admin
09 Ağustos 2023, 23:35
This is the story that has been brewing for several weeks. This is Chapter 1 of?
A huge thank you to Andrea4328 for the editing help. Any additional mistakes are mine.
Disclaimers: If you have not read my prior stories. This story may contain large amounts of dialog, character development, AND loving, sensual, consensual sex consisting of a married couple, MF, FF, MFF, anal, light BDSM, and incest. And of course, Northern California humor.
- RoM
*****
SMS
Me: "Leadership meeting just called for 5:30
Don't they know it's a Friday before a holiday weekend =\
Over/under is on layoffs or debt financing. Mood around here has been sour today"
Amy: "I'll take layoffs - I'm the pessimist: you can have debt. Winner picks dinner tonight- better have a good wine list. Girls are already in Truckee with my mom and dad. They all decided to stay at my parent's condo. Squaw will still be there tomorrow morning. May need chains on 80. Better to head out in the AM. XOXO"
Well that is interesting. Far more understanding and a longer text than I thought she would send.
We were high school sweethearts, got married after our first year of college, had kids the Summer before our junior year, and she still amazes me. Call me lucky, I'll agree six ways to Sunday.
Looking out the window, the parking lot was already more than 3/4 empty. The remaining cars were getting a good rinse from the downpour. Great, just fucking great.
Oh yeah, email. Leadership, sorry, Friday, bla, bla,bla... Acquisition, bla, multiple, bla, reductions, bla. Wait!? WTF? Acquisition? What rock was I sleeping under?
Me: "Tie! Acquisition - this just got interesting. Might be a long one - chill a couple of good bottles, and let's do delivery. Will text you as soon as I have more details"
Amy: "Yeah!"
5:20 off to the conference room. I'm not going to be late for this one.
Being a CIO, I just might be a bit aware of these kinds of events. You know, like some company checking us out, valuations, how secure we had our IP locked up, a goddamned invite to the meetings! I guess having a measly 2.5% meant I wasn't on the dance card.
John, our Co-founder, CEO, and supreme nerd lead off the meeting. Don't get me wrong, I've always liked the guy. Brilliant, driven, but a bit scattered. This was my second go-round with John. Our last company going from promising start-up to a Silicon Valley walking wounded over five years. We got out about six years ago with a decent multiple, but dilution meant I hadn't hit a home run. A hard single, no home run. As my thoughts wandered to baseball, John was framing the dialog around our long game, need for capital, next round would probably cause a significant dilution for early employees, bla, bla, bla. Moving on to thanking us for our unending support, and goal of transitioning into new leadership roles as a portfolio company. Oh crap! We've been acquired by a holding company - this isn't going to be fun. I'll be spending my time squeezing more on a dwindling budget, firing staff (oh I mean 'right sizing') and moving everything to either a central resource or off shore.
Me: KMN
Amy: Do I get to keep the insurance money? =)
My thought still somewhere between 'I hate my life' and 'why couldn't this wait until Monday - I could have set up a video line', assholes, idiots, etc... Then the conference room door opened and in stepped Steve, another co-founder/silent partner who did squat, and a line of fresh faces I'd never seen in our halls.
The group looked to be your typical consulting team. A tall salt and pepper lead (probably the Managing Partner), and a few mid-career subordinates in their Brooks Brothers and Armani's. Quite the wardrobe I chuckled. They could all be models: they were just too perfect. Tall, trim, all angles from hair, noses, chins and clothing. An advertising agency's wet dream.
The last member coming in a bit behind cadence was the 'one of these things is not like the others' moment. No dark grey or black suit, rather a very tidy dark green blazer, light brown slacks, glasses a bit out of date, deep red hair (a bit messed up no less) and petite. Where everyone had an edgy feel, this lady was all curves.
Mr 'salt and pepper' went through the perfunctory intros, surprising me by knowing everyone's name, position in our company (they apparently do good research and practice their orals), and launching into the 'vision' dialog.
I'll admit, at this point, I was half listening and half studying the last team member. Sarah, as introduced prior. Something about her just seemed so familiar, yet so unique. Petite, deep suntan, mid, maybe late 30's, trim, cool blue eyes. Crazy red hair - never seen that color though. Reminded me of Candy Apple Red.
