CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

“Mr. Thomas?” The line to my office phone lights up the moment I am sitting. I press the retrieve call button and the rough voice of an older man, a man I’ve done business with more than a few times comes over the line.

“Ah, Gavin Thomas, it’s good to get in touch with you. You were out of sync for a bit there. Everything OK lately?”

I press the phone to my ear and boot up the computer while I speak with him.

“Good to hear from you, Keith. Yes, an emergency came up, but I am back now and looking to know exactly how the Hellman deal went.

I’m surprised no one has filled me in on the status, but since you were with me from the beginning of this deal, you’d surely loop me in, right?”

Since coming into the business only six or so years ago, I’ve learned that people rarely keep their promises or word. But, write them into a contract and clients have no choice but to be upfront and straight with you.

So, when I had an opportunity to purchase and turn over a small but thriving mobile techn