The Deal

The Debrief

WMT wasn't only different in the way they prepared for their presentations. They were different in what they did after finding out about a win or loss. Almost immediately after each bid presentation WMT did an intensive analysis of the deal. The debrief was designed to discuss what went right, what went wrong, and important considerations as the firm looked to fulfill on the work and please the client. The idea being that each deal was different, and each client was different, so the debrief was designed to find out what would make a new engagement work while the deal was still fresh in everyone's minds.

4:00pm arrived and Eddie walked in the main boardroom on the 20th floor. Already in the room were Lisa and Oliver.

"Is it just the three of us for this one?" Eddie asked.

"I think so, Ed," Oliver said. "Grab a seat."

Just as Eddie moved toward the boardroom table an unexpected guest appeared at the door. It was Ross Salkin, WMT's General Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs.

"We have ourselves a contract!" Ross proclaimed while waving an inch thick document in his right hand.

"Already?" said a surprised Lisa.

"These DHD guys don't mess around." Ross stated. "My team has had a quick first look and everything seems fairly standard. The terms are right. We just need you guys to look through the page of personal clauses on page 54 to make sure everything is fine. Eddie immediately snatched the document from Ross and went quickly to page 54. As he read the pages to himself the others in the room watched quietly.

"Ross, did you see anything in the agreement about us having to go to a party or celebration or gathering of any kind hosted by DHD? I don't see anything like that here." Eddie asked.

"No, I don't believe so. Why?" Ross said curiously.

"Oh, it was a strange question that creepy Ms. Stein asked at the presentation this morning," Eddie was still studying page 54 as he was talking. "She wanted us to go to some event they have going on. Said it was important to them. But if it's not in here then I'm not going."

"What?" Lisa snapped. "Come on Roberts, you're blowing this out of proportion."

"No I'm not, Lisa. You can go if you want. But I'm not going. Those guys give me the creeps. Oliver has felt it and so have I."

"It's just a party, Ed." Lisa said, trying to calm Eddie down.

"I don't care, Lisa. I'll work with them on a professional level only. I'm not socializing with them. Did you see the way they were looking at me today, with their long stares, looking at me from head to toe? It was completely unprofessional!"

Lisa laughed, "Oh come on, I look at you like that every day."

"I'm not joking, Lisa. I'm not going." Eddie handed the document back to Ross who then placed it in front of Lisa who was still seated at the boardroom table.

The matter of DHD's mysterious event wasn't discussed any further and the group continued with their deal debrief.