Love On The Brazos (8 page)

“I’ll have to think about it.  Right now, the steam is still coming from my ears and nose.”

“That’s fair enough.  Will you let me know?”

“Will I be seeing you tonight?”

“I don’t know Michael.”

“Jordy, don’t let this come between us.  It has nothing to with what’s between the two of us.”

“Michael, it does affect us.  Merriam works for you.  I just don’t know.  I’ll get back to you. 
I've got to do some thinking.  Goodbye, Michael.”

“Janie, I’m going to home to talk with Dad for a while.  Take messages if anyone calls.  Only tell Michael where I am if he calls, but I don’t think he will call.”

* * *

“Dad,” Michael said.  “We need to talk.”  He outlined what had transpired between Merriam and Jordy that morning.  “I don’t think this is the first time he’s done something like this.  I think it is the first time he’s been called on it.  I think Jordy is fully prepared to pull all of her holdings and this project from us.  She’s an only child and the only grandchild of Isaac Carlyle.  Do you have any idea how much they have with us?  We stand to lose the entire thing, and you know something, I don’t blame Jordy.  She told me she’s not some woman that’s going to sit home popping babies, she’s a business woman and a good one.  I agree with her.”

“I knew I liked her.  She’s full of piss and vinegar.  She knows how to handle power.  Well, she’s holding all of the cards now.  Do you want me to handle Merriam or do you want to do it?”

“I’ll do it.”

Michael called Merriam into his office.
  “Paul, you insulted Ms. Carlyle with what could be termed a feminist remark.  It was totally uncalled for.”

“
Michael, she has no idea what she is doing.  We are a business organization, and she doesn’t understand business.”

“Did you know she has a degree in Business Management?”

“I thought she was an engineer.” 

“She is.
  She had a double major from A&M. 
Summa Cum Laude
.  Her second major was Business Management.  She went to work with her father from the time she was six, and she prepared the proposal herself.  She intends to hire someone as project manager.  You may well have cost First City her account, her father’s and her grandfather’s.  Do you have any idea the scope of their investments with us and the cash involved?  It is probably over 100 million and growing.  Her grandfather is a shrewd investor.”

“She does not understand the business world.”

“She understands it well enough to know it’s her money, and she has the backing to do this project.  She may agree to a meeting and allow us to save what your bumbling may have cost us.”

“But Michael…”

“But nothing.  You are terminated as of today.  You will get three months severance.  You will remain at your desk for security and clean out your desk, and you will be escorted from the building.  One more thing, if there is any repercussion publicly from you, we will take legal action, do you understand?”

* * *

It was mid-afternoon the next day when Jordy called Michael.  “We agree to a meeting, Michael.  Would 10:00 on Friday fit your schedule?”

“Friday at 10:00 will be fine.  I’ll reserve a conference room.”

“We have some ground rules we would like to have agreement to for the meeting.”

“Do we need ground rules?”

“I think so.  Your representative failed to pay attention to what I had specified, that’s how this all got started.”

“Okay.  I should probably tell you that Paul Merriam is no longer an employee
of First City.  His actions failed to meet our standards of performance.  What are your ground rules?”

“We will meet in our conference room.  The meeting is to
provide First City the opportunity to present reasons why they should continue to be the financial institution for Carlyle Enterprises.”

“Whoa
, hold up there.  You just threw a new term at me.  Who is Carlyle Enterprises?”

“
Oh, you don’t know?  You really should be more familiar with your major depositors.  It’s an organization founded by my grandfather about 20 years ago.  We are consolidating all Carlyle businesses under one umbrella, Carlyle Enterprises.  It’s registered with the state of Texas.”  Isaac Carlyle is chairman of the board, Jim Carlyle is president of the Carlyle Construction Division and I am the chief operating officer of the construction division.

Carlyle Estates is off the table for th
e meeting.  I am looking at all options for the project.”

“And if we don’t agree?

