Page 108 of An Engagement for Erica

“You’ve earned them.”

She laughed. “What I like to hear. I’d rather earn something any day over having it handed to me.”

He frowned. “I hope people don’t think I had my business handed to me.”

She sighed. “No,” she said. “And if people think that, it’s on them. You’ve got excellent work experience along with your MBA. You’re more than qualified for the job even if it wasn’t a family business.”

He snorted. “Thanks for that.”

“You’re being sarcastic. I’m just saying that people are going to talk regardless. And something tells me you made sure that you had the education and experience to back you taking over. Why else would you have waited until you were fifty as was your plan? You wanted to let everyone see what a success you were and that you didn’t need TCN Industries. They needed you. Am I right?”

He lifted his ankle and put it on his knee, his hand on this thigh.

She liked this confident cocky persona on him.

But she wondered if he was always like that or put on a front.

Didn’t everyone put on a front at some point in their life though?

“They do need me more than I need them,” he said. “But I need my grandfather more than it all and that is what drove this decision.”

She figured as much but wasn’t sure if he’d admit that to her.

“You’ve got what it takes, Tucker. You know it and I know it. It’s only going to take time for things to turn around. And not everything or everyone will.”

“I know that,” he said. “I’ve been down this road before with the changing of hands in a business.”

“Exactly. Which is why you hired me and we haven’t gotten to what I needed to report.”

“Why don’t you go through it,” he said.

She was more comfortable going back to business now while she figured out their personal relationship another time.

She didn’t think she’d have this hard of a time splitting them in her mind but seemed to be.

“You got my summaries already of all the interviews. I’m working with HR on policies and procedures. Those are taking some time. Catherine is working on projections, you said, correct?”

“She is. I’m not sure I can adjust salaries or hourly rates just yet. Not even what they want, but I want to try. The first of the year is when raises go out. On the floor, it was a set amount for everyone. In the offices, based on performance and reviews.”

“Are you going to keep it that way?” she asked.

“For this year, I think I need to. No reason to make any more changes. But there will be some positions that might get adjustments. I’ll see how it all falls.”

She nodded her head. Those were things she’d have to deal with or have a hand in. They went over a few more items before she had to bring up one more thing.

“Two of your employees have reached out to me in the past few days. I wasn’t sure if I should still be talking to them.”

“The interviews are done,” he said. “Did they say what it was about?”

“I directed them both to HR,” she said. “But one came back and said they don’t trust HR to do anything.”

“Now what am I going to have to deal with?” he asked. “They should be going to their supervisor also.”

“It’s about another supervisor and don’t trust their own because of it. And they didn’t want to go over that person’s head to the next level because she knows they are friends also.”

“She,” he said. “Is this going to be a sexual harassment thing?”

“I can see the dread on your face, and, yes, it is. I believe you need to address it, which is why I’m telling you. I got the second email last night after hours.”

---