Can Am Story

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Can Am Story Page 5

by Oliver Rill


  “Let’s take this from a different angle. How about if I said ‘Cali American’ or ‘Cali Airlines’? Would that work?”

  I could see that Doug was getting fed up with me. “There are two aspects to this, Mr. Hoffmann. One is the official name that appears on the papers. That in this case is ‘Californian American Airlines’. If you said for example, ‘Air Canada Jazz’ that is no problem, because ‘Jazz’ is a marketing name that is recognized and accepted. Officially though, it’s Air Canada. I don’t know if it’s wise to change the name, that is up to the people in marketing. I am just here to report the figures.” I had the feeling that my question had offended Doug.

  A member of the IT crew came in and put a box on the desk. An Apple Notebook. He was about to unpack it, whilst Doug got up to leave. “Stop, both of you! Doug, I have another question for you before you go. And you, what sort of notebook is that?” I waved Doug to stop and looked the IT guy in the eye. What a cheek to dump something in front of me without checking whether it is what I need.

  The notebook was indeed missing features that I needed for day to day working. I felt quite justified in stopping him breaking the seal on the box.

  “Order me a Sony laptop with a high-powered graphics card, more memory and a leather carry bag. If they have it, in black and silver. It must have a mouse and, don’t laugh, a joystick for a flight simulator. I like to relax and clear my mind with that.”

  The IT guy finally grinned as he caught my drift and asked if I needed speakers. I replied with the name of a well-known brand. “What else!” he said, tucking the box under his arm again and disappeared.

  “Ok. Doug, one last thing for this morning. If I wanted to set up a new route, how difficult would that be?”

  “That depends on the slots, that’s all really. I would advise talking to the sales guy and do a bit of figure crunching, but really, it’s just a question of slots.”

  I thanked Doug and dismissed him for now. I thought he had had enough for today.

  Time was flying. It was already ten to twelve as Ad wandered in. “I hear you don’t like my company name?” Ad sat down next to me but wasn’t in the least upset.

  “I did ask Doug about it, yes. I was wondering if there was any sense in changing it.”

  Ad laughed “And you showed the guy from IT who is boss too!”

  “Ad I just didn’t want to take anything for granted. I think it’s better to question everything and see if I want to change it. If I don’t speak up and say what I want, then I won’t get anywhere, will I? And then you wouldn’t get any satisfaction either from seeing the firm bloom.”

  “You are doing well, Oliver. Don’t worry about it. Your candidate is sitting outside, shall we bring him in?”

  “Ad, just one more thing. I can be a little intuitive or unconventional in interviews. I might put a question or two that is not of the run of the mill type out there. Please feel free to ask questions as well if you think of anything I have left out.”

  Ad nodded and I went to get Matt Fowler.

  Matt was a big, dark haired guy with a smile that set you a challenge. His well worked out body almost gave him a Ken-figure and definitely scored him a nine. His suit, however, didn’t quite hang right, his tie stood out in my mind as one of the worst I’d ever seen and he looked as though he had borrowed his shirt from his father. My first impression? Obviously not an especially good dresser.

  Matt passed his documents to me. Ad had already taken the print out from the pile and studied it while I was outside. Now we sat there and should actually start the interview. “Matt, why did you apply for the position of assistant with JB Homes?”

  Matt explained that he had finished his studies three months ago and now wanted to start working in a position that could take him forwards in his career. Construction was a secure industry and JB Homes was doing well with its ‘Zero-House’ as the future seemed to lie with energy efficiency.

  “What did you particularly like and disliked in your studies, Matt?” He liked research and data analysis most, the legal side was also interesting and he had almost changed to law, but then changed his mind as he didn’t want to be a lawyer. Mobility was important in his job and the chance to move ahead in his career.

  Ad threw in a question about his expected career-goal and I thought about the next question. It occurred to me that Ad hadn’t introduced himself.

