Page 39 - WashingtonSyCip_Bio_Excerpt_LastChapter_2nd_Edition

Postscript A Good Night’s Sleep

in Greek bonds, and they were having some accounting issues, so Wash asked me to
step in and take a look, knowing that I was in charge of Accounting Standards.

“So I began responding to Mr. Kazarian’s questions, and Wash told me to submit
every message I was about to send for his review. Once, since he wasn’t around, I
responded directly to Mr. Kazarian and just copied Wash. When he arrived, Wash
called me to his office. He was reviewing the message I had drafted—and was editing
it! I was struck by the sudden realization that he didn’t know I had already sent it
without his approval. I had to suck in my fear and I told him, ‘Sir, I already sent that!
I didn’t want us to be late…’ He looked at me, tore up the message, and told me
coldly, ‘Wilson, next time, clear it with me first.’” It was a lesson that Wilson never
forgot: no shortcuts with Wash.

Despite this hiccup, their relationship progressed, and Wash continued to keep an
eye on the Firm’s brightest talents and prospective chairmen, Itos Cruz and Wilson
Tan included. They were aware of his attention, and one time, coming to a scheduled
meeting, Wilson thought that he had arrived ahead of Wash. When he teased Wash
about it, the old man announced that he had arrived first, but just had to clear some
papers in his office.

Wilson last saw Wash on Monday morning of the week of Wash’s weekend flight.
He, Itos, and Vivian Cruz-Ruiz sat with Wash for an 8 a.m. meeting. Wilson noticed
that Wash seemed unwell, and even mentioned it to his secretary Sylvia. Despite his
condition, Wash pressed his guests with a question: “I have a full plate, but is there
something more I can do?”

“Wash was very eager to connect us with his friends,” says Wilson. Wash enjoyed
entertaining clients at his home so much that Wilson and Itos worked out a system
with the invitees: once the clock struck nine, they were to politely express their
intention to call it a night—otherwise the dinner would extend much longer, possibly
compromising Wash’s health, despite his desire to be as gracious a host as possible.

At a scheduled party at Wash’s place, Wilson once arrived 30 minutes early. Wash
called him inside the house and advised him not to be that early for such meetings
because the clients could be rattled once they learned that he was already there.
Wilson soon found himself answering questions that in turn rattled him: “What’s

320