The Bob Watson - Paperback

by Greg Bardsley (Author)

From the author of Cash Out, a hilarious novel about one working stiff's day of hooky--reminiscent of Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Office Space--and the insanity that ensues.

Rick Blanco walks out of meetings. He's a serial meeting ditcher. A walk-out artist. He's so good that no one seems to notice when he just gets up and walks out. A corporate illusionist of the covert kind, he learned his trade studying a former colleague, the master of meeting ditches, Bob Watson. Rick continues Bob's legacy, going for more frequent and longer ditches, building on the art with every boring corporate meeting.

Now, Rick wants to pull off his most important Bob Watson yet--skipping out of work to see his young nephew before he moves with his parents to Argentina. But things soon get complicated. As Rick leaves the office, he's mistaken for the company's human resources executive Dick Rayborne, a man made famous in HR circles for creating the hot new labor practice of "consourcing"--like "outsourcing" but with convicted felons. Convinced that he is the scummy Dick Rayborne, two cons, and a granny they call Mama, force Rick into six hours of mayhem, complete with home break ins and emergency board of directors meetings. Along the way, Rick realizes he has the opportunity to pull off the most meaningful Bob Watson imaginable, and still give his nephew a hug goodbye.

Refreshing, witty, and clever, The Bob Watson is a madcap tale of danger, adventure, and personal discovery.

Front Jacket

Rick Blanco is no different from any other office slave--he hates stupid office meetings. What makes him special is he's done something about it. Following in the footsteps of Bob Watson--a former colleague and office illusionist--he's perfected the art of ditching meetings.

Now, Rick wants to pull off his most important Bob Watson yet--skipping out of work to go on a date with the woman he's chased for years. All she requires is that he first treat his precocious young nephew to his own Bob Watson and give him a break from a life filled with stress, college prep, and mandatory overachievement. The day is as exciting as Rick could have wanted, but not in the way he had hoped. Mistaken for one of the most notorious HR executives in the world, Rick is soon forced into six hours of mayhem, complete with home break-ins, a large bag of cash, a variety of naked people, and an emergency board meeting he may not be able to escape.

Along the way, Rick realizes there might be an important reason behind everything--a very important reason. Well, everything except for the bottle of Wesson oil.

--Lou Berney, Edgar Award winning author of The Long and Faraway Gone

Back Jacket

Rick Blanco is no different from any other office slave--he hates stupid office meetings. What makes him special is he's done something about it. Following in the footsteps of Bob Watson--a former colleague and office illusionist--he's perfected the art of ditching meetings.

Now, Rick wants to pull off his most important Bob Watson yet--skipping out of work to go on a date with the woman he's chased for years. All she requires is that he first treat his precocious young nephew to his own Bob Watson and give him a break from a life filled with stress, college prep, and mandatory overachievement. The day is as exciting as Rick could have wanted, but not in the way he had hoped. Mistaken for one of the most notorious HR executives in the world, Rick is soon forced into six hours of mayhem, complete with home break-ins, a large bag of cash, a variety of naked people, and an emergency board meeting he may not be able to escape.

Along the way, Rick realizes there might be an important reason behind everything--a very important reason. Well, everything except for the bottle of Wesson oil.