Part 23 (2/2)

Did this first agreement, from the man who raised the most difficult question of all, presage the entire team's vote? Had he just persuaded them to place in him their faith to change the lifeblood vision of the entire company?

He switched off the projector and brightened the room's lights.

”Before I go on, it may be good to get an idea of how many of us agree on this strategy.”

”Right,” Hank said, helping him along. ”I think it's smart, mature. Clearly a direction in which we should consider moving.

However,” he cautioned, sweeping the group with his serious eyes, ”only if we can handle the perception aspect of it with the employees. Only as long as we make them understand that we're not selling out and building a clone, that we are actually making our Joey the best choice of portable computer on its own, and in tandem with ICP's computers. If we can accomplish that, then I think we could eventually come out ahead of the game.”

Matthew experienced an epiphany. Hank had just explained Matthew's strategy exactly as he wanted them to see it.

Furthermore, Hank's approval signified a point that was especially penetrating to the people seated there - higher stock prices. For each of them, this translated to even greater personal wealth.

Matthew quickly took advantage of Hank's definition, while the carrot still hung in the air. ”Does anyone disagree with the concept?”

Heads turned, searching for dissent.

None.

He felt a powerful thrill wash though him like the one he had experienced at the last quarterly board meeting, when his organizational design had flexed Peter Jones out of his way. In the last meeting he had been given the opportunity to prove himself. Now, with the new strategy revealed, they had become his followers. They believed in him. That was what it all came down to. They trusted him with their future.

”Very well,” Matthew said. He switched off the overhead lights again and returned to the projector. With his finger on the switch, he bade farewell to the old Wallaby, farewell to Peter Jones. He flicked the machine on, and alighted the screen with his next slide: ”The Whole World In Your Hand: Wallaby's Future.”

”Thanks, Hank,” Matthew said, gripping Hank's arm with one hand, the other locked in a firm handshake.

The board room door silently swung shut, and Matthew dropped himself heavily into one of the chairs and let out a long satisfied sigh.

He'd done it. From here on, it would be smooth sailing. With the executive's support in the bag, he was now free to turn his secret plan into reality. And what did it translate to for him personally? The power and the rewards would be astronomical.

”How'd it go?”

He had not heard anyone enter the room and, startled, he turned to find Laurence Maupin. For the briefest moment he just sat there and admired her in her finely tailored light linen suit.

Her soft and flowing honey-colored hair framed her fresh intelligent face, and in her delicate hands she clutched a small bundle of budding branches, held together by a blue ribbon.

”It went great,” Matthew said, blinking with exultation at the sound of his own pleased voice. Then, unable to contain his satisfaction, his smile broke into a broad grin. ”Really great,”

he spilled, feeling remarkably comfortable in revealing his joy in front of her.

”That's wonderful, Matthew. Wonderful!” she said, closing the s.p.a.ce between them. ”These are for you,” she said, holding out the bundle.

”p.u.s.s.y willow,” he remarked. He felt a tingling sensation in his finger, where it had brushed hers. ”Where did you get them?”

”Believe it or not, I found a bush of them in Woodside. I stole some for you,” she said with a mischievous chuckle.

”Thank you,” he said, able to meet her eyes only for a second.

Her unantic.i.p.ated arrival and the gift she had brought made him suddenly feel awkward and boyish. It was as if the room, his heart, had all at once changed seasons, going from the promise of spring to the all-out heat of summer. He watched her flip through his collection of slides, and he felt the light tingle return, this time in another place, as she keenly examined his ill.u.s.trations.

She beamed at him and tapped the topmost slide. ”Matthew, it's brilliant. Just three months, and you're already making important changes.”

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