As the meeting droned on, our team members pretty much got the message - Most of the non leaders would be retained (that is good, I'd hate to have to fire my team), and surprisingly we got a very decent Yenidoğan Escort (https://www.pompaci.net/istanbul/yenidogan) multiple. Got a triple, flashed in my head. I'll be sliding into home tonight for sure!
Our team was given our action items to prepare over the next week, that a transition packet would be ready on Monday, who we were to be paired with (no, I didn't get Sarah), and the meeting ended with the ever so cold "we are looking forward to working with you over the next 90 days." It felt a bit more like, we're looking forward to taking your baby, thank you, and you're out of here!
By 6:30 most everyone had filed out of the meeting, I held back a few minutes to chat with Steve and John. We exchanged a few pleasantries and I slipped in a congrats on the exit plan. My true goal was to rather gently remind them that I was heading out for PTO. It was my anniversary (they know my wife well) and would not be in the office for the next week. This anniversary had a zero on the end, so nothing short of a meteor hitting the earth was going to stop me from taking the time off.
I guess their collective stupidity hit them about the same time - yes it was on all of our leadership calendars, yes the two of you had acknowledged our anniversary, no I was not going to change my plans - sorry dudes, family first. Have a courier bring it, I'll review and send back a high level response - I'll have my team finish the details, sworn to secrecy. Congrats again, I am out of here.
Now at this point most people would be thinking WTF? You can't be serious! In fact I was, and had my ducks in a row already. See, I was recruited into this little adventure. I'm an employee, but I also had the boys bring me in with a contract. Upon acquisition my options would accelerate to 100% vesting, and if the acquiring company explicitly said my role was ending in anything under six months, I stood to get an additional two year severance package tax protected. Yes, a base clearing, tie the game in the late innings, in front of the home crowd triple!
Returning to my office I sent a quick text off
Me: Good and bad news.
Bad - going to be a shit ton of work for next four weeks. Probably six days a week non stop.
Good - We will have enough to pay off the house, AND not have to work for the next dozen years or so! I don't think John and Steve even remember the contract.
Amy: Really!!
A huge thank you to Andrea4328 for the editing help. Any additional mistakes are mine.
Disclaimers: If you have not read my prior stories. This story may contain large amounts of dialog, character development, AND loving, sensual, consensual sex consisting of a married couple, MF, FF, MFF, anal, light BDSM, and incest. And of course, Northern California humor.
- RoM
*****
SMS
Me: "Leadership meeting just called for 5:30
Don't they know it's a Friday before a holiday weekend =\
Over/under is on layoffs or debt financing. Mood around here has been sour today"
Amy: "I'll take layoffs - I'm the pessimist: you can have debt. Winner picks dinner tonight- better have a good wine list. Girls are already in Truckee with my mom and dad. They all decided to stay at my parent's condo. Squaw will still be there tomorrow morning. May need chains on 80. Better to head out in the AM. XOXO"
Well that is interesting. Far more understanding and a longer text than I thought she would send.
We were high school sweethearts, got married after our first year of college, had kids the Summer before our junior year, and she still amazes me. Call me lucky, I'll agree six ways to Sunday.
Looking out the window, the parking lot was already more than 3/4 empty. The remaining cars were getting a good rinse from the downpour. Great, just fucking great.
Oh yeah, email. Leadership, sorry, Friday, bla, bla,bla... Acquisition, bla, multiple, bla, reductions, bla. Wait!? WTF? Acquisition? What rock was I sleeping under?
Me: "Tie! Acquisition - this just got interesting. Might be a long one - chill a couple of good bottles, and let's do delivery. Will text you as soon as I have more details"
Amy: "Yeah!"
5:20 off to the conference room. I'm not going to be late for this one.
Being a CIO, I just might be a bit aware of these kinds of events. You know, like some company checking us out, valuations, how secure we had our IP locked up, a goddamned invite to the meetings! I guess having a measly 2.5% meant I wasn't on the dance card.
