Part 30 (2/2)
”What's the matter? No more city fuel?” William said as he poured himself a cup of steaming coffee.
”Haven't touched the stuff in over two years.”
”Next thing you'll tell me is that you're into flotation tanks and sus.h.i.+.”
”The sus.h.i.+ part, yes,” Matthew said with a light laugh.
”How's Greta?” William asked, sipping his coffee.
”Oh, she's fine, thank you.” Matthew accepted the gla.s.s of water and finished half of it in one drink.
”And how does she like California living?”
”She likes it. She keeps quite busy.”
”Sounds nice.”
”Yes,” Matthew said, setting the gla.s.s down. He placed his briefcase on the table. With the mention of his wife, he thought for an instant of what he had hidden inside his briefcase. Since he had placed it there, he had never once taken it out again and looked at it. Would he ever?
”Let's get started,” William said. ”I got your e-mail, and I'm pleased to hear everything went well with your executives and board. It hasn't been easy on my end. My advisers keep scratching their heads, thinking their boss has gone crazy, especially after your introduction last week. They want us to build something to 'blow the doors off the Joey Plus,' as my technology adviser puts it. But, to his dismay, I've not approved any new development, other than revisions and enhancements, since you and I had our first meeting.”
Matthew was pleased with this confirmation of the Joey Plus's success. It meant that to William and ICP, Wallaby, and he, Matthew, were even more valuable now than when they had first met to discuss their secretive pact.
”I'll tell you,” William said, indicating the binder with his eyes, ”I'm glad I can finally reveal our plan to my board of directors and the executive staff. As I've a.s.sured you already, they will vote unanimously in favor of our plan. They'll have no choice.”
”Here it is. The complete strategy, as outlined.” Matthew handed the binder to William, who opened it in his lap and was silent for a few moments as he browsed through the various sections.
”Oh yes,” he said, ”this is a trade after all.” He lifted a folder from the table and handed it to Matthew. ”Here are all the connectivity specifications for the 990 series, as well as the file compatibility specs for the BP series.”
Matthew took the slim nearly weightless folder in his hands and all of the sudden felt a bit let down. The folder felt like nothing compared to the binder he had just turned over. No girth.
No satisfaction. No substance between his fingers. This information would go to Alan Parker and his engineering organization, and perhaps to them it was attractive, but Matthew already missed the extensive, intricately organized volumes in the thick binder now in William's possession. The exchange felt uneven, unbalanced. Unfair.
”I especially like your idea of calling our plan a 'strategic alliance,' ” William said. ”Tell me more about how you plan to handle the announcement.”
Matthew stood up and removed his jacket. ”I think what we should do is announce our relations.h.i.+p in three months, when we have a working prototype of the Joey II, which will be the first Wallaby portable computer that's compatible with your computers.”
William nodded, crossed his legs, and continued to browse through the lengthy doc.u.ment, glancing now and then at Matthew.
”We'll announce that we're working together on strategic connectivity products from an engineering, marketing, sales, and customer service standpoint. We'll reveal that you and I met, several months ago - and by the way, my executive staff and board are aware of today's meeting - and you will explain ICP's election for Wallaby Joey II systems as an alternative to your own portable computer, and that you will continue to support the older ICP BP computer, as well as facilitate co-sales with our people for Joey II computers. And finally, once you begin the merger process, we'll determine Wallaby's value, and you'll follow up about a year later with the acquisition announcement.”
William snapped the binder closed. ”Excellent.”
”Yes,” Matthew agreed under his breath as he seated himself. He felt a little dizzy. Perhaps the building's height and the change in environment were getting to him. He wanted to finish this meeting and get back down on the ground as soon as possible.
”It's exactly how I had envisioned it, but better,” William said.
”You've managed to smooth the transition with the alliance aspect, so we're careful to unveil our deal a little at a time.”
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