  “I am not looking to be a millionaire, nor do I want to be self employed. A good job with a reasonable status is my goal. My Dad has his own firm and practically never has time for anything else.”

  I grinned, had I discovered a sore point? “So you want to work from nine to five each day?”

  “Oh no, I am happy to be flexible. It’s just that when I am away from the office, I don’t want to be thinking about tax and balance sheets and so on. Sitting in the cellar on Sundays writing offers out because I didn’t manage to fit it into the week. That’s what I meant. When I work, I work.”

  “You are totally flexible?” I didn’t let up.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “So if I asked you to fly to Paris tomorrow, that wouldn’t be a problem?”

  “Paris?” And there I had him. I thought so anyway. His eyes were almost popping out of his head in surprise and happiness drenched his face.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “For example.” I said coolly.

  “I wouldn’t have a problem with that, sir,” he said respectably. Ad grinned over at me. He knew what I was up to.

  “And what about friends and family?” Matt described his mother, a teacher, separated and divorced from his father. Unfortunately his lived at home still. He had friends from the University and regularly went to the gym and, when he could, surfing. He didn’t have a girlfriend.

  “But you have a boyfriend?” I asked with a serious face. Ad almost jumped.

  “No I am single. I don’t have anything against gays per se, but I prefer girls.”

  “And are you on the lookout for a girlfriend?” Ad was watchful and I thought he would have something to say to me afterwards about my wild questions.

  “I have had a few girlfriends. Right now I am looking for a job and don’t know if I can stay here or if I will have to relocate. So for the moment, no girlfriends. When I am more settled, then that will be another matter.”

  “I read in your résumé that you were working for Delta while you studied.”

  “Oh yes, I was on the check-in. We weren’t employed by Delta directly, it was a subcontracting firm, but it was fun and the schedule was flexible. It fitted right in with my studies.”

  “Did you apply to Delta?”

  “No, I wasn’t all too keen on Atlanta. If it’s absolutely necessary, then I would move, but I wanted to see how it went here first. I am sure that it’s a much more exciting area to work in, but the construction industry is more secure.”

  “I think quite a few building firms went bust during the financial crisis.”

  “Airlines went bust too after the financial crisis and after 9/11. You don’t have to fly, but you do have to have a roof over your head.” I laughed at that and looked at Ad. He nodded.

  “Tell me, if we did decide to take you on, when could you start and how much do you think your work is worth and how does that compare to what you can get on the market as it stands today?”

  Ad shot me an amused look. He crossed his arms and leant back on his chair.

  Matt didn’t hesitate. He seemed to have thought about this quite carefully.

  “I think that 40,000 is a good wage. If you employ me today, I will give you a discount of 20 percent.”

  Ad and I burst out laughing. Matt was really something!

  I asked Matt to wait outside for a moment and Ad turned to me with an interested and questioning expression. “Tell me what you are thinking, although I think I know the answer already.”

  “I think I have found my assistant.”

  Ad shook my hand and said he would have gone for an older candi
date, but this one seems suitable and would fit the bill just fine.

  “Oliver, you seem to have the knack for it. I will give you one piece of advice: Sound him out. Watch and check everything that he does until you know for sure where his weak points are and where his strong points are. You are going to need to rely on him completely at one point. I believe you two go well together. Take him on if you think he is up to the job and if you trust him.”

  “I am going for the 20 percent discount, Ad.” I laughed. “Thank you for your time and support.”

  Ad stood and moved towards the door, then turned around. “Oliver, take him to Vegas. I will get your papers ready. You have to make your own decisions now about more staff. I have a meeting to get to, they are waiting for me. Call me from Vegas.”

  I accompanied Ad out of the conference room. He walked past Matt and wished him a good day as I looked at him. Yes, I had this now.

  “Matt, would you like to step this way?” I said with gravitas.

  Matt looked nervous, but smiled and walked past the door I was holding open into the conference room. I closed the door behind us and sat next to him.

