Kayley, who knew full well that Ross was not in the mood for sex, just cuddled and comforted him after Ross opened up the letter.
Ross had an almost sleepless night. He staggered to the bathroom, and in the morning, went to the bagel place to get both Kayley and himself Lox on Bagel.
As Ross was walking, even with his cane, Ross felt unsteady on his feet, and like he was going to fall over.
Ross kept dramatizing it in his mind.
"RossShell is gone. I'm going to lose everything. All the hard work both my dedicated staff and I did after we got RossShell back from Tazzio, will be all gone"
Even if things did turn out as badly as that, Ross had one thing that he did not have the last time he lost RossShell to Tazzio.
A solid, stable, seemingly ever expanding company with Fritz and Steve.
Ross could conceivably do nothing most of the month in New York, and make his trips for up to one week a month to OKC.
Ross thought that maybe his almost "Not focused" attitude on RossShell might be the cause of this.
Ross was too obsessed with RossShell the first time he had it.
Then, after Ross sold off half of what Ross got back from Tazzio, Ross promised Kayley that he would not let RossShell get out of control the way he had the first time.
While Ross did not let "RossShell consume him, what Ross did do was to pass off the work to a larger and larger staff, and behave irresponsibly with how he operated it.
Ross went from being an obsessed CEO, to an absent CEO. It was almost like. "He got the mega company, and then did not want it"
Vic was a more than capable COO, and had done wonders in operating the company , personnel and office day to day.
Yet, in a company such as RossShell, there were certain things that a CEO must do themselves.
The first time Ross had RossShell, he had done too much of them.
This time, he had not done enough.
Ross sighed.
"Kale, what is going on has made me realize one thing. I must attend to RossShell myself for a while. I am going to advise Mister P and Steve about what is going on. I am going to try and stave off the hurricane as best I can. My goal, save half of what RossShell used to be, and then with pain, let whatever staff I have to go, with good letters of recommendation, and a month's severance pay each. After that, I am going to spend more time attending to RossShell. Vic has done a wonderful job, and he will be right by my side, but, there are certain things I used to do at RossShell that I am not , and have not been doing in the current time. I want to stablize the company, and this time pay attention to it. RFS is still mega important to me. Yet, things cannot keep going as they have, or, I may lose it all" Ross said.
Kayley kissed Ross. "That is the view and plan of a mature man. Mister P and Steve will understand. They are major businessmen just as you are. All you have to do is to explain to them that RossShell is having major trouble, and that you must attend to it. You can sit in on shows with Mister P and Steve and the investors, but do so on Zoom from RossShell office or the apartment. After what I saw you do by getting RossShell back from Tazzio, I know you can do this as well. You just have to change your approach." Kayley said.
Ross and Kayley had a quiet weekend.
On Monday, Kayley went to work.
Ross got on a conference call with Steve and Fritz.
"Guys, RossShell is having ever increasing trouble. I cannot run it the way I have been. You both know that I love being in OKC and doing as many deals with both of you and the investors as we can. Yet, this is an almost "Fork in the road" in my business life time. Before I met you guys and we started RFS, I was too obsessed with RossShell. Now, since I got it back from Tazzio, I kept making it larger, hiring more and more account managers to do the work, and asked Vic to do the day to day work. Vic does a wonderful job, but there are certain things I must do myself. I am going to go in today and explain this to Vic. I am still just as involved and responsible for RFS as I always have been. I am one third partner, and I will do the work needed to assume that responsibility. All I'm saying is, depending on what is happening at RossShell, some of the shows we do, I may have to do them via Zoom and or conference call instead of coming down for every show. I hope you both understand my position" Ross said to Fritz and Steve, quietly and respectfully.
"Partner, of course we understand. You are justified in every word you just said. If RossShell is having problems, and you need to watch it more closely and run it with Vic, do as you have to. You will still be with us. If you cant be present in OKC with us, we will do Zoom and conference calls. When you can slip away for one to three days, just let us know and do so" Fritz said.