John, our Co-founder, CEO, and supreme nerd lead off the meeting. Don't get me wrong, I've always liked the guy. Brilliant, driven, but a bit scattered. This was my second go-round with John. Our last company going from promising start-up to a Silicon Valley walking wounded over five years. We got out about six years ago with a decent multiple, but dilution meant I hadn't hit a home run. A hard single, no home run. As my thoughts wandered to baseball, John was framing the dialog around our long game, need for capital, next round would probably cause a significant dilution for early employees, bla, bla, bla. Moving on to thanking us for our unending support, and goal of transitioning into new leadership roles as a portfolio company. Oh crap! We've been acquired by a holding company - this isn't going to be fun. I'll be spending my time squeezing more on a dwindling budget, firing staff (oh I mean 'right sizing') and moving everything to either a central resource or off shore.
Me: KMN
Amy: Do I get to keep the insurance money? =)
My thought still somewhere between 'I hate my life' and 'why couldn't this wait until Monday - I could have set up a video line', assholes, idiots, etc... Then the conference room door opened and in stepped Steve, another co-founder/silent partner who did squat, and a line of fresh faces I'd never seen in our halls.
The group looked to be your typical consulting team. A tall salt and pepper lead (probably the Managing Partner), and a few mid-career subordinates in their Brooks Brothers and Armani's. Quite the wardrobe I chuckled. They could all be models: they were just too perfect. Tall, trim, all angles from hair, noses, chins and clothing. An advertising agency's wet dream.
The last member coming in a bit behind cadence was the 'one of these things is not like the others' moment. No dark grey or black suit, rather a very tidy dark green blazer, light brown slacks, glasses a bit out of date, deep red hair (a bit messed up no less) and petite. Where everyone had an edgy feel, this lady was all curves.
Mr 'salt and pepper' went through the perfunctory intros, surprising me by knowing everyone's name, position in our company (they apparently do good research and practice their orals), and launching into the 'vision' dialog.
I'll admit, at this point, I was half listening and half studying the last team member. Sarah, as introduced prior. Something about her just seemed so familiar, yet so unique. Petite, deep suntan, mid, maybe late 30's, trim, cool blue eyes. Crazy red hair - never seen that color though. Reminded me of Candy Apple Red.
As the meeting droned on, our team members pretty much got the message - Most of the non leaders would be retained (that is good, I'd hate to have to fire my team), and surprisingly we got a very decent Yenidoğan Escort (https://www.pompaci.net/istanbul/yenidogan) multiple. Got a triple, flashed in my head. I'll be sliding into home tonight for sure!
Our team was given our action items to prepare over the next week, that a transition packet would be ready on Monday, who we were to be paired with (no, I didn't get Sarah), and the meeting ended with the ever so cold "we are looking forward to working with you over the next 90 days." It felt a bit more like, we're looking forward to taking your baby, thank you, and you're out of here!
By 6:30 most everyone had filed out of the meeting, I held back a few minutes to chat with Steve and John. We exchanged a few pleasantries and I slipped in a congrats on the exit plan. My true goal was to rather gently remind them that I was heading out for PTO. It was my anniversary (they know my wife well) and would not be in the office for the next week. This anniversary had a zero on the end, so nothing short of a meteor hitting the earth was going to stop me from taking the time off.
I guess their collective stupidity hit them about the same time - yes it was on all of our leadership calendars, yes the two of you had acknowledged our anniversary, no I was not going to change my plans - sorry dudes, family first. Have a courier bring it, I'll review and send back a high level response - I'll have my team finish the details, sworn to secrecy. Congrats again, I am out of here.
Now at this point most people would be thinking WTF? You can't be serious! In fact I was, and had my ducks in a row already. See, I was recruited into this little adventure. I'm an employee, but I also had the boys bring me in with a contract. Upon acquisition my options would accelerate to 100% vesting, and if the acquiring company explicitly said my role was ending in anything under six months, I stood to get an additional two year severance package tax protected. Yes, a base clearing, tie the game in the late innings, in front of the home crowd triple!
Returning to my office I sent a quick text off
Me: Good and bad news.
Bad - going to be a shit ton of work for next four weeks. Probably six days a week non stop.
Good - We will have enough to pay off the house, AND not have to work for the next dozen years or so! I don't think John and Steve even remember the contract.
Amy: Really!!