I met Rashmoor at lunch today to discuss my further involvement in the project. Or as I prefer to say it – the lack of it.
I arrived a few minutes early to get my thoughts together and practice again what I was going to say but I underestimated the enemy. Rashmoor was already there waiting for me.
“Mr Thorpinski”, he greeted me from a distance, “please come join me here. I saved you a seat”.
He seemed polite but I knew I had to keep my guard up.
“It was important to get it right this time. Keep your emotions under control, keep it cool, making him believe you know nothing about him and Nate – remember it’s all about Natalie and your need for retirement. I thought to myself.
I sat down on a chair next to him and without wasting any time started my prepared speech.
“Sir, my wife and I talked in great length about my further involvement in the project and I am really sorry, but don’t think I will be able to do it”, I started getting straight to the point. “The remoteness of the new lab, inability to stay in touch with her and a potentially long time needed to finish the project.. is just not something we want at this stage of our lives. We’re not 30 anymore. I’ve decided to retire and I hope you understand my reasoning”.
I couldn’t really make anything out of Rashmoor’s emotionless face. He didn’t seem surprised, but he didn’t seem upset either.
What was his game plan?
“Professor”, he replied slowly, “I understand what you’re saying, this is indeed the best moment to retire and enjoy your life”. A classic trick – agree with your opponent to disarm him before you counterattack. I’m not falling for that.
“As you know it’s of great importance to me that you stay on the team and finish the project, so before you give me your final answer”, he continued, “I’d like to introduce you to a new member of the team. She seems very excited to meet you.”
That’s your counterattack? A new member of the team is going to convince me to stay? No way in the world that’s going to work.
“Mr Rashmoor”, I was quite confident I was going to get myself out of it, “there are many members of the scientific community who would like to meet me so what you said doesn’t surprise me. I have a few more days on my contract left and I’ll be glad to meet her, but please know I’ve made my mind up and I am leaving soon.”
I was doing quite well so far – calm, confident and convincing – but he was looking at me unmoved, as if he was certain one way or another I was going to stay on the team.
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.”, he replied right back at me, “I am not very religious Mr. Thorpinski, and I don’t think neither are you, but I think that the proverbs such as this one carry a universal message that applies to most of us”
He was looking at me with a strange confidence o his face.
What on earth was that supposed to mean? Was this a threat?
“You are putting a lot of faith in that woman Mr Rashmoor. She would indeed have to have some Godly powers to convince me to stay, so again, it’s best to assume that once my contract has ended so will my involvement in the project. I’ve already promised that my wife.”
We were both trying to pull my future in two opposite directions and even though the final word belonged to me, I had a feeling there was something behind his sleeve I didn’t know about yet.
But it wasn’t important now – I kept my shit together and didn’t let emotions reveal that I hated (or feared?) the man sitting across the table from me.
“We shall see about that. I’ll schedule a meeting for you to meet Dr Jamie Nakamura soon”, Rashmoor put some change on the table for his coffee and left Eat Bar.
