Nobody's Fault, Derek Haines [mobi reader txt] 📗

Steve had worked as a Junior Accountant in an accounting firm in Liverpool in Sydney’s south west. Originally wanting to study business, he thought that his criminal record could be a problem if he wanted to pursue a career in management. Accounting gave him a wider choice later in life. He had completed his accounting degree at the University of Western Sydney, and although not a star, he had passed his examinations relatively easily. He had the motivation of making up for lost time. He had wasted away many years before finally settling down at university, and now in his employment. The senior partners had taken what they perceived to be a small risk in hiring Steven, but as he had been open and frank to them about his criminal record and jail sentence during his interviews, and in the light of his application during his studies, they decided he should be given an opportunity. The work he was doing was mundane, and below his qualifications, but Steven knew he would always have to prove himself. He would never have anyone’s trust in an instant. He was going to have to earn it every time. And work at keeping it also. None of the staff knew of his record, except the three senior partners. He was accepted well. Even if some thought him a little boring and conscientious.
He glanced at his to do note pad, and it reminded him of his next task. He picked up the phone again and dialled.
‘Yes, Good morning, could I speak to Tony Pilletto please.’
‘Just one moment sir, I’ll see if I can find him. May I ask who is calling?’
‘Sure, it’s Steve Sharp.’
After a few moments, the receptionist returned.
‘Mr Sharp?’
‘Yes’
‘He will be with you in a minute, he is just coming in from the warehouse.’
In a few minutes Steve heard the familiar deep tones of Tony’s voice on the other end of the phone.
‘Hello there Steve. Don’t tell me. Let me guess. You’ve rung to invite me to lunch?’ he chuckled.
Steve replied with a smile on his face, ‘I would love to Tony, but I am afraid I don’t get that honour. You might be lucky if you put a hard word on one of the partners though. Unless you were planning on joining me in the office kitchen to share my soggy tomato sandwiches.’
‘Sounds like we both have the same thing on the menu for lunch today Steve. Oh well, looks like we both get to work this afternoon!’ Tony ended with a laugh.
‘Looks that way Tony. Look the reason I called, is there are some details missing from the depreciation schedules on the accounts of Triple T. I was wondering if you could gather up some info so I can straighten it out.’
‘Sure, what do you need?’
‘Just the purchase dates and copies of the finance documents for the Kenworth and the Komatsu forklift. All the other listed assets are fine.’ said Steve.
‘Ok Steve, I’ll get my office lady to hunt them out and send them to you.’
‘Thanks Tony. No hurry.’
‘Ok bye Steve.’
Steve had been working on the Triple T Transport Pty Ltd account since he had first started work in Liverpool. In fact, Tony Pilletto was one of the first clients Steve had met. He liked him. And they got on well. He knew a little about the history of Triple T, and that one of the original ‘T’s’ had been killed in an accident very early in the life of the company. Tony had told him how Tom had been trying to change a flat tyre on his truck at night on a shoulder of the Hume Highway, and had been hit by a passing car. It was a freak accident. That was in early 1986, and it nearly finished the company. Tom had no insurance, or more to the point the business didn’t have Tom insured, so it became a monumental struggle for Tony and Trevor. It took them almost four years to recover from the accident. The Kenworth they had been discussing today, was the oldest truck in the fleet of Triple T, and it was ordered just prior to Tom’s death. Steve had a feeling Tony had an attachment to that truck. The other major change had been when Tony bought out Trevor’s and his wife’s share of the business in 1994. This is when Steve became involved. He had to do a lot of the accounting grunt work for the buy out. The way Steve read the situation was that Tony had been careful with his money, and had built not only the business but also his personal assets carefully. Not that Trevor had been wasteful, but he was in a little financial difficulty with some other investments he had, and in selling his share of Triple T he could stabilise himself financially. There was no animosity between Tony and Trevor. In fact it was what they both wanted. To Tony Triple T was his life. Trevor had tired of it.
In the three years since, Triple T was doing reasonably well. The debt level was high, but Tony was used to that after the last eleven years. It always had been since Tom’s death. Late in 1996, the debt level of Triple T was getting difficult to handle. Tony asked his accountants for their advice. They mapped out a re-financing structure for Triple T. There were many loans current on trucks, buildings, and the buy out of Trevor. It was suggested he amalgamate all of them and re-finance as interest rates had fallen in the recent year. It was sound advice. Steve again was involved in helping with the supporting documentation for the loan application for the bank. It took over four months to conclude, but once in place it eased the cash flow problem for Triple T and Tony. He wasn’t pleased about having to re-mortgage his house, but it was necessary, and Tony knew it. Steve admired Tony for his capacity for sheer hard work and his tenacity. Not many men would have survived the first few years off a business such a Triple T. He knew Tony still worked at least fourteen hours a day six days a week.