  “Matt, I have to say that we weren’t completely honest with you.” Matt’s face lost its smile. “I am looking for an assistant for Californian American Airlines, not for JB Homes.”

  “Oh …,” his eyes widened in surprise.

  “I would like to take the offer of your discounted 20 percent, if I may and I would like to meet you tomorrow at twenty past ten at the airport. We’ll fly to Las Vegas and will stay until Sunday. I might need you here in L.A. on Sunday for a short time as well, but we’ll see how it goes.”

  Matt looked at me in confusion. “You mean I got the job, just a different job?”

  One of the lawyers from yesterday popped his head in and passed Matt some papers and a pen for a signature and asked for his driver’s license to photocopy.

  After slapping Matt on the back and welcoming him on board Californian American Airlines, I let him know that the suit and tie were not necessary for the dress code and suggested lunch. I rang Marie and asked where she was. She was in a mall somewhere. Where else? I checked with Matt where the mall was and told her that we would be there in a few minutes and we could all meet up for something to eat.

  Of course Matt was impressed with the Jag. It glided through the traffic and luckily it didn’t take long before we were sitting on the benches of the restaurant level of the mall, eating. Matt and I chose sushi from one of the stalls and Marie had a vegetable curry.

  “Mr. Hoffmann …” began Matt.

  “Please, call me Oliver. We are going to be working together quite closely, ok?”

  “Ok Oliver. What do we need to do in Las Vegas?”

  “The trip is just to get to know the airline, Matt. We are going to fly incognito. No-one knows us and we want to know what it’s like for our customers to fly with Californian.”

  “Oh, so it’s not about Las Vegas itself? I see. What should I take with me?”

  “Just hand luggage, Matt. Just the things you would normally take to wear for a weekend in Vegas.”

  Matt left after the meal and Marie and I strolled through the mall. I found a teller machine and pushed in the card. I punched in my pin, but the machine did not recognize it. My breath caught, my heart began to race and I was near to panic. Then I realized that my own card was still in my wallet and the company card was sticking out of the machine! I had a quick look at my bank account and there were indeed $300,000 in there. We visited H&M and Kenneth Cole and were making our way to other stores, but the office rang and informed us that Debbie was there.

  I asked Marie to come, but changed my mind and rang the office to ask Debbie to meet me at the house so that we could have a clearer idea of it. I was sure that Debbie hated me by now.

  I drove to the entrance and pressed the remote control, then drove on and backed into the driveway. It wasn’t an idea solution. The Jag had a very wide turning curve and I had to keep an eye out in front to check I wasn’t jutting out into the other lane too much, check in the mirror that no one was in the way and at the same time edge carefully between the stone pillars of the gate. It really wasn’t easy. However, the road outside was comparatively narrow and on a curve, so I didn’t want to park outside the gate.

  “I thought we said we’d meet in the office. This all costs time, Oliver. If you want it to be ready by Saturday, we are going to have to improve on our communications.” Debbie greeted me haughtily. Such a cheek! Debbie snapped open her laptop in the kitchen and drew a writing pad and colored pens out of her bag and asked for the keys. A gave her a set and she showed us sofas, beds, chairs, pictures, tables … they weren’t quite what I was looking for. I found them a little too plush. I took the catalogue from her and showed her what I had in mind. Debbie was visibly irritated. She explained that these things would take more time, those that she had shown me would fit in the house perfectly and above all, would be easily obtained. I looked at her. Debbie looked at me. Marie grinned and walked away to look out of the window, to stop herself laughing.

  Eventually, Debbie broke the standoff. “Ok Oliver, I don’t know how long this will now take, but I now have to inquire about each and every last item. Stay here and wait so that I can have a decision immediately. The quote I gave you will also be invalidated.” She crumpled the bill in temper and was just holding it together.

  I suggested that she gave Marie the glass and china catalogue in the meantime to choose the crockery to save time.

