Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 19

By Wednesday evening in London, Max and Allie were still working through the last minute snag Max had predicted would emerge. It related to personal drives where employees saved documents. In theory the solution for the transfer of the shared drives should have taken care of any important documents, but unfortunately there were many useful files in the various personal drives which the purchaser would want transferring over. In addition, staff had items like CVs and photographs in these drives. They wanted to transfer these to personal e mail addresses, which was against Phillips' IT policy. Allie's suggestion was that the continued provision of the personal drives be included in the TSA, alongside the shared drives to allow the staff a period of time to work through deletion and transfer. She suggested if each employee completed a standard form recording the file and nature of anything they wanted to send to a personal e mail address, someone in the Phillips transition project team could review to be comfortable no proprietary or confidential information was leaving the Phillips system. Everyone agreed to consider the proposal overnight and reconvene in the morning.

The Phillips' directors over from the US, Joe and Murray were joining Max and Allie and the purchaser's legal team for dinner. Allie had gone up to change and call Michael. It was just after five in London, so she knew he would be just getting started in the office. She messaged to see if he had a meeting and within a minute he video called looking a little tired, complaining he couldn't sleep properly on his own. They chatted about the progress she and Max were making, and the chances of the deal being signed before the weekend. Reluctantly she said, "I'd better go and get ready for this dinner. I need to take a shower and get out of these work clothes." Michael grinned wickedly, "could always continue to video chat while you do that Allie?" She laughed, "Michael! Can you imagine if Shelley came in to drop a file off? You'll just have to wait for me to come home."

Forty minutes later she had changed into a casual dress and jacket and met Max by the lift. Going down he said, "You did a great job today Allie. I think they're going to struggle to come up with a reason not to go with your solution. All that stuff you came out with about being pragmatic and bolting onto the shared drive transition has tipped the scales in our favour. I think we'll sign tomorrow. Allie leaned on the lift wall, "I don't know Max, I was worried when they said they wanted to sleep on it." Max laughed, "This is not my first rodeo Allie. They just didn't want it to look like they'd rolled over too easy. Trust me, if we're not done by close of business tomorrow I'll make Carly coffee for a week." The lift opened and Allie laughed at the thought.

At the pre dinner drinks the legal lead from the purchasing side, a grey bespectacled lady called Sally Lyons announced she thought it would be "lovely" to mix everyone up so they could all get to know one another better socially. Max smiled, but as soon as he got a chance he grumbled to Allie, "Great, British small talk all night. I swear Allie if this thing signs tomorrow as soon as you we get home we're having a real night out. Allie rubbed his back soothingly, "Grit your teeth Max. Maybe we should have a code word if it gets too painful. Chicken soup." Max couldn't help but laugh as they parted reluctantly . Allie found herself next to the junior member of the opposite team, Simon Rippon. Glancing up she could see Max had found himself at the other end of the table next to Sally.

Allie exchanged pleasantries with Simon, but as the wine flowed and the meal drew to a close he became bolder in his conversation. "So a friend of mine works in your London office, and he says you were a quiet little mouse when you were there Allie." Allie shrugged, "I prefer the L.A. office, maybe it just suits me better." Simon shook his head and refilled his glass, "My mate Julian says no-one in London can believe all the stuff they read on social media about you. Apparently you like a threesome." Allie froze a little before recovering herself and saying, "Well, you shouldn't believe everything you see on social media. My husband and I are very happily married." Simon came back laughing with, "No smoke without fire as they say." Allie was deeply uncomfortable and then Simon added, "Why don't I call at your hotel tonight when old Max has gone to bed?" He put his hand on her knee under the table and Allie jumped up, knocking the table and attracting everyone's attention. She looked desperately at Max and said, "Max, I think I need some of that chicken soup from room service and an early night before we get back into this deal tomorrow." Max walked around the table and took Allie's hand to lead her away. Sally followed him and asked Allie in a low voice, "What did he do?" She swallowed and said quietly "He invited himself to my hotel room and grabbed my leg." Max turned back and leaned over Simon, "You are lucky her husband wasn't here tonight. He's got at least six inches on you, he works out and he'd have kicked your skinny, chinless ass all the way to Scotland."

Max got them a taxi outside for the short journey back to the hotel. To his surprise Allie leaned on his shoulder shaking with laughter, "Chicken soup! Chinless ass! God Max what a hideous night." Max threw an arm around her unable to resist laughing along, "I'm so sorry Allie, I thought I had it bad sitting next to Sally, but actually she's pretty nice. Are you sure you're okay?" She sat up, "Yeah, I'm fine Max, I just couldn't sit next to him a minute longer." They arrived at the hotel and Max paid the cab, "Come on, let's get a drink before we call it a night, I think we've earned it."

The following day Max instinctively kept Allie close as they walked into the meeting room at the hotel which was being used for the deal. Sally immediately came over and apologising profusely and told them Simon had been taken off the case. Joe and Murray also came over to ask if she was okay and to let her know how upset they were at Simon's behaviour. Allie said, "Hopefully Simon's learned a lesson about how he behaves when he's had a drink, but let's just focus on getting this deal over the line."

By lunchtime the deal was done, all the documents had been finalised and everyone had signed. An announcement to the market was made simultaneously by the media teams of both companies, and there was a sense of celebration in the room. Allie stepped out and messaged Michael and Daniel to let them know it was done, so they would see it when they woke. She went back in and told Max who was clearly pleased with the outcome and squeezing her 'round the shoulder he said, "Can I just say I will not be making Carly coffee next week." As Allie laughed he said, "Right everyone's heading for lunch on Joe and Murray, but this time you're sitting next to me."