Chapter 134
Mornings are always a hectic period in our house. So many tasks happen over night in our global business and my email is already full by 8am. Thankfully Sam is always on top of it and at his desk to keep the wolves at bay.
This morning was no different. I had a round of media interviews both locally and globally between now and lunch time from my office, and we were heading at break neck speed to be on time, fighting off the peak hour rush.
Stepping in to the office I had people waiting, including Sam & Jane to walk me through the day, and to give me last minute briefings. I had a meeting at 1am with Jane and some manafactures who were making their final presentation pitch for our fleet renewal and I was excited. That was the fun part, but as I walked into my office it had been transformed into a mini studio with cameras and lights and a make up artist to get me through.
"Lets get this show on the road" I said as I sat on the chair to be made up.
From there it seemed like a blur. Same questions, same answers, same meaning. I wanted it over and done with, but new how important it was to the brand to get this right.
Jane walked in at 12:45. "Share your thoughts with me, so we can be on the same page" she asked in her usual eloquent manner.
In the 10mins we had decided on a narrowbody plan, a regional plan, but our widebody was still up in the air, as we just couldn't decide. Hopefully the presentations would sell us what we wanted to hear, as every day we procrastinated was a month longer in delivery.
First up was Airbus, and whilst we had a long association with the company, there were some issues that needed addressing including a lack of regional jets that we would require. Both their narrowbody product and widebody range were excellent and they were due to launch the 777X soon and I was excited by it's prospects. The meeting went for 90 mins and I think Jane handled it extremely well.
With 5 mins break we started off with Airbus. Having owned my A330-900 for a year now I was in love with it. It was everything I wanted, but this was not was I purchasing. I was purchasing a fleet to cover a large country, a region with smaller islands, and attempting to become a global player in the airline market.
Mid way through their presentation, I raised my hand to stop them. "Enough" I said, without sound arrogant or condescending. "I know what I want"
This was enough to make the room go silent, and the presenters from Europe stop.
"If you would allow Jane and I a few moments I will come back to you"
The poor guys must have thought that they had stuffed up, but it was the opposite. Going with Airbus we could have a whole fleet, less tooling, less operating costs and a modern product. With Boeing we would need two products at least. It made sense to go with Airbus. The question was how much, how soon, and what did we need.
"Sorry for the interruption gentleman." I started. "As I said I have made my decision. We need a final price on the following, along with delivery dates and options. 30 A220, 40 A321neo 20 A231XLR 30 A330-900 & 25 A350 with a mix of ULR and 900 versions."
There was only silence. Who was this guy from Australia? How was he funding this and was he serious. They would soon learn that Yes was the answer to all of this. They knew me from the previous purchase but weren't sure about the size of this deal.
"I will fly over and ink the deal later this week if you like, I am sure we can come to favourable terms if you would like to work with our team."
They were still coming to terms with my quick decision. Generally these things took many months if not years to be decided, but I was on a mission, I wanted everything done now. I was never one to wait and over think it once I had made my decision.
We agreed that I would be in France by Monday week and for an official signing ceremony. Jane, along with our Chief Pilot would join us, and I would be accompanied by Sam & Karl. It would also give me a few days to visit Munich and for Jane to meet with our leadership team there, as they were the ones signing the cheques. I would also be spoilt by a quick visit with the grandkids and Jules, before a few days in NYC checking in on Maggie.
"Hey bub, I'm home" I yelled out from the stairs.
"Up here" he yelled from the landing. As I turned to see my smiling husband, I was greeted by him in a sling on his arm.
"WTF did you do" I asked slightly shocked.
"I fell off a scaffold moving a frame" he responded with half a smile. "I have been to the hospital, but I can't work for a few weeks.
"Perfect" I said with a smile. "I won't have to travel with out you."
"where are we going" he asked looking puzzled. "Michelle said our travel was soft this month?"
"I just agreed to a deal with Airbus. So I am heading to Europe to sign, thought a quick trip to Munich and then NYC for a few days. I don't want the girls to think we don't exist."
"Ok, great. Who are we taking?"
"I thought just Sam and Karl & Chris, but now you, we can take Michelle as well. Michael has exams pending so I don't want to disrupt him too much."
