"I'll make the necessary arrangements," says Leach. "Goodnight."
Next. The month keeps ticking by and your work obligations leave you precious little time to stay in touch with friends and family. Increasingly, these people seem to belong to a previous life - the life you lived before you took on your responsibilities as head of MetaHuman. You start getting lunches and dinners out of the office. At least that way, it almost feels like you have a modicum of social life.
One such occasion occurs at the end of the month, when Ahmed Mahadi arrives in Seattle. He is the lead buyer for a major supplier of medical products in Asia, as well as a buyer and consultant for several government agencies in the same area. As non-essential products, MetaHuman's pharmaceutical line is not restricted by the same legal injunction that currently blocks development and sales of the company's existing enhancements. Right now, you're essentially relying on sales of these smaller, non-essential products to keep the company alive. Mahadi has asked to meet with you during your US trip, and while he's been somewhat vague about the precise areas he wants to discuss, you know he has the clout to place a big order with MetaHuman, giving the company a very warm welcome. -coming. revenue increase.
Leach informs him that Mahadi is a great golfer. Too bad the January weather in Seattle precludes such a sport. Instead, you find it at an upscale restaurant, The Cupola. He is an amiable Saudi with an astute multicultural perspective on various political and business world events. He attributes the latter trait to his Australian wife: "I tend to see things through the lens of my Middle Eastern upbringing," he says with a smile. "She's the one who reminds me that the world is huge and full of points of view very different from mine."
The two of you spend an hour talking and enjoying good food. But then, when the subject turns to your work, he looks at you and asks, "Between you and me, out of earshot of the journalists: Do you really feel like you're the right person to lead this company?"