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“You know it’s wrong.”
Silence.
“This is my battle. Let me fight it.”
“I’m here if you need me.”
“I know, and I’m grateful, but you’ve got to stop taking me off the line, okay? It’s already a shitshow, and I don’t want to give them any more excuses to come after me.”
“You’ve got t
o know I won’t let them hurt you. I’ve got your back.”
“And I’m grateful, but you can’t. This truly is my fight and I’m…really fucking angry and I don’t want to take it out on you, okay? I have to go.” I hang up, livid about the nosedive my day has taken and intent on making the right guy pay. Vivica’s words ring like a chant in my head, with the emphasis changing on each repetition.
He’s your father. He’s your father. He’s your father.
Ten minutes later I shoot off my email, wash the night away in the shower and begin prepping for my morning meeting.
“I DON’T APPRECIATE THE TONE of your email, Cecelia,” my father starts the minute I come into view and pour my coffee. He must have gotten in late, and I know the reason for his arrival was due to the content of the email I sent last night. More often than not, he’s been staying in Charlotte, leaving me the sole occupant of this massive house.
“You put me in this position,” I counter as I take the seat next to him. “You wanted me to take my job seriously. Well, this is me, taking it seriously.” I lay my pay stubs between us. “I’ve been shorted a quarter-hour on nearly every weekly paycheck since I started and a full hour on two of them.”
“You have a supervisor to report this to.” There’s no insinuation in his tone which brings me relief that my relationship with Sean is just a factory rumor and hasn’t reached corporate ears. He’s taken no other interest in me and if he’s been monitoring the security cameras, thanks to Dominic, they’re now on an uneventful loop.
“We all answer to someone, don’t we? I’m sure a particular government agency would be interested to know that your employees have been shorted for years, sweetening your bottom line. Especially if they were tipped off by a call from the CEO’s daughter.”
His eyes flash with pure hostility as I try and muster up more courage. I’m still on the fence if this is the smartest move to make regarding my future, but I remember all those people that gathered around me, the weight of their accusation. This isn’t just about me. This is about thousands of people and the fact that they’re living their future out in that plant.
“I have no plans to do that. But I’m certain this is an ongoing issue that you need to take seriously because they’re past the point of fed up. So much so that yesterday, I was humiliated on the line for this. Is it really worth it to have your employees loathe you?”
“I couldn’t care less how they feel about me. I provide jobs—”
“It’s theft, pure and simple, for the people who make,” I cut my hand through the air, “all of this possible. You wanted me to get a taste of your business to earn my place, well it’s got one hell of an aftertaste, Sir. When’s the last time you spent a day in your own factory?”
“Your point’s been made, Cecelia. I’ll look into it, but don’t think your threats are what make a difference to me. I’ve been running this company since I was twenty-seven years old.”
“I was afraid to walk to my car last night. Do you have any idea how that feels?”
“You live long enough, and you’ll make enemies.”
“Glad to see you’re concerned. Did you know about this?”
“I will tighten security if need be. This is an accounting oversight, I’m sure.”
“An oversight that’s involved every single employee check? Pardon me if I call bullshit.”
“You’ve never been so liberal with your tongue. What has gotten into you?”
“It was a hundred degrees in there two days ago!” I feel like I’m going to burst into flames as I slap my hand on my small stack of paychecks. “A hundred degrees, easy. It’s a literal sweatshop and you have me working there alongside everyone else. Did you expect I would just shut up and take my paychecks and play along? Well, you almost got lucky in that respect. I wasn’t paying attention, but I got my lids razored off last night.”
“Cecelia, stop with the dramatics. I’ve heard your concerns.”
“When’s the last time you updated anything in that plant to make it comfortable for the people who run it for you?”
He clears his throat, eyes dropping, voice ice cold. “Again, I’ll look into it.”
“That’s a standard reply and frankly, Sir, I’m not accepting it. Especially, if this is the legacy I’m to inherit. A plant of disgruntled employees who loathe my existence because they can’t feed their families? No thanks.”
