Trilemma by Jennifer Mortimer Read Free Book Online Page B

is far higher than we were expecting,” says Deepak.
    â€œWe can’t afford to cut corners,” says Tom.
    â€œI am very sorry, but it is way over our budget,” Deepak says.
    â€œWe can do anything we want with these packages,” says Ian, his head bobbing excitedly as he speaks.
    Deepak looks down at his hands, and Peake moves on.
    â€œThe second option is based on a version of Kiwicom’s systems,” he says. “Their vendor, LCNS, has proposed a lease arrangement. The costs look like this,” and he shows a different set of colored slides.
    Deepak’s face is anxious. “Not as expensive,” he says. “But still beyond our budget.”
    Tom says, “The technology is proprietary. We would be locked in.”
    â€œAnd it’s a really old system,” says Ian. “We wouldn’t be able to differentiate ourselves from Kiwicom.”
    â€œIs there a third option?’ I ask.
    â€œNo,” says Peake. “The other proposals are from the individual vendors of the packages, so each only covers part of the picture.”
    Fred blinks rapidly behind his gold-rimmed spectacles, opens his mouth, then closes it and stays silent.
    â€œSo we’re agreed then,” says Tom. “We go with VNL’s proposal.”
    â€œHear, hear,” says Ian.
    Deepak hunches his shoulders and says nothing. Fred blinks again and looks down.
    â€œGreat, I’ll get the contracts started,” says Peake.
    â€œJust a minute,” I say, raising my hand in a gesture that says stop. “I don’t believe we have enough information to be confident we’re making the best decision. I’d like to go through the detailed proposals.”
    â€œWe completed the evaluation against the agreed criteria using the weightings that were signed off,” says Peake. He doesn’t look at me, he looks at Tom.
    â€œI’m not confident we established all the options.”
    â€œThat was the process we agreed,” Tom says, frowning.
    â€œBut the proposal is costing far more than we budgeted. I’m not comfortable with the recommendation, Tom. I’m not prepared to present it to the Board until we’ve done more work.”
    Peake heaves a gusty sigh and closes down the presentation, still without meeting my gaze.
    â€œThanks for the preso,” Tom says. “Let’s talk about where to next.”
    As they leave the room together, I hear Peake say, “Another hissy fit from the prissy chink,” and I hear Tom laugh.
    Peake glances back and smirks when he sees I heard him. My blood starts pumping faster, but my face is calm, my Asian eyes still. His smirk widens to a triumphant grin.
    Tom calls me into his office. “Scott’s pretty upset with your attitude, Lin.” When he leans forward, a manly scent of pine and spice tickles my nostrils. “They’ve spent a lot of time on the evaluation.”
    â€œI’m not impressed with how much time and money has been spent on the evaluation just to propose an outcome we can’t afford.”
    â€œThere are no other solutions.”
    â€œThere have to be,” I reply.
    A rare uncertain expression flickers across his face. “I’ll talk to Scott,” he says.
    â€œScott is a—” I almost say cocksucker but I’m not going to descend into the same behavior.
    Tom’s smile is perfunctory. “Don’t get hot under the collar.”
    I pause, my blood starting to race, but he just nods and turns back to his PC, so I leave his office and head up the stairs. I hesitate at the door to the level where my own office is located, and examine the gray-green linoleum of the stairwell floor, scuffed with the scurryings of a thousand workers’ feet. Then I sigh and carry on up the stairs to Adam’s office two floors above.
    â€œThey’ll have to increase the budget,” he says when I explain our dilemma.
    â€œThey may not be