Henry: Well, after what happened with Morrell, I received a few calls from some very upset executives displeased by my out of character decision. They’ve worked for Merkel since my grandfather led the company and had never been treated with so little respect. After a long conversation with my brothers—and a bottle of single malt—I realized that we have different ideologies and it is best for my employees and the company to see them go.
Sophia: That might cost you a lot.
Henry: You don’t approve of what I did?
I stare at the screen of my computer reading the list of people who are no longer part of the company, and I’m relieved that a few of them are gone. Henry was groomed by his grandfather who for what I’ve heard was a tyrant. Thankfully, Henry’s ideologies are set more into this century.
Sophia: I have a solid list of people who can take over those positions.
Henry: I have a feeling that you also wanted to fire some of those executives.
Sophia: There’s that too. I’m just worried about the backlash and financial downfall that this might bring.
Henry: They don’t get severance payment since their behavior goes against company policies. Everything we did was well thought of, and I had my legal advisor handle it so it won’t cost me more than it should.
Sophia: What legal advisor?
Henry: Pierce. :wink emoji:
Sophia: We need a contingency plan. I can already feel the tension around the corporate offices, and I’m not even in the building. They’re going to wonder if you’re firing everyone.
Henry: I’m open to your suggestions. Try to get some sleep. I didn’t mean to disrupt your night.
Sophia: Next time, wake me up. I’d rather work with you than have to catch up like this.
Henry: Let’s hope there’s not a next time because you’ll bring these issues to me, instead of trying to solve them on your own. Not that you did anything wrong, but we could’ve cut the problem from the root long ago.
Sophia: I don’t know if you’re chiding me or giving me praise.
Henry: Neither. Don’t analyze what I’m texting. Go back to sleep.
“Like I could sleep with this new turn of events, and I haven’t been able to sleep thanks to you.”
Sophia: I’d rather start working. I’ll call you when I have something concrete.
Henry
A few minutes after her last text, Sophia sends me an email with a draft of her plan on how we can run the hotel conglomerate without having me, the CEO, in New York for the next eighteen months. I won’t lie, the ideas are unusual, but I think they can work. In her email, she states that even though what I did was in a way understandable, it’s out of character for someone like me.
She’s right. I never make a decision without thinking about the consequences. However, after three beers and half a bottle of scotch, Pierce, Hayes, and I said fuck it. We’re not going to have assholes working for us. We went to the house, pulled out a computer, and started making calls.
While we were in the zone, we cleaned Aldridge Enterprises too. Of course, it wasn’t until after we had the support of my other brothers and Blaire. I’ve never seen Beacon so excited about working for me. That kid is twisted. The interim CEO I placed in that company a few weeks back was more than happy to assist me on the task.
At seven eastern time, Sophia and I are on a video conference going through each point of her plan and trying to define the parameters.
While we do this, two things from my discussion with Hayes come into mind. One, he told me to learn how to relax. The second was that Sophia created chaos in my world. But as I watch her on the screen while she explains how we should reorganize the company, I realize that she is my calm.
She might create havoc because she thrives on destroying my perfectly strategized plans, but even when she gets on my nerves, I ease up when she’s around me.
Merkel is under fire after the media got ahold of the news about Morrell, the way he treated the people who reported to him, and that I fired my executives overnight. The news release that went out earlier today where I apologized to the current and former employees for what happened wasn’t enough.
I have a small window to show everyone with actions that I’m going to do better. It’s not going to be easy. My promise to create a safe environment is being disputed by so many sources that the public relations department along with the company I hired are having a hard time keeping up.
Beacon and Mills are doing their part. They took it upon themselves to defend me on their social media outlets. They both posted their support to Henry Aldridge, who is doing the best he can to ensure that his employees work in a safe environment. What’s even more surprising is that Beacon, who never mentions his family, called me his brother.
“When do we start interviewing the candidates?” I ask once she finishes talking.
“We could start as early as tomorrow. They need at least a day’s notice to prepare for the interview,” she explains. “If we hire within the company, they’ll be available almost immediately. I created a folder in the cloud with the resumés. They are organized by position, availability, and current employment. I’m screening them as human resources sends them to me. We’ve received hundreds of them since we posted the positions. I asked HR to close it tonight.”
“We should start by hiring for the human resources director position,” I suggest. “I’m extremely upset that I wasn’t in town when the former director tried to access the offices.”
“From what I heard, Frank did his best to kick him out. No worries,” she adds, and I keep watching the screen hoping she’ll look at me, but in the two hours we’ve been working she’s managed to avoid me. “Now, this is of course up to you. I sent you the resumé of the best candidate for each particular position. Read it, analyze it, and if you agree with me, I would like you to have a face to face interview.”
There’s a beeping sound coming from her side of the conversation. She sighs and says, “I have to leave in ten minutes.”
“We’re working,” I remind her.
She finally looks at me, her expression slightly wary. “As I said when I called you a couple of hours ago, I wanted to get started before I had to take my mom to the doctor. We are accommodating your…request. You could be more understanding.”
“Is Julian picking you up?”
Her eyebrow lifts. “What I do during my free time doesn’t concern you, Mr. Aldridge. I only use your driver when I have to run errands for you—or when you’re imposing your agenda on me.”
Irritation ripples through me, partially because she’s ending the conversation and I want to spend more time with her. I’ll take anything. Even this cold and insignificant videoconference. Maybe not. I’m fucking mad because she’s being indifferent.
I press the bridge of my nose, trying not to take the bait because she’s so fucking aggravating, but I’m not fighting with her today. If only I could fuck her, all this tension between us would go away.
“It’d be best if you use the car service. I assume your mom will be more comfortable riding in it, instead of a cab,” I point out to aggravate her. I want her to react.
Her annoyed gaze meets mine and I smile because she hates that I’m right. And I’m finally pushing that wall.