Page 15 of Negotiation Tactics
“Alistair. How can I help you?
Clasping my hands behind my back, I square my shoulders. “I just spoke to Emma. She wanted to confirm if you will be attending the grand openings.”
Emma, a woman on our board of directors, is handling the new hotel in Singapore, while Scott, another board member, is dealing with the one is Seoul.
My dad claps his hand on the desk. “Yes, of course! While I won’t be the CEO anymore by the time they open, both your mom and I will go in person. How can we not?” He laughs. “On a different note, I heard the union rep turned down the commission’s proposal to postpone the negotiations until next year?”
I wince internally. I see the news of my failed attempt to convince Joshua to agree to our terms spread fast. “Yes.”
Failing to get him to sign looks really bad, especially since I was the one who insisted on meeting him. Not that I think he’d have agreed even if the commission was in attendance. But the way he simply turned down my counterproposal… it’s, quite frankly, embarrassing.
My dad’s brown eyes lock with mine, hard and narrowed. “Have they resubmitted the terms?”
“Not yet.”
He sighs, and it sounds somewhat resigned. “No matter what they say, son, what they actually want is never in the company’s interest. It’s just how things are. So remember—we don’t give in. We fight it, we drag it out for as long as possible, and hopefully, by the time we do get around to it, they are desperate enough to settle for anything we are willing to give them.”
I know this, all of it. Everyone pretends their employees come first, preaches it even, but for huge corporations like ours, it’s the opposite. The numbers is what matters, and we take every shortcut we can to maximizeour profits. It’s how the game is played, as scummy as it might be.
As my father drones on about how entitled these unions are, I wish he’d spare me the lecture and trust me a tiny bit. I’m aware success doesn’t come easy, that you must be willing to do what it takes to obtain it. And I also know that I put on a less than stellar performance yesterday, but, I mean, I still bought us some time.
Some of Joshua’s arguments circle inside my mind, compelling and uninvited. He knew what he was talking about, he was prepared for this meeting, more so than I was. His logic also made sense, as much as I hate to admit it. But that doesn’t mean he was right…Right?
I glance at the window where my dad is now standing. His back is turned to me as he peers out, still talking. I admire him as a businessman and I can only wish to be half as good as he is one day, to achieve some of what he’s achieved so I can grow Devon Holidays bigger. My ideas are a hard sell whenever I try to share them with him though. He sees them as too progressive, too unconventional, diluting the traditional values he still holds.
But I haven’t given up. I’m putting together a case, working out the financials and long-term gains, doing revenue and expenses simulations, so, hopefully, he won’t outright shut me down when I’m ready to put forth a proposal like the commission shut down Joshua.
“Oh, and about the announcement event.” He gives me a look over his shoulder. “We’ve invited both your former high school and college classmates. It will be good for publicity and besides, some of them have connections that would be beneficial for us to have, too.”
My blood freezes at that, my hands growing clammy. “Does that includeChristine?”
Christine is my ex and someone I’d rather not see ever again. We dated for about two years, but she was more interested in my money than me. Fortunately, I came to my senses before things got more serious. And theywereheaded that way. Last I heard, she’d married an oil baron or something and now has her own events management company. It would be a lie to say I am surprised, because if there is one thing about Christine other than her passion for money, it’s the fact that she loves to boss people around.
My dad offers me a terse smile. “I know you two didn’t part on the best terms, but if she attends, we could try to convince her to organize the grand opening in Singapore. The media has been all over her lately, so you can imagine how much publicity we’d get just by having her name in the marketing campaign.”
It pains me to agree, but he is right. Christine is in the spotlights right now, which means we could be too if she promoted the event.
Steeling my resolve and schooling my expression, I nod in agreement. “Fine, but are you sure people will be able to make it on such short notice? The Gala is this week.”
“Ah, don’t worry. No one in their right mind would miss a flashy event like ours.”
After we discuss the guest list a bit more, he dismisses me. Against my better judgement, I swing by the commission’s floor, curious to see if the amended proposal from Joshua has arrived yet. It’s been less than a day, so maybe it’s too early, but I’m kind of invested now.
I cross my arms as I pause at the commission’s door. This whole situation irritates me, because dad is right. The Union is ruthless. They will try anything and everything toget their way. And whatever Joshua Anderson did during that meeting clearly has managed to get under my skin.
“Get a grip, Alistair. Don’t mix personal and professional.”
It has to be that. I’m still stuck on that night like some fool. I need to get over it, but how the hell does one do that when it was the greatest sex I’ve ever had? Ugh.
Scoffing at myself after I’ve confirmed that no amended proposal has arrived yet, I ride the elevator back up to my floor. As soon as I enter my office, my gaze lands on the manilla folder from my meeting with Joshua. It’s sitting on top of the piles of documents on the cabinet by the bookshelf, ready to be shredded along with the rest. I’d meant to do that today, but I’m too lazy right now.
Five minutes after I’ve made myself comfortable in my leather chair, Brady pops his head in. He’s got his duffel swung over his shoulder. “That constipated look on your face tells me you could use some gym time.”
“Did you know that Christine is invited?” I shoot at him, not feeling like beating around the bush.
“Ah, so he told you.” He grins, wagging his auburn eyebrows.
I groan. “Did you know or not? And why didn’t you warn me?”