“Then all assets of Carlyle Enterprises will be transferred to the Bank of America prior to the close of business, June 30, 2012.”

“Have you thought all of this through, Jordy?”

“We have.  My grandfather has used Baker, Chatsworth as his attorneys for years. They will have a representative at the meeting.  We met with their financial partner, and he thinks this is the way to proceed.  With all of the additional land available, this project could be a smaller version of the Woodlands.

Will you call me when you decide whether you want to proceed with the meeting?
  I would advise you not to delay as all of the dates I mentioned are firm.”

“I’ll get back to you before the end of the workday.  Now, could I take you to dinner tonight?”

“I don’t think so Michael.   I have a lot on my plate right now, and until this is all settled, I won’t have time for a personal life.”

* * *

In the office of the First City Investments President that same day…

“Dad, we have a real problem here.  I’m afraid Merriam’s goof has awakened a sleeping tiger.
  Have you ever heard of Carlyle Enterprises?”

“Yes, they are a major customer with us and the banks.  What are you getting at?  Wait, don’t tell me that …”

“One and the same.  Isaac Carlyle is Jordy’s grandfather.  It seems they have rolled Carlyle Construction under the corporate title of Carlyle Enterprises.  She, they have agreed to a meeting, on their turf.  A meeting where we have the opportunity to discuss, not Carlyle Estates but why Carlyle Enterprises should remain as a client of ours.  If we don’t convince them, then all assets, deposits and holdings will transfer to Bank of America no later than June 30.”

“It seems the tiger has claws doesn’t it?
” Steve Simms said. 

“
I didn’t know it until yesterday, but she has a degree in Business Administration, in addition to a masters in construction engineering.  I know for a fact she did not know the extent of the family holdings until this week.  She’s done her due diligence and is holding all of the cards. 

Do you know who the attorneys are for
Carlyle?  Baker, Chatsworth of Houston.  They will have an attorney at the meeting.”

“What about the
Carlyle Estates project?”

“I’m afraid that may be gone.  She said discussion about it is off the table.”

“Is this the same beautiful girl we had to dinner?”

“It is.  I asked her to dinner
tonight, and she blew me off.  Doesn’t have the time now.  That one hurts.  I really like her, and I thought she liked me.  I’m to call her and let her know about the meeting.  It’s tentatively set for Friday morning at their offices.  She would be willing to delay it, but the June 30
th
date is firm.”

“We had better get a couple of associates working on visuals and facts,” said his father.  In the meantime, I’m going to ask Dad to call
Isaac and see if he can do anything on that end.”

“I’d suggest not doing that.  It could blow up in our faces.”

“You’re probably right.  I won’t do that yet.  Do you think we should have Dad at the meeting?”

“Couldn’t hurt.”

Later that day…

“Jordy, Friday is fine for the meeting.  I have a couple of people I would like to have at the meeting.  Will your conference room be large enough to hold
everyone?”

“We could find out if ‘Constellation Field’ is available,” she said.

“You’re having fun with this aren’t you?”

“Yes, I guess I am, although it’s hard work.  I’ve hired a project manager to take over
Carlyle Estates.  That should free me up enough to handle the other responsibilities for a while.  I have just awakened to all of the resources that are available to me.  I actually had no idea until I went to see Grandpa after Merriam dropped his bomb the other day.  It’s been a real education in just three days.  If Dad regains his health, I’m going to pursue an MBA at Rice.  It isn’t Harvard, but at least it’s local.”

“Ouch.
That hurt.  We’ll be at your place Friday at 10:00.  Can we forget business and talk about us?”

“Is there an ‘us’?  I thought there might be
, but I’m not sure anymore.  Do you want an ‘us’?”

“I do.  I’ve come to realize I really care for you
, and that has nothing to do with the business situation, whatever the outcome.”

“Michael, I care for you also, too much, I’m afraid.  I don’t want to hurt you
, but I don’t want to be hurt either.  I’m not sure I can separate the two situations.  If only you had stayed out of it as I asked.”

