Page 75 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
That wasn’t a bad question. If Singularity was sold, whoever bought it might not keep them around. Maybe it was the coffee kicking in, but thereasonFazil was here hit like lightning. “Theywantto make sure the buyer keeps the people. Anderson’s team. If we have all our ducks lined up and look professional, why wouldn’t they?”
“That’s the idea,” Stephen said. “Andyourjob. Line up our ducks, Todd.”
He was trying. Nathan didn’t help, but Todd kept his thoughts behind his lips. “Will do, boss.” He sipped his cup.
“Ryan and their CFO aren’t getting along. That can’t be good.” Erin turned her cell phone over in her hand. “If the money’s screwed up...”
“Ryan says the guy’s an idiot.” Nathan again. Todd should have expected that. Thick as thieves, those two. “But what do you expect from a—”
“Enough.” Stephen slapped his hand on the table. “This is an engineering meeting, not the rumor mill. I want to hear your statuses.” He pointed at Nathan. “You first.”
Nathan stammered, then settled in and gave his report. They all did in turn. When Todd spoke of working with Fazil, there were a few people more than just Nathan scowling.
Not good.
Stephen gave his little rah-rah for the week, then let them go. Todd’s coffee had gone as cold as his blood. Nathan had his issues with him, sure, but something about that meeting churned Todd’s stomach. He headed to the kitchenette to top his mug off.
Erin caught up with him, her cup in hand. “You knew the Anderson guy in college, right?”
“High school.” He looked into his near-empty mug before picking up the coffeepot. “His name’s Fazil.”
She blushed. “I know. I...” She looked down the hall and dropped her voice. “Nathanhateshim. Thinks he’s an idiot. But he seems fine to me.”
He grabbed two creamers. “Nathan hates everyone who doesn’t toe his line.”
She lifted the coffeepot and poured. “Don’t I know that.” She turned back. “I think what you guys are doing is good. Making sure we have standards and procedures and something other than throwing code at the wall until it sticks.”
At least there were other people who felt that way. “If you have any suggestions or want to help...”
She grabbed a pack of sugar. “I’ll send mail.” A flash of a smile and she was gone.
Todd cradled his cup and looked out the window of the kitchen. The mountains were out today, that view Fazil loved.
He should tell Fazil and Eli that friction was brewing, but not now, lest Nathan notice. He took a sip, soaked in sunshine for a moment, and headed back to his cube.
***
Fazil tapped his fingers against the conference table and ran down his checklist. How Singularity said they did things and how they actually did things were very different. The company-wide e-mail about someone jacking up the code repository was evident of that. Where was the version control? The unit tests?
He rubbed his eyes.
“Problems?” Eli looked up from his laptop. If Fazil hadn’t known Eli better, he might have thought Eli was chewing on his thumbnail. Except Eliwaschewing on his nail.Shit.
Fazil gestured at his screen. “I’m sure you saw the mail. It’s like they don’twantour help.”
“I saw.” Eli leaned back. “Change is hard. You know this.”
He did. They’d done this before—not him and Eli, but this was far from Fazil’s first rodeo. “I don’t know what it is about this job, Eli. It seems—”
There was a knock on the door and they both froze. When the door swung open, it was Dr. Jackson. Fazil glanced at his clock. Right on time. He straightened in his chair.
“Gentlemen.”
Eli also looked the consummate professional again. “Dr. Jackson.”
She waved away the title and took a seat. “Please. Sandra.” Once settled she took a deep breath. “I have news, but I’m afraid you won’t like it.”
There was Eli’s thin smile, right on cue. “Ryan stays.”
