Yuen-Mong's Revenge (50 page)

     
"My grandfather gave me a rundown on the functions each of you performs. He also told me that the first order of business of a new chief
director is to appoint a co-chairperson. In the past, when UniCom was
jointly controlled by the Deng and Young families, this has been a simple
matter of protocol. Things have changed. The Deng and Young families
have become the two major minority shareholders —"

 
     
There was a sharp intake of breaths by several people.

     
"— yes, gentlemen, Atun Caruna and I form a third block, and we will
remain independent. Therefore, a new arrangement is called for. I will re-appoint Mr. Kim Deng as co-chairman and he will be joined by Mr. Ko
Young as the second co-chairman. I will keep for myself the role of chief
executive officer." Without even looking, she felt her grandfather’s stern
disapproving face on her. "I will be assisted in this role for day-to-day
matters by Ko Young, in his new role as vice-president of operations."
This had been Syd Twan’s advice.

     
"I am sure it will be of no surprise to you that Atun Caruna and I
intend to develop instantcom —"

     
She sensed the tension rising sharply around the table.

     
 "— as a new division of UniCom, headed by him. Both he and I will
be actively involved in its further research, at least initially."

 
     
Sensing Xi Deng’s outrage, she focused on him. "Mr. Deng, you wish
to say something."

 
     
He was visibly startled to be addressed without having given any sign
that he wished to talk and cleared his throat several times. "I think it is
unwise to have research splintered over different divisions of the company and especially to have it as a part of a products division. It confuses
functional responsibilities and leads to undesirable duplication. I
therefore strongly recommend that UniCom’s research division takes
charge of it."

 
     
"Mr. Deng, I value your opinion. Would you please enlighten me how
you would organize such new research in your division."

 
     
"I would personally appoint an experienced senior researcher to head
a project team. He would assess the resources in terms of people,
equipment, and funds needed and would then apply to have suitable
people seconded or hired to make up the team."

 
     
"And they would work more or less independently of all other
teams?"

 
     
"Yes, to a large extent," he admitted reluctantly.

     
"And particularly for the development of a new product that uses processes that have little in common with other lines of products or services
offered currently, is that right?"

 
     
"Yes, but the door is always open to get help from other research
sections."

 
     
"I see, the research is divided into separate sections, and it could in
fact be advantageous to have such a section or project team work very
closely with the people who will actually offer the new product to
potential users on a trial basis, particularly if research and implementation go hand in hand, as I envisage will be the case for instantcom. Do
you agree?"

 
     
"Yes, it is conceivable."

 
     
"So?"

 
     
"I see your point. I withdraw my objection."

 
     
"I did not take it as an objection, but as a potential option to be considered. Thank you, Mr. Deng."

 
     
She immediately sensed that the climate around the table had
changed.

     
"Are there any other aspects that anyone would like to raise at this
point?" She noticed her grandfather’s smile as she looked around from
person to person, lingering on Ron Deng who lowered his gaze: "Mr.
Deng, I am waiting for your question."

 
     
Everybody, except Atun and her grandfather, looked at her in surprise.

     
Ron Deng smiled almost bashfully and said: "How did you know?"

 
     
She returned his smile. "Let’s just say that I read your mind."

 
     
"I hope not."

 
     
"Your question?"

 
     
"When will we get a demonstration of instantcom. Several of us
missed the one at the convention."

 
     
"Atun, when can you arrange one?"

 
     
"Two days from now, say Friday afternoon. I suggest that I take
Anouk into orbit and that will show the contrast with standard communication."

 
     
"Is that agreeable, Mr. Deng?"

 
     
"Yes, Miss Shen. Thank you."

 
     
She completed making the round and then said: "Atun Caruna and I
will over the next few days spend time with each of the senior managers
to learn about the company, your functions, and hear your views of how
this company should progress. I therefore close this meeting now. There
is no point that I receive your individual reports, since they would have
little meaning to me now. Gentlemen, thank you."

 
     
She got up, and so did Atun and Syd Twan, who whispered into her
ear: "Yuen-mong, you were superb. You surpassed all my expectations."

 
     
An ironic smile played around her mouth and eyes. "Syd, you just
gave yourself away."

 
     
"I didn’t mean it that way. I knew you would be up to the challenge,
but … Why are you laughing?"

 
     
"Because you’re just going to dig an even bigger hole for yourself. I
accept your compliment."

 
     
"Miss Shen."

 
     
She turned and faced Ron Deng. "Yuen-mong is my name. May I call
you Ron?"

 
     
"Please do. I just wanted to assure you that you will have my full
support. I admire what you have done, even if it cost me dearly."

