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Jinnie sat in her Crawley office and finished her breakfast bap, bought from the sandwich van. She enjoyed a sausage and fried egg bap and a large coffee on every visit to DKL; it was something she really looked forward to. She also liked to try to get in before Ro and get the coffee on. As she swept the crumbs from bap into her wastepaper basket, Ro arrived and stuck her head around Jinnie’s door, and said, “Hi boss, I saw your Lexus in the car park, so I didn’t bother to get a coffee to go with my bacon bap, I knew you would have it on.”
Jinnie smiled and said, “Good morning, Ro. How are you, it’s been a while since I made it here, I have had several big projects on for other divisions.” “So, I heard,” said Ro. “Belinda said you were trying to launch a new catering business in the Caribbean and had purchased two more hotels.” “That’s right,” replied Jinnie. “The catering business has got off to a flier. We hoped we might manage to buy our way into the Barbados market with a single contract in the first year, but we have only been pitching for jobs for three months and we landed our second contract at the weekend. Monica and Rick have both been doing a fine job.”
“I’ve spoken to both on the phone several times, but never met either, they both sound nice,” said Ro. Jinnie asked, “Do you know if Jed is in yet?” “His car was in the Directors’ car park when I walked by, so I think so,” said Ro. “When you’ve finished your roll, can you give him a call and tell him that I’d like a quick word. When he arrives give him a cup of coffee, that way he’ll know he’s not in trouble, if I’m on the phone and he has to wait. I’d like you both to join me for a bit, so you might like to bring me a coffee and one for yourself if you want one.”
Jinnie was on the phone having a word with Brian in Potters Bar about the new Bearcat (Catering) contract when she saw Jed arrive and clearly ask Ro what was going on. A few minutes later Jinnie put her desk phone back in its cradle and beckoned Jed and Ro in, saying, “Please shut the door and take a seat.” Jinnie smiled and said, “This feels strange, I have a sense of déjà vu. Last time I spoke to the two of you together like this it was to offer Jed a new job. Well, today I want to offer you both new jobs. But this time it’s a bit different and please hear me out because they are big jobs, and I think you are both ideal for them.”
Jinnie continued, “I really need to give you both a bit of background first. I’m sure you are aware that we own a chain of fried chicken shops called Aunty JoJo’s, we currently have them in the U.K., Ireland, the West Indies, Canada and a few in Slovenia. At the moment, one way or another, it all sits under Brooke Wilson’s Fastfood Division, and I think at last count we have just over 400 branches worldwide. The outlets are quite profitable, and we have recently started to franchise branches as well as owning them. The aim is to eventually directly own about 10%, with the rest franchises. The main board wants to expand the business quickly, as it is a huge money-spinner. Anyway, Monica currently runs the Aunty JoJo’s Caribbean side of the business and it is growing fast, but we are running out of islands suitable for many branches.”
“We have looked at numerous islands,” said Jinnie, “and we have got some where we can expand, but we don’t think any of them will give us the numbers we have in mind. Our biggest Caribbean market is Trinidad, and we have about 50 branches, and we have plans for about 10 more. We have 25 in Jamaica and plan 20 more, but they are exceptions. The next biggest is Barbados with 12, which is mature; everywhere else the islands can mostly only support maybe 4 or 5 branches, so the market in general is mature. So where do we go next? If we want a big market, we need to hit Central, South or North America, or go further afield and look at somewhere that is a big market like South Africa, Australia, India, the Philippines or China. The one thing in common with most of our outlets is they are English-speaking, so we would need to develop a Spanish- or Chinese-speaking operation for some of those places.”
“Well, the board decided to look at the USA,” continued Jinnie, “and we sent people there to spy out the market. We decided to start in an area with a large Caribbean population and Florida met that criterion. The report said it would be a pretty good place to start, and it could support about 280 outlets.” “Wow,” said Jed, “there are 50 states in the US, would they all be that big?” “No,” replied Jinnie, “some are quite a bit smaller, like Wyoming where we reckon on maybe 10 at most, but we think California could be up to 500. The whole of the USA could be 4,500 outlets; that’s maybe as many as 450 owned branches and 4,050 franchises.”
“That’s some business,” said Jed. “Well, that would be just the start,” said Jinnie, “once we got established in three or four states, the idea is to look at other English-speaking places around the world which could have a big number of branches based on populations. We reckon, Australia 650, New Zealand 100, Philippines 380, India 1,000 and South Africa 1,000. If we ever got that big, I would start looking at French, Spanish and Portuguese-speaking places.” “And how long would all this take?” asked Ro. “Oh, I don’t really know,” answered Jinnie, “many years, I expect, maybe one day we will be big enough and brave enough to take on India, and the Chinese-speaking world that are absolutely enormous markets by population.”