  While Debbie phoned around about the furniture I had shown her, I told Marie to just get ten of everything in a simple, white and glass style. The cutlery and kitchen utensils should be in a shiny chrome. While Marie buried her head in the catalog, I turned to Debbie, who (still on the phone) showed me an alternative bed as the one I had wanted was no longer available. I nodded my agreement and so it went on piece by piece until we had furnished the whole house – at least theoretically. Marie was also given the job of choosing towels and bedlinen, hangers … finally we were finished.

  “If you ever move again, Oliver, please allow yourself a little more time. We will manage it, but if you are particular about what you have in the house, then three days are not long enough … or even two days.”

  I smiled sweetly at the witch and told her I would bear it in mind.

  “You two hate each other, don’t you?” laughed Marie as Debbie was out of earshot.

  “Mmm, I wouldn’t say that. I think she is good at her job, she just forgets now and then who the customer is and that’s me, not her. But I also want to thank you for taking all this stress on in your holiday instead of taking time to relax.”

  “Ha ha – that’s what you think! I am spending the whole day at the pool tomorrow. I don’t care what you’re up to. Me? I have an appointment with some sun oil and a long, cool drink at the pool.”

  “If it’s ok with Your Majesty, myself and my assistant will be in attendance at the beautiful pool in the hotel in Las Vegas. That was fantastic. Do you remember?”

  We fooled around until the office rang. It was the IT guy. He had my laptop. I asked him if he was responsible for getting the IT set up in the house, too.

  “You should get connected this evening. I’ll be able to get some stuff done tomorrow. It’s all been arranged.”

  “I also need two cameras and a monitor on the entrance. You’ll see why when you try to drive in with a car.” The IT guy appeared on the scene a little later, had a look around and said it would be no problem. He would link it up to the remote for the gate, too. He had set my laptop up with an internet connection and now I was completely mobile. It was amazing how quickly it can all be arranged nowadays.

  When he was gone, I asked Marie if she wanted to go out to eat and whether we would be better packing beforehand or when we returned so that we could simply check out and move on Sunday. She thought it would be better to pack before and then we could relax more in the restaurant that Dan
iel had recommended and let the evening take us.

  The next morning, Marie woke earlier than me for once. Our room looked like a small slaughter house as she tidied and packed with gusto. For Vegas we didn’t really need that much, two evenings wear, two days wear, I would say.

  I had a few anxious moments after thinking about how quickly everything had gone with Matt. There was a distinct possibility that he wouldn’t turn up and forget about the job. If he did, I am sure there would be other candidates in the pile that would be worth looking at. I made a note in my Blackberry to deal with them next week by turning them down or inviting them for an interview, as it occurred to me that I was a little late with that.

  I put a few things together for the journey and realized that my good hand luggage had been left in Berlin. I only had a large suitcase or a rucksack here. I would have to buy another, I couldn’t travel around like a hippy with a rucksack in my position. Actually, my rucksack was also too small, so I chose to take only my swimming gear and a pair of jeans. I couldn’t take hair gel and toothpaste in my hand luggage anyway.

  “Is that all?” asked Marie with astonishment.

  I explained my baggage problem to her and added that I would have to go shopping again.

  “I think I need more than I brought for the ten days.”

  We had to hurry if we wanted to at least have another coffee.

  As we raced through the lobby, someone shouted “Oliver!” I turned and saw Matt, He looked so much better than the impressions he left me with yesterday. He looked casual in a T-shirt and jeans, bulging arms and a winning smile. The guy was definitely a ten!

  “What are you doing here? I thought we were meeting at the airport. How did you know that I am staying here?” I added. Marie left us to order our coffees.

  “I saw your valet parking ticket yesterday in the car and knew that you were still living in a hotel. So, I made a lucky guess.” I waved him forward to follow Marie and order something. Then I went to reception to order an airport shuttle and let them know that we were checking out Sunday. When I got to the ‘Z’ terrace, coffee was already on the table and we just had time to order something quick to eat.

 

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