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“In the end, what matters most is that people want cheap goods.”
He had me there. “So what happened? Why didn’t the merger go ahead?”
“Because I decided to take Luxmore on as a pet project.”
I blinked. “A pet project? That’s what Luxmore is to you?”
“It would have been a shame for Flerotech to take over. Don’t you agree?”
“You’re telling me that the only reason Luxmore is still going is because it’s your pet project?”
“Yes.”
No wonder he was so nonplussed about a pathetic little petition. How was anyone going to oust the man who was the sole reason the business was still operating? The sheer ignorance. Still, there was one thing I couldn’t wrap my head around. “Where does Alex Patterson fit into this? I thought you became CEO because he died.”
Something shifted in Neil’s demeanour, a fleeting unease. “Patterson’s death had little bearing. Everything was in the works long before he passed. I came here over a year ago to oversee the audit, exert some pressure on Patterson to resign, then take over. That was my directive.”
“But why did he…”
“Kill himself?” A pallor washed over Neil’s face. He rubbed his temples. “That I do not know. The audit was damning, but I never anticipated this outcome.”
My eyes flicked to the locked filing cabinet where he had stashed his Alex Patterson file. Did he really not know?
I felt Neil follow my gaze and quickly looked away. Time for a change of tack. “Okay, so you’re not worried about a petition, but what about staff morale?”
Neil ran his tongue over the back of his teeth. “It’s true they haven’t bounced back from the restructure as quickly as I thought they would.”
“So, what can we do about it?”
“There’s a simple fix.”
“Oh?”
“Increase pay.”
“You don’t beat around the bush.”
“Of course not. What did you expect me to say? Free pizza lunch on Fridays?”
“A lot of bosses think like that.”
“Yes, and I’m not one of them.”
He had me lost for words for a second.
“You seem surprised,” he said.
“Pleasantly surprised. A boss who thinks increasing pay is a good idea… That’s a new one.”
“I’m glad I’m keeping you on your toes.”
“You certainly are.”
A faint smile crossed Neil’s lips, and I found myself fixated on it, like it was a treat I wanted to savour…
I cleared my throat, willing myself to snap out of whatever had just come over me. “So, this hypothetical pay rise—where will the money come from?”
Neil turned serious again. “Ah. Now that’s the tricky part.” He straightened his posture and began to pace the floor alongside his desk, hands grasped behind his back. “The restructure freed up funds, but not enough. I have prioritised the factory staff getting an increase, and I stand by that decision. Meanwhile, head office salaries are already in line with market rates. I can’t offer anything more at this stage.”
