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  Encouraged by Donna’s support, Roy had thrown himself energetically into the job search: scouring the internet and his own network of contacts for details of suitable companies which might be in need of someone like him. His energy and optimism were, however, beginning to fade a little. The letter he had just completed was his one hundredth. Out of the hundred letters, he had so far received just ten replies, and, of those, seven were a polite ‘No thanks’. He had been invited to three interviews, been rejected twice and was awaiting a reply from the last one. It wasn’t looking too good; maybe Dad was right.

  ***

  His thoughts were interrupted when Donna arrived home around 1.30 pm – it was Friday, one of the days she only worked in the morning. After twenty-two years of marriage, Roy still felt a frisson when his wife walked through the door. She was tall, with a trim figure, pretty face, soft hazel brown eyes, and dark blonde hair, styled in a bob. In temperament she was calm and thoughtful: on many occasions she had helped Roy see his way through difficult business issues – despite having no specific business knowledge – by acting as his sounding board. Whenever Roy was feeling down, Donna could lift his spirits and make him laugh.

  He kissed her, and then poured them each a glass of wine.

  ‘How was work this morning?’ he asked.

  ‘Same as usual: 8B were insufferable. How was job-hunting?’

  ‘Same as usual,’ he replied: ‘no offers, no interviews, and no more replies. But I have another batch of letters ready for posting. I’ll just run down to the post box with these, and then let’s declare that the weekend has started.’

  They had both agreed that Roy should treat the job-hunting like a regular Monday to Friday job, and take time off at weekends so that they could spend time together and maintain some semblance of normality in their lives.

  ‘OK, I’ll fix some lunch while you do that,’ said Donna.

  When Roy returned, fifteen minutes later, Donna was not fixing lunch: she was sitting on the sofa, engrossed in the local newspaper, “The Leamington Observer”, which she had bought on her way home from work. She looked thoughtful.

  ‘Anything exciting happening?’ asked Roy, playfully: ‘Church jumble sale, open day at the local council offices, shoplifting at the corner shop?’

  She ignored the jibe. ‘There’s a really strange job in here – for this paper I mean. ‘Have you heard of a company called “Rothorpe Automotive”?’

  ‘Yes, it’s quite near to here. I think they make dashboard instrument clusters and the like for upmarket cars like Jaguar, BMW and so on. Why do you ask?’

  ‘They are advertising for a “Director of Manufacturing”. Take a look at the ad.’

  Roy sat down beside her and scanned the advert.

  “Rothorpe Automotive, a world leader in customised automotive instrument displays, requires a Director of Manufacturing to head up its manufacturing operations and drive through a program of change and modernisation. The successful candidate will have at least 5 years’ experience of running manufacturing operations in the electronics / technology sector and will be fully conversant with introducing ‘world-class’ manufacturing and quality assurance methods such as Lean Manufacturing, and Total Quality. The position will involve managing a workforce of over 250 people, supported by an experienced team of Supervisors. Salary and benefits are negotiable and will be commensurate with the importance of this senior position in a market-leading company.”

  He turned to Donna. ‘Well, there’s no doubt that in terms of experience and qualifications, its right up my street.’

  ‘Well I thought so too,’ she said, looking pleased.

  Roy continued, ‘It would be a step back, though. I worked hard to get my first crack at being a Managing Director and running a whole company. It would be a shame to step back to just running a manufacturing function – and I don’t suppose they will pay anything like what I was getting before.’

  ‘Yes, I can see that,’ said Donna, ‘but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. You don’t know how long it’s going to take to find the ideal job. If you could get this one, you could keep looking for something better, and we wouldn’t have to move house. Anyway,’ she added with a glint in her eye, ‘they might not want you.’

  ‘Cheeky mare!’ he exclaimed. ‘But you are clever to even think of looking in the local paper. I would never have guessed that they would ever carry adverts for senior management posts like this.’

