ENTANGLED TO THE CEO

Jake’s [POV]

“Kristen?”

 “Yes, sir?” Kristen’s voice came through on my intercom.

 “Get me, Natsuo Hattori, on the line.”

 “Right away, sir,” she replied.

 A few minutes later, I saw a green light flash on my office phone, and I pressed the little button next to it.

“Natsuo?”  

“Hello, Mr. Middleton,” Natsuo replied immediately in his thick Japanese accent.

“It’s very nice to hear from you.”

 “I wanted to discuss a new contract with you,” I said.

“Hopefully, you can pass this conversation along to your boss. I think it will be mutually beneficial.”

“We are talking with other contractors at the moment, Mr. Middleton,” he replied, sounding reluctant.

“That’s because you haven’t heard our new rates,” I told him, spinning my tone into one I hoped was appealing.

“Trust me, Mr. Hatanaka is going to be interested in hearing about this.”

 “I…will see what I can do,” Natsuo said, at last.

“May I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.”

“Convince Mr. Hatanaka to attend the meeting that’s taking place in five days at my corporate office,” I said.

 “It shouldn’t be too difficult, considering you are both in California at the moment.” Natsuo paused for a moment.

 “How did you know that?”

 “I make it my business to know these things,” I replied. He laughed lightly.

“Mr. Hatanaka worked with your company almost a year ago now,” he said.

 “He was not so happy with the job that was carried out. But I think…with you…it might be different.”

“Thank you, Natsuo,” I smiled.

 “Coming from you, that’s high praise.”

“I shall tell Mr. Hatanaka all about you the Major CEO.”

 “Is that what they call me?”

“It is unusual,” Natsuo pointed out, “for a CEO of a major maritime shipping company to have served in the army.”

“It’s my discipline that’s helped me climb so far, so fast,” I said, still trying to market myself to land this contract.

“Be sure to explain to Mr. Hatanaka that he worked with this company before I was at the helm of it. That was the only reason he was unhappy with the partnership. It’s going to be different this time.”

“I shall tell him.”

 “And the meeting?”

“I will confirm with your receptionist in two days.”

“Excellent,” I nodded.

 “Thank you, Natsuo.”

 “Of course, Mr. Middleton,” he said.

“And if all goes well, it will be a pleasure to meet you finally after so many phone conversations.”

 “Well then, we’ll have to make sure all goes well, won’t we?” He laughed, sensing my hint.

 “I shall do my best,” he said.

 “Good day to you, Mr. Middleton.” I hung up and leaned back in my swivel chair.

It had been a long day, and my back was aching, but I still had a meeting to attend across town, and it would take me at least a half hour to get there.

I poured myself a glass of water and sipped it slowly as I checked the time.

It was already six o’clock,