Dilemma Continued Ch. 06

Again, with the advice of my lawyer, I didn't plunge into business to the expense of anything else. I hired some pretty good people at good pay rates and let them do their own developing of leads and sales and coding with myself having the final word. The company just boomed but I still had my time with the family.

Lorelei became part time Director of Human Resources, we should also have included Human Rights in the title as it happened. She went in to the office with me a couple of times a week, we could lunch together and spend an occasional afternoon and night together. (Well how else are a couple supposed to get time on their own when surrounded by babies)

Lorelei instituted a code of conduct. Social contact was encouraged between employees but one on one relationships between single males and females in the same division had to be between equal ranks. If either of the partners was promoted then they would be promoted into another division. Relationships had to be voluntary and welcome on both sides. Sexual harassment was grounds for immediate dismissal.

Sexual relationships with married partners were absolute non starters either within the company or outside of work and would also be grounds for dismissal. These requirements were explained to new hires before their contract was confirmed, and had to be accepted in writing. In general they were accepted well by all employees.

Since then only one salesman thought he was more important to the company than the secretary he was putting sexual pressure on. The sight of Lorelei and a security officer standing over him as he packed his personal belongings after her complaint had been heard had a salutary effect on the rest of our employees.

We have become kind of a model company for others to follow in this respect. Our principles soon got around Austin. Lorelei even did presentations to other companies. Our outlook even extended to clients, sales personnel were encouraged to host prospective clients as far as hotel costs, meals and transport were concerned, but no further than that.

If a client pushed for escort services or such, they were provided with the name of the Prairie Oasis where we told them they could get a good dinner and entertainment and not be cheated, but it was at their own cost. If they tried to make any entertainment a part of what they expected before signing, they were politely told that the policy was firm and that we would decline their business before breaching it. Funnily enough the policy didn't cost us any contracts, but it sure helped get some.

While I had some misgivings about giving business to the Oasis due to the part played by James with the drugs, he had squared himself with the law. At least I knew that if one of my customers went there for an evenings entertainment, he would be treated fairly

Two years after Cindy's birth, Christopher James Duncan made his debut on the scene and two years after that, Sandra Margaret Duncan arrived, she is now 6 months old and thriving. On their birth certificates including Cindy's, Lorelei is listed as mother. She also adopted the twins and from then she gets the title Mommy Lo instead of Aunty Lo.

After Cindy's birth Lorelei said that she enjoyed being an at home Mom so much, that being a lawyer didn't feel that great anymore so she sold her part of the practice to her partners apart from the odd consultation and even rarer second chair.

Oh Yes, King, what happened to him. He finally made a deal to keep off death row. (This was before the Supreme Court decision) and he plead guilty to all charges ending up serving a life sentence. Seeing the way that the wind was blowing, all others involved made deals and would up with sentences between 5 and 15 years.

As Cindy always said, the Lord works in mysterious and wonderful ways and sometimes the grand plan works out to be just that. We celebrate Cindy's birthday every year and when they are old enough we fully intend to tell the three eldest the story of their birth. Cindy's picture is on the family wall as well as Sandy's and will stay there, because we remember her with love. And she will always be regarded as part of our family.

The End