Chapter 2
Over the next three days, Emily was on a roll. She went through the entire supplier list and set up in-person meetings with five of them. After each meeting, she posted an update in the group chat.
Emily: [Met with Eastgate Automation. Their quote is 2.18 million dollars.]
Emily: [Southland Machinery came in at 2.1 million dollars, way less than expected. Looks like Sophia's old supplier was really overcharging.]
Emily: [Quick update. The best quote so far is 680 thousand dollars. That is 580 thousand dollars less than Sophia's plan. Almost half the price.]
The group chat was filled with thumbs-up emojis.
[Emily, you rock.]
[You're the real deal!]
[We need more people like you in this company.]
I read through all the messages, then exited the group chat.
*****
At three in the afternoon, I was organizing the handover documents when Emily walked over to my desk, holding a cup of coffee.
She set it on my desk and said with a bright smile, "Sophia, this is for you."
I glanced at the coffee, and then at her. "Thanks."
"Sophia," she leaned in and lowered her voice, "I compared several suppliers today. The quote from CoreTech Precision, the one you used before, is much higher than the others.
"For the same machining center, Southland Machinery quoted 680 thousand dollars, while CoreTech Precision quoted 1.26 million dollars."
She paused, and her smile carried a hint of something unspoken. "That is a difference of 580 thousand dollars, Sophia. You must know someone over there pretty well."
I set the documents down and looked her straight in the eye. "Are you accusing me of taking kickbacks?"
"That's not what I meant," she said quickly, waving her hand. "I'm just curious. Is the 580 thousand dollars difference really just because their quote was higher? Or is there more to it?"
She left the rest unsaid, but that pause spoke louder than words.
The coworkers behind me were all listening. Even their typing got quieter.
I looked at Emily's honest, straightforward face and suddenly found it kind of funny.
She really thought she was doing the right thing. She saw herself as some kind of hero, digging up dirt and blowing the whistle.
But she didn't know something important. CoreTech Precision was the only company in the country that offered full five-year warranty on its CNC machines.
Their quote already included 260 thousand dollars for custom software, 130 thousand dollars for on-site engineer training, and 100 thousand dollars to adapt three production lines.
Every factory that bought from CoreTech paid these fees willingly. Because without them, the machines were scrap.
As for Southland Machinery's 680 thousand dollar quote, I had already talked to their regional manager. The manager made it clear that price was for the bare machine only. No software. No training. No maintenance. And not even shipping.
The full package from Southland would cost 1.4 million, 140 thousand more expensive than CoreTech.
But I wasn't going to explain any of this to Emily. In her eyes, I was the villain. No matter what I said, it would sound like excuses. So I didn't bother.
"Emily," I leaned back in my chair and smiled. "If you think there is an issue with the supplier, do what you think is right.
"Mr. Pace put you in charge. Whatever price you agree to and whatever you decide to buy, that is on you. It has nothing to do with me. But I want you to know something up front."
Emily looked taken aback. "What is it?"
"These machines are going to decide how much the two new lines can produce next year. So before you sign anything, make sure you really go over every single detail."
"Thanks for the heads-up, Sophia," Emily said, her smile fading as she straightened up. "Don't worry. Whatever I sign, I'll take full responsibility for it."
With that, she turned and walked away. The coffee was still sitting on my desk. I didn't touch it.
Mike, who sat next to me, leaned over and whispered, "Sophia, didn't we do a detailed technical evaluation of CoreTech's equipment before? Southland's stuff does not even meet the precision requirements. Are you really not going to say anything?"
"Would anyone even believe me?" I replied.
Mike opened his mouth, then closed it again.