Free Enemy Within by William David Page B

can probably give you a recommendation. I don't think it best if I call her, I was somewhat irritable this morning and it showed. In the meantime I had better do some serious work on reviewing where we are with this product release.”
    Alec buzzed through to my office half an hour later to say that he had a security firm coming in the next morning at 10am to talk about arr angements, could I be available?

CHAPTER 16
     
    Next morning I was in bright and early to prepare for my weekly 8.30 meeting with the sales team. This was really a meeting where my product engineering team and sales staff jointly reviewed progress on various projects that were currently under way. The meeting also included a review of prospective sales, with particular reference to what can be promised in terms of development deliveries and specifications.
    The day started well with some good news. Ken Giles, our Sales and Marketing Director reported that CJP, one of the worlds biggest mineral resources companies was seriously nibbling at giving us a big contract. This deal had been bubbling along for more than a year now and we like others had been vying for consideration. The contract could be wor th upwards of £500 million over five years, so every company in the industry was after it, like bees round a honey pot! They had indicated we were the favourite because they believed we might have technology coming through which would be of great interest to them. An important question for them was what were we prepared to disclose to them about the new developments.
    “Ken, have you discussed this with Alec? He needs to be involved in this.”
    “I have mentioned it,” said Ken, “but he has been so tied up with float stuff that I have not really kept him up to date.”
    “Well I think you need to go and break his door down, and go through this with him! My thoughts are that we would need to secure a very substantial commitment in the form of a down payment, and then under strictly controlled circumstances give them some ideas as to where we are going and how that fits in with their applications. Let me know if I can help.” We then moved on through the agenda.
    I then left to meet with Alec and the security people, running about 45 minutes late. When I got there it had all been decided. There would be external security staff at reception and on each floor of the building, and they would supply two security staff to supplement our own overnight security personnel. In addition Alec and I would each have a security guard assigned 24/7.
    When they had gone, I stood chatting with Alec for a few minutes and I mentioned the possible CJP contract that I had suggested Ken talk to him about.
    “I will get to him,” Alec said
    “Well make it soon,” I said, “it looks hot so don't allow these mundane float issues to get in the way of the important business!” I ducked out of the room before he threw something at me.
    “Don't forget we are in London with the brokers tomorrow”, he yelled to my back as I made my way to the lift. My heart sank. Not my kind of thing. A meeting with brokers and major potential investors, the first of a number of presentations Alec and I had to do as part of a pre-float road show in London and Birmingham with a teleconference version to Paris and New York following later. We would be away together for a large part of the next week.
    An hour later my security guard turned up. Not what I had expected. Tall, athletic looking, brown haired, mid to late thirties with a slight tan. He had a small scar to the left side of his chin and was wearing a smart grey suit and tie. He would have blended in to the background of most office environments , but not ours. The general wardrobe in our office was jeans and t ee shirt or other casual shirt, particularly amongst the men.
    “ Mr Lever, I am from Security Services and my name is Jason Walgrave,” he said as he stepped forward in to my office and we shook hands. He had a strong grip,