“That wouldn’t have changed anything.  I had a corporate responsibility.  I realize now
; I should have told you earlier what my job was and I should also have told you about Dad.”

“You think?”

“Yes, I think.  I would like to see you.  I miss you.”

“Aren’t you sweet? And I’m not being sarcastic or bitchy.  I think you are sweet.  I really am tied up tonight and tomorrow.  Perhaps after the meeting if there isn’t too much animosity?”

“There can’t be enough animosity to keep me from wanting to see you.”

“I’ll see you Friday morning.  Goodbye Michael
.”  She broke the connection and went outside where a crew was taking down a wall to extend the conference and make it large enough to accommodate the large table being delivered later.

The mockingbi
rds were scolding the squirrels for stealing the seeds her mother had put out for as Jordy walked to her car.  “
God, how I love this place,”
she thought to herself.  She was wearing a dark blue Liz Claiborne business suit with a white blouse, along with mid-height dark shoes.  The sky was a deep blue with a few puffy cumulus clouds drifting aimlessly around the sky.  The weatherman had promised a high of 83° for the day.  A more perfect day could not have been ordered. 
“This would be a nice day to be going to the beach with Michael instead of meeting in a conference room.”
  She put the thought aside and climbed into her car for the ten minute drive to work.  She stopped off and picked up some cookies for the meeting.  This delay allowed her secretary to beat her to the office for a change.

“Are you ready for the big day? “ Janie asked her.

“This is going to be fun, she replied.  I think I was born for this.  It’s just a shame the
victim has to be Michael.”

“Into each life a little rain must fall.
”

“Yeah, well there’s going to be some hell mixed in with this rain,” Jordy said with a grin.

“It’s going to be nice to see your dad.  He hasn’t been in for a while.  How’s he doing?”

“He seems to have plateaued in his progress, but at least he hasn’t gotten worse.”

At nine, her father and grandfather walked in, followed shortly by Mr. Jamison, the attorney from Baker, Chatsworth.  She hugged her father and grandfather and shook hands with the attorney.  Jordy led them into the newly refinished conference room.  They had gotten rid of most of the ‘new’ smell by running fans the previous day and last night.  “Nice, Jordy, very nice.  The table seats 20?  They really did a nice job.  Our guys?”

“Yes sir.  Why should we hire someone when we have the people to do the job?”

“It’s your meeting, Darlin’.  How do you want us seated?”

“I want to be at the head, with Mr. Jamison to my left, and you and
Grandpa on the other side, they  can arrange their own hierarchy, unless you have a suggestion.”

“No, this is fine.  You look very nice, doesn’t she, Dad?”

“I don’t remember how long it’s been since I’ve seen her in girl clothes.  She’s just downright pretty,” said Clayton Carlyle.

“Thanks,
Grandpa.  Flattery will get you anywhere.”

Just then, the contingent from First City was shown in by Janie.  Jordy introduced Michael and his father to her father and grandfather. 
“Michael, I don’t believe I know this gentleman,” she said indicating a tall white haired man, handsome by anyone’s standards.

“This is my grandfather, Felton Simms.  Grandpa,
this is Jordan Carlyle.”

“Call me Jordy, Mr. Simms.  This is my father,
Jim, Bill Jamison from Baker, Chatsworth and my grandfather, Isaac Carlyle.”

Felton
shook hands with her father, and Jamison, and had a hearty handshake with Isaac, saying, “Ike, what have you been doing with yourself?  I haven’t seen you in a month of Sunday’s.  We need to get together for some dominoes.”

“Oh
I’ve just been hanging around the homeplace, mending fences, chasing strays and stuff.  You?” 

“About the same.   When you get to be our age, there’s not much else to do.”

“You got that right.”

Michael’s father was seated next to Jamison, then his father.  His grandfather had chosen to sit next to Isaac Simms.
 

