Page 88 of Gamers' Omega
My eyes landed on the wall of games, and I remembered all the evenings spent discussing what we wanted to play.
When to take the test was my decision, but it was alsoourdecision. I didn’t have to make it alone.
I checked that Pico was playing happily on his play stand, then returned to the kitchen to prep ingredients. That way dinner would come together quickly once everybody was home.
Freddie and Ian arrived first, deep in discussion as they walked in.
“They have a right to bid, just like everybody else,” Freddie stated.
“Theyhada right,” Ian retorted. “Last year, like the rest of us. It’s a five-year contract. It’s stupid for them to breeze into town with a big-name firm and expect the city to just bend to their will. They can bid when it comes up for renewal.”
“Did you guys bid?” Freddie asked.
Ian snorted. “Of course not. There’s a lot more to that contract than meets the eye. I’d be willing to bet money they haven’t looked at previous bids to see what’s included. Set storage is a huge part of it. The city isn’t just paying for it to be rebuilt every year, which I bet is what they think is happening. No, all those temporary buildings are reused year after year. Lowell has the space for them, but we don’t. We’ve got enough for current projects, and maybe a bit for things that are priced too good to pass up, but there’s no way we’d be able to just have the winter market sets hanging around nine months of the year.”
Freddie walked over and pulled me into his arms. “Hey, Sweetheart. How are you doing today?”
I smiled. “Good.”
“Good.” He looked at the counter. “Where’s Tony? Wasn’t he cooking tonight?”
I motioned to the whiteboard. “According to Beck, he’s working late.”
Freddie glanced over, then nodded. “Fair enough.”
“What were you guys talking about?”
“The Valle Granja Winter Market,” Ian stated. “Some new national chain contracting firm is trying to establish themselves here, and are pitching a fit that bids aren’t open for the building and labor of running it. But bids were last year. They missed their chance. They’re just hoping that if they raise enough of a stink the public will force the city’s hands.”
“Jokes on them though,” Freddie laughed. “I’ve seen the bids since they have to be public and all. Lowell’s not taking a loss, but he’s not making anything either. He charges for expected labor and upkeep, and only a nominal amount for storage. And his firm has the benefit of experience. They know how it all goes together so it’s fast. It would take anybody else extra time to streamline that process. Any attempt for anybody else to match labor costs would put them in the red for at least a few years until they got it all figured out.”
“Not to mention that, according to surveys, the Winter Market is one of the highest-rated events the city puts on,” Ian added. “Sure, this big firm might get a few transplants from other areas riled up, but the majority of citizens won’t support them. Why reopen bids early when there’s no problem with thefirm that’s been handling it for years? That’s a stupid waste of time and money.”
“And what a way to piss off your competition too,” Freddie said. “Bidding is one of the worst parts of things like this. Nobody wants to do it just because somebody’s crying that they missed their chance.”
“Shooting themselves in the foot, for sure,” Ian agreed.
“What do you mean?” I asked. “Why would they care if they’re pissing off the competition?”
“Because we all get busy and have to pass on projects from time to time,” Freddie explained. “We all want as many as come our way, but it’s not always feasible. The polite thing to do is tell the client that it’s not possible, but also suggest other firms that we’ve worked with or have good results and track records. Potential clients are happy to have good referrals to work off of, which is something they remember when making their own recommendations, and other firms are happy to give referrals back when they can’t do something.”
“Guess who isn’t getting any referrals,” Ian laughed. “Why would we want to suggest somebody who wants to make more needless work for the rest of us?”
I nodded slowly. “I think I get it.”
“Good,” Ian replied as he moved in to kiss me. “Now, how was your day?”
“Decent,” I replied. “Busy, but not slammed. Good tips.” I took a deep breath. “I-I picked up tests on the way home.”
There was a moment of silence.
“Have you taken them yet?” Freddie asked.
I shook my head. “I wanted all of you here.”
“So as soon as Tony gets home?” Ian asked.
“I thought we’d discuss it.”
