Chapter 7 - THE BOSS WHO HAD NOTHING LEFT
Aurelio's financial situation deteriorated rapidly.
Crane's promised investment had collapsed.
Several lenders refused to extend credit.
A construction project stalled.
Two ships remained idle because suppliers demanded payment in advance.
The company had less than three weeks of operating cash.
Aurelio met with creditors every day.
He sold a luxury property.
Canceled expansion plans.
Suspended executive bonuses.
And began negotiating with lenders to avoid a disorderly collapse.
I watched the numbers change.
Every morning, the situation looked worse.
One evening, I found him alone in the conference room.
His tie lay on the table.
His sleeves were rolled up.
A stack of unpaid invoices sat beside his coffee.
“You should go home,” he said.
“So should you.”
He smiled tiredly.
“I'm trying to keep several hundred people employed.”
“I know.”
He looked toward the river.
“My father built this company.”
I remained silent.
“He wasn't a good man in every respect. But he knew how to keep the ships moving.”
Aurelio rubbed his face.
“I thought I did too.”
I studied him.
“You didn't steal the money.”
“No.”
“But you trusted someone who may have.”
He nodded.
“That was my mistake.”
I looked at the invoices.
“Then fix the mistake. Don't destroy yourself over it.”
He turned.
“You make it sound simple.”
“It isn't.”
I smiled faintly.
May you like
“That's why you need accountants.”
For the first time that week, he laughed.
