After a call to Gina to clarify a few things, he applied his digital signature to several proposals from department heads. There was one in particular that Gina had flagged as urgent. It was a request from the head of HR to expand employee benefits. He glanced at the time. It was already after business hours but if he called him now, then he could take care of it before Mara got back home.
Bernie had worked for TI for years and seemed to live and breathe business just like his father did. It was surprising that he’d sent the proposal to Trent at all. Everyone knew he was only acting CEO while his father was on leave. He dialed his direct office number. After several rings, he answered.
“Bernie. It’s Trent. I’m looking over the proposal you sent now.”
After a moment of startled silence, the other man stammered out a greeting. “Yes, sir. I wasn’t expecting to get a call back so soon. I was so sorry to hear about your father. How is he doing?”
“He’s still recovering,” Trent stated succinctly. He definitely didn’t want to get into a conversation about his father. “I won’t be back in the office for a few weeks but I’m still working remotely. Tell me about your proposal.”
“Well, it’s a response to our latest employee satisfaction survey. Exit interviews show that quality of life concerns are the number one reason some of our best employees have left. They’ve taken jobs that are closer to home so they can spend more time with family. If we had a daycare on site, that would be a substantial perk.”
Trent stood and massaged his temples. Before he’d left home, he’d had no idea just how sheltered he really was. He’d learned more living on his own than he ever did at his father’s side. He’d learned about compassion and that the people they employed were so much more than just cogs in the machinery of their empire. The people were what made the company run.
He listened as Bernie rattled off numbers and construction estimates. Finally the other man stopped talking long enough for him to get a word in edgewise.
“Do it. If you get started immediately then it’ll be done before the summer.”
“Really?” Bernie’s shock was palpable even across the phone lines.
“Absolutely. I think it sounds great.”
“Yes. It is, of course,” he stammered. “It’s just that I presented this proposal to your father last year and he denied it.”
Trent grimaced. “Well, I think we’ve already established that I am not my father.”
After several other updates, Bernie finally hung up. Trent composed an email to his assistant with the summary of what they’d decided so that if Bernie needed assistance, she’d know what was authorized.
He was sure that his father wouldn’t be pleased when he found out how much the new daycare would cost and the thought of his imminent displeasure made it all the sweeter. Knowing his father, he wondered how long before he’d hear about it.
The phone rang twenty minutes later and Trent laughed out loud. Predictable.
“Good evening, Father.”
“Why did Bernie just send a request to legal regarding some daycare permits? I already vetoed that.”
“And I just approved it.”
“Waste of time, money and resources. That space could have been used–“
The sound of the front door opening galvanized Trent into action. Mara was home and he definitely didn’t have time to spend arguing with his father.
“You wanted me to come back. I did what you asked. Don’t find fault with every decision I make.”
He could almost hear his father’s rage simmering from hundreds of miles away.
“It would only take one phone call to topple the little world you’ve built over there. One phone call. How long do you think they’ll stick by you then?”
Trent closed his eyes. He would love to deny it or tell his father that he was wrong. His friends loved him but he’d learned over and over again that love could only cover so much. And money had a way of tainting everything. Even friendship.
Especially friendship.
“I don’t know. But I’ve already proven to you once that I don’t respond well to threats. Last time I left home and didn’t come back. Try me again and see what happens.”
Chapter Two
LATER THAT EVENING, Mara crushed another clove of garlic and then tipped the mortar to release the fragrant herbs into a mixture of rosemary and thyme she'd already prepared. Then using a small brush, she painted the mixture over the lamb chops she'd arranged carefully in a baking dish.
Family dinner night was something she looked forward to every week.