This is a sequential story you will need to read the previous Parts before this Part will make sense. I broke this story up into Parts to accommodate L's request to make into parts.
This is my very first story I've ever written. I'm an Engineer so I tend to be techno/detailed, hope it does not distract from the story too much. Some of the items in the story are real, some embellished, and some fantasy, I'll let you try to figure them out. If you seek lurid sex then this story is not for you β I allude to sex but I leave the details to your imagination β often less is more. Enjoy OB.
Doomsday:
Rabbin had pulled together a legal staff to process our findings and gather more information. Working with the HLS, FBI, and SEC about the embezzlements. A separate group of the DoD and FBI was on the product data compromises leading to espionage and National Security impacts.
We still needed to know how deep this cancer went and if more sensitive information was compromised. The Engineering VP was found to be selling secrets and we found a classified drawing was sold to a Chinese cut-out. This sealed his fate with the VP and COO as they committed espionage. I will now have to create new policies and methods on how we do business - insuring the safeguarding of sensitive DoD information entrusted to us.
At the same time we needed to very quietly get replacement GM's & CFO's in place to minimize our companies disruptions or distractions. A saving grace is the Corporation is it is privately owned by Brandy. It is not a publicly traded stock company. But the rogue suppliers are stock companies, hence SEC involvement.
Rabbin stated this will not be an easy execution. In some plants we increased orders putting more stock into the warehouse before the D-day shock.
Life once again sucks for me as it became evident that I was the only trusted person with a DoD clearance that could step in to the ENG VP/COO's shoes to keep the Reno plant flowing.
This meant it would be many months away from Brandy and Sara.
Reno #1:
When the shit hit the fan on a dismal rainy Tuesday morning I walked into the Reno, Nevada plant unannounced (minutes before the Feds raid). The GM, CFO, COO and VP of ENG were in a conference meeting and did not like me walking in on them.
I said "hi guys what's up, anything I can help you with?" The GM said we are having a private meeting, shooting me a look implying you are not welcome, get lost.
Minutes later a lot of commotion could be heard from the lobby. Six men in dark suites and shades (
thought I was in the Matrix
) came into the conference room and announced "FBI".
Reading from a paper they were seeking the GM, CFO, COO, and VP of Engineering. Are any present? I said yes, they are all here pointing them out. He loudly stated "you are all under arrest for espionage." Other FBI suits moved behind each of them, had them stand handcuffing them all. The media got tipped off and was waiting outside for the perp-walk to unmarked black SUVs.
News at 10.
Needless to say the Reno company was in turmoil, rudder-less and wondering if the feds were going to close the doors. That is when I stepped up and told the remaining Exec's and secretaries in the office area "
I'm here as your NEW acting GM/COO and VP of Engineering, Rick here is your NEW acting CFO
." Confusion swept across all faces.
I looked at the old GM's Secretary and asked her to please call the company lawyer and all Exec's for a 0900 conference room meeting.
Next, I want the plant manager in my new office, ASAP.
Next, I'm calling a mandatory company gathering in the cafeteria at 1100 hrs. I will be making an announcement. Please make this happen β
NOW
and everyone jumped.
Then I walked to each secretary or clerk introducing myself and shook their hand telling them they are doing an excellent job.
Many of these women were already crying as they thought I was a hatched man coming to close the doors, I saw fear in their faces and I wanted to squash that fear before it turned into painful gossip.
The plant manager arrived and looked pale I told him who I was and shook his hand. In front of the office area I told him any gossip about closing the doors is
PURE BULLSHIT
,
my words were chosen for affect and I saw a lot of eyes pop open and heads snapping.
We are just sweeping out those who do not love America and were selling the safety of our children down a Chinese river
. I probably said too much but it had them all smiling now and you could see their tensions wash away.
At 0900 I gave an envelope to the company lawyer to open and read its contents aloud to all. I then asked him to call Mrs. St George using the conference room speaker phone, her number was on the letter, she is waiting for this call.
Mrs. St George this is your Reno company lawyer. Mr. Waddell has given me your notarized letter placing him as acting GM/COO/VP of Engineering and has full authority to govern this company as necessary. Is this accurate, "YES, I have every confidence in Mr. Waddell, he has my totally support."
Mrs. St George does this mean Mr. Waddell can hire and fire anyone. "
YES
" was heard by all. I thanked Mrs. St George and hung up.
