Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 28 – Resolution Friday Morning …(Day 26) On Friday morning at 10AM in a conference room in Kinnetik, everyone reassembled for the second meeting about the campaign. “Well, it seems we’re all here together again,” Brian said as he started the meeting. “Although, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why that’s the case?” “Sarcasm doesn’t become you Brian,” Susan commented, “Especially at this hour of the morning.” Brian noticed that Kellie McQuaid was in the room, and he said, “Kellie, I see that Susan called you home… welcome back.” “It’s good to be back. But you can cut the bullshit, Brian. You know precisely why we’re all here. Now where is Justin?” Kellie responded back. “It seems you have a new artistic director on your staff. I understand this is someone new that I should probably get to know.” Brian couldn’t resist continuing to tease, “Kellie, you are too late. As I’m sure that Susan told you, Maria and Cristina Silvestri have already staked their claim to Justin years ago. Since they tend to be extremely possessive, once again I would say you’re out of luck.” “That’s not what I mean Brian, and you know it. I understand that Justin was called in to direct the art on this campaign” “Yes, that’s correct. I wanted you to have the benefit of the best. However…” “And I understand that Justin removed both campaigns from consideration.” “Yes, you heard correctly.” “But Brian, I wasn’t here for the original presentation. I was hoping that maybe I could talk to Justin. I was hoping that I might be able to persuade Justin to reconsider and let us have the campaign,” Kellie explained. “That’s right, Brian, that’s why we’re all here,” Maria added, looking around the room for confirmation. “We had hoped that we could somehow persuade Justin to change his mind and let us have the campaign.” “Really? You all want the campaign? I find that hard to believe when it was so clearly pointed out that the campaigns had severe flaws. Kinnetik is not one to force a flawed campaign on its client.” “Need I remind you that you have a contract with Eyeconics? A contract we intend to hold you to,” Kellie insisted. “Kellie, you need to reread your contracts more carefully. This project is a joint venture and is not covered by our existing contract. So you were saying,” Ted pointed out. “Oh come on Brian, surely you have made us suffer enough. We all came here suitably contrite. Are you going to let us have the campaign or not?” Kellie asked point blank. “Ok Brian, now that you know that we want the campaign for Collezione Fiero,” Susan interjected. “So tell us what we have to do?” “I’m flattered that you think I’m all powerful in this matter, but if you’ll remember, I didn’t remove the campaigns from your consideration. Justin did. And I can tell you from experience, Justin can be very stubborn.” “Well Rudolpho, you created this mess. What do you have to say for yourself?” Susan interjected with complete frustration. “Oh, if we were in Milan, it would be so simple!” Rudolpho commented. “This is the USA and bribes are illegal, Signor Silvestri,” Brian reminded him. “So are those other things you were contemplating.” “I’m aware of that,” Rudolpho said with a smile. “You know, I have the feeling we are going to be dealing with each other for some time to come, do you think that you could manage to call me Rudolpho. You’re obviously not intimidated by me, so Signor Silvestri is beginning to sound a bit pompous.” “I suppose I could do that.” Everyone laughed, which released a degree of tension in the room. “Brian, now that you and father are on first name basis, do you suppose that we could get back to the task at hand,” Cristina smirked, giving Brian a knowing smile. “As I was saying, since you know Justin better than anyone, surely you have some idea how we could persuade him to change his mind.” “By the way, where is Justin?” Maria suddenly asked. “He’s solving some problem in the art department. He’ll be joining us shortly.” “I have a suggestion,” Ted volunteered. “Look, I don’t know if it will do any good, but Justin can be best persuaded by tangible evidence.” “And your point is, Theodore?” “If Justin were to consider changing his mind, it would have to be in the face of compelling evidence.” “So what do you suggest?” “I suggest we try to reach agreement on conditions of a potential contract, in the off-chance that Justin might be willing to change his mind. Then if he does, all the details will be already worked out between the companies. That way you at least have a chance to prove to him that you can all work together. Seeing that, Justin may be encouraged to change his mind and simply release the campaign.” “That’s an excellent suggestion, Theodore. At least that way Justin wouldn’t have to sit through the usual round of contract negotiations. It may make changing his mind an easier proposition. That could work,” Brian added. Everyone in the room nodded their head. Then they all mumbled among themselves. “To save everyone’s time, I have a draft of our standard contract. I have penciled in a few proposed changes that we suggest to handle your unique situation.” “So when would we start to see ads for the collection appear?” Rudolpho asked. “Based on the budget you identified for the project, I prepared for you a tentative roll out schedule,” Brian explained. “We need a faster rollout. After all, we’re so far behind our projected schedule already,” Maria added. “And, whose fault is that Rudolpho? If we had come to Kinnetik in the first place, instead of wasting our time with the larger international firms, our products would already be on store shelves,” Susan pointed out in frustration. “I have already apologized. Let’s not get sidetracked here. Brian, can you give us the associated costs for the most accelerated roll out schedule,” Rudolpho asked. “Ted?” Brian asked. “Not a problem. I can run the calculation today,” Ted confirmed, making notes to himself. “Also, the international roll out is going to generate a lot of media attention. Brian, will Kinnetik handle that for us? How about if