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“No.”
Avoiding Teddy’s scrutinising stare, I breathe out so heavily my cheeks puff.
“I hate to state the obvious, but he’s one of your best mates, Clark. You’ll have to talk to him some time.”
I know. “We’ve got work to do.”
I move to the flat-screen TV on the wall and watch the changing commodity index. I’m staring at another day of crude oil at forty-two dollars a barrel. Eighteen months ago I’d have been looking at the exact same index showing at least one hundred and ten dollars a barrel.
“So much for OPEC stabilising prices,” Teddy says as he joins me in front of the screen, his hands in his pockets, back to his CFO persona. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is supposed to be the body responsible for unifying global petroleum policies and the efficient and economic supply of oil. Some job it’s doing right now.
I fold my arms across my chest, watching the digital graph move as companies trade, buying and selling oil.
“At least we’re in the same boat as the rest of the industry,” Teddy says.
I scoff. All except one. “Tell me, Ted, when profit is falling for almost every oil company in the world, how is Dayna Cross increasing year-on-year profit for SP?”
“She still imports a lot. Since the Persian Gulf explosion she’s had to buy in a lot of fuel. Imports are cheap. Then there’s the blending.” His voice is warm, as it always is when he’s talking about Dayna. She’s a competitor, and a dangerous one of late, but Teddy grew up with her and would likely step in front of a bullet for her. Knowing that makes me like him even more. And it makes it ten times more awkward that my history with Dayna is… chequered.
“She’s nailed it, Clark. She’s making blends of fuel that are ingenious, and they’re cheaper than what anyone else is putting out. Other companies are preying on her expertise and trying to get into bed with her.”
I snap my head to face him, snarling internally. He means business. I need to get a grip. It’s just the thought of Dayna with another man… well, it kills me.
“She’s got a damn good business model from where I’m standing, bud.” He continues as if I’m not boring holes in him, and I can tell he’s fighting a proud smile. I can’t blame him.
“She’s been playing poker while the rest of us were playing blackjack,” I tell him. “We were counting numbers and she was forming a hand.”
The woman is an absolute marvel. As much as I want to despise her as a competitor, even though my life would be a damn sight less complicated if she was never in it, I have nothing but admiration for the way she’s turned SP around. Dayna does nothing by halves and takes no prisoners. That I know from experience. But she’s got this other side, too. A side not many people get to see. She’s sweet, tender and funny. She could make me laugh like no one else. Like no one since.
Desperate to stay focussed on work, I tell Teddy, “We need more oil. A new site. A greater volume of sales. It’s the only way to stay alive in this climate.”
“I’m not convinced now is a good time to buy. Prices are still falling, and there are rumours that trade sanctions with Iran will be lifted. If they are lifted, oil prices…” He whistles through his teeth and waves a hand through the air, demonstrating a crash and burn like he’s seen on Top Gun.
I raise one eyebrow at his shitty fighter jet then nod. “I hear you, but we have to think medium- to long-term, too. It’s no good sitting back now and finding we have no reserves in five years’ time. Oil companies are failing. There has to be something out there going cheap. If the price is right, I want it.” The unfortunate truth is the market is littered with zombies — the name economists and lawyers give to failing companies. I don’t want that for Layton Oil. I have something to prove.
Now it’s Teddy’s turn to nod. “Well, we could do with a big win on exports. Turkey or Japan. We could increase operations in Brazil.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “Let’s get shopping then.”
It’s the economy, not my leadership, that’s brought down Layton Oil’s profits since I’ve been in post as CEO. But regardless of the reason, the fact remains that my father reigned supreme, and the second he handed over his company to his son, profits started to fall. Something he’s keen to remind me of every time I see him. Something I intend to change.