I sat down at the head of the table. I asked the VP of HR who is your second in command? Marg.
Would you please ask Marg to join us here? About now, as arranged, two security men stood inside the conference room door. The Director of HR entered. I greeted Marg and let the lawyer inform her who I was and in what capacity. A look of fear crossed her face.
I asked the VP of HR to stand, guards please escort him to his office he has 20minutes to pack and walk him off the property. You are fired for gross incompetence, abuse of authority, and harassment. The ex-VP yelled you can't do this β do you know who my family is? As he was drug off by security.
I looked at the group and then told them "lighten up you are all good hard working people that worked for crooks and tyrants." I'm here to fix that.
Do you remember when my TEAM came here a few months ago β we were on a mission to discover this inside corruption. We found it and now it is history, I'm sorry all of you had to endure their shit for so long but I'm relatively new to this corporation too. To my VPs' and Director's I have an open door policy β- you got a problem we will fix it promptly together. Shocked smiles started to emerge.
Oh I almost forgot, looking at Marg, young lady are you the Director of HR? Are you good at your job? She looked like a deer in the headlights nodding her head up and down with total fear in her eyes. Would you be willing to accept a promotion to VP of HR? The loudest gasp I ever heard just happened by all - I think my ears popped from the abrupt suction of air from the room.
Oh my, me, are you sure? Well let's put it to a vote - who is in favor of making Marg our next VP of HR. The whole room erupted into applause and even the Secretaries outside the door where clapping and jumping. I went to her and shook her hand then whispered in her ear you were getting the promotion no matter what the vote would have been - she just leaned on my shoulder crying happy tears.
I felt good.
What few outside this room knew was Marg was a widow and couldn't have children, she started here as a production floor assembler, took night courses got her Associates in Management and became an office Secretary in HR. Years later rose to HR office manager, then she was held down. She continued college getting a MBA.
The old ex-execs ran a good ole boys club where no woman could climb any higher than office manager. Marg was only made Director in a sneaky move by the retiring HR VP. He promoted Marg to Director in his last week of work when all of the Exec's were partying at a trade show.
She had single handedly talked a majority of the production workers into NOT voting to unionize and NOT striking the company due to GM mismanagement. Everyone respected her except the ex-Execs.
I was proud to give her the promotion she richly deserved and earned a decade ago. I gave Marg an envelope, telling Marg go to her office, close the door and open this envelope, follow the instructions exactly β go now. She looked at me with a worried look.
The instructions were to call Mrs. St George at a specific phone number. Brandy was first going to apologize to Marg and then ask Marge for forgiveness. Then tell Marg what her new salary and her paid vacation went from 2wks to 5wks, then Marg was told to open her desk drawer and open the another envelope (that Rick slip in). It was a $100K bonus check to Marg with a personally written thank you from Brandy with Brandy's secret personal phone number with instructions to call Brandy any time.
Brandy said she would be visiting the plant soon. Marg was shocked and then beaming happiness while she sat back in her chair smiling with more happy tears.
The 1100 company meeting was short and sweet. Marg's promotion put most of the wind back into their sails and renewed their comfort zone, I saw nothing but smiles.
Life was good today
. I could not disclose any details as to what happened nor the dragnet that just took place across our USA companies. Until these Exec's were all convicted anything said now could compromise the cases.
That afternoon I walked into Marg's new VP corner window office overlooking her reserved parking spot. She jumped up and hugged me trying to thank me over and over. No need to thank me - we fumbled the ball, you got lost on the sidelines, we screwed up. I hope you are happy being put back into the game as a strategic member? Oh my, yes.
Good I have a mission for you. I need my replacement(s). I need you to work closely with the Corporate HR VP and find some good trustworthy replacements. You mean, men β NO, I said people - man or woman makes no difference I'm looking for talent and integrity. Is there anyone within the company that you think could step up?
I know there are not many like you so look close. Please brief me as to you search every other day. And Marg I rarely ever give complements but thank you Marg I'm glad to have you on my team and I left her with the biggest smile I've ever seen on an HR person.
Reno #2:
Later in the week Rick told me of the inventory problems, purchasing back logs, and a nearly $500K in uncollected sales but receipts marked as paid-in-full, tell Monk and get the TEAM digging β good find Thor.