“This is all very interesting,” said Jed, “but where do Ro and I come in.” “Well, we need to set up a new business from scratch in Florida, and Monica has agreed to be the CEO,” answered Jinnie. “Of course, it will need to be all networked and tied into the corporate SAP system. We need an IT Director who knows SAP, we will have to set up a corporate head office for Florida, which I suspect will eventually have to be big enough to be the USA Head Office, probably with regional offices in other key states. But it doesn’t stop there. We will have to purchase chicken farms and organise a steady flow of birds to our own processing plant. Then we will need a chilled distribution business with warehouses and trucks all linked to the network. We will also need a dry goods distribution system for everything from till rolls to paper bags.”
“Then there will have to be a satellite warehouse in Atlanta for when we move on Georgia. That’s another 150 branches,” said Jinnie. “Oh, I nearly forgot, every branch will need an ordering and card payment touch screen or three,” said Jinnie. “They and the tills will have to be linked to screens in the kitchen. It’s a huge job, I have only just touched the surface, we will need Accounts, HR, Procurement, and I want you to do it.” “I’m not sure I’m the man for the job,” said Jed. “I have made it a point to understand the SAP installation here, but I have not much experience with many of the other things you talk about, like ordering touch screens, distribution centres or chicken farms.”
“I doubt there are many people who do. But you manage the IT business here, that has lots of odd little offshoots,” replied Jinnie, “and you have staff who know those things. You can’t be expected to know, say, HR software and Procurement software, but you have staff who do. We can loan you people from other group companies who have the knowledge to get the business set up, while you hire your own staff. We have touch order screens in loads of SuperBurger outlets, we have ordering software in every branch of every business, we have our own chilled distribution business in Canada, we have our own delivery business on most Caribbean islands. I bet there are no end of people who would love to spend a few months in Florida on secondment.”
“I suppose if you put it that way, I could be tempted, so tell me more,” said Jed. “Well, as I said, Monica Marshall has accepted the CEO position, and we have tentatively agreed to base the offices in Tampa, which is pretty central in Florida. It is on the Amtrak network, has an international airport, and has lots of good roads and is a rapidly growing city with lots of office space. It also has a large Caribbean population, so is a good spot for one of the first outlets. The advice is to have the warehouses and processing plant in Jacksonville, as it has excellent transport links. So, your job would be based in Tampa. Now, I know you would not accept the job without Ro going with you, so Ro, we would like to offer you the position of Monica’s PA.”
“Golly,” said Ro, “but what about you. Who will look after you.” “I have been thinking about that,” said Jinnie. “I spend most of my time in Potters Bar these days, so your job has been slowly disappearing, that’s why I added in the DKL stuff as well. A similar thing has happened with Brian. He gets here maybe one day a fortnight now, so Alice is getting bored. Do you think she could do your job here in addition to her current job?” “Easily,” said Ro.
“Right then,” said Jinnie, “that’s one bit of the plan sorted. Now we need a replacement for you, Jed. Brian says it’s obvious we must promote Mick Shepherd.” “Absolutely,” replied Jed. “He has been my back-up for a couple of years now and he is good.” “I would want to offer you both 3-year contracts with Bearcat (USA) and at the end of that period there would be guaranteed jobs in the U.K. There is a small problem, they would both be at Group HQ in Potters Bar. It is a bit of a long way to commute from Crawley, so I would suggest it would be better to move. In three years, Jane, my and Alberto’s PA in Potters Bar, is due to retire, so Ro, I would have you back at a shot. As for you, Jed, it would be deputy to Nigel, the Group’s Chief Information Officer.”
“As for living in Tampa, we will put you in a good hotel until we find you a house, which we will lease for you. You both get a large car, health insurance, wages will be increased by 75% and we expect to have a bonus scheme. You are both already in the Executive Pension Scheme and that will continue. Now I don’t know if you will keep your house here as somewhere to stay when you visit, or rent it out or even sell it, the decision is yours. I understand Monica is keeping her house in Barbados. I can see that in two or three years we will be in a position to merge all the Aunty JoJo’s businesses under one roof and set it up as a new division with Monica joining the main board. If one or both of you want to stay with her, I will understand.”