  ‘You see?’ she said, preening. ‘I keep telling you that I’m more than just an extraordinarily pretty face.’

  They decided to go out to their local pub for lunch instead of eating at home.

  ‘I thought,’ said Roy, as they finished their deserts, ‘that eating out was only on special occasions now.’

  ‘Well if you get that job, it will be a special occasion,’ she countered, laughing.

  ‘Hold on, I haven’t even decided to apply for it yet.’

  ‘Well OK, but after enduring that horrible Benjamin Spears and Matt Lovelock in 8B this morning, I reckon that I deserve a little treat anyway,’ she said, feigning a pained and wronged expression.

  Roy smiled. ‘Yes, I guess you do.’

  By next morning, Roy had decided. Over breakfast, he said to Donna, ‘I think I should go for that job. What do I have to lose?’ Donna smiled; she knew Roy better than he knew himself.

  Chapter 2

  Roy got the job. He strode into Rothorpe Automotive Reception at 9.00 am on his first day in his new job. Sitting at the reception desk was a pretty young girl with long dark hair tied back in a ponytail. Roy had already met her when he had previously come for interviews

  ‘Good morning Mr. Groves’, she said, smiling.

  ‘Good morning Lucy – and please, now that I’ve officially started, why don’t you call me Roy?’ he said.

  ‘Well OK Roy, I’ll let Shirley know you are here.’

  ***

  The ‘Shirley’ in question was Shirley Stevens: Roy’s new boss. When Roy had first met Shirley, he liked her immediately. She was a very large American woman, probably in her early forties, with a sharp brain and a warm, likeable manner. Her face was round and plump, framed by short, chestnut-coloured hair, and punctuated with intense blue eyes which hinted at a formidable intellect. She spent more time listening than talking – unusual for a corporate American, thought Roy – and offered intelligent, insightful comment on whatever was being discussed. She explained that the parent company, Rothorpe Corporation was mainly in the business of supplying electronic equipment for the military, but that the Consumer Products Division – which included Rothorpe Automotive – was a small, but growing part of the Corporation’s portfolio. She had recently been sent to the UK to run Rothorpe Automotive but volunteered that she only expected to be here for another couple of years. Roy surmised that she was probably a high-flyer within the Corporation: someone given challenging assignments and expected to sort them out quickly before moving on. Maybe if she did move on, there could be an opportunity for Roy to step up.

  ***

  Shirley came around the corner into reception. She walked with a peculiar rolling gait, on account of her considerable bulk. Roy stood up and shook her hand.

  ‘Hello again Roy; welcome to Rothorpe Automotive. Come along to my office and I’ll run through with you what we have arranged for your first day.’

  When they reached Shirley’s office, she eased herself into her chair with a sigh.

  ‘It’s a good day to be starting, because in – she looked at her watch – just fifteen minutes, we have our weekly management team meeting, which I’d like you to come along to. Obviously, you won’t be familiar with most of what gets discussed but it’s a good opportunity to meet the other four guys in the management team. After the meeting you can arrange to spend some time with each of them to get to know them a little better.’

  The meeting lasted around two hours during which time Roy said very little after initial introductions, since mos
t of the subject matter didn’t really mean much to him at this stage.

  As they filed out of the room Kevin Brethan, Director of Design and Development, came up to Roy. Kevin was of medium height and build, with short mid-brown hair, and – as Roy had observed during the meeting – a clear, accurate and concise way of speaking. He was clearly a bright guy.

  ‘What are you doing for lunch?’ asked Kevin.

  ‘Oh, I’ve nothing planned.’

  ‘Well, then why don’t you join me for a pie and a pint at the local? I have meetings most of the afternoon and then I’m on holiday for a week so it’s probably our best opportunity to get together.’

  ‘OK, sounds good,’ said Roy.

  One of the others also came over. Len Douglas, Director of Logistics spoke with a Geordie accent so broad as to be almost unintelligible at times.