I walked in to my office and spoke with Sam who was still in the office. I gave him a rough itinerary and knew he would work it out from there. The guy was a gem and could extract a whole thesis out of a page of my scribbled notes.
"Lets get everyone together and head out for dinner" I suggest to Jackson. "We don't socialise enough." Whilst we had a growing number of associates, we missed our group of friends. A quick phone around I had managed to get 15 together for a Monday meal at a restaurant we'd not been to in ages. A quick call to the manager, and a hefty tip, he agreed to only have us in tonight, as I wanted to kick back and not worry about prying eyes or phones snapping our every move or comment.
Arriving at a little Italian place in Darlinghurst a few of our mates had already arrived. Hugs and kisses all round were had, and the usual apology from me for not being as available as we used to be. Whilst I kept a weekly dinner with Ross, my best mate, it had been weeks since I had seen others. Jackson on the other hand had a lot more time and freedom and was often having a beer or a catch up. I really needed to get my work life balance shit sorted. I missed these guys. They had supported us for 20 years some of them.
Angelo was instructed to just bring food and wine and not stop until no one could move. The smile on his face showed his love of his craft, and also the payment he would receive at the end of the night.
Laughter, jokes, crass humour, who was sleeping with who, all the usual gossip when you get near 20 gay guys together in a room were the discussion tonight, and it felt so good to be a part of it.
"Guys, I have a suggestion. How about we all spend New Year on the Yacht somewhere this year? We can use the plane to fly there and then the yacht can meet us. Caribbean? Thailand? Bora Bora? Any suggestions?"
Ross wanted Asia. And once he spoke most tended to follow. We agreed that we would leave Sydney on the 27th and meet the yacht in Singapore for either 1-2 weeks depending on schedules. This was an excellent plan. Something that excited me, and knowing this motly crew, a fun time would be had.
As the night wore on, and its end was nearing, I managed to get a few minutes with Ross alone.
"You ok mate. You don't seem your usual self?"
"Yeah, I guess. I stopped seeing Andy. It was just not going anywhere. I am going to take a few weeks off and just restock."
I was pretty happy about this. Andy was a sponge. He was lazy, he was rude, and with out evidence, I would assume mentally abusive towards my big bad bear of a mate.
"Well, I have a suggestion. I am heading to Europe the day after tomorrow, hitch a ride, and come visit your goddaughters and see the twins. We are gone 10 days. I'd love to have you with me"
"Really, I don't want to get in the way." He asked, knowing he really wanted to come.
"Don't shit me, of course its ok. I will have Sam organise a car to collect you. He will be in touch"
As we stood, everyone started on the long goodbyes. As the car was waiting out the front, our friends started to mock our wealth and our car. It was all in good humour and we know that nothing was meant by it. Our friends were our friends. We loved them dearly.
"What was up with Ross tonight?" Jackson asked as we headed off.
"He ditched Andy" I started to say before he replied.
"Thank fuck for that. The guy was a grub"
I laughed as I was thinking the same thing.
"I have asked him to come to Europe with us. Breaks to the loneliness he's suffering. Plus, he loves seeing the girls"
He sank back into the luxury of the car and were left in our own thoughts. Each of us had so much on our minds, and neither of ever thought their issues were bigger than the others. We were a team in so many ways.
Chapter 135
6am airport starts were never something I looked forward to when I travelled the country in my old life. Fighting with baggage check in, the queues to get through security, the delays and the cancelled flights. These days, we virtually drove to the door of the plane, had customs stamp us out, and were taxiing 15 mins later, after a coffee, juice, champagne depending on the time of the day.
It was a light load with only a dozen or so on board, and little luggage. Whilst we had enough range to make it to Munich, head winds would make it tight and we didn't fancy a stop in a third world former Soviet country for fuel. Our plan was to refuel in Singapore, stretch our legs and then overnight in to Munich. A more sensible and refreshed way to arrive.
For all her travels and roles, Jane had never been on a plane of this calibre before and was amazed.
"Explore" I encouraged. "Open everything. I have put you in the second master suite at the rear if you wish to rest"
"Oh Grant. I don't know what to say. I'm happy in the lay flats if someone else wants it."
