Behind the Pine Curtain (23 page)

“My time?” Ron Peterson nervously loosened the tie around his neck and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.

“You see, we’re able to monitor how long each employee is logged onto the network. That gives us an idea of who is working and, well, who is not. You average about ten hours . . . a
week
, Mr. Peterson.

David averages nearly fifty. I also show that your e-mail is forwarded to David, which indicates to me, that, basically he’s doing your job.”

It was one of those moments that Jacqueline had heard of so often, but never experienced. She could have literally heard a pin drop.

“But we can discuss that later, Mr. Peterson, in private.”

“Wait just a minute here, lady. What makes you think you can come in here and speak to us like this?”

Jacqueline stared across the table. “Excuse me?
Lady?
” She stood slowly. “Mr. Peterson, in case you missed the beginning of this meeting, I own this company. I am your
boss
. I suggest you sit down . . . and shut up.”

Again, she looked around the room, surprised that no one noticed her shaking hands. She quickly shoved them into her pockets. “Anyone else like to voice an opinion before we continue?” The only ones who dared to meet her eyes were David Jimenez, Greg and her uncle. She saw a glimmer of respect in all three. “Very well.” She fingered the wireless mouse, quickly bringing up another screen. Her wish list, she’d called it last night. Perhaps too ambitious, but she’d toss it out there.

“I have some changes I would like implemented as soon as possible. Ms.

Scott, I’d like you to set up some kind of a sliding pay scale, based on seniority. I’d like to have in place a yearly cost of living raise across the board. I’d also like some money set aside for merit raises. Merit raises will be the only thing determined by supervisors.” She looked over at the director of personnel. “Questions?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Good. Once this is in place, and we’ve agreed on it, I’d like to have salaries adjusted to reflect it. I’d also like to have someone take care of Jesus Hernandez, because, quite frankly, I’m appalled.”

“Of course.”

“I also want to adjust management salaries. There is no reason for one manager to be making twice as much as another, especially when we’re talking six figures.” She looked pointedly at Ron Peterson. “Some of you can expect to see a decrease.”

His palm slammed down on the table, startling those around him. “You can’t do this! John, tell her. I have a contract.”

“Mr. Peterson, my father has not signed a contract with you in six years, according to your personnel records.”

“You listen to me. You can’t come in here and do this. We’ll walk out.

Then what’ll you have? This company will fold without us.”

This time, she allowed the smile to reach her face. “Mr. Peterson, Mr.

Edwards, anyone else who feels like you can’t work for me,” she pointed at the door. “Please, now is your chance.”

Peterson stood up and looked at the others. “Well? Come on.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Ron.”

He leaned forward. “Don’t you see? She can’t run this place without us.”

Jacqueline turned to Mrs. Willis. “Do we have security?” she whispered.

The older woman nodded.

“Mr. Peterson, sit down.”

“No! You can kiss my ass! I quit!”

Jacqueline let out her breath. Yes, it was just too easy.

“Very well.” She turned again to Mrs. Willis. “Please call security and have them escort Mr. Peterson from the premises. You may go with him to his office, in case he has some personal things to take.”

“I don’t need a goddamned escort.”

“Trust me, it is for the company’s benefit, not yours.” She dismissed him with a flick of her eyes. “Mr. Jimenez, I seem to have a manager’s position open. Interested?”

“You’ll be sorry,” Ron Peterson said loudly as tiny Mrs. Willis grasped his arm and led him from the room. “You have
no one
here that can run this company.”

When the door finally shut, she looked at the others, waiting until they all looked at her. “I detest dead weight. Ron Peterson collected a salary, but offered little to the company in return. No one here is indispensable,”

she said, sparing a glance at John Lawrence. She looked again at her wish list, suddenly very tired. “I have some other things I’d like to see changed, but I’ll wait and discuss them with the new president.” She cleared her throat. “There is one change I want implemented immediately, so please pass it along. Ms. Scott, you’ll send an e-mail? I hate dress codes. Throw it out.”

Nervous laughter followed, and she grinned. “Guys? Lighten up.

Nobody is getting fired.” She was rewarded with more relaxed smiles.

“Ms. Keys, if I may be so bold,” John Lawrence said. “But you mentioned a new president. We’ve never had an old president.”