“Oh, there is one other thing,” added Jinnie, “you will need a visa to work in the US, but we will sort out the application on your behalf through Group Travel’s visa section. I have already spoken to them as we are doing the same for Monica. They think she should qualify for an EB-5 Investor Green Card Programme where she is running a new business which invests over $1 million and employs at least 10 US citizens, which will allow her to be granted a green card after 2 years. For you two, it would have to be the L-1A inter-company transfer visa, for which they think you should qualify. But you will probably have to have an interview at the US Embassy in London.”
“It all sounds a bit complicated,” said Jed, “but I’m willing to give it a go if Ro is willing.” “I was about to say the same thing,” said Ro. “That looks like we have our first Bearcat (USA) employees,” said Jinnie. “I’m sorry to rush you, but we want to get this thing up and running as soon as humanly possible. So, is there any chance one of you could nip home and get your passports? I’ll take them to Group Travel when I go back to Potters Bar this afternoon. I will get HR onto the contracts and things, right after I have spoken with Alice and Mick. I’m sure you will need time off to organise things, just take as much time off as you need. I’ll tell Clive what is happening. Now, Ro, as one of your last jobs as my Crawley PA, could you please ask Mick and Alice Shepherd to come for an immediate meeting. Don’t tell them what it’s about, just that you understand they are not in trouble, in fact exactly the opposite.”
***
A nervous-looking Mick and Alice Shepherd were shown into Jinnie’s office by a very happy Ro and accepted the offered DKL mugs of coffee. Jinnie waited until Ro had exited the office and closed the door before saying, “I can see you are both a little apprehensive about being summoned to the boss’s office out of the blue. Well, first I’ll put you out of your misery by saying I have dragged you in here to offer you both promotion to new jobs. It must be well over two years, if not three, since you came to work with us in Crawley, and I have only heard good things about both of you. This morning, two positions have become free, and I think you are both ideal for the new positions, so we won’t be bothering to advertise them, although if you accept the new positions, we will probably have to advertise Mick’s old jobs, as I’m not sure we have anyone internal who can step into your shoes, but you might know otherwise.”
“I have just offered Ro and Jed new positions in a company we are starting in the USA, and they have accepted,” continued Jinnie. “I can’t tell you a lot more about their new jobs, as we don’t want rivals picking up rumours until we are ready to launch. But needless to say, they will be leaving their jobs here just as soon as we can get things organised. The longest delay is likely to be getting them the appropriate US work visas. So, as you might have guessed, I am offering you the chance to step up into their old positions. This is something a little strange, as I don’t think I have ever replaced one married couple with another before. For you, Mick, if you accept, it’s a straight promotion to IT Director with a seat on the DKL board. It will mean more money and a new car. I know you are already in the Executive Pension Scheme and Management Bonus Scheme, so there will be no change there. Of course, you will have to take Jed’s place on Nigel’s company-wide IT coordination committee. Jed will still be on the committee, but as the IT Director of the new American company.”
“Now Alice, in your case it will mean a change of position, as I am sure you are aware that Brian, like me, has been spending much less time in Crawley, so I’d like you to stay as his Crawley PA while also taking on Ro’s post as my PA for work here and at SuperBurger. Ro might not be around much in the next few weeks, so if you decide to take the promotion, I suggest you chat with her soon about what the job entails, and your husband about the appropriate computer access. Of course, it will mean more money and a better car, as it’s a grade higher, and I know you are already in both the Executive Pension and Management Bonus Schemes. Now please tell me you will be accepting the promotions, and I will get HR onto sorting things out.”
“Of course, I accept,” said Mick. “This is a fabulous place to work, and it means I will now be getting a designated parking spot in the directors’ car park.” “I also accept, thank you,” said Alice. “Thank you both,” said Jinnie. “Now I suggest you talk to Ro and Jed while you can, and I’ll talk to HR before I forget.”
***
Monica walked out of the American Embassy on Bridgetown’s Wildey Business Park and back to her car. Her visa interview had not been as bad as she had expected, they had asked her a lot of questions but most of them had been about the business she was going to establish, and all the answers were already in the application for the EB-5 visa TT SuperBurger had put in for her. The rules on employees and investment would be met in the first month rather than in the two years the visa specified.
Monica climbed into her car and engaged the remote locking before pulling her passport out of her handbag and opening it to the freshly stamped visa. She read it again, hardly believing she was now clear to start the job properly. Monica started the engine but instead of driving back to the office she pressed the telephone button on the steering wheel and said, “Phone Jinnie,” into the built-in microphone. It always astonished her how, by just saying those two words, the mobile in her bag would dial Jinnie’s mobile in England and she could talk hands-free.