we provide our local ad agencies to give you any needed support, will you oversee the international roll out?” Maria continued. “Cynthia?” Brian asked. “There are some details that need to be worked out, but I think everything should be doable,” Cynthia confirmed, making notes to herself. “What about production? I know we planned a preliminary quantity to handle initial demand? But this campaign is going to double our sales projection, do we have the production capacity to handle the increased demand?” Rudolpho inquired. “Did I hear you say double our sales projection?” Susan questioned. “At least, just wait, you’ll see,” Cristina added. “That shouldn’t be a problem. We have excess capacity available in Italy and Spain, so we can shift manufacturing if we need to,” Maria pointed out. “Those plants have both been doing test production runs.” “Plus, we have been producing the product at our facilities, while we have been going through this the ad campaign fiasco, so once Brian has our campaign ready to roll out, we should be set.” Susan added. “So I guess we should go through the other issues to be sure we are in agreement,” Ted suggested. “Of course, we realize that everything has to be run through your respective legal departments. But, we have always found that if we reach consensus here first, it makes everyone’s job far easier.” They continued negotiating for several hours over the various points in the contract. With everyone focused on the same goal, details were easily worked out. Compromises were readily reached when points of conflicts did arise. Cynthia observed that the three companies were actually working like a coordinated team, all focused on the same goal. She smiled to herself as she realized that Justin would probably be pleased. “Well, it seems like we have the issues resolved, what do you think?” Ted asked. Everybody mumbled their agreement. “One more thing, Brian, so that we don’t have any repeat of our previous problems, I propose to give Kinnetik complete creative control of the campaign.” Rudolpho insisted. Kellie and Susan nodded that they completely agreed. “That makes sense, that’s pretty much the way the Eyeconics agreement with Kinnetik is crafted.” Ted commented. “What do you think, Brian? Do we essentially have the details worked out? Do you think Justin will go along with what we have decided? Do you think that he might reconsider and let us have the campaign?” Rudolpho asked. “Well there’s only one way to find out. Cynthia, can you call down to the art department and see if Justin will join us?” Brian instructed. Cynthia made the necessary phone call and Justin eventually appeared. “Well, I see that you’re all still meeting. I hope everything is going well. Hello everyone,” Justin said with a smile upon entering the conference room. He immediately started looking for an out of way seat. “Justin, I’m Kellie Mc Quaid. It’s been a long time. I met you several years ago at Vanguard.” “Oh yes, I remember.” “We’ve all been sitting here wondering if there was any way to get you to change your mind and release the campaign for Collezione Fiero to us?” “Signor Silvestri?” “Justin, as I told you yesterday, I’m sorry for my rash behavior. I love the campaigns that you and Brian created. I was a bit hasty in my reactions before. On careful reflection, I see that you and Brian were right, and the campaign you created was precisely what we needed to enhance and market our new product line. So Justin, I am begging you as a friend, to forgive the raving of an old man and allow us to have the campaign you created.” “What guarantees to do we have that we won’t have other outbursts and objections from you the moment things appear not to be going your way during the course of the campaign? How do we know that you won’t interfere as the campaign progresses?” Justin asked. “We just put it in the contract to give Kinnetik complete creative control. So you and Brian are the final decisions on everything. We all promise not to interfere,” Rudolph pointed out with a smile. “Of course, we’ll make our international staff available to assist you in any way, if you would just let us have the campaign.” Maria added. “Believe it or not, we have actually found out how to work with each other,” Susan added. “It’s been an interesting experience. Now all we need now is your campaign.” “Everyone has been working really hard, Justin, and we essentially have worked out all the contract details, subject to approval by the various legal departments, of course,” Ted commented. “Of course,” Justin replied. “So Justin, what do you think?” Brian asked Finally the room fell silent and all eyes were focused on Justin. He looked at Brian and smiled. “If everyone has worked out the agreement, and you still want either of the campaign for Collezione Fiero, I see nothing to prevent my signing to release them to you.” The entire room let out a collective sigh of relief. There were handshakes and hugs all around. In this general atmosphere of and satisfaction, the visitors eventually all left the conference room. Brian decided that Justin should break the news to the art department, and Justin immediately left to do just that. Brian, Cynthia and Ted were the only ones left in the conference room. “Good job, Theodore.” Brian said firmly. “Thanks, Bri.” Ted said, graciously accepting Brian’s praise. “You too, Cynthia.” “Thanks. I knew I was right to bring Justin in on this project.” “Yes, who else but Justin could create this much chaos during the preliminary phase of such a simple campaign?” Brian teased with a laugh, but really he was quite proud of the way Justin handled things. “In two languages no less!” Ted added, thinking back over everything that happened. Cynthia listed to the banter between Brian and Ted. She had initially kept silent, but she couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. “Brian, this campaign was far from simple…and it’s far from over. I think you know that,” Cynthia commented, leaving it for Brian to read between the lines. “What are you going to do?” she asked quietly. “I don’t know,” Brian whispered quietly in reply.