“Thank you,” I said. “You should see the skyline at night. Last week the Empire State Building was lit green and black to celebrate the twenty-year anniversary of Wicked.” I sat down at my desk and leaned back in my chair, studying them. I wondered if, on a subconscious level, they recognized my voice. “You must forgive my glasses. I’ve just had my eyes examined. They’re dilated.”
“Of course,” Rupert said, smiling nervously. “I just thought you looked cool. Like Bono.”
Simon likewise smiled. “Me too,” he said.
“As you know,” I said, “Leo Burnett is looking at expanding into the Rocky Mountain area and we’re interested in your firm. We’ve examined your books, but I’d like to hear about your agency from you.” I turned to Rupert. “You’re the CEO?”
“No, sir. I’m the general manager.”
“Oh,” I said, feigning disappointment. “This meeting wasn’t important enough for your CEO?”
Rupert blanched. “No, sir,” he said quickly. “I mean, it was, sir. It’s just that our CEO hasn’t been well lately. He hasn’t been able to travel.”
Even though Mr. Ferrell had told me this earlier, hearing it from my brothers made it somehow more real. I took a moment to compose myself. “Your CEO isn’t well?”
“No, sir.”
I hesitated, gathering my emotions. “What’s wrong with him?”
“You might say we’ve suffered a loss in the family,” he said. “He’s not dealing with it very well.”
This news frightened me. I wondered about my mother and Ben. What if something had happened to one of them? I struggled to remain stoic. “Has there been a death?”
“No,” Rupert said. “One of his sons left home. He took it very hard.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said softly. “Losing a family member can be difficult. How about you two? It must have been difficult for you as well.”
They were both quiet.
“No?”
“It’s been very difficult,” Rupert said.
I eyed Simon. “Was it?”
He nodded.
“What is his name? This brother of yours.”
Simon looked uncomfortable. “I’m not sure that this discussion is relevant to . . .”
“Normally it wouldn’t be,” I said sternly. “But since we’re looking at purchasing a family business, I would think the state of the family would be extremely relevant to our investigation, wouldn’t you, Mr. Jacobson?”
He squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. “Yes, sir. My apologies. I just didn’t want to get too personal.”
“The nature of this investment is personal. What is your brother’s name?”
“It’s Joseph, sir,” Simon said.
“And why did he leave?”
Long silence. Then Simon said, “He wanted to try something new—a bigger agency. In fact, he was hired by your agency. Leo Burnett of Chicago.”
“Then he’s with us,” I said. “Interesting. I assume he’s still employed there.”
“We’re not sure,” Rupert said. “We’ve lost contact with him.”
“I can check on that. Since he understands the Leo Burnett corporate culture, I’m sure that what he’d have to tell us about the compatibility of our two agencies will be helpful.”
Both of the men looked anxious.
I turned to Simon. “If I ask him why he left, he’ll corroborate your story?”
More silence. Then Simon said, “No, sir. He probably won’t.”
“What would he tell me?”
“He would probably say that it was my fault he left. I forced him out.”
I frowned. “Why would you do that?”
Another pause.
“This is very uncomfortable.”
“Please continue. The more I know, the better prepared I will be to make a recommendation to our CEO.”
Simon exhaled slowly. “I was jealous of him. He was more talented than me and my father knew it. I was afraid I would lose my job to him.”
I looked at him coolly. “This concerns me,” I said. “A corporate culture that punishes success will never succeed.”
“Clearly,” Rupert said.
“Have you sought to make amends with this brother?”
“We’ve wanted to,” Rupert said. I noticed the emotion in his eyes. “But we didn’t know how to reach him.”
“You just told me he was employed with our Chicago office. Certainly you could have found him.”
“The truth is,” Simon said, “we were too ashamed.”
Rupert nodded in agreement.