Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(57)

“I’ve discussed that with Mr. Jorski. He will be written up for it when we get back to the office.”

“Not enough,” Tory said sternly. “I’m not sure you realize how much that comment could cost this company. Not to mention an extremely valuable employee.” Ron leaned back heavily. Tory speared Sean with his gaze next. “I had no idea the mistreatment that went on within our company walls of the opposite sex or those with a different sexual orientation. I also have to realize that most of upper management is Caucasian and there might be race issues at work. I should have known this—that is my fault—but it is unacceptable and an extreme liability. Not promoting is one thing, but…”

Tory stood up slowly and walked to the window. “I apologize, but this has come as a rather rude shock. A shock that I will be rectifying. Starting with Blake. He is on probation, starting immediately. One more offense and he will be terminated.” Ron’s eyes widened.

Tory turned to Sean. “It goes for your team as well. It must stop, and I am prepared to start firing people until it does. I will also be contacting Human Resources to schedule sexual harassment training and sensitivity training. The outlook of this company must be turned around.”

Neither man spoke. It wasn’t often Tory got so worked up. He very rarely got miffed, let alone cross. His black mood was not something either of them wanted to be on the other side of.

Tory, trying to maintain calm, walked back to his chair and sat down. “Now, what is to be done with Krista?”

“I can make room for her,” Ron said smoothly. “I have no doubt that I can quell any out-speak on her being female.”

“She won’t move,” Sean said quietly. “All her friends are in L.A. or Seattle. She won’t make another move across the country. L.A. sat well with her only until lately.”

Tory was analyzing Sean. “And you haven’t talked to her about leaving?”

“I’ve been keeping my distance for the most part—taking my lead off of Marcus. They are close.”

“As her boss, you should be able to have that conversation,” Ron said disapprovingly. He didn’t think Sean was experienced enough for the position he held and it showed.

“They have a rather…difficult personal past,” Tory replied, giving Ron a look that said his input was not wanted on this subject. Ron took the hint.

“You haven’t been able to turn your team around.” Tory wasn’t asking Sean a question.

“I haven’t, no. I have gotten more out of them, for the most part, but until this conference, it has been a struggle. They haven’t been challenged all that much for the last few years.”

“Yes, that is my fault,” Tory said thoughtfully. “That was part of the reason for the structural change. It worked well in New York, so we adopted it.”

“You mentioned this conference?” Tory said, rounding back.

Sean smirked and rested his right ankle on his left knee. “Krista has been working with me on my goals, but she hasn’t meshed with the team—for obvious reasons. It wasn’t until the conference that she apparently decided—again, this is coming from Marcus—that she would shove our collective opinions up our collective…”

“Orifices, yes,” Tory finished, trying to hide a smile.

“She then took over the motivating side of the managers. She has a way of bringing people around that I don’t. That not many do, I would say. She sees a goal and bends everyone around her to accomplish that goal. It is instinctual, I think—for the most part, anyway. If I was…a different sort of manager, I might think of it as stepping on my toes.” Sean paused briefly. Tory’s eyes flicked to Ron.

Ron shifted in his seat. “So she has taken it upon herself to get your team working to their maximum capacity?” Ron asked levelly. If the words were an action, he would be looking down his nose at Sean.

It was Tory who answered, “Sean has wisely allowed one of his subordinates to exhibit her skills, and for that, it sounds like his team will thrive. I have seen her apply these ministrations. I, too, allowed her full-reign, and, for what I would call my insightfulness, she exerted greatly to get my panel of analysts working cohesively and efficiently, freeing me up to do other important tasks. It was that panel that beat out yours in effectiveness, as you’ll recall. She took the number one spot in four short months, I believe. Impressive, I would say.”

Tory turned back to Sean. “But she is still learning. She still needs guidance in business matters, which is what Sean is supplying, if I am not mistaken.”

“She doesn’t have a business degree, so she is learning most things first hand. Learning quickly, though.”

“So you think she can turn them?” Tory asked.

“I think she is turning them. I think at the other end of this conference the playing field will be leveled. Her friends don’t want to see her go, so that will help. I am making steps, which Marcus says is helping—but no one has to reach very high to entice her monetarily. I can’t give her a raise, because I am too new. It would be unfair to the others, which would undermine what she is doing here.”

“You are too new,” Tory said, checking his watch. “I am not. Keep an eye on her—or should I say, have Marcus keep an eye on her. Or Kate, who I assume was the one giving you your information?” Sean nodded. “If Krista can make a home for herself in the L.A. branch, then I will see what I can do monetarily.”