If you haven't read part one or two this will make no sense to you. This chapter will conclude the adventures of Tom and Florence.
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With our marriage came a new set of issues. Company policy was going to change regarding managers being allowed to marry those under their authority. The new policy was due to go into effect on January 31st. We were married on January first but there were still some who looked upon our relationship negatively.
Our bank was still a family owned entity, one of only 16 left in our state. There were four branches, and though ours was the second largest, it was by far the most profitable. Had fewer loans fail and had a higher customer service rating than any of the rest, not to mention the highest level of reserves on hand. Tom had a knack for making money legally and it showed in the results of his efforts.
Still our marriage created a dilemma for the family who owned it. One of the two sons who would eventually take over wanted to get rid of me, or get rid of Tom, their dad did not want either action. I had worked for the Hanson family my entire life, starting with Gilbert, who had been the present president's dad. He retired about six years into my employment with his son Paul taking over. Now Paul's sons were about to take over and while the younger was a good manager, the older could care less about people.
We were at home one evening watching television when Paul called. He greeted me and chatted before asking if he and his wife Lillian could come over. I asked him to give us 20 minutes to change out of night clothes and I'd have some coffee ready when they got here. Arriving was like a family reunion. It had been months since I'd seen them. He and I shook hands, Lillian and I hugged, we had always gotten along well. Paul went right to Tom, shaking his hand, congratulating us on our marriage and then scolding because we had done it on the sly.
They were in the area and wanted to say hi. I brought out cookies and coffee, we sipped and crunched until I broke the silence.
"Paul, you and Lillian didn't come here to have cookies with us. What can we do for you?"
"You know the shit storm your marriage has caused, at least in our oldest sons eyes it's a shit storm. Personally, Lil and I think it's great, you both look very happy together. Florence, you will have been with us 37 years this spring, longer than anyone except me. Tom, you're my top manager of all four branches. You've been smart with which loan applications you bring to the loan board, weeding out the ones that won't possibly qualify before we even look at them."
"You know more about the worldwide banking system and crunching numbers than anyone else within our company. Some of your ideas have made our banks millions of dollars. Our dilemma is not you two being together as much as it is Tom being your boss. If you two were equal I could tell the oldest boy of ours to cram it. I could do it as is, but it would create a pissing contest. With most of the local banks being taken over by conglomerates the bank doesn't need that kind of negative coverage."
Lillian spoke next. "On our way we had a lot of windshield time, which allowed us a lot of uninterrupted conversation time as well. Our boys will take over eventually, presently Paul and I own 60% of the corporation, the boys each hold 20%. What Paul and I want to do right now is find a way to guarantee they can't get rid of either one of you. And we think we've found one. Paul, why don't you tell them, lets see what they think."
"I'm still the president, Lil is still the VP. We can enact promotions or demotions without any input from the boys or the board. What we're proposing is creating a new position to move Florence into, on a salary scale equal to yours Tom. That will settle it, there will be nothing they can do."
Tom was as perplexed, as I was. Tom spoke, "There can't be two managers at the bank, anything with two heads is a freak. There will be nothing but chaos."
"Paul answered, "Agreed, we aren't talking about making her a bank manager, we're talking about creating a position as a trainer of tellers throughout our banking system. Florence would go into each bank on a periodic basis, evaluate areas in need of improvement, and then implement training in those areas. She needs to be equal in pay or those managers will tell her to piss off and change nothing."
Tom was hesitant, "Florence is planning to retire in less than six months, we'll just do it now."
Lillian spoke directly to Tom.
"You don't want to place your wife in harms way, we understand that, but nobody else understands our system like Flo. I will personally go with Flo on the initial visit to the other three branches and I can guarantee you that not one of those swingin dicks will challenge me. Please excuse my language. Should she encounter resistance she'll have my cell. If I get a call from her about something like that, heads will roll."
It was finally my turn to say something.
"Just how often are these bank visits supposed to occur? Do I go in unannounced or will they get advance notice so they can try to hide things? If I recommend something will that recommendation be followed up on, or is this all for show and to placate Tom and me? Cuz if it's for show, I'll retire now. With Tom's salary, my profit sharing and what I have in a 401K we won't suffer, and pardon my French, but we won't have to put up with your pissant son."
I was pissed and not done, "To think I changed their dirty diapers, helped teach them how to wipe their little butts and now the little shit wants to cast me out. Where the hell is his loyalty to match mine, I've half a mind to say F-it and walk away. Boy, this pisses me off."
There was a lengthy silence none of us liked, I spoke again. "My apologies, I shouldn't have gone off the deep end like that. I blame it on Tom, he hasn't made love to me yet today."
Paul's face turned red and his mouth hung open. Lillian laughed and gave me a high five. (We might have fist bumped if we'd have known what the hell that was.) That seemed to break the otherwise tense moment. I looked at Tom and asked what he thought.
"When does it begin? You still haven't said how often. Will she be reimbursed mileage? If she has to spend a night will she be reimbursed for a room and have a per diem for meals? I want to know my bride will be looked after and compensated for her efforts."
Paul had answers. "To start with I want her to go in stealth. Very few of those people know her, certainly not the managers. I want her to open a checking account with money we'll supply. I want her to conduct three or four transactions, create a report copying me and personally giving it to the bank manager. After that it will be based on when we think things need to be looked at, at least once a month I would think. She can continue to float at this branch when she isn't out, as long as she isn't at a window full time."
I spoke directly to Tom, "Hun, it sounds like my inspections will be day trips 99% of the time. I'll be home each night sweetheart, I just might not be here to make you supper every night. I have a question. If I finish before the end of the day, is the rest of the day mine, or do I have to report somewhere?"
Paul was looking more comfortable now that we seemed to be okay with his proposal.
"Your day is yours once you're finished. I'll distribute a letter to each branch letting them know there will be spot inspections beginning in June. Most of them procrastinate and will wait until spring before they do anything. Between now and then you'll visit each branch, type up recommendations, and get them to me. Together we'll make a joint first visit with the recommendations."