Jinnie answered, saying, “Hello Monica, how did your interview go?” “Perfectly, thanks,” replied Monica. “I am sitting in my car looking at the visa stamp in my passport. I have two years from today to meet the rules and I will automatically qualify for a green card. How are Jed and Ro getting on?” “Well, they have their interviews at the London Embassy tomorrow,” Jinnie replied, “so we should know then, but I have already had a call from the visa section checking up that we wanted to transfer them to our new subsidiary in Florida. I explained that Jed was already an IT Director of one of our divisions and he was going to set up the Bearcat (USA) IT system from scratch. His wife is currently my PA and will act as PA to the Bearcat CEO. Both will have 3-year contracts and then come back to guaranteed jobs in the UK. It was that last bit that seemed to satisfy them.”
“I suppose I better get over to Tampa as soon as possible and start looking for things,” said Monica. “I have made a list of things to do, well really two lists because I have a personal one starting with a house in Clearwater and a bank account. I suppose the first things I need to do business-wise is find an office, set up a business bank account, start looking for employees, get the IT set up. Gosh, there is so much to do.” “Well, you will be pleased to know that the lawyers have been talking to a law firm in Tampa,” said Jinnie, “and they are ready to help. We have also talked to Barclays, and they have a branch in Brooksville just north of Tampa. We have opened a business account there for Bearcat (USA). You only need to turn up with your passport and Barbados driving licence and you will be issued with a company cheque book and debit and credit cards, there is $20 million sitting in the account waiting for you. You might want to open a personal account there for your wages.”
Jinnie continued, “Belinda has just got a B1 visa, so she’ll be out very soon to help with the offices and look for a refurbishment company to buy or work with. That gives us a small problem in that her visa type doesn’t allow her to sign a contract, so if she needs to, you will have to do it. I’m not sure if US law needs two directors’ signatures, so that will be down to Jed as soon as he joins you. I understand he and Ro are virtually ready to go, they have decided to lease out their house near Crawley and it is in the hands of an agent. Pierre will be flying down from Canada tomorrow to sort out a couple of warehouses, a transport depot and look for some refrigerated trucks, that’s another place we will need to recruit.”
“Gosh, this is getting complicated,” said Monica. “Don’t worry about it, our planners have got it all laid out in Microsoft Project as a project management programme,” said Jinnie. “Jed will install the software on the network so that you can view and edit it. However, he will also bring out a printed copy. It’s big, we have had to print it out on one of Belinda’s big printers she uses for scale drawings. I have sorted out several people to fly out to help in all sorts of ways, but they are mostly on B1 visas so they can only advise and not work. But they can take part in meetings and negotiate contracts, but not sign them.”
***
Monika emerged from Arrivals at Tampa International Airport. Being there were no direct flights from Barbados to Tampa she had to take the early morning American Airlines flight to Miami and go through immigration there, before switching to an internal American flight to Tampa. Immigration was one thing Monica hated about the USA. They treated everyone the same, diabolically, and the queues were terrible. At one point she wondered if she would be able to catch her connecting flight, but she had, by the skin of her teeth. It was the officiousness of the immigration officers asking all sorts of pointless questions when it was clear she had a valid visa.
Belinda was waiting for her. She had flown in the previous day on Virgin on a direct flight from London Heathrow and had picked up her Chevrolet Malibu hire car from Hertz. Monica and Belinda loaded Monica’s two suitcases into the boot and headed off to the hotel that Travel had booked for them, the Hyatt House Tampa Downtown. They had made a block booking for all the people arriving from Canada, the UK and the Caribbean and secured a reduced room rate, use of the business centre and two meeting rooms, free breakfasts and Wi-Fi, and a 15% reduction on the restaurant prices and car parking. Belinda had been the first to arrive, others were flying in that day and the next day.
As she drove the short distance from the airport to the hotel, Belinda said, “Reception asked me if I was expecting the delivery of a new Range Rover. The local dealership had been on to them as the car has been delivered to them and they wanted to know when it was going to be picked up. I told them it was your lease car, and you would be arriving today and would probably pick it up tomorrow. I can drive you over tomorrow.” “Thanks,” said Monica. “What’s the hotel like?” “Not bad,” said Belinda. “I think Travel made a deal because we are taking about ten rooms initially for a month. But there is a bar, coffee shop, restaurant, Wi-Fi, pool, gym, and meeting rooms for us to base ourselves in temporarily. I ate in the restaurant last night, it was a typical tourist place, alright if you want a burger, but the breakfast buffet was decent. There is a diner just up the road, I might eat there tonight.”
