practices once they were under the protection of our corporate umbrella. Their stats looked outstanding at the time and you know it.”
“That’s rubbish. It was your inept handling of the situation that caused the problem we now have filling those slots. It was our job to know; my job to know, but you circumvented my authority and signed them up. I know that you’re one of the founding partners of the Center, but you were, nevertheless, wrong to go around me to serve your own purposes. What I’m saying, Ron, is that you’re responsible for the mess that we’re in and I don’t appreciate your showing up at my office attempting to muscle me into approving another one of your schemes. The New Business Committee will proceed as planned. Mitchum’s is out for now and St. Stephen’s is on hold. If you want to do something useful, go out and find us viable candidates. If you have a problem with my decision, let’s discuss it at the next board meeting. That’s all I have to say on this subject.”
John turned his back on Ron and walked over to his desk, giving Ron ample time to save face by exiting the office; an opportunity he gladly seized.
***
Minutes later, Ron was pacing back and forth in Peter’s office. “He absolutely refuses to approve either one of them. I understand about Mitchum’s, so let’s scratch them, but there’s no business reason to put St. Stephen’s Rehabilitation Center on hold. That excuse he has about the inconvenience to our current tenants doesn’t hold water.” He waited for a response from Peter and when one didn’t come, he added, “He is wrong, isn’t he?”
“I’m afraid not. It’s not only inconvenient, but also very costly. There are economies when you set up two together; enough to make it difficult to justify doing them separately. The only chance we have left is to come up with another candidate with outstanding credentials; one good enough to blow John’s socks off.”
“What are the chances that we can build a case for one of the companies on the waiting list?”
“You tell me. You and I investigated all fourteen on the list before recommending Mitchum’s and St. Stephen’s. Those two were by far the best. We attached our critiques to the other twelve when we presented our findings to the New Business Committee. I don’t think we could reverse our recommendations now just to fill the remaining slot. Anyway, I’m sure John has already thought about the same possibility and he will be waiting to ambush us if we try to push through one of those companies now.”
“What can we do, then?”
“I guess I’m just going to have to release my original report and let the partners deal with it.”
“Just like that? To hell with our consecutive quarter profit record? Why are you willing to give up so easily?”
“What do you want me to do, Ron? Falsify the figures?”
“I’m not suggesting that.”
“Maybe not, but that’s what your implying. I don’t mind doing a little dipsy-doo now and then—all accountants do that—but I won’t be a party to anything that could land me in jail; records be damned. I’m just going to have to present the report and the partners and investors are going to have to accept it for what it is.”
“I’m not suggesting you do anything fraudulent. I’m just saying there must be some way to gloss over some of the negative stuff. After all, we’re still making money, even if not as much as last year, and the fiscal year still looks good.” Ron stopped pacing and sat down on the couch. “I’m not happy about this any more than you are.”
“I kept thinking we were going to fill the empty space and save the year. I never anticipated it would take so long.”
“It’s your responsibility to anticipate any financial bumps in the road.”
“Don’t you get so high and mighty with me, Ron. You’re as much to blame as I am for the lack of vision. After all, you’re the CEO of Symington Medical Center,
“That’s rubbish. It was your inept handling of the situation that caused the problem we now have filling those slots. It was our job to know; my job to know, but you circumvented my authority and signed them up. I know that you’re one of the founding partners of the Center, but you were, nevertheless, wrong to go around me to serve your own purposes. What I’m saying, Ron, is that you’re responsible for the mess that we’re in and I don’t appreciate your showing up at my office attempting to muscle me into approving another one of your schemes. The New Business Committee will proceed as planned. Mitchum’s is out for now and St. Stephen’s is on hold. If you want to do something useful, go out and find us viable candidates. If you have a problem with my decision, let’s discuss it at the next board meeting. That’s all I have to say on this subject.”
John turned his back on Ron and walked over to his desk, giving Ron ample time to save face by exiting the office; an opportunity he gladly seized.
***
Minutes later, Ron was pacing back and forth in Peter’s office. “He absolutely refuses to approve either one of them. I understand about Mitchum’s, so let’s scratch them, but there’s no business reason to put St. Stephen’s Rehabilitation Center on hold. That excuse he has about the inconvenience to our current tenants doesn’t hold water.” He waited for a response from Peter and when one didn’t come, he added, “He is wrong, isn’t he?”
“I’m afraid not. It’s not only inconvenient, but also very costly. There are economies when you set up two together; enough to make it difficult to justify doing them separately. The only chance we have left is to come up with another candidate with outstanding credentials; one good enough to blow John’s socks off.”
“What are the chances that we can build a case for one of the companies on the waiting list?”
“You tell me. You and I investigated all fourteen on the list before recommending Mitchum’s and St. Stephen’s. Those two were by far the best. We attached our critiques to the other twelve when we presented our findings to the New Business Committee. I don’t think we could reverse our recommendations now just to fill the remaining slot. Anyway, I’m sure John has already thought about the same possibility and he will be waiting to ambush us if we try to push through one of those companies now.”
“What can we do, then?”
“I guess I’m just going to have to release my original report and let the partners deal with it.”
“Just like that? To hell with our consecutive quarter profit record? Why are you willing to give up so easily?”
“What do you want me to do, Ron? Falsify the figures?”
“I’m not suggesting that.”
“Maybe not, but that’s what your implying. I don’t mind doing a little dipsy-doo now and then—all accountants do that—but I won’t be a party to anything that could land me in jail; records be damned. I’m just going to have to present the report and the partners and investors are going to have to accept it for what it is.”
“I’m not suggesting you do anything fraudulent. I’m just saying there must be some way to gloss over some of the negative stuff. After all, we’re still making money, even if not as much as last year, and the fiscal year still looks good.” Ron stopped pacing and sat down on the couch. “I’m not happy about this any more than you are.”
“I kept thinking we were going to fill the empty space and save the year. I never anticipated it would take so long.”
“It’s your responsibility to anticipate any financial bumps in the road.”
“Don’t you get so high and mighty with me, Ron. You’re as much to blame as I am for the lack of vision. After all, you’re the CEO of Symington Medical Center,
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