Jordy tapped her water glass with a spoon and said, “If anyone needs a refill of coffee, now would be a good time, and we can get started.”  Everyone seemed okay with what they had so Jordy began.

“The purpose of our meeting is to determine whether we maintain our current position with First City or not.  Michael has probably told you; Carlyle Enterprises has reorganized to some extent.  We have moved Carlyle Construction as an autonomous division of Carlyle Enterprises.  Grandpa’s other ventures,” she smiled at her grandfather as she said this, will each have the same status under the corporate umbrella.  My grandfather will be Chairman of the Board, my father the Chief Executive Officer, I will be the Chief Operating Officer.  I will also assume the hat of President of Carlyle Construction.  Any questions, gentlemen?”

Felton Simms leaned over to whisper in Isaac’s ear, “She’s your only grandchild?”

“Yeah, she’s a peach isn’t she?”

Steve Simms said, “Is all of this a done deal?”

“It is,” Jamison said.  Carlyle has been registered with the Secretary of State of Texas for over twenty years.  The papers for the admission of Carlyle Construction to this organization were filed with the Secretary of State’s Office the day before yesterday.  They will be finalized by the end of the month.”

“Thank you, Mister Jamison, any other questions?”  There were none so Jordy said, “Michael, your meeting.”

He stood, and said, “Thank you, Jordy and we appreciate the opportunity to preserve the status quo with Carlyle.”  Michael started his presentation talking about the longstanding relationship between the two organizations.  He then, with the aid of the assistant he had brought with him, showed the performance of Carlyle Enterprise under the First City auspices.  After twenty minutes, he said, “Folks, I won’t bore you with anymore charts.  This has been a relationship that has endured since my grandfather and Mr. Carlyle were wildcatters together.  While oil is an integral and a major part, it has now evolved to the point where other businesses are developing.  First City would like to see the relationship that has been profitable for all of us continue.  We’re here today because of an incident…” 

Jordy rapped on the table with her spoon. 
“Michael, with due respect, what led up to this is not germane to our purpose today.  It is for us to decide whether to continue working with First City or not.”  Jordy heard her grandfather chuckle and saw him poke Felton Simms.

“I have nothing else,” a chagrined Michael said and sat down.

“Gentlemen, the meeting is open for discussion,” Jordy said and sat down.

Steve Simms said, “You may not want to answer this but here goes.  Have you spoken with any other financial institutions about this.”

Jordy said, “Yes we have.  I’ve met with Bank of America, Capital One and Hughes Investments.”  All are interested in our business.”

“What about your project?”

“That is not on the table for discussion.”

Felton Simms said, “You have been busy, haven’t you?”

“Yes I have, but then we Aggies are an industrious lot.”

“Hear, hear,” said her grandfather.

“Ouch,” said Michael.

“If there are no other questions, then the meeting is adjourned.  Feel free to help yourself to the cookies.  I had best not eat any more or I’ll founder.”

They broke into small conversations.  Felton said, “Ike, we’ve got to get them two together.” 

“I agree
, and it might have happened had your guy not caught hoof and mouth disease.”

“He’s no longer with the company.  Michael terminated him the same day.”

“I was really impressed with her.  I think everyone, but Michael underestimated her.”

“She’s a real piece of work, a chip off the old block.”

* * *

Steve Simms and Jim Carlyle were talking pretty much along the same lines.  Steve said, “Jim, I really hope we can work this out.”

“Well, you had better learn to work with Jordy.  She has a low tolerance for people that are condescending and incompetent.  She will hold their feet to the fire, and she can’t be pushed around.”

“That’s what Michael told me.  She told him she would not be a sitting around
mom; she considers herself a good business person, and will be treated as such.”

“Steve, the way I heard it was she was not going to be sitting around popping babies.”  He laughed.

Steve laughed with him.  “That’s what Michael said.  One thing, if it were their babies wouldn’t they be something?”

