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As I walk through the foyer to the boardroom, Denise has my macchiato and bottle of water at the head of the table. The plain colored beige walls with the company logo on the wall needs some updating, but that’s on the list for next year. No one has arrived yet, so that’s a good sign.
I pick up my coffee and take a big swig to give me a little boost. Caffeine will probably be the death of me. On average, I drink about five cups of coffee during a workday, which is every day. My doctor would have a coronary if he found out.
“I made it,” Hendrix says, running to the room, holding his chest. “Where are they?”
I wave my hand around. “Do you see anyone? Isn’t he usually early? The meeting is in two minutes.”
Hendrix checks the time on his phone. “He doesn’t strike me as the type to be late to a business meeting. Especially, when it involves money.”
I shrug my shoulders and take a seat, drinking my coffee, and waiting for Denise to bring them into the boardroom, but twenty minutes passes and still no sign of him.
“Something doesn’t feel right. Are you sure you confirmed the meeting?” I ask, giving him the death stare.
“Yes. He said December twenty-thirdat two in the afternoon. It’s right here on my calendar,” he replies, showing me his calendar app.
I get up from the table, grab my coffee, and storm into my office. Something is amiss here. Glaridy wouldn’t just not show up to a meeting, especially with us. Not to sound egotistical, but he gains just as much as we do if we partner up. We are talking millions of dollars, so something didn’t get confirmed or something.
“Denise, can you get Jeff from Glaridy on the phone for me?”
“Right away, sir.”
Things like this really tick me off. I should have called and confirmed the damn meeting myself, but Hendrix seemed certain. If I had known he wasn’t going to show up, I would have gone to Grapevine today and the whole staff would be off.
“I have Glaridy on the line, sir,” Denise says.
“Hey, Jeff. It’s Stefan and Hendrix. Are you running late? We had a meeting on the calendar for today at two.”
There are people talking in the background, and children laughing. “That must have been setup in error. I’m out of the country with family for the holidays. Can we reschedule after the first of the year?”
Just as I thought. There is no reason for us to be in the office today. No one else is working. This is a slip up on Hendrix’s end. He needs to focus better. How are we going to get this company to the next level when he can’t even get a business meeting right?
“Of course, sir. Reach out to me when you are back in the states, and we will set up a time. Enjoy your holidays.”
My eyes land on Hendrix, and he puts his hands up in the air. “His assistant confirmed the date with mine and put it on our calendar. You can’t blame me for this one.”
That’s the problem. Things like this are typically his fault, and we are paying for employees to be here for no reason.
I walk past Hendrix and out of my office. “As of right now, the office is shut down until January third. Everyone go home and enjoy your vacation.”
The whole floor gets up from their desks and start gathering their stuff together to leave. We are the assholes that had them come to work today. We won’t be doing this again. Hell, I didn’t want to do it in the first place but cancelling a meeting with a potential partner and investor isn’t something you do just because there’s an upcoming holiday. No, you suck it up and just go with it. Next time, I’ll confirm the meeting myself.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“Letting them go home. No meeting, no reason to be here.” I go back into my office, grab my briefcase and keys, and lock my office door behind me. “I’ll see you in Grapevine tomorrow.”
I walk to the elevator and press the down button.
“Are you pissed at me for this?”
I close my eyes. “Let’s just forget about it. It’s almost Christmas.”
The doors open and I step inside, waiting a moment before hitting the close door button. Hendrix is standing there wide-eyed. He should have double checked and confirmed the meeting beforehand. At the very least, his assistant should have. Today has been a complete waste of time.
The metal doors shut and don’t open until I’m at the parking garage. I’m a modest man. Hendrix blows his money away, always buying all these expensive cars and crap. About three years ago, I bought myself an AUDI and a nice house, and the rest is in the bank. I understand the art of saving for a rainy day, but he doesn’t. The luxury lifestyle is like a drug to him and having it fawn over him when he waves his gold Amex around at a bar.
Hendrix is not the same kid I grew up with, but he’s still my best friend. I didn’t know he would become like this once we started making a decent living, and then the company just kept growing, and look at us now. The difference between him and me is that I won’t take it for granted. At some point, I expect to have a wife. The big house I bought is for us, and if she wants to sell it and downsize, I’m cool with that, too. Everything I’m doing right now is to benefit my future, and my retirement. Once all of this is done, I want to travel, go to Paris, and other exotic places everyone is always talking about. Sure, I have traveled for business, but it’s not the same thing. I don’t get to enjoy any of the culture or landmarks.
I fire up the engine and speed out of the garage onto the city road. Dallas is not my ideal place to live, but that’s where the headquarters are located, and for right now, it’s my home. Someday, I want to move back to Grapevine. My parents have been trying to talk me into buying a house there, and just do the commute to the office, but the problem is the traffic. I would have to leave two hours before I need to be in, to make sure I’m not late. No thanks.
It'll be nice to spend the holidays with them and see everyone else. I haven’t seen Hendrix’s family since we graduated from high school. Will the chief hate me for brainwashing his son? It’s not my fault he doesn’t visit his family but twice a year.
I need a break from this corporate bullshit and a small-town vacation in Grapevine is just what the doctor ordered. The Haddon’s can’t be that bad, right?