"Thanks, Mister P. I am going to go into the office, and discuss this with Vic. I will call you guys later today or tomorrow and we will discuss what we want to do next with RFS. " Ross said, as the men ended the call.
Ross showered, jumped into an Uber, and went to the office.
Ross's first stop was Vic's office.
"Vic, I think we need to talk" Ross said, closing Vic's door.
Vic looked somber, knowing what Ross was going to say.
"I think some changes need to be made around here, and the first one is all on me. I called Fritz and Steve before I came in, and told them that RossShell is having problems, and that I need to keep a closer eye on it. I explained to both of them that I cant just drop everything and run to OKC every time a deal comes up. I can and will be present for them via conference call and or Zoom. You helped me build this company when it was at it's worst after I got it back from Tazzio. You will be here by my side trying to help me work our way out of our current problems. Unfortunately, as I'm sure you know, with the contraction in our business, we will need to let staff go. You and I will both spend time looking through the staff list, departments etc, discuss everything, make the decision together, and conduct joint interviews , and let anyone we must, go with dignity, and hunmaity, severance pay, letters of recommendation, etc." Ross said.
"Ross, I am very sorry about us having to resort to this. Unfortunately, I have seen this coming. Let's think about everything carefully, digest it, and start the process" Vic said.
Ross smiled warmly. "Vic, you are such a wonderful businessman, and an even better friend. Let;s please have lunch at our favorite place. (Shun Lee Palace) at 1 pm, try to relax, and begin discussion." Ross said.
"Ross, I think that is a good idea" Vic said.
Ross left Vic's office.
On the way back to Ross's own office, Ross felt saddened, but, yet, he also felt a sense of calmness, as he was going to try to "Control the Storm" by making wise decisions, and not "Going off emotionally and haphazardly. which would make things even worse.
Ross sat in his chair, closed his eyes, and tried to "Digest His Decision" as Ross's father liked to say.
Would Ross and Vic's hopefully calm, controlled plan of what they wanted to do with RossShell work, or would more trouble develop to even further complicate their plans?
That would be seen.
Ross had an almost sleepless night. He staggered to the bathroom, and in the morning, went to the bagel place to get both Kayley and himself Lox on Bagel.
As Ross was walking, even with his cane, Ross felt unsteady on his feet, and like he was going to fall over.
Ross kept dramatizing it in his mind.
"RossShell is gone. I'm going to lose everything. All the hard work both my dedicated staff and I did after we got RossShell back from Tazzio, will be all gone"
Even if things did turn out as badly as that, Ross had one thing that he did not have the last time he lost RossShell to Tazzio.
A solid, stable, seemingly ever expanding company with Fritz and Steve.
Ross could conceivably do nothing most of the month in New York, and make his trips for up to one week a month to OKC.
Ross thought that maybe his almost "Not focused" attitude on RossShell might be the cause of this.
Ross was too obsessed with RossShell the first time he had it.
Then, after Ross sold off half of what Ross got back from Tazzio, Ross promised Kayley that he would not let RossShell get out of control the way he had the first time.
While Ross did not let "RossShell consume him, what Ross did do was to pass off the work to a larger and larger staff, and behave irresponsibly with how he operated it.
Ross went from being an obsessed CEO, to an absent CEO. It was almost like. "He got the mega company, and then did not want it"
Vic was a more than capable COO, and had done wonders in operating the company , personnel and office day to day.
Yet, in a company such as RossShell, there were certain things that a CEO must do themselves.
The first time Ross had RossShell, he had done too much of them.
This time, he had not done enough.
Ross sighed.
"Kale, what is going on has made me realize one thing. I must attend to RossShell myself for a while. I am going to advise Mister P and Steve about what is going on. I am going to try and stave off the hurricane as best I can. My goal, save half of what RossShell used to be, and then with pain, let whatever staff I have to go, with good letters of recommendation, and a month's severance pay each. After that, I am going to spend more time attending to RossShell. Vic has done a wonderful job, and he will be right by my side, but, there are certain things I used to do at RossShell that I am not , and have not been doing in the current time. I want to stablize the company, and this time pay attention to it. RFS is still mega important to me. Yet, things cannot keep going as they have, or, I may lose it all" Ross said.
