Consequences

say anything, it is their doing, not yours.” She thought about John’s words in the past and how she had experienced consequences, just like those people are about to.
    Tony started to read again, but Claire had questions. “Tony?” He looked at her and raised his eyebrows. “Sorry, but I have some questions.”
    “Go ahead.”
    “So are you saying that the actions of the people who do not have control have no consequence?”
    He closed the screen of his laptop. “Are we talking about Pennsylvania or here?”
    “Let’s start with Pennsylvania.”
    “No. Their actions may have great impact. A lot depends on the goal of the person who has control. Let’s say someone else with capital decides they’re interested in this company. More than likely they will either personally visit, or as I did, send an envoy to investigate the company. If those employees are hardworking, loyal, and if this investor is interested in keeping the doors open, their actions will be an important piece of the equation when those decisions are made. Their attitude could actually determine if their company will or will not remain open. On the contrary, if the employees are dissatisfied and disgruntled, investors interested in maintaining the company will shy away.” Momentarily loss in thought, Tony continued. “One of the issues that affect these situations is the knowledge of the employees, or the people seemingly out of control. It is interesting how many people live their lives completely unaware of decisions unfolding around them.” Claire listened as Tony went on. She worried about these forty-six people and their families. “Now if they’re aware and proactive they may try to recruit investment on their own. I have controlling interest in a few such companies, funded by Rawlings Industries yet run and invested in by the employees. They now benefit from not only paychecks but also dividends. It creates a wonderful incentive for hard work and dedication.”
    Thinking out loud, she said, “So if I decided I was tired of shopping for clothes and wanted to shop for companies, I could go to Pennsylvania, offer them a little more than your low-ball bid, and keep the company going, assuming the employees are hardworking, loyal, and want to keep the doors open.” She smiled as she spoke.
    Smiling in return, he said, “Well, yes, Mrs. Rawlings, I know you have the capital. However, if you use my bid as a baseline, you will end up arrested for insider trading. You cannot make an offer based on the offer of a competitor unless it has been made public. Mine has not.”
    With nothing more than concern in her voice, she asked, “How can you make a deal without considering the people and lives it affects?”
    “It is called business. It is how we have what we have and will have much more.” He wasn’t gloating or harsh, just stating facts. “Closing that business is my concern, the people are not. If my bid is accepted, their presence is no longer needed.”
    “So there are times that innocent people reap the consequences of others due to no fault of their own.” Claire spoke from experience yet now seeing the principle from a different perspective.
    “Yes. It happens all the time.”
    “All right, tell me about our situation. You were comparing the two. You were saying my actions have no effect on the outcome of this afternoon so not to worry about it?”
    “No. I said not to worry about it. Your actions have already had a great effect on this afternoon.”
    Claire saw his eyes, brown and genuine. She wanted more information. “Please, Mr. Rawlings, tell me what I have done to affect this afternoon.”
    He sighed. “Claire, why are we going to Newburgh?”
    “To see Emily and John.”
    “That isn’t the entire answer.” He waited.
    “We are going because of me?”
    “Of course, do you on any level believe this is my first choice of a Saturday afternoon activity?”
    She knew it was not. “But it was your suggestion. We wouldn’t be going if you hadn’t allowed it.”
    “You are right. But we are going because you want to. We are going because you have patiently accepted every challenge, every test, and every ordeal that has come your way. And for the record, not all have been my doing, merely a byproduct of being Mrs. Rawlings. Apparently, it can be a difficult role.” She knew that too and smiled. He continued, “You have not just accepted, you have conquered.”
    She didn’t know what to say. He