Satisfied With Love Ch. 07

Rick asks, "Brad... why are you asking us. Isn't that a management job?"

"Funny you should ask that question, Rick. Allow me to throw all of you all a curve ball. Imagine, for a moment, that all five assistants were released from their contract upon our father's death. Where would that leave the new owners? Each one of you has worked for the Packard Empire longer than myself and my sisters combined. You were all retained because you have a wealth of knowledge about this company we don't have. It would be foolish, bordering on stupid, of us to throw that away. We need and want your knowledge and advice to help us take this company to new heights."

"But, to answer your question, Rick, yes it is a management job. Granted, you will not be the ones that make the final decision, but you are part of managing the company by the very nature of who you hang out with and work with, if nothing else. The advice you give us translates into things we do for the company and it has already turned into a change in company policy. Case and point - the hanky panky rule."

"Owners, not only can make the rules, but they can also break them with impunity. We want to be leaders so we must lead by example. If the owners can break rules, so should our employees be able to do the same. So, if we all can break the rules, what is the purpose of rules? That is why we will be removing the hanky panky rule, not just ignore it. This is one reason why the owners treat you all as something more than just employees. Do you not consider yourselves part of the management team?"

"Wow. I guess we are, if you put it that way. But it has never been that way before or in any other place I have worked. Why here? Why now?" Rick asks.

"It has always been that way Rick. But no-one ever told you, nor will they admit it if asked. Think back. Has anything you ever suggested to another boss ended up as a company policy or anything else, maybe like a company procedure? Us owners, being the lowest longevity people that work here, are already disadvantaged. I don't have all the answers for this company and neither do my sisters. We need help. My hope is to convince all of you that you are not just an employee that works for a large company. You are a very important part of the future of this company, along with the new owners. We are a team. All of us will grow and learn together and make mistakes together as time passes. Embrace it. Who knows, you may even enjoy it. But also, expect to have some fun in the process."

"Each one of you will have the opportunity to put a little bit of yourself into this corporation. The new rulebook will belong to the management team, not just the owners. Will the owners influence the contents? Well, maybe... Probably...," the team chuckles, "but, my hope is to base it on employees, not management. However, that may not be possible depending how bad Craig and HR beats us up. We must pay attention to legal issues so be prepared to battle this out, and, it may be a hard fought battle. In the end, my hope is it will be worth it. This is what makes all of you part of the management team."

"Does every company want a large management team? No. But we do. Generally, large families are happy families and stick together. I want you to know that you are important to us and this corporation."

Anita became somber, a little overwhelmed by all Brad just told them, but she also knows he means what he said.

"Stacy, Peggy, Brad, I believe I speak for all assistants when I say we are humbled by how you perceive us, not just as employees, even though we are, but as a team of equals. None of us has ever felt we're part of the management of this or any other company we've worked for. We were just expendable employees. Thank you for the opportunity you have given us. We will take it as seriously as you. I also think the owners need a group hug from the rest of the team. Let's do it."

They all stand up and give Brad, Stacy and Peggy a group hug, then Jeni and Anita went to get sodas out of the fridge and pass them around so everyone has a drink.

"A toast to the new Packard Empire Management Team," Anita declares and they all consume.

As Craig consumes, he can't help but notice the staff change right in front of his eyes.

"Thank you team. I cannot express how very proud my sisters and I are of this team. We have come a long way in such a short time. But, because we need to get this job done as fast as possible, expect to add another meeting to morning time for three hours and an afternoon meeting for at least three hours, and maybe the evening hours in the very near future. We need to make this part of our daily routine until the rulebook is complete, however long it takes."

"Kristi, would you inform Craig about these meetings and ask him if he would participate please?" Brad said.

"He's here Brad."

"He is?"

Brad looks for and locates him.

"Sorry Craig. You must have been hiding or I'm going blind. I don't know why I didn't see you there. I must be getting old in my young age. Would you please participate in these meetings?" he said getting a few chuckles.

"Certainly Brad. I will and I look forward to beating you up," Craig said, chuckling.

The other team members chuckle as well.

"Aww, damn Craig. You were paying attention too!?"

Everyone laughs hysterically.

"Unfortunately for you, I was!" Craig said as he came down from his own laughter.

"I think you're going to open up Pandora's box on us. It will be a challenge I suspect."

"It may be," the lawyer admits.

"Also, I would like each of you to take some time during the day and chill to help relieve some of the stress we face doing this job. The job you guys perform for this company is not easy and it's not for everyone," Brad said. "Everyone is literally on call 24/7 so it can be stressful. Everyone should get adequate stress relief time. With that said, see you all in the morning at breakfast."

