“Is everything okay?”Lex asked.
“Lloyd is having problems meeting our deadline,” he said, coming straight to the point.
Lloyd owned a fiberglass company in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.He was the number one producer of fiberglass body components for bikes in the country.
“When did you talk to him?”Lex walked to the wet bar to pour himself a glass of water.
“An hour ago, but I spoke to the contact, Butler.I couldn’t get an answer from him.When I tried to call you, your secretary stonewalled me.”
Lex heard the frustration in Eddie’s voice.As someone new to business, he took each delay and bump personally.“Paula has a knack for reading people, and you’re still an enigma.Next time, smile.”
“I did, and she hightailed it out of the office.”
Lex chuckled.That he would have liked to see.“Paula didn’t stonewall you.I was at an important meeting and couldn’t take personal calls.”He pressed the intercom.“Paula, get Lloyd Jenkins on the line.”He glanced at Eddie.“Want a drink?”
“No, I’ll pass.”Still scowling, Eddie grabbed a seat.Not one of the four across from Lex’s massive desk.He chose the sofa near the coffee table.
“Mr.Fitzgerald,” Lloyd’s booming voice with a mid-west accent filled the office.“What can I do for you?”
“I’ve been informed there’s a problem with Leeds’ order.”
The man laughed.“No, no, sir.That was a misunderstanding, which has been resolved.The warehouse manager assumed he was dealing with Montenegro’s people.”
Lex exchanged a look with Eddie.Montenegro was their competitor.The Seattle-based motorcycle company had launched their first bike three months after Leeds unveiled the Road King.They’d been going after Leeds’ suppliers, and Montenegro was a competitor Lex planned to squash or push permanently into second position where they belonged.Third if he included Harley-Davidson.They might be a long way from being like the giant company, but he planned to find a niche for Leeds bikes.
“Everything’s on schedule,” Lloyd continued.“The parts will be shipped on schedule.”
“Good.One of my people is flying out first thing tomorrow morning to make sure everything goes smoothly.He’s my closer.Once he signs off on the order, he’s authorized to place the next one.”‘Or not’ was implied.Lex understood the mentality of businessmen like Lloyd.Once they knew you didn’t trust them blindly, they did the right thing.
“I look forward to meeting your man and doing more business with you, Mr.Fitzgerald.”
Lex terminated the call, then asked his secretary to get Daniel Brimberry.
“Brimberry lives for this kind of thing,” he explained to Eddie, who watched his every movement with a quiet intensity.“Lloyd’s people will know we mean business when he’s through with them.”
A knock on the door and a tall African-American stuck his head into the room.He nodded at Eddie then focused on Lex.“You wanted me, sir?”
“I need you in Tomahawk, Danny.One of our deals is about to go south.”
“Leeds or Fitz?”
“Leeds.Paula will fill you in.They expect you there tomorrow.Make sure they’re not jerking us around.If you’re happy with the results, you know the drill.”
“I’m authorized to place the next order, got it.”The door closed behind the guy.
A chuckle from Eddie drew Lex’s attention.“What?”he asked.
“I’d hate to be your enemy, man.”
Lex shrugged.“Lloyd just needs a nudge to do the right thing.All the other parts should be delivered in the next couple of months.”Like most bike makers in the country, they bought parts from all over the world.Unlike others, they built the bikes here in their factory in Arcadia.Even though Eddie and his team of engineers had designed the engines of the first several bikes from the ground up, an Australian company was building them in bulk.It was time and cost effective.Figel Auto had an automated system and a reputation for following specifications.
Eddie nodded.“How are the negotiations with Hujimura?”
“We’re trying to tie the order with distribution, and that’s delaying things.”Eddie didn’t need to know that the old man was in negotiation with Montenegro, too.The original company in Japan produced brake components, but the branches across Asia and South America, run by the son, were the most reliable distributors with ships docking rights here in L.A., San Francisco, and New York.Lex had approached them for distribution and realized son and father worked together, except the father was still the CEO.He would rather deal with the son, a modern thinker.
“In fact, Ryo and I are having a teleconference in”—he checked at his watch—“five minutes.Do you want to join us?”
“Nah.”Eddie jumped to his feet.“I leave the wheeling and dealing to you.I’m on my way home.Oh, Amy wants you to come over for dinner.Are you free today or tomorrow?”