“Well, president just seemed like the right word. We’ve got directors over personnel and accounting. We’ve got managers over the plants. I thought we needed a president over the whole bunch.” She stood. “And, speaking of that, I’ll let you get on with business.” She closed her laptop and stood. “Greg Kubiak is the new president of Keys Industries.

If anyone has questions or concerns, I have an e-mail address now that Greg will share with you. Please give him your support.” She looked across the table at John. “Mr. Lawrence, may I have a word?”

Jacqueline carefully placed her laptop on her father’s desk, then turned to John Lawrence.

“Well?”

“Your father would be very proud the way you came in and took control.”

“John, why didn’t you tell me that you’d already discussed the leadership role with Ron Peterson?”

“I’m sorry. I just assumed from your earlier comments that you weren’t prepared to make decisions regarding the company.”

“When did you meet with Peterson?”

John shifted nervously, then stood behind one of the visitor’s chairs, grasping the back as if for support.

“Jacqueline, if you think I have some ulterior motive, I assure you, I do not. Ron Peterson spoke with me on the day of your father’s accident.

He had no way of knowing about you. He was simply offering his services. I spoke with him again yesterday about this. I told him that I would recommend to you that he take over.”

“Why Peterson? Just because he’s been here twenty years?”

“Namely, yes.”

Jacqueline sat down, motioning for John to do the same. “Were you aware of the salary discrepancies, John?”

“I know the salaries of all the managers, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Did my father set their salaries?”

“Initially, yes.”

Jacqueline leaned forward. “You’re not saying that they gave themselves raises based on their budgets, are you?”

“ To some extent, yes. Your father still had to approve them. It wasn’t like they were given free reign.”

“Were you also aware that Ron Peterson did very little actual work?”

“I knew that he put a lot of responsibility on David.”

“Yet David was never compensated financially.” Jacqueline rested her elbows on the desk, staring at John. “Ron Peterson threatened to resign because he thought I would never accept. He assumed you would make certain of that. Isn’t that right, John?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“In my opinion, David Jimenez is much more valuable to this company than Ron Peterson. Under no circumstances will he be brought back in.

Do you agree?”

“I’m only your legal counsel, Jacqueline. As I said, your father made all the decisions and rarely consulted me.”

“So you didn’t know about his plans for a new plant either?”

“No.”

“You’re telling me Mrs. Willis and Greg Kubiak were the only ones he confided in?”

“He relied on Greg for a lot of things.”

“So I’m told.” Jacqueline stood and stared out over the plants. “How do you think Greg will be treated?”

“Greg is well-liked. He’s smart. He’s also only been here a handful of years.”

Jacqueline turned back around. “I trust Greg. He’ll make the right decisions. I’d like for you to make it clear to everyone that he is in charge.” She paused. “And if I came across as a royal bitch this morning, I apologize. I’ll blame it on nervousness as much as anything.”

John smiled. “Yes, I’m sure the B-word has been tossed around. Yo u also put the fear of God into them. I’ve no doubt they’ll listen to Greg.

It’s no secret you’re friends with the Garlands.”

“Yes. That’s why I trust him.”

Kay laughed as Eric lifted Jackie off her feet and pulled her into his arms. Jackie was tall, but Eric towered over her, and Jackie had no choice but to hold on to him.

“Put me down, you big lug,” Jacqueline teased.

“I will not! I haven’t seen you in twenty years.”

“It’s fifteen, and I can still kick your ass.”

“Oh yeah, I see
that
happening!” But he put her back down, this time pulling her into a more subtle hug. “You look great.”

“Thanks, Eric. And man, did you grow up.”

He playfully flexed his biceps. “I work for a living.” Then his smile faded. “Sorry about your father, Jackie.”

She shrugged, not knowing what to say.

“Is Rhonda coming?” Kay asked. “Rhonda is his fiancée,” she explained to Jackie.

“She’ll be along.”

“Fiancée? First time around, Eric?”

“I’ve been working offshore for so long, it’s hard to have a normal relationship.”

Jacqueline grinned. “Is that a yes or a no?”

Eric blushed. “Second time around. First one didn’t make a year.”