  ‘I’ve got nowt special on this afternoon: actually, I’ve got nowt special on most afternoons; don’t know why they hired us really.’ Roy was beginning to realise that this guy had a rather weird sense of humour. ‘If y’want t’ come and see us after y’ finish yer chat with Kevin, that’ll be champion.’

  Roy just about followed this and replied, ‘OK – about 2.30 then?’

  ‘Aye; see y’ then.’

  ***

  There were very few people in the pub so early on that Monday lunchtime, so it was easy for Roy and Kevin to find a quiet table where they could talk privately.

  ‘So,’ said Kevin after taking a sip of his beer, ‘welcome to the team.’

  ‘Thanks. I’m looking forward to working with all of you.’

  ‘Well, it’s not a moment too soon, because our manufacturing facility could certainly do with shaking up a bit – but that’s probably a discussion for another day. Anyway, for now, shall I start by telling you a bit about myself and what goes on in my department?’

  ‘Yes, OK’

  ‘Well,’ began Kevin, ‘my background is in electronic hardware design. I used to work for a telecoms company in South Wales before joining Rothorpe about five years ago. They were looking for a project manager, to head up the design and development of a new product range. It looked like a really good opportunity, so I went for it, and I got it. Obviously, that meant we would have to move, and my wife, Kay, would have to give up her job, but she was looking for a change anyway, so that wasn’t a big deal.’

  Kevin gave a wry smile as he described what happened next. ‘Just one month after I started, Kay discovered she was pregnant. Actually, it was an accident, but in truth, the timing wasn’t so bad. We had planned to start a family eventually and this was probably as good a time as any, with Kay having just given up her job.’

  Roy smiled. ‘Sometimes it’s best when things just happen, rather than everything being planned.’

  ‘Wait, it gets better. The baby turned out to be babies: Kay gave birth to twin boys. When she discovered what a handful it was to care for two new-born babies at the same time, she quickly gave up all thoughts of returning to work any time soon.’

  Roy laughed. ‘I can imagine.’

  ‘And I’m afraid I wasn’t a great deal of help either, because I had a hell of a lot on my plate with the new job. I soon realised that although they had kicked off this project and hired me to run it, they really hadn’t done their homework. They just hadn’t put in the work to find out what the target customers really wanted from the new product range, so I couldn’t be sure that the product specification was right.’

  ‘And I guess that meant you felt uneasy about ploughing on with detailed design work?’

  ‘Exactly: If I produced a product range which bombed in the market, not only would it be very damaging to the company, but it would probably also be the end of my short career with Rothorpe. Anyway, I put the detailed design on hold and then spent hours, days, and weeks with the Marketing people and with potential customers, to make sure we really understood what would be needed for the new product range to significantly leapfrog the competition.’

  Roy nodded. ‘How did your bosses react?’

  Kevin exhaled a deep sigh. ‘They didn’t like it. I was coming under more and more pressure to stop “procrastinating” and get on with the project properly. I tried to convince them that it was crazy to commit resources to detailed design until we got the product specification right. However, all they could see was that time was slipping away, and that we might not hit the planned launch date. At this point, I began to think they might just fire me – actually, I think they would have done if they had anyone else lined up to take over.’

  ‘I can certainly see why you wouldn’t have had much time to help Kay with the twins,’ said Roy.

  ‘Hmm, yes, I was rather preoccupied with problems at work. Anyway, I stuck with it, and little by little, the time which appeared to have been lost in the early stages of the project was clawed back. In the end, the launch took place one month ahead of the planned date, so all of a sudden I was a hero rather than a villain.’

  ‘Well, all credit to you for sticking to your guns.’

  Kevin nodded, acknowledging the compliment. ‘One year later, my boss was offered early retirement and I was promoted to take his place, as Director of Design and Development.’