Kayley kissed Ross. "That is the view and plan of a mature man. Mister P and Steve will understand. They are major businessmen just as you are. All you have to do is to explain to them that RossShell is having major trouble, and that you must attend to it. You can sit in on shows with Mister P and Steve and the investors, but do so on Zoom from RossShell office or the apartment. After what I saw you do by getting RossShell back from Tazzio, I know you can do this as well. You just have to change your approach." Kayley said.
Ross and Kayley had a quiet weekend.
On Monday, Kayley went to work.
Ross got on a conference call with Steve and Fritz.
"Guys, RossShell is having ever increasing trouble. I cannot run it the way I have been. You both know that I love being in OKC and doing as many deals with both of you and the investors as we can. Yet, this is an almost "Fork in the road" in my business life time. Before I met you guys and we started RFS, I was too obsessed with RossShell. Now, since I got it back from Tazzio, I kept making it larger, hiring more and more account managers to do the work, and asked Vic to do the day to day work. Vic does a wonderful job, but there are certain things I must do myself. I am going to go in today and explain this to Vic. I am still just as involved and responsible for RFS as I always have been. I am one third partner, and I will do the work needed to assume that responsibility. All I'm saying is, depending on what is happening at RossShell, some of the shows we do, I may have to do them via Zoom and or conference call instead of coming down for every show. I hope you both understand my position" Ross said to Fritz and Steve, quietly and respectfully.
"Partner, of course we understand. You are justified in every word you just said. If RossShell is having problems, and you need to watch it more closely and run it with Vic, do as you have to. You will still be with us. If you cant be present in OKC with us, we will do Zoom and conference calls. When you can slip away for one to three days, just let us know and do so" Fritz said.
"Thanks, Mister P. I am going to go into the office, and discuss this with Vic. I will call you guys later today or tomorrow and we will discuss what we want to do next with RFS. " Ross said, as the men ended the call.
Ross showered, jumped into an Uber, and went to the office.
Ross's first stop was Vic's office.
"Vic, I think we need to talk" Ross said, closing Vic's door.
Vic looked somber, knowing what Ross was going to say.
"I think some changes need to be made around here, and the first one is all on me. I called Fritz and Steve before I came in, and told them that RossShell is having problems, and that I need to keep a closer eye on it. I explained to both of them that I cant just drop everything and run to OKC every time a deal comes up. I can and will be present for them via conference call and or Zoom. You helped me build this company when it was at it's worst after I got it back from Tazzio. You will be here by my side trying to help me work our way out of our current problems. Unfortunately, as I'm sure you know, with the contraction in our business, we will need to let staff go. You and I will both spend time looking through the staff list, departments etc, discuss everything, make the decision together, and conduct joint interviews , and let anyone we must, go with dignity, and hunmaity, severance pay, letters of recommendation, etc." Ross said.
"Ross, I am very sorry about us having to resort to this. Unfortunately, I have seen this coming. Let's think about everything carefully, digest it, and start the process" Vic said.
Ross smiled warmly. "Vic, you are such a wonderful businessman, and an even better friend. Let;s please have lunch at our favorite place. (Shun Lee Palace) at 1 pm, try to relax, and begin discussion." Ross said.
"Ross, I think that is a good idea" Vic said.
Ross left Vic's office.
On the way back to Ross's own office, Ross felt saddened, but, yet, he also felt a sense of calmness, as he was going to try to "Control the Storm" by making wise decisions, and not "Going off emotionally and haphazardly. which would make things even worse.
Ross sat in his chair, closed his eyes, and tried to "Digest His Decision" as Ross's father liked to say.
Would Ross and Vic's hopefully calm, controlled plan of what they wanted to do with RossShell work, or would more trouble develop to even further complicate their plans?
That would be seen.