"Don't be silly. You are entitled to the trimmings that come with your role. Plus, I need you rested so you can guide me through the next few days. There are some great people I want you to meet as well. Johan who you've met via Zoom, our CFO, our Leadership team. I also wanted to ask you something and please, you don't have to decide now. But 6 months ago, I stepped down from an executive role in the organisation to enjoy life more. Three of my closest advisors, Johan, my brother Steven & Klaus have day to day running of the company and all its arms. It is very male orientated. I was hoping you would join the board of deputies, along with another woman I have in mind, to round it out to 5. You are now a senior player in our organisation, and really want a mix of diversity on the board. I think your knowledge in the airline industry would be an addition we need. A seat at the table so to speak."
"Grant, I'm honoured. Really, I am. I am actually speechless." She said as she sat dumbfounded in her seat.
"When I heard you were buying us out. I start to put feelers out. Both about you, and also for a new job. I thought you were crazy. I thought you had no idea what you were doing, just another crazy billionaire. But, as I have witnessed, your brain is amazing. You. Have the pulse of everything we do every day, and I can honestly stay, I am not looking for another role. So, to answer your question, yes, I will join your board. People may think I am stern spinster, but, I can tell you, our values are very much aligned."
"That's great" I said as I embraced her. "Wait till you meet Cath. I think you two will get on like a house on fire. Really give the stale pale males a run for their money" I laughed.
She knows I was joking, everyone did, the 3 wise men who held those roles I trusted my life with. They did the hard yards, and in many cases, I got the glory.
Jackson was lying on the bed when I found him 90mins out from Singapore. "What you doing handsome?" I asked.
"I took a pain med, and am just laying here thinking about things"
"Anything you want to share?" I asked, slightly concerned
"No, I guess I look at our life today compared to 2 years ago, and sometimes I just pinch myself. But then I also think, it's not really mine, it's yours, and I worry you will leave me"
"Hey hey, where's this coming from? You have you own personal fortune now that is in the billions, your real estate portfolio is worth hundreds of millions. What else do you want, it's yours"
"I don't want the money, I want you. I miss you at times, even when you are right next to me. The way you conduct meetings, the way you give speeches, the way you mix with Prime Ministers and Presidents, I often ask myself, `Where has Grant Smith gone' and I get lonely."
It was something I hadn't really thought about. I just adapted because I had too. I guess I hadn't thought about how Jackson was or had adapted, and for that I was truly sorry and deeply regretful.
"Bub, what can I do to elevate you. Did you want to be a more key person in the organisation? did you want to be more visual? I will do anything in my power to make it happen. We are a team and I cannot get out of bed each morning knowing that."
"I know. I thought I wanted to do more foundation stuff, but I backed down because I didn't think I was good enough. Or had the training or background. That's why I went back to building and landscaping because it's what I do well. I don't want to fail anyone or let you down."
"You idiot. You know you could never let me down. Talk to me. Tell me these things, you're worse than Michael at times" I laughed. "How about we get you some training in the area, work on your public speaking, do some management courses, and open the doors for you to shine."
"Do you think I could?"
"I know you could. And I know you would do an excellent job. So, how about I have Sam and Michelle do some research on what would be best for you, and you can work out a plan."
"So, whilst I am being open, there is one more thing I would like to discuss." He was sounding coy and I was curious as to where he was heading.
"Go one, no more shocks though" I said
"I want to build apartments. Towers. Lots of them. But and I want you to hear me out here, I don't want to sell them. I want to rent them out as social and affordable housing. Places where single older woman can feel safe. Families fleeing domestic violence, victims of rape and assault, LGBTQIA folks, families doing it hard. But not just towers that become ghetto's, communities. Communities that become important social and economic anchors. Places that I needed when I was 18. Not boarding homes and half way houses. Integrate counselling services in to complex's." His voice trailed on.
"I get it I get it. You want to save the planet one person at a time" I smiled.
"Yeah, I guess I do."
"This is why I love you. Under each layer there is even more humanity, love and care than I even realised. How about I speak to the Prime Minister Office and approach him?"
"No. How about you set up the meeting and I meet with the Prime Ministers office. I need to do this bub. It is for me. You can be involved, but you take a back seat."
"OK. Sorry. I am just so used to doing things."
"I know, and I love you for it. But sometimes I need to take control. It's a partnership for a reason. And don't worry. I still love you to the moon and back."
"Ditto handsome. Now spoon me for an hour before we land"