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Chapter III

Pedro Gonzalez

“Good morning”, the man greeted him cheerfully, with a slight Spanish accent.

“Good morning to you”, replied Marco to the unknown person.

He was a man of around seventy years old, as suggested by his short white hair, which gave him an aura of wisdom.

Although he was quite aged, the old gentleman gave an impression of exceptional vigour, both mental and physical, as shown by the vivaciousness which lit his face, and his slim figure, determined by be taller than normal and his body being slim, but with no semblance of fragility or weakness.

The fact that his exterior appearance was cared for in a fanatical manner, just like his elegant clothes, worthy of the most prominent of businessmen, caused Marco to believe with good reason that he had in the past held an important managerial role, like the one he was getting ready to take up in the United States.

“Are you also on your way to my beloved Spain?” he asked in a friendly manner.

“No, I’ve booked a flight to New York, I’m moving there for work.”

“I suppose it must be an important job opportunity to cause you to make a move of that kind” he observed in practically perfect Italian.

“Yes, exactly. A few months ago, I received an important offer from JW Corporation, which I promptly accepted, on the condition that I could finish the working year here, without therefore prejudicing the plans of the company I was working for.

As you can imagine, I met some resistance from my loved ones and my employer, but I decided to stick to my decision, determined to take an opportunity like the one that had presented itself to me.”

“What job have you been offered?”

“Managing Director, the same as I have been doing at the Brescia firm that I helped make successful.”

“It reminds me a lot of my own story.”

“Are you in business?”

“Yes, I also worked as a manager.”

“Can I ask you for some advice about managing important firms? Doubtless from the heights of your working experience you can give me some useful advice.”

“Considering your achievements, which from your account seem to me to be grandiose, I don’t think you need any advice”, the man cut short with a gracious smile. “Anyway, if you like, I can share with you my own life experience.”

“I would be honoured”, replied Marco with unusual respect, inspired by the strong personality of his interlocutor.

“Also I, Pedro Gonzalez, managed a small firm in the country of my birth, with appreciable results”, he began modestly. “Everything seemed to be going well, anyway my ambition had often caused me to desire a higher level role, notwithstanding the fact that the humility which characterises me did not excessively fuel these dreams of glory.

Anyway, one warm Spring afternoon, I received a fax from a leading firm in the textile industry in Italy, which offered me the job of Managing Director.

Suddenly, what I had long been secretly aspiring to had materialised and, after discussing at length with my family over what to do, I decided to leave, as I had already decided right from first reading of the communication I had received.