heard about this Sarah?”
“What?”
“Andrew Cross.”
“What about him?”
“He's coming here. To Milners.”
“Why?”
“He says he owes it to the workforce to explain the reasons for closure.” Kathy rolled her eye. “I reckon he must have a death wish.”
“When is he coming?”
“Day after tomorrow. I nominate Sarah to be our representative on the stage with him.”
“Seconded.” Geoff said.
“Thirded. Is that a word?” Jody had joined them.
“Forget it. I've done my bit. It's someone else's turn. Anyway, I'm doing something on Friday.”
“You're a hopeless liar,” Kathy said.
It was true. Sarah couldn't lie for toffee.
“I'm still not doing it. You'll have to find someone else this time.
Chapter 8
By the time Friday arrived, Sarah was a nervous wreck. All of her efforts to duck the meeting with Andrew Cross had failed. Everyone had insisted she was the only person for the job. Sarah still remembered how she had been humiliated by him the last time they had shared a stage together. At least this time it wouldn't be on live TV.
“You will be fine.” Kathy put her arm around Sarah. “You've got us to back you up this time.”
That much was true. Sarah wondered if Andrew Cross realised what he was letting himself in for. It was one thing arguing your case in the comfort of a TV studio; it would be something altogether different to sit in front of a hostile audience. They didn't come much more hostile than Kathy and Jody.
“I'm okay.” Sarah didn't sound very convincing. “I just want to get it over with. What's the time?”
“Four twenty. Not long now. I'll see you later.” Kathy disappeared in the direction of the works canteen where the meeting was to be held.
Sarah still didn't understand why Andrew Cross had agreed to do this - he hadn't needed to. It was probably a PR stunt. He would no doubt have arranged a photographer to capture the event, so he could show what a reasonable man of the people he was. Sarah was certain nothing was going to change the outcome – Milners would still close. He had made that abundantly clear when they had last met.
Everyone else had made their way to the canteen. Sarah was the only one still in the office. Her mouth was dry; her palms were sweaty. How would she feel when she actually saw him again? She wouldn't have to wait long to find out – his limousine had just pulled through the main gates. Now her heart was racing too. At this rate, she would probably pass out before she got on stage. Her office was on the first floor; she had a perfect view of the car as it pulled up outside the canteen across the way.
A few of the workers on their way to the meeting stopped to admire the car. When the back door of the limousine opened, Sarah pressed her nose against the window to get a better view. When he stepped from the car, he stopped and exchanged words with some of the workers. His smile suggested they were taking it easy on him, and saving their slings and arrows for the meeting.
“Oh well.” Sarah took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.”
*******
As expected, the meeting was a lively affair. Andrew Cross had not invited a photographer. Whether he had anticipated the levels of acrimony was difficult to gauge, but he didn't shy away from even the most difficult questions. There was a lot of anger in the audience, and a few people crossed the line and became abusive. They were in the minority – the vast majority kept their anger under control. Andrew Cross gave full and detailed answers, but didn't offer even a grain of hope for the future of Milners. By the end of the meeting, Sarah felt that at least a percentage of those who attended now understood the current problems were the result of failings by the previous owners. Not everyone was convinced, but then some were never going to be. Kathy for one.
By six O' clock, the meeting had ended. Sarah and Andrew Cross were the only
“What?”
“Andrew Cross.”
“What about him?”
“He's coming here. To Milners.”
“Why?”
“He says he owes it to the workforce to explain the reasons for closure.” Kathy rolled her eye. “I reckon he must have a death wish.”
“When is he coming?”
“Day after tomorrow. I nominate Sarah to be our representative on the stage with him.”
“Seconded.” Geoff said.
“Thirded. Is that a word?” Jody had joined them.
“Forget it. I've done my bit. It's someone else's turn. Anyway, I'm doing something on Friday.”
“You're a hopeless liar,” Kathy said.
It was true. Sarah couldn't lie for toffee.
“I'm still not doing it. You'll have to find someone else this time.
Chapter 8
By the time Friday arrived, Sarah was a nervous wreck. All of her efforts to duck the meeting with Andrew Cross had failed. Everyone had insisted she was the only person for the job. Sarah still remembered how she had been humiliated by him the last time they had shared a stage together. At least this time it wouldn't be on live TV.
“You will be fine.” Kathy put her arm around Sarah. “You've got us to back you up this time.”
That much was true. Sarah wondered if Andrew Cross realised what he was letting himself in for. It was one thing arguing your case in the comfort of a TV studio; it would be something altogether different to sit in front of a hostile audience. They didn't come much more hostile than Kathy and Jody.
“I'm okay.” Sarah didn't sound very convincing. “I just want to get it over with. What's the time?”
“Four twenty. Not long now. I'll see you later.” Kathy disappeared in the direction of the works canteen where the meeting was to be held.
Sarah still didn't understand why Andrew Cross had agreed to do this - he hadn't needed to. It was probably a PR stunt. He would no doubt have arranged a photographer to capture the event, so he could show what a reasonable man of the people he was. Sarah was certain nothing was going to change the outcome – Milners would still close. He had made that abundantly clear when they had last met.
Everyone else had made their way to the canteen. Sarah was the only one still in the office. Her mouth was dry; her palms were sweaty. How would she feel when she actually saw him again? She wouldn't have to wait long to find out – his limousine had just pulled through the main gates. Now her heart was racing too. At this rate, she would probably pass out before she got on stage. Her office was on the first floor; she had a perfect view of the car as it pulled up outside the canteen across the way.
A few of the workers on their way to the meeting stopped to admire the car. When the back door of the limousine opened, Sarah pressed her nose against the window to get a better view. When he stepped from the car, he stopped and exchanged words with some of the workers. His smile suggested they were taking it easy on him, and saving their slings and arrows for the meeting.
“Oh well.” Sarah took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.”
*******
As expected, the meeting was a lively affair. Andrew Cross had not invited a photographer. Whether he had anticipated the levels of acrimony was difficult to gauge, but he didn't shy away from even the most difficult questions. There was a lot of anger in the audience, and a few people crossed the line and became abusive. They were in the minority – the vast majority kept their anger under control. Andrew Cross gave full and detailed answers, but didn't offer even a grain of hope for the future of Milners. By the end of the meeting, Sarah felt that at least a percentage of those who attended now understood the current problems were the result of failings by the previous owners. Not everyone was convinced, but then some were never going to be. Kathy for one.
By six O' clock, the meeting had ended. Sarah and Andrew Cross were the only
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