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"WHAT?" While Francis had delivered this news in a completely neutral tone, an outraged cry escaped me. The test vehicles were being equipped with Cameron's products? I knew exactly what that meant. He had the edge in the race for the contract. TheElecarCorporationpreferred his products.
"That can't be! We're the best! No one can touch us technically!" I growled.
"I don't understand it either." Francis scratched his head and now did look somewhat desperate. We had spent countless evenings and nights together in the office, compiling our documents for the tender. It had all been for nothing! As it looked, Cameron suddenly had the best chances of getting this huge contract. Cameron! Everyone would be talking about Cameron. Not me. Cameron would be shaking hands with the President. Not me! Cameron would be on all the front pages. Not me! Cameron would be making huge sales and record profits. Not me!
This couldn't be happening!
Something must be fishy here.
Something wasn't right.
Had Cameron bribed someone at theElecarCorporationto be favored in the race for the contract?
I took three quick steps away from the window and hurried to my glass designer desk in the center of the office. Angrily, I dropped into my office chair. As I unlocked the PC with my fingerprint, I took a deep breath. Maybe this was all just a mistake. Maybe Francis had misread something. Maybe theElecarCorporationhad confused Cameron and me. After all, we were brothers and had the same last name. Even our first names were somewhat similar. A mix-up could easily happen.
"Nice shoes today, Mr. Jenkins," said Francis, pointing to the colorful sneakers I was wearing with my dark suit.
"From some store in Soho," I replied distractedly.
"I still like the combination," Francis tried to cheer me up further. "Sneakers and a suit, it has something going for it."
I just grunted as I scrolled through my emails.
"THERE!" I finally exclaimed and opened the message from theElecarCorporation. I quickly scanned the text. There it was in black and white. Exactly as Francis had said. The test vehicles were being equipped with products from Cameron's company.
"Damn it all to hell," I cursed loudly and slammed my fist on the glass desk.
"It's just the test vehicles. That doesn't have to mean anything yet," Francis tried to encourage me.
I looked at him sharply. "When was the last time a contract was awarded to a company other than the one that got the bid for the test vehicles?"
"Uh..." Francis stammered.
We both knew the answer.
It had never happened before.
The contract ALWAYS went to the company whose products were installed in the test vehicles. That was as certain as the "amen" in church.
Until now.
I had to find a way out.
Once again, I scanned the email. It was signed by the chief developer of theElecarCorporation. Finally, my eyes lingered on the signature. The members of the supervisory board were listed there.
"Donovan Hayden Ellesmere?"
"Pardon?" Francis asked.
"Donovan Hayden Ellesmere is now on the supervisory board of theElecarCorporation?"
Francis hurried behind my desk and peered over my shoulder.
"Looks like it. That must be new. Do you know him, Mr. Jenkins?"
I just growled.
Of course I knew Donovan Hayden Ellesmere.