Читать книгу I Hate Walt - Vicki Andree - Страница 21

Friday morning, Mary Lou made a special effort to get to the sales meeting early, anticipating her cruise to the Bahamas. One by one, the other members of her department ambled into the sterile conference room and found seats at the oversized table. Joe sat next to her. After all nineteen of them had arrived, Walt Pederson appeared in front of them.

Another man, unfamiliar to Mary Lou, walked into the room and took a chair against the wall. He nodded at Walt. Walt nodded back and smiled.

Mary Lou pressed her five-foot frame deeper into her chair. Is Walt Pederson the cross I must bear? God, I want You to deal with this man. After working for him for five years, I still have no idea what he will do or say. Just look at him, standing up there like he’s You.

Walt Pederson stood at the whiteboard in front of the conference table with his “I’m CEO of International Enterprises and you’d better sit up and take notice” attitude. He sucked in his gut and loudly asked, “Seven salesmen and one woman make up the sales and marketing team for International Enterprises. Four of you are sales support. Joe, this is your team. What is wrong with this picture?”

An uncomfortable silence begged him to answer his own question.

Ten excruciating seconds later, he bellowed, “Not a one of you guys can sell. That’s what’s the matter!” His face crimson, he slammed his fist down on the conference table.

Joe Gillespie, the sales director, stood up. “Walt, I have to disagree with you. Mary Lou sold far beyond what either one of us predicted this year. You admitted that yourself when we calculated the year-end sales.”

Walt looked down his nose. “Who asked you, Gillespie? Are you saying we need more women on the sales force?” He let out a loud snicker. “This isn’t a bake sale, Gillespie. Think about it—we sell heavy equipment for oil drilling. It’s a man’s business.” He glared at Mary Lou.

Mary Lou felt her face get hot. What is wrong with him? He thought I’d be a “nice addition to the sales department” five years ago when he interviewed me. What? Was I not supposed to sell product? Every time I sell something, he makes money. Why can’t he be nice to me?

Joe sat back down. “We’ve met our quotas, and more.”

Walt set his fists on his hips. “You guys didn’t make your quotas.” Then he pointed at Mary Lou. “She did. I saw the individual sales reports, and she made up for what your guys missed. Your guys are not pulling their weight.” Walt glanced at the man sitting against the wall. “This will change.”

Walt glared at Mary Lou and shook his finger in her face. “And you—no more sleeping with clients.”

He did not just say that. Her shoulders tightened. Sleep with a client? Is that what he thinks it takes to close a deal? Shocked, she could only blink in reply.

Then Walt looked around the room at the men and laughed. “You guys need to do whatever it takes to close. Now, down to the reason for this little get-together. Top salesperson for 2012…” He put on his reading glasses and looked around the table. “Drum roll, please.”

Everyone tapped the desk until Walt held up his hand for them to stop. “The winner and still champion, Mary Lou Stots.”

Mary Lou stood up to receive the dark plaque Walt held out to her. Then he snatched it back before she could take it. “Mary Lou, stand up. Oh, you’re already standing.” He roared a laugh, and the others joined in, except for Joe.

Walt handed the plaque to Mary Lou in a grandiose gesture. She grasped it and held it out in front of her. She inspected the gold lettering on the polished walnut board. It read, International Enterprises, Salesman of the Year 2012. Under that, she read her name: Mary Lou Sluts.

Sluts? She blinked to clear her eyes and inspected the third line a second time. They misspelled my name. For crying out loud, did Walt do this on purpose? Heat crept into her cheeks.

Salesman of the year? Do I look like a man? She put on her best business smile and muttered, “Thank you.” She sat and placed the plaque face down in her lap.

Walt continued, “As you know, the prize for first in sales is a four-day cruise, so Mary Lou will be taking a luxurious cruise to the Bahamas. Everyone give her a hand.” His smile bordered somewhere between evil and conniving.