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Dad had been the one to point out that Sigurd was a mythical Norse dragon slayer. Apparently, someone considered us their dragon.
“Nobody’s talking, and we don’t have any way to force them. The last article was submitted online through Romania, which is obviously a ruse.”
Just like the last article, this one included details that had to have come from inside the company. We had a mole, and a destructive one at that.
“Better get your talking points sharpened up, then,” I told him.
He held up a set of pink message slips. “I’ve got five analysts’ calls and counting to return on this.”
I stood. “Then get going. It’s your job to turn this around.”
He shook his head. “This isn’t going to be easy.”
“That’s why we have you,” I told him. “Just think of them as Eskimos you have to sell a refrigerator to.”
The two left, with Larry still grumbling.
If we did have to sell refrigerators in Alaska, he was just the silver-tongued devil for the job.
I followed them out.
Cindy had returned to her desk. “Good morning.”
I nodded. “Not from where I stand.”
“Your father called.”
“I know. I’ll call him in a bit.” He probably wanted to remind me of the mistake I’d made.
“And Melissa called as well,” Cindy warned me.
“You might as well tell me I have a root canal scheduled today.”
“I’m just the messenger,” she shot back.
I withdrew into my office. The root canal message would have been better news than a call from my ex-wife. If I could ever have a do-over in life, that’s one rash decision I wanted to unwind.
Her Bitchiness, Melissa, could chill for a while.
I dialed Dad after all.
“Dennis, thank you for calling back so quickly. I wanted to see how you’re faring with thisTimesnonsense.”
“Feeling a little persecuted,” I admitted.
“Well, that’s one of the problems with deciding to take your company public. You have others judging you all the time, and it’s rarely fair.”
There it was, the lecture about how I shouldn’t have insisted on splitting off a portion into Vipersoft Corp. for me to run and financing it in the public markets.
“Dad, we’ve been over this.”
“You always have the option of taking it private again and not having to deal with days like today.”
Rehashing my decision to leave wouldn’t do either of us any good. “That’s not a discussion for today.”
“And that’s not why I called,” he said. “I’m calling to see if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Not unless you know a way to get theTimesto stop picking on us.”
