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An hour and a half later, I was back on the road north. It took a full fifteen minutes before I was calm enough to call Harold.
“What did you think of Crenshaw?” he asked when he answered.
“He’s not a fit.” That was more polite than I felt like being with him. He knew perfectly well that Crenshaw was too junior—no CPA, and only a year of experience since business school. What had Harold been smoking when he recommended him?
“Personally, I think the kid has a lot of potential.”
I kept my cool. “I’d really like Sandman on this. Crenshaw is way too green for something the size of Rossi’s.”
“I told you, George isn’t available right now.”
At leastright nowheld the promise of later.
“I’ll let you know when I come up with another candidate for you to talk to,” he assured me.
“Thanks, Harold,” I managed with more enthusiasm than I felt.
At least we hung up without me venting my frustration at how he was sandbagging me. It seemed he had intentionally wasted my time today.
Chapter 34
Josh
Mid-afternoon on Thursday,Dee poked her head in my office. “There’s a Mr. Bremmer here to see you, Mr. B.”
It didn’t ring a bell. “Bremmer?”
“He said Harold Snyderman sent him over.”
The name came back to me. Wenzel Bremmer had been the controller at Smith’s, the grocery chain Harold had been pushing to integrate Rossi’s with, which now looked like a stupid idea. This must be Harold’s latest brilliant thought, since he still refused to lend me George Sandman. If he’d called ahead, I could have objected, but now I had no choice in the matter. Either Dad or Harold had played me. But I couldn’t take it out on Wenzel—he was the pawn in this. At least I knew Wenzel had more experience than Crenshaw had.
“Show him in. And ask Gary to join us.”
A moment later, Wenzel Bremmer walked past her and offered his hand. “Reporting for duty, as ordered.” He spoke in a jovial tone, but still made it clear that Harold hadn’t given him a choice in the matter.
I shook with him. “Wenzel, I appreciate that you could spare the time to help me.” We both knew he couldn’t leave until I said it was okay.
“Harold isn’t giving me much time to get this place straightened out.”
Gary appeared at the door, breathless. His appearance didn’t give me the opportunity to set Wenzel straight that I was running the show here, and he was only dotted-line to Harold.
Wenzel turned.
“Gary, come on in. Meet Wenzel Bremmer. He’s here to help out as CFO for a while.” I’d mentioned early on to Gary that I’d be looking to get an interim CFO, so he wouldn’t be surprised.
Gary offered his hand and a genuine grin. “A pleasure. Gary Fontaine, controller.”
“Wenzel Bremmer.” Wenzel’s countenance didn’t match Gary’s enthusiasm.
“Gary, why don’t you show Wenzel around and get him situated.”
Gary nodded.
“First, take him by Rosa to get him on the payroll,” I added.
Wenzel didn’t look thrilled. “What are your priorities for me, Josh?”
“Pay the bills and get a handle on our finances, to start with.”
