June 2020

School shut down and unplugged near the middle of June. Things were changing at the motel. June, Ansel, Niko, Suzy and the Omatsus decided to return to June and Charlie’s place for the summer. Bobbie worried about how much Maddy would miss Suzy.

Jen decided to take the summer off to be with the kids and moved them into her house and sent Mack to live with Eddie and Charlie. Bobbie wondered how Mack and Eddie would get along.

The motel was almost back to normal. Bobbie had a meeting and she and the staff agreed that they could re open the motel. The no vacancy sign went out and the website would again be active. Everyone still had their masks.

Bobbie was out walking around with Maddy one morning when she saw her mother coming toward her.

“So, the motel is opening. I guess there will be strangers sitting around the pool again.”

Bobbie knew that her mother always loved a pool in the summer and never had one at her own home. “Mom, that’s part of our business but we mostly get people overnighting to catch an early flight or stopovers. Not many will be lounging by the pool. If they do, you can people watch.”

Florence rolled her eyes. “I’ll just act like I own the place. Say Maddy do you want to come back to gramma great’s house? I have some cookies and tea and I want you to pick out some pretty stones for Uncle Jamey to make you something.”

Maddy looked at Bobbie. “Can I?”

“Yes, you may. Mom where did you get precious stones?”

Florence took Maddy’s hand and started to leave. “Oh, Jamie sent them over he wants to make something for Maddy.”

Bobbie waved and turned back towards her apartment. Trixie would be up and working in her room. They turned Trixie’s room into bedroom/office. Bobbie brought a room divider out of her storage facility to separate the office and sleeping area.

Bobbie got in and washed her hands and Trixie came up the hallway. “Good morning Trixie, Maddy’s over at mums I can’t believe how quiet….”

Trixie broke in. “Bobbie we’ve got a problem. Let’s get over to our big office, I have paperwork there and we have to set up a meeting with Rusty.

They talked on the way. The problem was with Fox energy. In the previous annual general board meeting, they instituted the seventy-five-year age limit on board members. Since then, 3 older board members retired and were replaced by their designates, in this case, their three sons. Trixie thought that gradually, younger members would bring new ideas to the company.

Trixie explained. “The three that retired were there because of Catherine Fox and would follow her anywhere. That’s why they all agreed to give this renewable energy stuff a try. Since the government has removed all the tax incentives for wind energy development and solar panel research, the new board wants to double down on oil. They want to by new fracking licences and God knows what else.”

“Bobbie frowned. But we own controlling shares, don’t we?”

“Yes, but Rusty thinks we no longer control the board.”

They entered the office and Trixie turned the big screen around and made the zoom call to Rusty. He came on the screen, looking worried. “They are holding a special zoom board meeting and they are going fire me. They want the company to get back on track.”

Trixie shook her head. “Back on track? Who are they proposing to lead the board?”

Rusty laughed harshly. “You won’t believe this but since Peabody turned 75, in jail, he retired from the board and appointed his son, Justice Peabody, who is now making a move to control the board and he’s going to win.”

“His name is Justice? Really? That sucks.” Said Bobbie.

Only yesterday, Bobbie showed Trixie her bank account; surprised at the dividends that were deposited by the Fox Energy company. Trixie explained they would be quarterly and Bobbie marvelled at the idea that in one quarter, passive income from that one investment was almost as much as she made in a year when she worked. “I guess we won’t get big checks anymore?”

Trixie shook her head. “We will likely make way more money. We will be rewarded for destroying the planet. I need coffee.” Trixie stormed out.

“I know she’s disappointed.” Said Rusty quietly. “Trixie really wanted to change everything and so did Catherine in the end. It was her big swing and it almost worked. The irony is, the sleepy old board would have let her do it. I’m getting coffee too. It’s later here and I’m putting whisky in it.”

Bobbie sat there thinking as Trixie and Rusty regrouped. The new Peabody would probably rather see them out of the company and off the board completely. And would likely make things really bad for them. Trixie came back in the room. “Trixie, what will happen to all the renewable energy companies that Fox Energy bought and funded? The new Peabody will likely dump them as fast has he dumps us.”

Trixie sipper her coffee. “What if we could buy the renewable energy side of Fox energy and roll them into a new company? We’d have to make it seem like we are losing and really don’t want to do it.”

Rusty laughed. “Well if you sell shares or trade your shares for that part of the company you will be losing money. I think you’d gain a lot of potential. And I’d love to work for you if you do that. I’m tired of trying to suck up to oil lovers and want to focus on a greener future. “

“We’ll vote for you Rusty!”

“Did that sound a bit too much like a pitch? Sorry I really want you to do this and help run things. If you want me.”

They signed off and Trixie and Bobbie talked and planned and gathered information and prepared their proposal. They decided Rusty should approach Justice and ask him to make it an agenda item for the next board meeting. Technically anyone could add an agenda but they wanted some tacit approval from the guy they considered their biggest problem.

August 2020

It was the morning of the emergency board meeting. Trixie and Bobbie were ready and sitting on tenterhooks hoping that everything would go as planned. They noted that one agenda item was to change the board leadership based on a new rule that the head of the board should be a shareholder. Rusty was not. Justice had his father’s shares. Justice took over the meeting and moved to the divesteager of the renewable energy group. It seemed to go without a hitch. Peabody asked Trixie and Bobbie to remain on the call.

Peabody was cherub like in appearance but his cruel smile and suspicious eyes betrayed the curly hair and pink cheeks. “Dad told me about you two old girls. You pissed him off. He wants to absolutely destroy you. Wants to make you jump off a bridge. He has elaborate plans to punish you and your entire family. I’m not that driven. I just want control of this oil company and I want no opposition. I want money and influence and power. It’s useful for me to keep you around. You keep the old man distracted. So, I’m amending your deal. I want half your shares.” He pointed at Bobbie. “And half your shares” He pointed at Trixie. You can use the dividends from your remaining shares to fund your woke agenda and be the hypocrites I know you are. You’ll get the paperwork from my lawyer. Good luck with your loser companies. Later bitches.” He signed off zoom.

Trixie sat back. “He can’t afford to buy our shares. He can’t devalue them; he would lose too. That’s why we still have half. The financial manager in me is happy but I feel a little sick too.”

Bobbie smiled. “I feel the same. It’s good to get this settled though. Before school starts and harvest time. But what now? We own about 7 small companies; some aren’t much more than startups. It seems like a lot to manage.”

Trixie pursed her lips. “We’ll need a new company. We have to meet with the people, who were pretty faceless before now and tell them about the change in ownership and our new vision for the company.”

“We have a vision? I already have one company that has a lot going on, with not much progress. I can’t handle another one.”

Trixie patted her hand. “This is not new for me Bobbie I was dreaming about how to make this work back when I first took over Fox Oil and turned it into Fox Energy. You can be my silent partner.”

Bobbie laughed. “Silent partner! I will be sticking my oar in. I think we should call it the Coastal Energy Group.”