The following Monday, Thomas called with an update.
The company had received his formal notice.
Doug wanted another meeting.
This time, he had asked that the discussion include Frank, the company's attorney, and someone from the accounting department.
Thomas explained that the company was prepared to discuss the ownership provision.
I agreed to attend.
Jeremy said he would come too.
We arrived at Lanning Fabrication shortly before eleven.
The receptionist recognized us.
She greeted us politely and directed us toward the conference room.
I noticed something different immediately.
There were no Christmas decorations.
The raffle prizes were gone.
The little stage where Doug had humiliated my son was empty.
It looked like an ordinary workplace again.
But I remembered everything.
Doug was waiting with Frank and two other people.
He stood when we entered.
"Good morning, Margaret."
"Good morning, Doug."
He looked toward Jeremy.
"Good morning."
Jeremy nodded.
We sat.
Thomas opened his briefcase and placed several documents on the table.
Doug looked at them.
Then he reached toward another folder.
"This came from our archived files."
He removed a letter.
I recognized the handwriting before he said anything.
It was Ray's.
Doug looked at me.
"This was addressed to the company's attorney in 2015."
I nodded.
"I've read it."
He seemed surprised.
Thomas explained that a copy had already been provided during the document review.
Doug looked down again.
"My father wrote that the company should never forget who helped him start it."
Nobody spoke.
He continued reading.
Then he stopped.
His eyes remained on one paragraph.
I knew which one.
It was the part where Ray explained that the original financing arrangement had been built on trust.
Doug slowly lowered the letter.
"I didn't know."
I looked at him.
"I believe you."
He rubbed his forehead.
"My father never discussed this with me."
"Perhaps he thought the documents would speak for themselves."
Doug looked at the table.
For a moment, I saw something other than arrogance.
I saw a son trying to understand a part of his father's life that had been hidden from him.
Thomas brought the meeting back to the agreement.
He explained the ownership provision.
He also explained why the company needed to acknowledge the original arrangement before determining its present obligations.
The accounting representative confirmed that the historical records supported the company's incorporation timeline.
There were still details to verify.
But the connection between the original financing and the later company records was becoming clearer.
Doug listened.
He asked several questions.
Thomas answered them carefully.
Then Doug turned toward me.
"What do you actually want from this company?"
I considered the question.
"I want your father's agreement honored."
"Are you asking for control?"
"No."
"Are you asking for a management position?"
"No."
"Then what?"
I looked at him.
"I want the written promise respected. I want the records corrected if they don't properly reflect it. And I want the company to remember how it began."
Doug leaned back.
He seemed to be considering that answer.
Then he looked toward Jeremy.
"And you?"
Jeremy didn't hesitate.
"I want my employment record to reflect the truth."
Doug nodded.
"I understand."
Jeremy continued.
"I don't want a special position because my mother helped your father. I want the same respect any employee who has worked here for nine years should receive."
Frank looked at him.
I could see approval in his expression.
Doug remained quiet.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
"My father would have been disappointed in me."
I didn't answer.
That wasn't my place to decide.
Doug looked again at Ray's letter.
"He always said a business was only as good as the people who worked in it."
Frank nodded.
"He said that often."
Doug looked toward him.
"I don't remember hearing it."
Frank gave a small, sad smile.
"Maybe you weren't listening."
Nobody laughed.
The meeting continued for another hour.
The company agreed to complete a formal review of the ownership provision with its legal advisers.
Thomas would receive the remaining records.
The company would also prepare a written response.
Before leaving, Doug asked whether I would consider meeting with him again after the review.
I agreed.
Not because I trusted him completely.
But because I believed important matters deserved to be handled properly.
As we walked toward the entrance, Jeremy fell into step beside me.
"That was different."
"Yes."
"He actually listened."
I nodded.
"Let's see whether he remembers what he heard."
Jeremy smiled faintly.
Outside, the air was cold.
I looked back at the building.
It was no longer the little workshop Ray had purchased in 1998.
It was a large manufacturing business with dozens of employees.
But somewhere inside its history was a promise written by a man who had wanted someone to believe in him.
I hoped his son was finally beginning to understand that.
Click here to continue reading: PART 18: The Company’s Final Review Revealed the Ownership Promise Had Survived Every Major Change, and Doug Had to Decide What Kind of Owner He Wanted to Be
My Son Asked Me to Attend His Christmas Party Because He Couldn’t Bear Another Holiday Sitting Alone
Part 17 of 20
