A and the lost information

I had a phone call from a less-than-happy customer.

I’ve been waiting for over a month for this particular information, he said.

Unfortunately I couldn’t agree more with him. I apologized – it’s something I’m getting very good at since starting to work here – and explained that I still had no answers to his question.

This is ridiculous, he barked.

I couldn’t agree with you more, sir, I said truthfully, but it’s all out of my hands. However, perhaps you’ll have more luck getting your questions answered if you ask the man who has the answers yourself.

I gave him A’s number. The man asked if I was sure he would get answers from A.

I can’t promise he will answer your questions. But what I can promise you is that he has the answers though I replied.

The man softened. Will I get you into trouble by phoning him? He asked.

No, no, I ensured him. Please give him my love when you speak to him, I added light heartedly.

The following day I was in a meeting with two clients and H in H’s office when A burst into the door and shouted What have you gone and done now?!

The clients looked chocked. I exchanged a look with H who gave me a “go ahead, miss Marple”-look.

What do you mean, A? I said civilly.

Well, I had a crazy man phoning me and asking me questions I have no idea about – he said you’d told him to phone me! It’s you who has the information! He looked like he was about to blow his top.

I haven’t, I said. I’ve asked you for a few months, you told me you had the information, but never let me have it. You promised to email it to me a few times, but you haven’t.

Well, I’ve thrown the information away he said. What the fuck am I going to do now?

I don’t know A, I said, I’m in the middle of a meeting.

Oh, he said and noticed the poor clients next to me, Oh, perhaps I intruded?

You did, I said and carried on talking to our clients and H. I never saw him leave, but we all felt the frustration that lingered in the room for quite some time.