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Now if I could just get the staff to see that.
Honestly, I am a little appalled by the commotion when I walk into the room. These people are acting like I blindsided them by being here, by the meeting in general. Were they not briefed? Were they unaware that Ashford Hospitality acquired a controlling stake in their company to improve both companies as a whole?
“You’re not our real dad,” I hear someone mumble jokingly, and a couple of people snicker. It then comes to my attention that no, these people have no idea what’s going on. And more than that, they don’t want me here.
Great.
I clear my throat, a classroom control tactic I have learned works for me over the years. Considering this room of people is literally acting like seventh graders, I am impressed with myself when it works. Though like middle schoolers, their attention may be on me, but their stares are anything but submissive. They’re worried, confused, and they want answers.
“Thank you all for meeting on short notice,” I begin. “I’ll make this brief so you can all get back to your work.”
“You mean you’re not going to fire us all?” a guy with too much hair gel and not enough facial hair for the beard he’s attempting to grow shouts at me, and I slice my attention over to him.
“Why would I fire all of you?” I ask flatly.
It’s quiet for a moment before someone else is brave enough to say, “So you can replace us.”
“Why would I replace you?” I ask. “As far as I’m concerned, Mission Events runs pretty smoothly. I assume that all of you have something to do with that?”
“Yeah, well, so did Jim Blythe…” someone in the back says, and there is a subtle yet unanimous yeah sound around the room.
Interesting. These people are either truly oblivious to what I am doing here, have been misinformed, or worse, not informed at all. It’s odd, considering I didn’t go hunting for Mission Events. A broker representing several shareholders approached us with a controlling block, not the other way around.
“Why don’t we get some facts straight,” I say sternly enough to stifle the apparent uproar. “Jim Blythe still works for Mission Events. I purchased a controlling fifty-one percent of the company. I have no reason to fire any of you, Jim included. But I am the CEO, so you do work for me now. And if any of you have a problem with that, you can visit me in my office on your lunch breaks.”
“You mean Jim’s office…” someone says, and I bite the inside of my cheek momentarily. I do not typically tolerate this kind of backtalk from employees, but considering the sensitivity of the situation, I am letting it slide. A little anyway.
“Jim will still have an office. You can still report to him for day-to-day matters, but he will report to me,” I state. The mumbling and whispering and head-shaking starts up again. I decide that the only way to settle everyone down is to work the room. I start walking around. People aren’t stupid enough to talk about me if I’m standing next to them.
So I do just that, one hand in the pocket of my slacks, one hand for expression, I move around the room answering questions.
“What are your intentions for our company? Some of us have worked here for over ten years. We need to know what’s happening. We have families.”
“I only want what’s best for this company,” I say, and I mean it. “And that includes the well-being of my employees.”
“Why can’t Jim still be the CEO? What do we need you for?”
“Unfortunately, that’s not really how this works. Not in this case, anyway. I own enough of Mission Events to oversee it now, including Jim’s position. But that does not mean he is not an important part of the company anymore. It simply means that Ashford Hospitality holds control of Mission Events.”
“Are we losing clientele this way?”
“No,” I answer. “Not at all. It will not prohibit us from partnering with other companies. Along with Ashford Hospitality, we have many sister companies; our arm reaches far. If anything, Mission Events will gain business, and more business means more money. And more money means–”
“A bigger house for you?” someone blurts out, and I park my gaze on them. It’s beard boy again. While I’m not here to fire anyone, I will be watching him. Intern, if I had to guess. Or a new hire from the HR department. He probably has a job in sales because he’s all talk. He could easily sell used cars to people who think blinker fluid and flux capacitors are necessary for a working engine.
Yeah. Beard boy has to go.
The rest of these people just need assurance.
“More money for the people who work here,” I state. “The ones who do their jobs well, that is.”
I hold his gaze hostage for a moment. He smiles. Blinks. Looks away. Idiot.
I hear rustling in the back of the room, towards the door. A male voice saying something. A female voice responding. Both of them are whispering so I can’t really make any of it out, but I can tell they’re bickering and not paying attention. So I make my way back, the crowd parting as I stride.
When the sea of people finally opens up, I come face to face with a lanky guy in his thirties who is simply grinning at me casually. It’s a far cry from the expression he should have on his face considering he’s been fucking around the whole time instead of listening during the meeting.
“I’m sorry, am I interrupting something more important than my first board meeting?” I say, and the room is silent enough to hear a pin drop.