Monica checked in and was given an RFID card for her room. A bellboy loaded her cases on a trolley and headed off in the direction of a service lift. Belinda said, “I see we are on the same floor; I have a double room with an enormous king-size bed, it’s quite nice and clean and the water in the shower is hot.” They took the lift to the 8th floor and Monica opened the door to the room and stepped in. Her first reaction was, “Wow, it’s a suite.” Belinda replied, “I guess Travel thought ‘she is the boss and she might be here for a while’. You even have a little kitchen so you can make your own dinner.”
***
The following morning Monica and Belinda met over the breakfast buffet and Monica agreed it wasn’t at all bad. Belinda used the satnav to locate the Land Rover dealership and drove Monica to them. As Belinda drove into the lot she said to Monica, “Just look at that metallic bronze Range Rover, it is magnificent.” Monica didn’t say anything but thought ‘when HR asked if I had a colour preference I did say metallic bronze.’ They walked together into the building and at reception Monica said, “I’m Monica Marshall, I’m here to pick up my new company car, it was all arranged by TT SuperBurger from the UK.” The receptionist checked her computer terminal before pulling a microphone to her and saying into it, “Lloyd to reception please, your customer is here to pick up sale #1179.” The announcement blared from speakers all round the showroom.
Lloyd arrived and shook Monica’s hand before he led her and Belinda to a desk in an alcove where he pulled out pages and pages of paperwork and asked for Monica’s ID and driving licence. Monica presented both her Bajan passport and Driving Licence and International Driving Permit. Lloyd checked them all but as he handed back the licence he said, “You realise that you can only drive on that in Florida for 30 days, but after that you will need to get a Florida licence from the Department of Motor Vehicles.” “OK,” said Monica and carried on signing the paperwork where Lloyd indicated.
Eventually Lloyd handed over a folder of documents, explained that when the car had been leased it had also been insured, and the paperwork was in the folder. He then led the ladies to the metallic bronze Range Rover, used the remote to unlock the car and handed the keys to Monica, who slid into the cream leather seat. Lloyd took Monica through a raft of controls she thought she would never use before saying, “Of course it’s a stick shift. I assume you are familiar with it.” “Yes,” said Monica, “I drive one at home.” The one useful thing Lloyd did was pair her iPhone to the car’s infotainment system.
They drove in convoy back to the hotel and Jinnie registered the car with reception so it could be parked on the premises. Over a coffee Belinda asked, “What are you going to do about a Florida driving licence?” “Nothing,” said Monica, “well not for a year. Before I left Barbados, Michael checked the law with the police here and I can drive on my Barbados licence and IDP for a full year as a non-resident. Then I can get a Florida licence by taking a drug and alcohol course, passing a vision and hearing test, and a written driving knowledge test. I don’t even have to take a physical driving test. But I will need a couple of utility bills to prove where I am living. The 30-day thing is for out-of-state drivers.”
Belinda left her car in the hotel car park and Monica drove them to the Truist Barclays branch in Brooksville. As they drove Belinda said, “This is nice, you are up high. I drive a two-seater sports car at home and the vision is nothing like this. I love the ‘new car’ smell, and this leather is lovely. Mind, I’m not so sure how practical cream leather would be with grandchildren.”
They found the bank on Barclays Road and after finding a parking spot they walked to the bank. They eventually got all the paperwork sorted and Monica had a cheque book, Visa credit and debit cards and electronic access to the company account. Monica explained that within a few weeks she expected to have spent most of the money in the account setting up a new business, but its various components would all need interconnected accounts. Monica added that she would shortly be appointing a Finance Director and a Procurement Director, and they would both need to be able to write cheques and authorise electronic payments. It was agreed that when appointed she should bring them and other directors into the branch so that their signatures could be registered.
Eventually the man they had been dealing with asked if there was anything else he could do for them. Monica asked if she could open a personal account and in return was asked if she had an address in the state as under the bank’s regulations that was necessary along with a Social Security Number. Monica said at the moment she had neither but would have both fairly soon and it was agreed that as soon as she had both they would open her an account.
In Chapter 21 – The TT Ennios St. James
© WorthingGooner 2025
