This time the pang lingered. “I love you, too, Maggie. I’ll call you over the weekend.”
“Travel safely. We’ll have everything prepared when you get back.”
Quinn put down the phone, feeling guilty. He wouldn’t be getting on an airplane tonight or tomorrow or the next day for any warehouse visits, all of that was being covered by his executive staff. He questioned himself one more time about joining Vargas in the master suite. As he left the library, the sound of music and revelry helped him answer the question.
He found Vargas in the mosaic-tiled private spa, soaking in the sunken whirlpool bath and covered in bubbles. She looked so unbelievably alluring. There would be no turning back now. Quinn revealed the red roses from behind his back. Vargas rose slowly from the churning water and sensuously ascended the tiled steps one at a time, her smoky eyes focused on Quinn. “Thank you for the flowers. Come join me,” she said seductively as she took the flowers and descended back into the bubbles.
Quinn’s entire body quivered with excitement as he dismissed all thoughts of anyone or anything except Andrea Vargas. He began removing his clothes, pleased that he’d lost ten pounds for the occasion-especially when Vargas noticed.
28
Wilson — Boston, MA
After a restless weekend of treading water, Wilson met with Fielder amp; Company’s vice presidents first thing Monday morning to go over a few more basics concerning the firm’s business activities. The company was currently working on 476 consulting engagements in 412 client companies with average revenue-per-engagement of approximately $2.4 million. It employed 684 consultants and 243 staff, 927 employees in total, located in six offices-Boston, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, London, and Hong Kong. Projected revenues for the year stood at $1.2 billion with anticipated pre-tax profits of $310 million. The firm’s share of large multinational corporations as clients was stronger than ever. Almost every client had inquired about Charles Fielder’s condition and how it might impact the future of the firm, but according to the vice presidents, only a handful of clients had expressed serious concerns or reservations about continuing to do business with Fielder amp; Company.
Next, they reviewed the content of an internal memorandum and press release prepared by the firm’s PR staff, informing employees and clients that Fielder amp; Company and KaneWeller would not be merging and that Wilson would be assuming his father’s position as Chairman and CEO. When they reached agreement on the content, Wilson made a courtesy call to CEO Marshall Winthorpe of KaneWeller, who suggested a few minor changes to the memo to reflect KaneWeller’s reasons for backing out of the deal. Wilson then persuaded Winthorpe to limit his firm’s discussions with the press regarding Fielder amp; Company.
Just before noon, Fielder amp; Company released, by fax and email, the following statement to 927 consultants and staff, 1852 past and present clients, and 128 business press contacts:
In the interest of fortifying the company’s current focus on investment banking and brokerage-related businesses, the Board of Directors of KaneWeller has decided not to proceed with the acquisition of Boston-based management consulting firm Fielder amp; Company. For the near term, KaneWeller has chosen to defer its entry into the management consulting business.
Fielder amp; Company’s new Chairman and CEO Wilson Fielder, majority shareholder and son of founder Charles Fielder, plans to continue the philosophies and policies set forth by his father during the firm’s twenty-two-year history and expects to expand the firm’s impressive record of assisting major multinational corporations improve bottom-line results and increase shareholder value.
Prior to assuming leadership of Fielder amp; Company, Wilson Fielder spent seven years with the management consulting firm of Kresge amp; Company as an associate consultant, engagement manager, and partner. He co-directed the firm’s corporate transformation practice for the past four years. He earned degrees from Princeton University and the Harvard Business School.
No further changes in Fielder amp; Company’s management structure or personnel are currently anticipated. Any requests for additional information should be forwarded to www.fielder.com or 100 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02140, 1-888-303-2121.
With the press release memorandum on its way, Wilson met again with the vice presidents in the afternoon, hammering out the details of a whirlwind office tour. Over the next four days, they would visit Fielder amp; Company’s six offices, personally assuring every Fielder amp; Company consultant and staff member of the firm’s strong financial position, as well as Wilson’s commitment to carry on his father’s philosophies and policies.
By the time they finished at three o’clock, the vice presidents had their assignments and the rest of the day to prepare. The first stop on the tour was scheduled for tomorrow morning at eight o’clock, in the large, ninth-floor conference room of the Fielder Building. After that, they would fly to Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Hong Kong, and London.
Later that night, after packing for his trip and their move from Brattle House, Wilson and Emily went to the hospital to visit his father. Nothing in his father’s condition had changed. Once again, they stood by his hospital bed holding his hand and talking, hoping that he might be able to hear them and one day respond.
“What would he have to say about your plan to convince the secret society to bring you inside?” Emily asked, her fear persisting, even though Hap Greene and his people had made her feel much better.
“Control or be controlled,” Wilson quoted without hesitation. “That’s the world we live in, he’d say. Then he’d remind me how depraved and enslaved our society has become for embracing such a false dogma.”
Emily put her arms around Wilson’s waist and hugged him tightly. “I do believe that everything he was doing at Fielder amp; Company was intended to bring about change. Profound change.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Wilson said before kissing her. “So do I.” He gazed into her eyes, their faces inches apart. “If you want to know the truth, I couldn’t do this without knowing that you feel the same way. But I couldn’t tell you that until you arrived at it on your own.”
“You think I didn’t know that?” she said, giving him a nudge.
Neither one of them liked the idea of being apart for the next five days, but they agreed that it would be better for Wilson to do this alone. It would also give Emily time to review the publisher’s initial round of edits on her manuscript. Fortunately, the anticipation of spending a whole week together in Venice had emboldened them.
When Wilson and Emily left the hospital, they took their things to the fully furnished Back Bay apartment, overlooking the Fielder amp; Company building. After entering, they stood at the apartment’s newly installed one-way, bulletproof windows, watching the lights come on inside the Fielder Building. Hap Greene’s people along with building security personnel had just started conducting their nightly sweep. It was a little after midnight.
“When will it end?” Emily asked.
“Soon, I hope,” Wilson said, holding her in his arms. “One way or another, we’ll get out of this alive, free to pursue our dreams. I promise.”
29
Quinn — Lake Forest, IL
Beneath the ample canopy trimmed in an eighteenth-century Chinese coverlet, Quinn lay deliciously drained. The Levitra had worked miraculously during the past three days, just as his doctor promised.
“Your hands are absolutely amazing,” Vargas whispered into his ear as he gently stroked her long, slender body. “Has anyone ever told you that before?”