The Impertinence
1 The Impertinence
“Mr Monroe, there is a woman on line two who is demanding to speak to the person who drew up the terms for the employee insurance for Melinda International,” Simon informed.
The man on the other side of the line quirked his brow. He did not expect behaviour like that from a firm so inconsequential like Osborne Solutions. The reason that he had outsourced the contract because of its simplicity.
“Yes, Simon. Obviously, I have nothing more important to do than answer a stupid woman’s phone call.” the man replied sarcastically. There was silence on the other side of the intercom. “Transfer the call,” he continued.
A moment later the telephone buzzed, and the man answered a well-spoken and level-headed woman who believed that the terms of the insurance contract exploited the rights and privileges of all who were in his employ.
“May I know your name?” the woman on the other end asked after he had explained that the terms and conditions were absolute.
“You may refer to me as Mr Chairman and nothing else,” the man answered resolutely.
“Well, Mr Chairman, I believe the world has progressed much since the Egyptians and you really need to think about the people working under you as your co-workers and not as your slaves and servants.” the woman accused.
“Is that your professional critique of the first draft that you were entrusted with?” the man answered in a surprisingly calm and collected voice.
“What?” the woman asked, flabbergasted at his cool tone. “No, I mean yes. I believe that the entire contract needs to be redrafted and made in a much more humane and legal manner. This document flouts legality like anything.” she claimed after initial befuddlement.
“Miss, may I know your name?” the Chairman asked, truly taken aback by this woman’s courage.
“My name is Daisy Durant. I am Mr Osbourne’s personal assistant and currently handling the Melinda international account.” she chirped, almost proud of herself.
“Ms Durant. I am happy that our account is in such capable hand. Why don’t you make a fresh draft of the employee insurance, and we shall be applying the terms and conditions to all our current employee contract. It will be a kind of refurbishment of the entire corporation. How would you like that?” the Chairman offered.
There was a long pause at the other end of the line. “Ms Durant are you there?” the Chairman asked, mischief dancing in his eyes.
“Yes, Mr Chairman. I am here.” Daisy answered in a daze, still processing what he just said.
“So are we in agreement, Ms Durant. I give you six weeks to make a fresh draft of the entire document and then we shall be meeting to go over the terms and conditions. Once we talk it over it shall be applied to all other hotels that I own, and Osbourne Solutions will be given the responsibility to manage all the changes.” the Chairman enumerated.
“Six weeks?” Daisy confirmed.
“Yes, Ms Durant. See you then.” the Chairman declared, ending the call.
Daisy stared at the receiver in her hand. Did she just speak to the elusive Chairman? Everyone knew that the Chairman of the Monte Carlo chain of hotels was an enigma. Politicians and Mafia lined to meet him, but he refused everyone. No one knew what he looked like. All business dealings were managed by the CEO Frederick Bartoli. Yet it was the Chairman that she spoke to. She knew that her boss, Mr Osborne would never believe her conversation with the Chairman. She did take on a responsibility she did not have time to execute. Nonetheless, many employees under the Monte Carlo Chain of Hotels needed in-service health insurance, fire insurance and so on. The only thing that the company guaranteed in the current contract was that in case that there was an injury or death on the job the employee’s family would have the opportunity to replace that person with a blood relative. Is that even an insurance? No, it is not.
