bubba started one of those conversations with martin designed to link them in the male network : he connected what he was working on as a representative with what martin was trying to achieve at pan-am agra , he told martin that he could call him any time he wanted to `` talk things over , '' he illustrated his intelligence and grasp of pan-am agra 's interests , and he implied that martin was the best thing that had happened to the company since sliced bread .