“Is there anything I can do?” he asked. “I can discreetly let the media department’s staff know that I don’t like how they’re handling Heather coming on board. If they know that I don’t like their behavior, they’ll fix it.” He was certain they would because he rarely got pushback from Dover staff. Simon wasn’t tyrannical, but his subordinates knew not to cross him. If he ordered them to treat Heather better, he knew they would do as they were told.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Linda said. “She’s already upset that you got me to help her.”
“What did she expect me to do?” he demanded. “Just sit around while her life got destroyed?”
“I know you’re trying to help, but maybe it’s best if I have a discreet chat with some of the staff,” Linda said. “That way, if Heather finds out it will look like it’s coming from me and not from you. She’s more likely to accept my help than yours.”
His jaw clenched. He didn’t like being refused, but Linda was well respected. If she could get the same results that he could, he was willing to concede to her judgment. “Fine. I’ll leave this in your capable hands.”
“Thanks, Simon.” She crossed the room to sit in the chair across from his desk. “Anyway, I’m here to talk about your trip to California.”
He frowned. “What trip?”
“Haven’t you seen the email?” she asked.
“I was just going through my messages.” He turned his attention back to his laptop and started scrolling through his messages. “Who sent the email?”
“Blue Naught,” she replied. “They’re on the verge of signing the contract.”
Over the past several months, he had been working on acquiring the promising California startup. Work might not have the appeal it once did, but he was still excited about taking it over and turning it into an extension of Dover. Blue Naught specialized in underwater technology, and that was something that thrilled him. It was a whole new frontier of technology and he wanted to be part of it.
Simon located the email from Blue Naught and opened it. He skimmed over the message. They wanted to accept the acquisition offer and hoped he would fly down to California to finalize the deal and see their work up close. It was short notice, but he understood why they’d want to hit the ground running as quickly as possible. Blue Naught was too valuable to sit around and wait on.
“This is great news, Linda,” he said. “It’s the best news I’ve gotten lately.”
“I knew you’d be pleased,” she said with a smile. “They want me to come down with you next week and work on their marketing strategy, but with the Dover magazine launching I just don’t see how that’s possible.”
“We need a marketing officer,” he said. “You’re the best we have. I can’t go down to California without you.”
“The magazine will never get off the ground if I go with you,” she said firmly. “And the board has made it very clear that the magazine is to be my top priority.”
He frowned. Of course, the board would see it that way. Even if he explained that Blue Naught had agreed to the acquisition, the board wouldn’t care. They saw the startup as a side project. The board treated it like a distraction they entertained to keep him satisfied. They had zero interest in underwater tech, which had always infuriated him. All they wanted to do was keep doing what they’d always done. Never change or grow. If they could get away with making nothing but word processing software, they’d do it without shame. Profits were all that mattered to them. Not innovation. Not improving people’s lives.
“So, what am I supposed to do? Figure out the marketing on my own?” he finally asked.
She shook her head. “No. You can take Heather with you.”
His heart slammed in his chest at the mention of her name. “You can’t be serious.”
“Heather is one of the few staff members in the department that I can actually spare,” Linda explained. “Besides, she has experience with marketing from her former job. And she knows what to say. She’s the best person to go, after me of course,” she added with a smile.