For Steve, he was building his life. He was not earning a lot of money, but was comfortable in his small flat he rented, and was trying to save a little when he could. He was thirty, and starting out in life. His past was gone forever.
His phone rang and startled him from his thoughts. ‘Hello, Steve Sharp.’
‘Any interest in home made chilli prawns and a vegetable stir fry?’ came the question from the familiar voice of his girlfriend.
‘Hmmmmm, I suppose it will cost me a bottle of chardonnay to say yes?’
‘Of course.’ she teased.
‘Seven ok?’ said Steve.
‘See you then Sugar.’
‘Ok bye.’
Steve had been seeing his girlfriend for nearly two years. She had ended a seven year marriage, and had two children with her. They got on very well, and were both happy in seeing each other a few times a week. She would stay the weekend at Steve’s or visa versa when the kids were at their dad’s. But for both of them, this was enough. Neither had wanted anything more. But the time was approaching when they may reconsider.
‘PHONE CALL TONY!’ was screamed from the office door to the warehouse. Tony jumped down from the back of a semi being loaded with machinery. Even though Tony owned the company, he was just one of the workers to all his employees. His stood for no ceremony. And he had a good crew of men. ‘I can’t just sit at a desk waiting for a phone to ring. There’s work to be done.’ he would always say. ‘COMING’!’ he shouted back to his ever faithful office lady. She had been through it all with Tony. He knew she would be retiring soon. He dreaded the day. She was invaluable.
‘Hello, Tony here.’ He said, just a bit breathlessly from his loading work.
‘Hi Tony, David Holdsworth. How ya goin’?’
‘Not bloody bad! How about you? Heard you retired or something.’
‘No Tony, don’t believe gossip. It’s never true.’
‘So what are you doing?’ asked Tony. He had known David for four years. He had been a good client of Triple T with regular loads to Sam’s Hardware in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, but he hadn’t heard from him in a few months.
‘Well Tony, You know I sold DPS a few months back. So now I am just doing small one off deals on surplus equipment and stock. I decided just to slow down a bit. You should do the same before you drop dead of a heart attack old friend!’ joked David.
‘Not bloody likely. Not ‘til I have the banks off my back. You know how it is Dave.’
‘Yep, sure do Tony. Those mongrels are always selling umbrellas on sunny days. But as soon as they see a cloud, they want the fucking things back!’
‘You don’t need to tell me Dave. So what can I do for you? asked Tony.
‘Well Tony, I just sold an order of irrigation pipes I picked up at auction in Brisbane. Wondered if you could make ‘em appear in Melbourne for me?’
‘Sure, no problem. Wanna fax me the details and I will make them magically appear in Melbourne for you!’ joked Tony.
‘Ok, will do. Oh. By the way Tony. Are you still getting work for Sam’s deliveries? The people I sold DPS to said they would continue to use Triple T.’
‘Dave, I haven’t had a load in a few weeks now. Last I heard was gossip from one of my drivers, but it seems the new owners of DPS tried putting up their prices by eight percent. Apparently Sam’s are reviewing the contract.’
‘Bloody idiots. Some people can’t help but be greedy can they Tony. I hope it gets sorted out.’
‘Well, I’ll let you know if I hear anything Dave.’ said Tony, knowing that the loss of the Sam’s deliveries would hurt Triple T. He didn’t hold anything against Dave. It was just business, and Dave had been a very good client. Maybe he would still be. Tony especially like customers who paid on time. And Dave always had.
‘Yeah, same here Tony. I’ll fax you those details. Have to catch you for a beer soon ok?’
‘Would love to Dave. See you soon. Your shout!’
‘Ok. Deal Tony, bye.’
As soon as he hung up the phone, David called Jim Brown. Then he rang Tony back.
‘Tony, I just checked with Jim Brown, he and I have always got on well. Your gossip wasn’t far wrong. The new owners of DPS tried to increase the price by ten percent. Sam’s are now buying from a split of three of the majors. I am sorry Tony.’
‘Thanks for letting me know so soon Dave. At least I know. I haven’t heard anything from DPS They are a bit slow on their last account, so I thought that was why they were avoiding my calls. At least I have the picture now. Thanks for that Dave. I’ll shout the second beer ok?’
‘Sure. I am sorry Tony.’
‘Don’t be Dave, its not your fault. Call me when you are around this way for that beer.’
‘Ok Tony. See ya later.’
Tony walked out of his office. As he passed his single faithful office worker, he said ‘Better get on the phone and see if we can drum up some business. I’ll be back in a few minutes. You want A to K? I’ll do L to Z.’ They had both been here before. They knew what to do. ‘It’ll take five people to replace you.’ He thought as