  Roy wondered why Kevin was so eager to tell this little story. It was interesting to know a bit about Kevin’s background, but it didn’t seem too relevant to helping Roy learn about the current working environment. As if in answer to Roy’s unspoken question, Kevin then went on to explain in detail how this experience had shaped the whole Marketing/Design interface for subsequent design projects, pointing out, quietly but forcibly that it was very much his personal influence which had brought this change about.

  At length, Kevin paused, and looked directly at Roy, in what Roy interpreted as a somewhat challenging manner. It seemed almost as though he was trying to set out his credentials to the new boy right from the outset; Roy didn’t react. At this point, their bar meals arrived, which helped diffuse the unspoken tension which was building.

  As they started to eat, Kevin switched tack. ‘So how about you then? What made you choose this company?’

  ‘Well,’ said Roy, ‘I think it’s more a case of the company choosing me. I lost my last job as a result of a takeover, and I needed to find a new one. This job looked right up my street, so I applied. Fortunately, Shirley thought I could do a good job, so here I am.’

  Kevin looked unconvinced by this cryptic summary. ‘But you were Managing Director of your last company weren’t you?’

  ‘Yes, but as my main expertise is in modernising manufacturing operations, this job looked ideal.’

  ‘But didn’t you want another MD job?’

  Roy could now see where this was going; he smiled pleasantly at Kevin. ‘Ideally yes, I suppose, but such jobs weren’t exactly falling into my lap. In any case, I liked the look of this company and this job.’

  Kevin hesitated for a few seconds, as if struggling to frame his next question appropriately. Roy could guess where he was going with this.

  ‘Look,’ said Roy, ‘I needed a job, and this sounded like one I thought could do well. It’s not for life, but I will give it my all for as long as I am in the job. Shall we just leave it at that?’

  Kevin nodded, and they proceeded to finish their meals in near-silence.

  ***

  After the rather awkward lunch meeting with Kevin, Roy spent a couple of hours with Len Douglas who ran the Logistics and Distribution functions. Len was tall and slim, with short, dark hair, greying a little at the temples. He wore a perfectly-cut suit teamed with a pale blue shirt and narrow grey silk tie, secured with a gold stud. With his neatly trimmed moustache and sharp dress sense, he looked like a guy who cared a lot about his appearance.

  Len was friendly and open, as he outlined his part of the business, although his opaque Geordie accent was a bit of a challenge at first. Anyway, Roy liked him: his self-deprecating manner and off-beat sense of humour were strangely endearing, a
nd in-between jokes it was clear that he knew his stuff.

  By 5.00 pm. Roy’s head was starting to ache a little. He had had enough for his first day. Len’s desk – like Roy’s – was situated in the middle of a large open plan office. This was undoubtedly good for communication but did make it a little difficult to concentrate: there were frequent distractions in the form of background noise and people coming and going. One particular person had distracted Roy several times that afternoon: a blonde woman aged around forty, who made frequent trips to the photocopier. She wore a grey, knee length, closely tailored skirt, over dark stockings, and a pale blue, clingy, figure hugging top – clothes which showed off her superb figure and slim, shapely legs to best advantage. Her confident, upright posture and elegant walk added to the effect. With her Roman nose and sharp, almost severe features, she wasn’t exactly beautiful, but she definitely had a certain something. The overall effect was quite striking.

  Concentrate on the job in hand, Roy admonished himself, as he pulled on his jacket and headed for home.

  ***

  Len Douglas was sitting at his desk, having just finished his ‘induction’ meeting with the new guy they had hired to run Manufacturing. He had to stay late that evening as there was a stock-take taking place in the Despatch department and he wanted to see the results before going home. Whist he was waiting to hear the results, he found himself thinking about his forthcoming marriage.

  Len had been married twice before, but both marriages had broken down when he had been caught with other women. Len was – he had to admit – his own worst enemy; his roving eye had been his downfall. However, all this had happened before he started at Rothorpe Automotive, and before he met Sonia.