The Princess???

Jarrod walked into the board room for his meeting. Looking at all of the managers of the different departments in his company. He had his eye on Myke Jernigan, Jeremey Cline and Katrinah Morgan. "Morning everyone. Let's get started. Mark you're first." Jarrod listened to each manager report. Two of the new ones was not going to make it. They didn't have any back up plans. They didn't seem to know how to change directions if needed, which will lead to failure, which will cost the company. He couldn't lose money over stupidity.  "All this sounds good. You have three months to implement this and we will reconvene and discuss the results. See you in three months." He got up to leave.  He walked into his office for his executive meeting.  "So do you think the new ones will make it?" Marylyn asked "Two will not make it." Jarrod said "Why do you say that?" Kenneth asked "Because only one is prepared." he stated "What do you mean?" Marylyn asked "I mean only one has a plan, back up plan and back up plan for the back up plan. The other two does not. I they are too confident and won't ask questions. The third will wear us out. I can see I threw a monkey wrench in the plans giving them three months but this will prove a lot. My company name is riding on their success or failure and I will not have a public failure on my company name." Jarrod said "So you think she can cut it?" Jack asked "Of course, the only thing that she has to prepare for is to move her time table. I'm pretty sure she is finding a way to try all of her methods and see which one work." They discussed other things and they went their own way.  Jarrod stayed in the office and worked on some things. Next thing he knew he was hungry, he looked at the clock and realized that it was now seven. He decided to stop working for the day and it was late enough. He decided to head home after finding some dinner. He stepped into the elevator pushing every floor. He rode down until fourteen when he saw a light on. He stepped out of the elevator and followed the light to the office. He was sure it was her still in there. He turned the corner and there she was steady working away.  "Still at  it?" He asked interrupting her. "Yeah just figuring some things out before I present it to my team." She said "Why not just present it and let it all work itself out" He asked to test her out. "No, I never just give them something, we all figure out how to work the plan." She said "How about we table it for tonight and you join me for dinner?" He asked "I'm not so sure." she said "You can pick my brain over dinner, and you can bounce your ideas off of me." He said enticingly. "Okay." She said. She gathered her things and hit the light as they left the office. They stepped on the elevator and  she watched as he pushed all the floor buttons to the lobby. The decent started, she watched him look at every floor.  "Can I ask why we are stopping on every floor?" She asked "Yes, I do so I can see who is working later than me. If I find someone I want to check on them, make sure they are okay and have any help that maybe needed." He said checking for lights. "Good night J, Night Rina." John said smiling at them. "Night" They said simultaneously. "Did  you drive?" He asked "No, I live just up the street so I walk to work." "Okay, Let me drive you to dinner and drive you home and dinner is my treat." He said "You don't have to, I don't want to interrupt your night, I can just e-mail you or call your secretary and set a meeting to go over my questions." She said sincerely. "I don't mind and I want to treat you to dinner so I can hear your ideas. Please do me the honor and not leave me in suspense of your plan, to wait for a meeting. I have no other plans tonight." He said to her "If it doesn't interrupt you I will accompany you" She said "It will be my pleasure if you would accompany me" He said holding his arm out to her. She slipped her arm in his elbow. "Yes I will" He guided her to the vehicle, put her in and got in behind her. "So how long have you worked here?" He asked interested in back ground of her. " Only three years. I interned for a year and a half then got picked up as a secretary and have worked my way up to manager now.  I've truly enjoyed my time here in not sure how I'm going to like being supervisor as the youngest in the department. I'm comfortable because I have worked with most of the team since I've been here but it's still kind of frightening to have the whole team look to me as a leader.  They say I will get used to it and I'm going to be great but I'm not so sure. It's a lot of weight on my shoulders because the success is split with the rest of the team but the failure is mine alone. I guess maybe I wasn't ready for management. " she turned to look out the window not wanting him to see her insecurity.  "To be honest your failure is mine and the success is yours. If I don't give you the right tools and time it's my fault you didn't succeed. Something the managers know is I take all blame and the workers get all the glory. I'm extending to you what I extend to all management, my door is always open, allow me to make you a success, that's why I'm saying come and tell me what you are working so hard on so that if I see a pitfall then you can miss it. None of the managers get recognized by working alone, they all bend my ear on what would likely work or giving me ideas of how to be better or more efficient. We make the company great not me, not the board but you guys. I value what each person bring to the table. What you  say added suggest is important because it's what makes your team better which in turn makes everything else better. So let me do the honor of helping figure out your issues, it's what I'm here for. Here we are I guess I should have asked what you wanted to eat, is burgers,chicken and pasta ok? " " Yes  it is. I'd love some ribs. "Good let's go, the ribs here is really good!" He said holding her hand to help her out. They went inside, she noted how familiar the staff was with him, seems like he's a regular. Most CEO 's don't hang in burger joints drinking beer and watching sports. Yet here he was as a regular. He was liking at the bar with longing, guess I ruined his plans by coming along. He looked at her then to the approaching waiter "hey Kaylah, "  "Good evening Jarrod , ma'am I'm Kaylah your server what can I get you to drink while you look at the menu?" Kayla h asked maintaining eye contact with her  " I'll have a sangria" she ordered. Noticing he ordered something that she hadn't seen on the menu. She watched  her walk away with their orders. "So why do you want to work with Shipping Enterprises?" "I don't have an answer for that besides I really like the atmosphere. I interned at quite a few places and this one was the one that feels like family and cared about me as an intern. Everyone asked if I was ok. I probably shouldn't admit this, especially to you, but when I didn't have anywhere to go John let me stay in the office  for two nights on his shift while I found another place to stay. Even now he still checks on me to make sure I'm not hurting financially. Your office is the only place where anyone has ever cared about me as a person." She dropped her head because she didn't want him to see how true her words were and how emotional it made her. "What do you mean by the only place that cared about you as a person? What's your story?" He asked curious of what she meant, and asking background questions will answer of of his curiosity.  "Can we not talk about my past?" She asked Looking at the remnants of  dried tears and the reddening of her eyes, he knew it was a very interesting story.  "How about we start with what you are working on that has you at  the office so late?" He asked " I'm trying to figure out how to present the other two ideas and to do them for one month. I'm not sure the team will buy it and they will tell me it is impossible" he said "You are going about it the right way. Let them help you with their expertise. I think you are over thinking it. Trust your team first then others second. Your job is to take their ideas and yours and make it work for your team and the company, in that order. If your team can't do it then the company fails. What's most important is your team being able to sale your product. If they think it's ambitious then all of you come to an agreement on  how to do it. Trust your team until they prove they are not trustworthy." He told her "That sounds good. I don't know what I'm thinking. I know to trust my team. I just don't want to be a bad leader to them. This team has been superb, I don't want to be the reason they fail. It's a lot of pressure on me." "Hey, I'm glad that is your concern. That statement means that you care more about the team then the bottom line, which is the kind of manager I need. Stop revising the plan and present what you have to them. I expect a follow  up  e-mail or meeting tomorrow afternoon." He said They had a nice dinner discussing a range of topics.  "One thing need to know is how vested are you in this company? Do you see longevity with this company or will you be gaining experience then take it somewhere else.?" "I can see retiring from Shipping Enterprises. I just don't see me changing jobs. As long as there is room to grow and maybe move into other areas if needed." She looked him in the eyes to make a point. "I'm sure we can accommodate any growth that we come across in you." He smiled at her, realizing she is holding something really dark in. The past has to be it.