bone in his body, Elmo completely ignored the fact that now his job was secure for the foreseeable future.
Chapter 5
This was the start of Elmo's golden era of his place of work. He was given many more assignments as a junior negotiator. But now his boss made sure that Elmo was only ever part of a negotiating team. Still he seemed to shine at every sales meeting. Elmo was on his way to becoming sales negotiator of the year for his firm. As for romance, Elmo was now dating Fran Upjohn. They needed only one more coffee outing to realize that the attraction was mutual. Lunch dates were followed by other outings to the city zoo, the skating rink, the latest exhibition, the book launch event of the year and finally the cinematic event of the year.
When taxi drivers looked at these two customers, they saw a couple in love. Waiters nodded to them in restaurants to indicate their 'love birds' status. Fran's mother started asking her to 'bring him around for dinner so I can see him'. But they were in the indulgent phase of their romance. They did not want to share their tender moments with anyone. Fran knew that she was in love. But she had had some bad romances in the past. This time she was determined to take it slowly. Elmo was slower to realize the inevitable.
When he did, Elmo surprised himself. Normally when women got this close to him, the 'devil's advocate' side of Elmo's psychology took command. No woman in the past could withstand the picky criticisms of this side of Elmo's mind. But now, when this 'little devil' tried to voice its criticism, it was ruthlessly silenced by Elmo's caring side. Simply he would not hear a word against Fran. Not from acquaintances, not from peers and certainly not from his own darker side.
But there was more than one woman after Elmo. Henri Hunt had not 'moved on' as Elmo's boss said she would. Every time she wanted to negotiate a new contract with Elmo's firm she insisted on dealing with Elmo and ONLY Elmo. This frustrated Janet Elsebrook because she was powerless against the express orders of the firm's principal owner. In fact she had been forced to promote Elmo to the next level. Elmo was now a senior negotiator.
Elmo's golden glow began to attract more followers. But it also brought him more workplace enemies. Some of these enemies sought ways to undermine Elmo. To their mind it was nothing personal. Elmo was simply in their way when promotions were offered. So to their mind he simply had to go. Not least of these enemies was Janet Elsebrook. She knew that a top management position was coming up very soon. Determined to make this jump up to management level, Janet Elsebrook was going to use anything and anyone to get that new position. If Elmo now had a powerful mentor then she would pretend to admire his work. Reflected glory was a useful addition to her resume.
When he got a bonus in his monthly pay Elmo was stunned. In ten years at that firm he had never got a bonus before that date. Then Elmo found himself to be the preferred negotiator on every sales negotiation team. Team leaders fought to get him included into their group of negotiators.
Another lucky break came Elmo's way. His former nemesis was finally promoted. Janet Elsebrook was moved to a junior management position. The position of Head Negotiator was fought over by many applicants from both inside and outside the firm. An insider got the job. Her position as negotiator leader was now vacant. She insisted that Elmo apply for her old position. When Elmo faced the selection panel he found that this woman helped him impress the other panel members. In a split decision Elmo got the job. He was now on a much higher pay scale.
Best of all the new Head Negotiator now saw herself as his mentor. She brought him in for his first assignment as team leader. Elmo did not recognize Gerald when he saw him in the reception area. Gone were the haunted looks, the put upon frown and even the hangdog expression. All this was now missing from his suddenly smiling face. Gerald looked confident even contented. He greeted Elmo like a long lost friend,
"Mr. Eveings come in please. The Head Negotiator will see you in a few minutes. How are you? By the way congratulations on your promotion. I always knew you would do well after all the hugely successful Hunt deals went through to completion."
Overwhelmed by this burst of positivism from such an unlikely source, Elmo was lost for words. All he could manage was a tentative
"Is Ms. Applegate in a good mood today?"
Gerald laughed boisterously. Elmo was shocked to realize that he had never heard him laugh before in all their meetings. Then he was further taken aback when Gerald said in a light tone of voice
"Eloise....Ha sorry I mean Ms. Applegate is always in a good mood. You don't know what it's like to have such a great boss. She supports ever decision I make, never criticizing but always goes out of her way to praise my smallest efforts. The 'Dragon lady' is dead...well at least gone to join all the other dragons in management...My new boss is called 'The Good Witch' by us assistants. She can work wonders with your morale."
Just then Gerald's smartphone ringtone was heard by both of them. He listened with a smile on his face once he recognized the voice. After the call ended he looked straight at Elmo before saying in a happy tone of voice,
"Mr. Eveings you can go in now. Ms. Applegate is ready for your first meeting."
Elmo left behind an assistant who was humming to himself. As he walked over to the Head Negotiator's desk she came out to meet him. Shaking him warmly by the hand she said in a friendly manner,
"Come let's sit over here on the couch. I want to outline your very first assignment as lead negotiator."
Then she steered Elmo