* * *

Michael said to Jordy, “You were great, Jordy.  You impressed me all over again.  I was amazed at your poise and confidence.”

“And I didn’t even go to Harvard.  Isn’t that something?”  She flashed her
impish grin at him.

“And, you look gorgeous today.  I really want to see you again.  I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve missed you.”

“Would you like to take a shot at it this Saturday or Sunday?”

“Yes to both.” 

“Well, let’s start with Saturday and see where that goes.  No business?”

“No business.  I’ll call you.”

“Great. Thanks, Michael.

. . .

Isaac Carlyle said, “I can’t believe that girl up front today was the same little girl that used to sit on my lap wanting a story.  I was really proud of you, Jordy.  You were wonderful.”

“Thanks, Grandpa.  I appreciate it.  I hated to do that to Michael.  You know we’ve been dating don’t you?”

“Your dad mentioned it to me.”

“Yeah, well, I like him a lot.”

“It’ll be all right.  You wait.  He comes from good stock, but so do you.  You make a good looking couple.”

“I want more than that.  I want to be a mom.”

“You will be in due time
, and you’ll be a good one.  In the meantime, enjoy the spotlight.  You’ve earned it.”  He pulled her to him and hugged her, then kissed her forehead.

“Thanks, Grandpa.”

* * *

That evening at home…

The Carlyle family was sitting in the family room after dinner.  The TV was on, but no one was paying any attention.  Jordy had her iPad out and was looking at Google Earth.  Her mother was looking at one of her volunteer projects for the hospital.  Her dad was lost in thought as he reflected on what had happened earlier in the day.  He just could not comprehend what his beautiful little girl had accomplished that day.  He knew she had far above average intelligence but to do what she did absolutely blew him away.

“Dad, Mom, I have a question and don’t take what I am asking the wrong way.  Why haven’t we lived like some of the wealthy people like the Simms?  They have a huge mansion with servants and all.
  We have a beautiful, comfortable home, and I have never wanted for anything, but I’m just curious.”

“Let me ask you something and then I’ll try to answer your question.  Do you think you would have been happier than you are or were if we had taken that lifestyle?”

“No, I don’t.  My family has been my refuge and sanctuary.  I was provided a great education, and I don’t have a ton of student loans.  I have a nice car, and I always dressed the way I wanted.   So no, I wouldn’t have been happier.  I might have traveled in different social circles if we lived that way, but most of the people, not all, but most of the kids are arrogant jerks.  Michael lived that way, and he’s not a jerk.”

“Don’t you think you just answered your own question?  If you are as happy as anyone else and you’re comfortable in your own skin, th
en do you need anything else?

I promised to answer your question so I will.  Your father came from a family that became wealthy after he was born.  My family was comfortable, not rich.  Your grandfather and grandmother were not comfortable in the societal environment. 
They regard themselves as ordinary folks.  We decided to live a lifestyle that was a part of the community not apart from the community.  We decided when you were born that you would have everything you needed but not necessarily everything you wanted.  We wanted you to have a solid set of values and be able to make your own decisions in your life.  I believe we succeeded.  You are at that point now.  We think we've done a good job.  Our daughter is a smart, capable young woman.  You are fully able to handle the wealth you have and will have and to use it wisely.  What do you think?”

“I think I had and have an incredible set of parents that I wouldn’t trade for any others in the world.  You did a great job and a more loving pair could not be found.”  With tears in her eyes, she embraced her mother and said a very meaningful thank you.  She did the same with her dad.  “I’m the luckiest girl I know.”

Her Dad spoke up, “And we’re lucky to have you as a daughter, and I was just bursting with pride today at the meeting.  Your grandfather was also.  I heard him tell Felton Simms “Ain’t she something?” Felton agreed with him.  They both think you and Michael should get together and make grandbabies.”

Jordy’s face turned a bright crimson.  “Daddy, I’m working on it.  Give me time.”