This was an eye opening meeting for the assistants. They heard something from Brad they never expected to hear. It is shocking for them in a way because it is something they never considered part of their job.

Brad asks Kristi to also remind him about a stress relief with the team at the next team meeting, and the team relationship, as heard on the recording.

Kristi is horny again because she feels euphoric about the way Brad is treating his team, but she is keeping a low profile so Brad can maintain focus for now. But, she is ready at moments notice to jump his bones. She feels her love for him growing immensely.

The sibling meeting that follows is very somber. They went to Brad's balcony where he begins. Even though his sisters had their spirits lifted by Brad's pep talk with the team, Stacy and Peggy are still not back to normal and Brad is concerned about them.

"So, you guys look like you're not feeling well."

Stacy said, "No Brad, I'm really not. I have felt terrible since this morning."

"Peggy."

"Same, Brad. I feel like shit."

"Stacy, stand up pleeease. You too Peggy, pleeease," he said as he did the same.

They did and Brad embraces them tightly in a hug. The tension about the events of the day seems to fade. They stay like that until Brad feels them relax. He can see tears in their eyes and can feel them giving him random squeezes as the hug progresses.

"I don't understand how you can hug us after what we did to you and Kristi," Stacy said. "Don't get me wrong, I am thankful you are doing this, so is Peggy, but we don't deserve it. It is so not like either of us to do what we did but we did it to our own brother and we don't even know why."

"I will admit I was disappointed with both of you, because you insulted both of us, but I'm over it and so is Kristi. I love you both and nothing is going to change that. It doesn't matter what you do or don't do, I will still love you because you are my sisters."

"Part of what pissed me off so much was because I asked both of you several times to get to know Kristi and you didn't make an effort to do that."

"Looking back, though, I understand why you guys thought what you did. I guess I hoped you would see Kristi in a different light after I told you how good she is at her job. Also, remember what I did to Kristi. I degraded her to the very people she will soon be leading. How do you think I feel about that? I still don't know how I'm going to fix it either. It has me worried," Brad reveals.

"Still, we have to get business smart and to let personal problems like this get in the way is problematic. Drop it like a rock, get over it and move on. It is the only thing you should do. I hold no grudges. Neither does Kristi and neither should you. The bottom line is - we must move ourselves and this corporation forward."

"You have learned from this incident. I see it on your faces. You have taken the first step to repair yourselves and have done what you need to do. Now you have to take the second step and not let it eat at you. What needed to be said, has been said. It's over. Learn from it and don't make the same mistake again."

"We will make more mistakes as we proceed with this corporate experience, myself included. I made a mistake which resulted in your assumption. I was the one who ignored Kristi's advice and I have to deal with that. Kristi and I will talk about it soon, maybe tonight, but, she is going to tell me exactly what I'm telling you. We must be able to overcome this and any other conflict we have, or we will die as a corporation."

"Tell me what you are thinking."

Still hugging each other, "Brad, I really feel like shit, but you have brought me back to the living. In time, it will pass but I will not forget this lesson," Peggy said.

"I'm with Peggy," Stacy said. "I will not forget this lesson either and I feel bad as well... I will move on as long as you keep teaching. I can see that relationships can bring a company down as well as lift it up and I won't let this corporation go downhill if I can help it. I believe I speak for Peggy when I say, all we can ask of you now is to guide us as best you can Brad. We will be attentive to your leadership. I won't speak for Peggy, but as far as I'm concerned, you need take the reigns of this corporation and lead it. You have done extremely well so far and I don't want to wreck anything you have accomplished. I see you as the person born to do this job. So do it."

"That goes for me as well Brad. Take the reigns and do what you do best," Peggy said.

"Thank you for putting your trust in me. This will only be temporary until you catch up, however long it takes. You know I will be here for you, always. We just need to talk more of what we are feeling and thinking so if something is bothering any of us, we need to talk about it. Now that we are aware it, let's keep doing it."

All the time they were talking, they are hugging each other.

Brad said, "Airport hug girls. You make me feel so good."

Then he moves his arms to their waists and picks them up off their feet, as they giggle, and holds them for a minute.

When he releases them, they look better, ready to face the world again. They seem reassuring that Brad will do what he says he will do. His sisters are feeling better as a result.

With that, they exchange kisses and went their separate ways, but Brad feels he needs to keep an eye on them. They are not back in their groove yet and Brad is concerned.

To be continued... Stay tuned to 'Satisfied With Love Ch. 08'.