The Consultant Read Online Free PDF

when his gait gave the appearance of spontaneity.  
    “Hello, Mr. Patoff,” said a familiar-looking woman whose name Craig didn’t know.  
    “Hello, Natalie.” He smiled at her. “But call me Regus.” He waved to other employees as he continued down the hall to the elevator, greeting many of them by name.  
    He might have been friendly, but he was not anyone’s friend, Craig thought, and he wondered how many people realized that.  
    “That guy’s a creep,” Elaine whispered. “I don’t trust him.”  
    “Thank you!” Craig said.  
    The consultant got into the elevator, smiling blandly out at everyone on the floor as the doors closed.  
    “What do you think’s going to happen?” Elaine asked. “I heard that we might have to file for bankruptcy if there aren’t major cuts.”  
    “There are a lot of rumors floating around,” Craig told her.  
    “Yeah, but what do you think?”  
    “If they hired consultants, there are going to be cuts. And, according to Phil, these consultants have done some serious damage to other companies they’ve been brought in to, quote unquote, help . He did a little research of his own and said BFG is known for recommending major layoffs. Among other things.”  
    Elaine’s mouth was a thin angry line. “I’m sending out résumés. I’m not waiting.”  
    “I really think our department might be safe. I’ve been thinking about it, trying to analyze the situation, and they need us. I think they’ll cut elsewhere.”  
    “They don’t need anyone. And who’s to say they won’t fire us and bring in newer, younger people for a fraction of our salaries?” She shook her head. “I’m sending out résumés.”  
    It probably wasn’t such a bad idea, he thought as they parted. It might even give him some leverage if his job was threatened. They might want to keep him if they knew someone else wanted him.  
    His stomach muscles were tight and tense as he returned to his office. He told Lupe that Scott had ordered all of the division heads to help the department put on a good face by coming in to work this weekend.  
    “When do you need me here?” she asked.  
    “I don’t,” he said. “I’m not asking you to come in.”  
    “My job’s on the line, too,” Lupe said. “So if I have to be married to CompWare while they’re doing their study, I’ll do it. I’m coming in.”  
    “It might not be such a bad idea,” he admitted.  
    “What time?”  
    “Make it mid-morning. There’s no real work for you to do. There’s no real work for me to do. But we’ll make sure we’re seen, parade up and down until some higher-up notices us, then we’ll bail.”  
    “But Mr. Cho—”  
    “If Mr. Cho or anyone else has a complaint, I’ll just tell them that we got our work done quickly and it didn’t take us as long as everyone else because we’re more competent and efficient.”  
    Lupe giggled.  
    “Don’t worry. We’re not wasting our whole Saturday here.”  
    At home, Angie fixed him with a hard stare when he told her he would have to put in an hour or so at work on Saturday. They were in the kitchen, and with Dylan close by in the living room, taking down the Hot Wheels tracks he’d set up earlier, she kept her voice low. “I know I’m off this weekend, but you promised to take him and one of his friends to the children’s museum.”  
    “I’ll still have plenty of time.”  
    “That’s not the point. You promised . He’s expecting to spend the whole day with you.”  
    “Which friend did he pick?” Craig asked.  
    “Zack.”  
    He grinned. “I guess I’m lucky I have to work.”  
    She frowned at him. “That’s not funny. You know Dylan’s been looking forward to this all week.”  
    “I know. But I told you, I’ll go into work early and be back before the museum even opens.”  
    “He expects you to spend the day with him. When you make a promise to your son, you need to keep it.”  
    “What do you