Disclosure

"But I thought we agreed last night-"

"These men aren’t fools, and we’re not going to be able to fool them." She snapped her briefcase shut. "I reported in good faith what you told me. And then you said I didn’t know what I was talking about."

He bit his lip, trying to control his anger.

"I don’t know what you think is going on here," she said. "These men don’t care about technical details. They wouldn’t know a drive head from a dildo. They’re just looking to see if anybody’s in charge, if anybody has a handle on the problems. They want reassurance. And you didn’t reassure them. So I had to jump in and fix it with a lot of techno-bullshit. I had to clean up after you. I did the best I could. But let’s face it: you didn’t inspire confidence today, Tom. Not at all."

"Goddamn it," he said. "You’re just talking about appearances. Corporate appearances in a corporate meeting. But in the end somebody has to actually build the damn drive-"

"I’ll say-"

"And I’ve been running this division for eight years, and running it damn well-"

"Meredith." Garvin stuck his head in the door. They both stopped talking.

"We’re waiting, Meredith," he said. He turned and looked coldly at Sanders.

She picked up her briefcase and swept out of the room.

Sanders went immediately downstairs to Blackburn’s office. "I need to see Phil."

Sandra, his assistant, sighed. "He’s pretty busy today."

"I need to see him now."

"Let me check, Tom." She buzzed the inner office. "Phil? It’s Tom Sanders." She listened a moment. "He says go right in."

Sanders went into Blackburn’s office and closed the door. Blackburn stood up behind his desk and ran his hands down his chest. "Tom. I’m glad you came down."

They shook hands briefly. "It isn’t working out with Meredith," Sanders said at once. He was still angry from his encounter with her.

"Yes, I know."

"I don’t think I can work with her."

Blackburn nodded. "I know. She already told me."

"Oh? What’d she tell you?"

"She told me about the meeting last night, Tom."

Sanders frowned. He couldn’t imagine that she had discussed that meeting. "Last night?"

"She told me that you sexually harassed her."

"I what."

"Now, Tom, don’t get excited. Meredith’s assured me she’s not going to press charges. We can handle it quietly, in house. That will be best for everyone. In fact, I’ve just been going over the organization charts, and-"

"Wait a minute," Sanders said. "She’s saying I harassed her?"

Blackburn stared at him. "Tom. We’ve been friends a long time. I can assure you, this doesn’t have to be a problem. It doesn’t have to get around the company. Your wife doesn’t need to know. As I said, we can handle this quietly. To the satisfaction of everyone involved."

"Wait a minute, it’s not true-"

"Tom, just give me a minute here, please. The most important thing now is for us to separate the two of you. So you aren’t reporting to her. I think a lateral promotion for you would be ideal."

"Lateral promotion?"

"Yes. There’s an opening for technical vice president in the cellular division in Austin. I want to transfer you there. You’ll go with the same seniority, salary, and benefit package. Everything the same, except you’ll be in Austin and you won’t have to have any direct contact with her. How does that sound?"

"Austin."

"Yes."

"Cellular."

"Yes. Beautiful weather, nice working conditions . . . university town . . . chance to get your family out of this rain . . ."

Sanders said, "But Conley’s going to sell off Austin."

Blackburn sat down behind his desk. "I can’t imagine where you heard that, Tom," he said calmly. "It’s completely untrue."

"You sure about that?"

"Absolutely. Believe me, selling Austin is the last thing they’d do. Why, it makes no sense at all."

"They why are they inventorying the plant?"

"I’m sure they’re going over the whole operation with a fine-tooth comb. Look, Tom. Conley’s worried about cash flow after the acquisition, and the Austin plant is, as you know, very profitable. We’ve given them the figures. Now they’re verifying them, making sure they’re real. But there’s no chance they would sell it. Cellular is only going to grow, Tom. You know that. And that’s why I think a vice presidency there in Austin is an excellent career opportunity for you to consider."

"But I’d be leaving the Advanced Products Division?"

"Well, yes. The whole point would be to move you out of this division."

"And then I wouldn’t be in the new company when it spins off."

"That’s true."

Sanders paced back and forth. "That’s completely unacceptable."

"Well, let’s not be hasty," Blackburn said. "Let’s consider all the ramifications."

"Phil," he said. "I don’t know what she told you, but-"

"She told me the whole story-"

Chapter 9

"But I think you should know-"

"And I want you to know, Tom," Blackburn said, "that I don’t have any judgment about what may have happened. That’s not my concern or my interest. I’m just trying to solve a difficult problem for the company."

"Phil. Listen. I didn’t do it."

"I understand that’s probably how you feel, but-"

"I didn’t harass her. She harassed me."

"I’m sure," Blackburn said, "it may have .Teemed like that to you at the time, but-"