“Not that I’m taking up for her, Eric, but being twenty-three and a newlywed, and having your husband gone for a month at a time can’t possibly be a lot of fun.”

“I know you’re still friendly with her, Kay. You don’t have to explain.”

Kay turned to Jackie. “You may remember her, Linda Browning. She was just a year ahead of us in school.”

“The name sounds familiar.”

“I’m leaving now. I refuse to stand here and talk about Linda. Please don’t mention her to Rhonda. You know they can’t stand each other.”

“My God. You’ve been divorced twelve years, Eric.”

“It’s got nothing to do with that and you know it.”

“Are you serious? Rhonda is still mad about
that
?”

“About what?” Jacqueline asked.

“At the county fair a few years ago, Linda accidentally dropped Rhonda’s pecan pie during the judging at the bake-off.”

“
Accidentally
? Is that what she told you?” Eric turned to Jackie.

“Rhonda and Linda were the two finalists. How could she accidentally drop a pie? She did it because we had just started dating, I know it.”

Jackie and Kay exchanged amused glances.

“She did and you know it, Kay!”

“There you two are,” Rose called. “I didn’t even know you were here.”

“Just got here,” Jacqueline said. “Have been catching up with Eric a little.”

“Well, I don’t know what you did to my husband today, but he had a dozen roses delivered to me at the café this afternoon. The only other time he’s done that was when I told him I was pregnant with Lee Ann.”

Rose leaned closer. “And I pray to God
that
ain’t the case! I already had two extras to make up for Kay.”

“Rose!”

“Where’s Rhonda?” Rose asked, ignoring Kay.

“She’s coming,” Eric said.

“Yeah, I was just hearing about Linda and Rhonda and the pie thing,”

Jacqueline said.

“
Linda
,” Rose hissed. “I swear, she ain’t got the sense God gave a goose. Do you know she kept Eric’s last name? They were married ten months!”

“I see you’re quite fond of her as well,” Jacqueline teased.

“Please. Can you imagine if Eric was still married to her? She’s as fat as a tub of lard.”

“Rose!”

“Well, it’s the truth, Kay. I’m not lying.”

“Girls? Who are you gossiping about?”

Rose rolled her eyes. “I swear, Mama can hear me two counties over.”

Rose linked arms with her sister. “Come on, Kay. Help me with the burgers.”

Kay looked at Jackie and smiled apologetically.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Come on, let’s get something to drink,” Eric offered.

Rose and Greg’s backyard was bursting with activity. Besides Rose’s four kids, Sammy and Tess’s son tagged along behind Denny, and the five of them were making enough noise to rouse the neighbor’s dog.

Eric laughed at the look on Jackie’s face. “You get used to it after awhile.”

“I suppose.”

“Can you believe how tall Sammy got?”

“No, but fifteen years is a long time. Everyone’s changed.”

“That’s for sure.” He fished in the ice and pulled out two beers. “This okay?”

“Got anything light in there?”

“Light beer? Geez, Jackie, I figured you for the dark stuff.”

“Sorry.”

“I guess you heard about Kay and Billy Ray,” he said, his voice lowered, as he handed her a beer.

“Yeah, Kay told me.”

“Kay? I figured Rosie would be the one to fill you in. Kay doesn’t talk about it.”

Jacqueline just shrugged.

“So, it was all true, huh?”

“What?”

“You. The reason you left.”

“True in that my mother sent me away? Or true in that I’m gay?”

“I guess both.”

Jacqueline stood up straighter. “Yes, both are true.” She raised her eyebrows. “Problem?”

“Well, no. I guess if Kay doesn’t have a problem, then I don’t.”

“Kay? What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re staying with her. You know how people talk in this town.”

“Eric, are you being a big brother and looking out for her, or are you genuinely concerned about me?”

He laughed. “Oh, Jackie, hell, I know how close you and Kay were.”

He pointed across the patio. “Brother-in-law looks beat. Yo u wouldn’t think playing with computers all day would stress him out so.”

Greg did indeed look tired. He met Jacqueline’s eyes and gave a weary smile.

“Excuse me, Eric, but I need to visit with Greg for a bit.”

“Sure, Jackie.”

“Look me up when your fiancée gets here.”

“Don’t you worry.”