 
     
She sensed his comments were genuine. It confirmed the initial impression she had got at her first reading of his mind. "Thank you. I will
need all I can get, and I’m confident the value of your shares will
recover."

 
     
Is he another suitor in the making?
went through her mind.

     
Chen Young put his hand on her shoulder. "Come Yuen-mong, and
you too, Mr. Caruna," he nodded to him, "and I will show you around."

 
     
In the elevator to the top executive level, he said: "Learning the ropes
in a new firm is always a big challenge, and it helps having a secretary
you can fully trust and who knows the ins and outs to assist you, even
guide you initially. I know exactly the right person for you. She is my
former secretary, a gem of efficiency and a treasure of knowledge, and
she gracefully agreed to come out of retirement and take on the role of
initiating you into the administrative secrets of UniCom."

 
     
Is he already planting a spy?
she mused.
But then
I will
have nothing
to hide.
So she replied with a smile: "That is thoughtful of you. Thank
you."

 
     
"I am certain that you will appreciate her."

 
     
"I guess that if she was good enough for you, she will be good enough
for me."

 
     
"She is. Let me introduce you to Mrs. Oddell." He went ahead.
"Through here." They entered a good-size corner room. "This is my
office, although I hardly use it anymore. Hers is just next door."

 
     
"Oh, what an exceptional view!" exclaimed Yuen-mong, standing
with Atun at the corner window which overlooked Lake Carda, with
Mount Olympus reflected in it. "Is this room included in the package
with your secretary, grandfather?" she asked with a mischievous smile.

     
"Would you like this as your office? … But you should first have a
look at the suite allocated to the chairman."

 
     
"Maybe, although I see no need to displace my uncle from his office.
My authority will not depend on the size of office I have… What do you
say, Atun?"

 
     
"It is great, but it would be convenient if I could have my office close-by."

 
     
"There is, in fact, another office just through here." Chen Young
opened a door on the left, and they entered another room of roughly equal
size.

     
"That would be ideal," murmured Atun, and Yuen-mong nodded.

     
"Grandfather, would you be willing to give up your office for me?"

 
     
"You are the boss. If you want it, it is yours. And your secretary is
already waiting next door. Let’s meet her."

 
     
Yuen-mong immediately felt good about the gray-haired, stern, no-nonsense woman, who like herself wore little make-up. She and Atun
ended up spending the rest of the afternoon with her, getting a thorough
introduction into the administrative workings, rules, and conventions of
UniCom.

23

One of the first resolutions that Yuen-mong acted upon was to try to
break down the invisible barrier between top management and the non-management staff, and what better way to do this than to eat lunch at the
staff cafeteria. So on Thursday, she and Atun joined the queue. Since few
people in Androma had not seen her face on the news broadcasts, she was
instantly recognized. Voices hushed suddenly, apprehension and anxiety
filled the minds. People ahead in the queue wanted to quit, until she
made it clear that she was one of them and did not want any special treatment. She had though difficulties finding something to her liking and
ended up with a quiche and a salad whose green leaves looked strangely
artificial. They asked whether they could join a young couple, who
immediately wanted to vacate the table for them. It took all her skills to
actually get them talking. They finally revealed that they were engaged
to be married, but unfortunately would not be able to go on a honeymoon,
since the bride had not worked long enough to have the right for a
vacation.

     
After the meal, Yuen-mong asked to see the manager of the cafeteria
and told him that she wanted to see more real, natural food and less synthetic stuff, even if it would cost a bit more. Back in the office, she called
the personnel manager and asked him to give the intended bride the week
after the wedding off as an advance on her vacation.

* * *
 

     
The demonstration was scheduled for 16:00 on Friday. She and Atun
had arranged to meet Anouk that day in the cafeteria for lunch. Although
the voices hushed a bit when they entered, the mind murmurs were more
positive, and she felt there was goodwill toward them. She only found
out later on that her interventions to grant the future bride a week’s
vacation and to bring more variety into the food offered had already made
the round.

     
When Anouk appeared, she immediately sensed the girl’s distress.

     
"Anouk, what happened?" she asked.

     
"Mr. Young —"

 
     
"— which one?"

 
     
"Pat Young, I encountered him in the corridor," she began hesitantly,
"and he frightened me."

 
     
"What did he do?" asked Atun.

     
"Nothing really. Just the way he looked at me. I felt threatened."

 
     
"Did he say anything?" questioned Yuen-mong.

     
"No. It was the hatred in his mind that frightened me."

 
     
"Look, Anouk, he
cannot
do anything to you anymore. Just ignore
him."