Frank had called the trucking company, instructing Ms. Pearson to have Harold meet him at the airport. Now, he was exiting the airport in Chicago, with one piece of luggage trailing behind and a smaller bag that he had packed hanging from his right shoulder.
When Harold saw him, he hurriedly grabbed the luggage and put both pieces in the trunk of the limousine. “How was your flight?” he asked.
Frank smiled at the chauffeur. “Not bad, Harold.”
“That’s good. Now, according to Mr. Holmes, I need to bring you to the company.”
“You’re not supposed to drive me to the hotel first?”
Harold shook his head. “No. Mr. Holmes said he needed to see you as soon as possible.”
Frank nodded. “Well, let’s go.”
* * *
Harold opened the door and Frank hopped out. “Thanks, Harold. I’ll let Ms. Pearson know when I need you to take me to the hotel.”
“Okay, sir. In case I have another call, I’ll get your luggage.” Harold turned and went to the rear of the limousine. Seconds later he returned with the suitcases.
Frank reached for the luggage and said, “Thanks, Harold.”
“No problem, sir.”
Frank walked up the steps and into the building.
“Mr. Williams,” Ms. Pearson said, “Mr. Holmes is expecting you. He’s in his office.”
Frank walked to his father’s office and opened the door. He went to the desk and put the luggage on the floor beside it. Then he went to Holmes’s office and tapped on the door.
“Come in,” Holmes said.
Frank opened the door. Holmes was sitting behind his desk looking at a stapled document. When he saw Frank, he motioned to one of the chairs arranged in front of his desk. Frank sat down.
“How was your flight?”
“Okay, as far as flights go.”
Although Holmes thought about asking Frank what he meant, he changed the subject. “I’m sorry that I asked you to return so soon, but something’s come up.”
“What?” Frank asked curiously.
“Have you heard of Marvin Goldberg?”
Frank thought and then nodded. “Yes. I read an article about him recently. He runs a large trucking company in Milwaukee.”
A broad smile that revealed white teeth formed on Holmes’s face. “That’s right. Well, he called me yesterday and said he wanted to meet with you as soon as possible. He said he has a business proposition. He asked when I could arrange it. I told him I would call you as soon as possible.”
“A business proposition? Do you have any idea what it’s about?”
Holmes nodded. “I think he wants to buy the trucking company.”
“Really?” Frank asked, leaning back in the chair.
Holmes nodded. “About nine months ago he tried to buy it from your father, but your father wouldn’t sell. Oh, he thought about it. At least, that’s what he told me, but eventually he decided against it. Why, I don’t know.”
Frank scratched his chin with his right hand. “Did he provide a reason?”
“No, and I didn’t ask.”
“Well, it’s interesting that Goldberg is bringing the issue up again, isn’t it?” Frank believed Holmes had informed Goldberg about James’s death and about Frank being in charge of the company or would be soon. I can imagine the conversation between them, he thought. Holmes probably told Goldberg that I was young and didn’t understand the trucking business. He probably told Goldberg that he could buy the company for less than it’s worth―that is, if he’s still interested. Of course, Frank had no proof that Holmes had mentioned him to Goldberg, but he intuitively believed he had.
Holmes ignored the question.
“When is he supposed to meet with me?” Frank finally asked.
Holmes looked at his watch. “He’s supposed to be here in a few minutes.”
Frank studied Holmes’s face. He realized Holmes had informed Goldberg about his flight to Chicago.
Ms. Pearson appeared at the door. Holmes saw Marvin Goldberg with her and nodded.
Frank followed Holmes’s eyes and noticed a short, heavy-set, bald man entering the office. He walked to Holmes’s desk and put out his hand. “Hello, Wendell.” Frank noticed the man had a high-pitched voice. He watched as the two men shook hands. When Holmes’s eyes moved from the man to Frank, the man turned.
“Marvin, I’d like to introduce you to Frank Williams,” Holmes said.
Goldberg put out his hand. Frank shook it. “Marvin Goldberg, Mr. Williams,” Goldberg said.
Frank noticed the man’s brown eyes and smiled. “I’m happy to meet you.”
“Marvin, please, sit down,” Holmes said.
The short man sat in a chair that was about three feet from Frank’s.
“Frank, since Marvin requested this meeting, I’ll let him take over.”
Goldberg cleared his throat and looked at Frank. “May I call you Frank?”
Frank nodded. “As long as I can call you Marvin.” A grin formed on Frank’s face.
Goldberg laughed. “Frank, I have a proposition for you. I’d like to buy your trucking company.” Goldberg noticed faint surprise on Frank’s face. He thought the younger man would say something, but he didn’t. “Now, hear me out,” he continued. “I’ll give you top dollar for it. In fact, I’ll give you more than it’s worth.”
Frank shook his head. “Mr. Goldberg, why do you want this trucking company? After all, you have a sizable trucking company in Milwaukee.”
Goldberg looked at Frank and laughed. Somehow, Frank had learned about his company. “To make money, of course.”
