Royce(65)

“In the past several weeks I’ve noticed an expansion in the security department. I think that as a company Hunter Corporation should work at—”

“You’re the Hunter Corporation now too, sweetheart. You own as much of the company as I do.” Annamarie looked at Royce when he cut his wife off. “If you want to try something here then by all means, simply tell me what it is and I’ll make it happen for you.”

“No. I mean thanks, but no. I want to make you make this happen as you said, but not because I want it but because it’s a sound idea. And unless you make the company move more to the twenty-first century then I’m not so sure I want any part of it.”

Annamarie laughed when Royce and Daniel sputtered. She wasn’t surprised when Jesse just leaned back in his chair. “Oh come now. You can’t be upset with her for voicing her mind. I, for one, would like to hear how we’ve lagged behind. Go on, Kasey. Tell us what we can do.”

“What is it then? Are we not hiring enough females? Do we not have enough female bathrooms? Come on. Tell us how we’ve gotten so antiquated.” Curtis rubbed his forehead as he continued. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Kase. Please, tell us.”

“She thinks we should educate our employees. And not just the security team, but all of us. Had we been better equipped to handle someone coming to us, none of this would have gotten out of control.” Jesse got up and took the folder from Kasey that she was using. “I’ve been looking at what you’ve put together. You’re a smart cookie.”

“Have you been going to Jesse and not me?” Royce sounded hurt. “Kasey, you know I would have helped you with anything.”

“No, I didn’t go to him.” Kasey jerked her folder from Jesse. “And I may have to put him through the privacy classes twice. Where the hell did you learn about this?”

Jesse winked at her. “I’m learning how to observe and report. You know that nothing goes on around here that I’m not at least partly aware of. Besides, you had to log the computer time in. Shouldn’t have looked on all those sites without checking to see whose computer you were using.”

Annamarie looked at Bobbie when she said, “damn it,” and then laughed when she glared at Jesse. “Remind me next time a girl calls in for you that I tell her your home phone number. Ungrateful child. You should be horsewhipped taking her thunder away like that.” Bobbie smacked at him before she smiled at Kasey. “Go on, Kasey, tell them.”

Nodding, she continued. “Those women should have been able to go to someone higher than White. I should have gone to someone, but who? There’s no list that tells us who to go to. There isn’t anyone that is there for us on our level, not HR or even a member of management. Most all of those women worked third shift, as did I. White could pretty much do what he wanted because there was no one on those shifts that we could talk to that had anything to do with him. I’m not saying that you need to hire someone that would be there on the off chance—”

“Yes, we do. I know just where you’re going. A sort of neutral person. One that has no say in security but knows the people who work in it. A person that when the door is closed to their office, nine hundred people aren’t aware that you’ve gone in here to speak your mind. Also the rumor mill won’t be so bad with all sort of things going on before the first word is spoken because no one will be the wiser.” Jesse started making notes as he continued. “The office would be on another floor than the one we have the security office on. The person we get needs to be aware of the laws governing HR and also know how to defuse a situation without it becoming a media playground. Oh, Royce,” he said suddenly. “That office on the second floor, the one that we have the luncheons in. That would be perfect.”

Kasey looked over at Annamarie when she lost control of the meeting. “I just wanted them to give me a phone number that they could set up weekly meeting and training classes with. I didn’t mean for them to spend money like they had it to spare.”

“You’ve saved them a great deal, honey. If we have the right people in place, then there won’t be any more Whites in the building and no more lawsuits. This is just the breath of fresh air that they need.” Annamarie looked at Bobby when she laughed.

“You probably saved them from killing White with this. This will give them something else to focus on besides whether or not he’ll get off. The turd seems to think he will and he gives me the creeps the way he keeps looking around and licking his lips.”