45. One Way to Meet a Father

Stassi

S tassi looked at Sage. She hadn’t stopped fidgeting once. Stassi reached across and grabbed her hand. “Why are you so nervous?” she asked, winking.

Sage’s eyes widened. “For starters? This is not exactly how I wanted to meet your father.”

Stassi laughed. “Just remember, we’re not going in there as lovers.”

“Besides,” Lena commented. “If you were, I wouldn’t be here.”

Stassi giggled and nodded. “She has a valid point.” Stassi leaned back against the chair. They had worked long and hard to get the meeting together with her father and the board members. Now that they were there, she wasn’t going to let any nerves waste her time. She was excited that they were closer than they ever had been. Most likely, they realized the publicity was starting to kill them. They had to do something if they wanted to save face. Stassi lifted Sage’s knuckles to her lips and gave them a kiss. She was only there because Matin was her father, and Sage thought it’d be nice to have Stassi’s support. Stassi wasn’t going to deny that. If Sage felt more comfortable, then Stassi would do what she needed.

Her fear, though, was that she’d be in the way. She wasn’t there to start the negotiations, but she would go ahead and support them and do as little of the talking as she possibly could.

The door opened, and Rene Prestley peeked her head out. “Stassi? The board is ready for you.” Stassi stood up and turned to look at Lena and Sage. “Actually, the board is ready for us.”

Sage and Lena stood up and followed her in. Stassi knew most of the members through her father. So it was like a weird fiscal family reunion. She had to mentally remind herself that this wasn’t a reunion she wanted to attend. She was there as an employee who demanded change, or else they would have no choice but to walk.

“Hello, Stassi.” Her father greeted her, his words spoken through clenched teeth. Only Stassi noticed, or at least she hoped.

“Hello. This is Sage and Lena. I’m merely here for support.” Stassi sat down in one of the three chairs and waited for Sage and Lena to join her.

“Alright,” her father began. “So, it’s my understanding that you all have concerns.” Stassi shook her head. Her father did have a way of twisting things. Clearly, they had concerns. He didn’t even know the half of them.

It was Lena that spoke up first. “Yes, sir.” She looked around the table, her cheeks seemed to drain with fear. Maybe it wasn’t the greatest idea to have her be one of the spokeswomen. From what Stassi was once told, she attempted to take it to the board, before and failed miserably. Stassi sat on her hands, so she wouldn’t nervously play with them and waited. “I have been working here for many years, and over the years, I have discovered the changes that have come, and I have to admit, rarely are the changes good. It’s time that we take the hospital into the twenty-first century. We have outdated equipment, and that doesn’t even scratch the surface with all the issues that we have going on.” Lena turned to Sage.

“Older employees are losing their benefits and OT hasn’t been paid for a long time. Yet, we’re expected to work overtime because it’s all making sure that the job gets done. There aren’t enough staff to get the job done, so what other choice do we have?”

All board members listened as Lena and Sage continued, each tossing out various things that were in need of a major overhaul. Stassi watched with pride, especially every time Sage opened her mouth. They had come so far, and it was appearing like they could be on the home stretch.

“I love my job, Mr. Hewitt. It’s why I do it. I don’t do it for the money or the benefits, but I also know that I work hard. I feel that it isn’t wrong to expect to be appreciated. We are willing to do fundraisers such as the gala. A lot of money was earned, but none of us saw any benefit from that cash influx. It felt like no one cared that some staff couldn’t attend, and then with the strike, it was proof to us that you didn’t care about us because you easily went out and found replacements. We matter. And that’s what we want to show the employees that come after us.”

When they had said their peace, Dad nodded. “So, I imagine you have a list of demands?”

“We absolutely do.” She took out a paper and slid it towards him. “It’s not much. But it’s what we feel worthy of. Still, we are willing to negotiate within reason.”

He looked over them and then turned to the rest of the board as he showed them the list. Stassi stared between Sage, Lena, and the board, anxiously waiting for something to be said. Finally, Dad nodded again.

“We aren’t here to negotiate. You all are valuable employees, and we want to ensure that you see that.” Stassi stared at her father. A glimmering light of the man she once knew. “We will get a contract drawn up, and what you want seems reasonable enough.”

“Seriously?” Lena asked. “After all this time…” Stassi saw Sage nudge her in the side, and Lena closed her mouth.

“Thank you, sir.” Sage leaned forward and held out her hand. Stassi’s father shook it and smiled. “We’ll be expecting you all back at work Monday morning.”

Sage nodded. “You have my word.” She got up from the table, and the three of them left the boardroom. Once outside of the room, Sage turned to Stassi. “Did that seriously just happen?”

Stassi squealed and threw her arms around Sage. “I knew you could do it,” she whispered. She held her for a moment, it feeling good that they were finally moving forward in their reconciliation.

“Let’s celebrate.” Lena turned and held up her phone. “I’ll call Marcus and have him organize a group to meet us at the club.”

The door opened, and Stassi turned to find her father beckoning her, “May I speak to you for a moment?”

Stassi turned to Sage. “I won’t be long.”

Stassi slipped into the boardroom, which was now empty, to her relief. The other board members must have left through the other door. Her dad closed the door and turned to face her. “It finally happened,” he began. “I got some good investments, and the money is starting to roll back in.”

“That’s great to hear,” she stated.

“I thought you’d be a bit more ecstatic. You can quit the job, and I’ll start taking care of you again. You can even get some modeling contracts going. I know that’s what you’d rather have, anyway. Now’s your chance.”

“Dad, you just don’t get it. I’ve changed. What once mattered to me, just doesn’t anymore. I think it’s great that things are on the rise for you.” She shrugged. “But I’ve grown and matured, and I’m happy where I am. In fact, I’ve never been happier.”

“So, you don’t need me?”

Stassi rolled her eyes. “Dad, you're my father. I’ll always need you. I just don’t need you to support me financially. You should be thankful.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Love you, Dad. I better go.” She turned and walked away from him, feeling this huge weight slowly dissipate. When she got back to Sage, Sage arched an eyebrow. “Things are going well with my father, and he just wanted me to know that he could support me again.”

“Oh wow.” Sage looked away. “It’s what you want, right?”

“A long time ago, but I’m happy right where I am.” Stassi reached for Sage’s hand and pulled her to her. They kissed and Sage continued to smile. “Let’s get out of here.”

Sage drove them to the club, where everyone had already started to gather. They walked into the noisy club, hand in hand. Sage grabbed two beers and handed one to Stassi, and they stood at a table and sipped their beers.

“So, you’re officially back together, right?” Marcus ran up and placed his hand on Sage’s shoulder.

Stassi laughed. “Isn’t it obvious?” She leaned in and kissed Sage, letting the beer drip off her lips. This was going to be one hell of a night. They let the beers fly like no one had to drive home.