Frank didn’t believe Goldberg. “To make money? According to what I’ve read, your trucking company in Milwaukee is doing well.”
Goldberg nodded. “That’s true, but I’d like to make more. In order to do that, I need to expand. That’s why I need another company.”
“That’s your reason?”
Goldberg nodded. “That’s it.”
Frank studied Goldberg’s face. “Mr. Goldberg, my father died recently. I really haven’t had time to examine the company’s records. Consequently, I wouldn’t know if your offer was satisfactory.”
Goldberg glanced at Holmes and then grew serious. “Frank, if you need time to look at the books, take it. I can wait. In fact, why don’t you come up with a figure, say, in a couple of weeks or a month, and then let me know what it is.”
Frank considered Goldberg’s suggestion. “All right, Mr. Goldberg. However, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. My figure may be too high.” Frank smiled.
Goldberg nodded and then glanced around the office. “Well, I’d better be going. I’m sure you have things to do. I know I have.” He stood and offered his hand again to Frank, who shook it. “I enjoyed meeting you, Frank.” He looked at Holmes. “Wendell, it was good to see you again.” Then he left and closed the door behind him.
Frank stared at Holmes, but Holmes’s eyes were on the door. Finally, Holmes noticed Frank’s stare. “If you come up with a reasonable figure, I believe Marvin will accept it.”
“What do you get if Mr. Goldberg buys the company?” Frank asked curiously.
Holmes cleared his throat. “That’s a good question. When he called to meet with your father, I asked him what the meeting concerned. He told me. Believe me, the wheels in my head started turning. I was afraid that if your father sold the company I would be out of a job. I asked Marvin about my position. He assured me I wouldn’t be out of a job. In fact, he said he couldn’t be in Milwaukee and Chicago at the same time. He said I would be in charge of the daily operations. He asked how much I was earning. I told him, and he said he would increase my salary.”
Frank nodded. “Considering what Mr. Goldberg told you, you were eager to arrange the meeting between him and my father. Weren’t you?”
Holmes picked up a pen and nervously played with it. “I wouldn’t put it like that,” he finally said.
“Well, how would you put it?”
Holmes wet his lips with his tongue. “I merely arranged the meeting. That’s all.”
Frank nodded and stood. “Just like you arranged the meeting a while ago.” Frank walked to the door and turned. “Wendell, I could tell you that if you do something like this again you’ll be looking for another job, but I won’t. Not today, anyway.”
Holmes sat there with a blank expression on his face. He didn’t know what to say, so he kept his mouth shut. He watched Frank leave and then he grabbed a tissue from a box on his desk and wiped his brow. He had misjudged Williams. He thought the young man would have taken any offer Goldberg had presented. After all, Williams had seen the statements for the past few years. Although the company had earned a profit, it hadn’t been large.
Frank went to his father’s office. He noticed that someone had replaced his father’s nameplate with his. He smiled, opened the door, and walked behind the desk, where he collapsed in the chair. He glanced around the office. Then he thought about Holmes and Goldberg.
When the phone on the desk rang, Frank was startled. He picked up the receiver. “Williams speaking.”
“Mr. Williams, I’ve printed the suggestions you requested.”
Frank remembered that he had told Holmes to type the suggestions he claimed he and the other executives had mentioned to his father. “Good.”
“I’ll bring the list to you—that is, if you have time?”
“I’ll make time, Wendell.”
“I’ll be there in a minute. By the way, are you in the mood to tour the company?”
Williams repeated the question to himself. “Sure,” he finally replied. “We can begin from my office.”
Holmes was about to speak when he heard a click. Williams had ended the conversation.
Holmes jumped up and walked quickly to Williams’s office. He had to make a positive impression on Williams. Indeed, he had to prove to Williams he knew more about the company than anyone. He had to prove to Williams the company would flounder like a ship in a storm without him. Of course, in all honesty, he realized Williams could let him go and find someone to take his place within a week or two. No one in the trucking industry was indispensable. Still, the list of suggestions and a tour of the company by him may prove his worth to the company. At least, he hoped.
Frank was standing behind his desk when Holmes entered. He walked around the chair and sat down. “Sit down, Wendell.” He pointed toward a chair. Holmes obeyed as if he had been trained like a pet dog.
Holmes leaned forward and handed a sheet of paper to Frank. “Here’s the list of suggestions.”
Frank read two or three, nodded, and then put the sheet on his desk. “Regarding Goldberg’s company in Milwaukee, do you know what states his drivers cover?”
Holmes was expecting a question about one or two of the suggestions, not about Goldberg’s company. However, he scratched his chin with his right index finger and thought. “Yes, I believe I do. Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana.” Holmes realized immediately why Goldberg was interested in the Williams Trucking Company. It offered Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. “He wants to cover more states.”
Frank nodded. “He was telling the truth. More states, especially the states this company’s in, will provide more opportunity for Goldberg.”
“You need to take this into consideration when you come up with a figure—that is, if you wish to sell.”
“Believe me, I will. Now, how about that tour?”