Help! My Male Employees Are Having Babies!
Chapter 81: Corporate Coup Attempt

Chapter 81: Corporate Coup Attempt

Deke was pissed when he saw Ed. "I know that you normally don’t talk shop when you’re here at the ranch on the weekends, but I want to talk. I requested that my intern be reassigned to this location because between me going back and forth to the city two days a week, I lose a lot of time."

He paced as he spoke. "I don’t know how much time I spend between the phone and the computer system sending emails back and forth and copies of this back and forth to Raymond on changes and redesigns for the project. If he was here, I could just hand him the changes, he could input them to the computer—case closed. But no, some moron in HR has refused every request that I have submitted. I don’t have any idea who R.C. Anderson is, but he is making my life a living hell, not to mention Raymond’s."

"And while we are at it, he’s been here almost two years on internship and no increase in anything," Deke continued. "He submitted a request for spousal insurance since he is using this address and his future spouse is here along with the baby. The asswipe in HR turned him down even though it’s against company policy, and told him the policy would be changed at the next board meeting and a lot of people would lose their benefits for spouses—a new cost-cutting measure that he submitted."

Ed gave Deke a serious look. "Young Raymond’s a father? When did this happen?"

"The baby was born a little while ago. He has been going to the city every Monday with me, coming back every Friday out here until they get a home together because there are none available. He stays with me and Elton stays with Charlie in his cottage along with the baby. They need to be together as a family."

Deke’s voice grew more heated. "Elton suffered a birth injury having little Ray—he has permanent nerve damage to his spine which causes him to limp. I have been redesigning a three-bedroom unit to be handicapped accessible for the toilets, the showers, even the kitchen is geared directly to Elton and his spinal injury. I put in a request for the pod system specially designed for this, and guess what? Asswipe denied that. Who in the hell is this R.C. Anderson from HR, and who gave him this broad stroke of power?"

"Has Elton been sent to the city and evaluated by a top-notch spinal surgeon yet?" Ed asked.

"No sir, he hasn’t, because he is a Genman, and you know that those kinds of surgeons don’t see Genmen no matter what."

Ed sat there at the table, and the more he thought about the matter, the madder he got. He picked up his phone and made a couple of phone calls.

"Tell Raymond Tuesday morning Elton and him are to meet myself and Carter here at the house," Ed declared. "Elton has an appointment at the Spinal Institute at 10:30. Raymond will accompany him and the company will pay one hundred percent of anything that has to be done. And as far as R.C. Anderson from HR, I’m going to the office now and I will take care of this—end of story. Raymond is here as of now; he is being moved to this location, all of his possessions, everything."

"And as far as the housing unit that you’ve designed, it will be finished and expanded on and delivered next week," Ed continued. "If Elton has to have surgery, there will be in-home care, physical therapy at home, and that baby shall be taken care of. Those two kids don’t have to worry about anything. I want R.C. Anderson of the HR department to try to countermand my orders. I’m not going to fire him because he might have a family, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be scrubbing floors and toilets for a living."

Ed and Deke were talking about other things going on with Deke’s life when Deke’s email chimed. The message was from HR: "Once again your request is being denied. Sir, you need to stop it right now or there will be a punishment phase for abuse of power. Submitting your request once again for housing and a promotion along with a raise and use of this company’s owner’s name will not be overlooked. There has been a negative mark placed in your employee file. If you continue this, you will be terminated with no severance pay, no insurance, no nothing, and no recommendation. Signed R.C. Anderson, HR Supervisor."

Ed picked up the phone and made a phone call. "Helen, this is Ed. How you doing this morning?"

"I’m doing fine, Mr. Hawthorne. I hope you’re having a pleasant day, sir."

"Helen, you’ve been with me since we’ve had the company. Who the hell is R.C. Anderson, HR supervisor?"

"Sir, he’s the new supervisor of this department. He was promoted by the board—he’s a son-in-law of one of the board members."

"Helen, you’re in charge. You’re head of HR, you’re the supervisor, and you can only be fired by me or demoted by me," Ed said firmly. "Give R.C. Anderson his reassignment slip. He’s now part of the janitorial department and he will be scrubbing toilets on the main level. Have him report to Joe in maintenance for his new uniform. I’m on my way to the office—my weekend has just been screwed up. I know it’s Friday, but I’m getting ready to come in and clean house."

"Yes sir, Mr. Hawthorne. Thank you very much. It’ll be done momentarily."

Helen typed up the reassignment slip, went into Mr. Anderson’s office, and handed him the slip. Anderson looked at her and turned red in the face. "Just who in the hell does Ed Hawthorne think he is? I work for the board! I don’t work for him! He can’t tell me a damn thing—I’m head of HR!"

Helen cleared her throat. "Sir, may I remind you Ed Hawthorne owns the company and has seventy-one percent controlling interest in the company. The board is just a bunch of figureheads for government reasons. You have been reassigned and you will depart this area. You will clean out your desk and report to Joe on the main level in the janitorial department for your new assignment." Her voice grew stern. "I’ve worked here ten years—I’ve worked here since the company started—and when Mr. Ed Hawthorne puts his foot down like he has today, sir, you better understand that he’s in charge. So get out from behind my desk and leave my office."

"You don’t have the power to do this! I’m not going anywhere and you can’t make me! You’re just a flunky out there!" Anderson shot back.

Helen picked up her phone and dialed Ed Hawthorne’s personal cell phone. "Mr. Hawthorne, R.C. Anderson refuses to leave the office. He also informed me that you do not have the authority to reassign him—you have no power over him because he works for the board and not for you. I reminded him that you own the company, sir, and you have seventy-one percent controlling interest of the company, and basically the board is just a bunch of figureheads for government reasons. He’s been reassigned to the janitorial department, but he refuses to leave, sir. Says this is his office and you cannot do anything. Yes sir, I’ll put you on speaker."

"This is Ed Hawthorne. I am the owner of this company. R.C. Anderson, clear out your desk—you have been reassigned. I’m on my way in and be gone from that office when I get there. Helen, call a board meeting now."

"Yes sir, Mr. Hawthorne. Your order will be done, sir. Thank you very much. We’ll see you when you get here, sir."