Chapter 11
Frank trudged to his brother’s office, having been summoned by the chief executive officer. The way the past couple of years had gone between them, he didn’t know what to expect. Ever since Sherry had entered the doors of DMI, his tight-knit relationship with his brother had been compromised. Frank saw his brother as a religious hypocrite who’d recklessly put the company at risk. With that belief came a loss of trust and respect which Dave couldn’t seem to regain.
“Can I go in?” Frank asked Dave’s secretary, who was sitting out front.
“Yes, Mr. Mitchell. He’s waiting for you.”
Frank reached the doorway, not sure if he was entering a peace or a war zone. He braced for both. “Were you looking for me?” he asked in a guarded tone.
“Sure was,” Dave said, beckoning for Frank to come in. “Close the door behind you,” he added, getting up with a cup in his hand and walking to the table. Frank met him there, and they took seats across from one another. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
“No, but I don’t normally eat breakfast.”
“You know breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
“And so what?” Frank responded, not trying to hide his irritation. “I’m sure you didn’t call me in here to talk about my dietary habits, because if you did, we’ll have to resume this chat later. Right now I have way too much on my plate to sit around and chitchat like a bunch of schoolgirls.”
“You’re right.”
Dave scratched underneath his eyelid, as if he was stalling. Frank ignored the gesture. Before the distractions, Frank knew his brother to be decisive and fearless when it came to tackling big and small issues. Stalling wasn’t in his makeup. Dave was known for tackling opposition head-on. And once he dashed in with heavy reliance on God, problems that seemed impossible were often solved. Frank would have considered his brother’s actions a hoax had he not personally witnessed the numerous victories in civil suits and in closing million-dollar deals. There was no denying that Dave had something unique going on, or at least he used to. It appeared that some of his favor and those victories had gone south in the past six months. Frank was actually earning his pay these days by putting out fires related to the company’s reputation.
“So what’s going on?” Frank said, hunching his shoulders, eager to get out of there.
Dave stared at Frank and said, “I’m marrying Sherry next week in Cancun.”
Frank didn’t speak immediately, causing Dave to prod him.
“You have anything to say?”
“Oh, I have plenty to say, but I’m sure it’s nothing you want to hear,” Frank snarled.
“I know you’re not fond of Sherry—”
“Let’s just say she’s no Madeline,” Frank interrupted. “You need a strong woman who can stand on her own in tough situations, a woman who knows what it takes to make this place run. There’s only one woman, probably on earth, who fits that bill, and it is not Sherry.”
“She’s a good woman.”
“‘A young and inexperienced woman’ is the part you left out.”
“Okay, yes, she’s young.”
“Young enough to be your daughter. You’re close to twenty years older than she is.”
“Regardless, she’s twenty-seven years old. She’s a grown woman, fully capable of making her own decisions.”
“If you say so, but it sounds like you’re trying to convince either me or yourself.”
“I don’t need to be convinced. I love her. She loves me, and I’ve asked her to marry me. That’s the bottom line,” Dave said, slicing his hands through the air like an umpire calling a runner safe.
“You wish it was that easy.”
“It is.”
“I guess it is if you don’t care about your reputation. DMI has already taken a noticeable hit in revenues over the past six months.”
“You can’t irrefutably tie the slight drop in revenue to my personal life.”
“Are you serious?” Frank slapped his hand across his thigh. “Man, please. You can’t possibly believe what you’re saying. You’ve been in this game long enough to know better. A company is only as strong as the reputation of those running it. How many times have you told me that? And I agree, so for you to sit there like nothing you’re doing is impacting DMI is just silly,” he said, snickering.
“DMI is just as viable as it’s always been. The hand of God was on this place from the beginning, and no matter what personal failures I have, His plan will succeed whether I’m here or not.”
“Blah, blah, blah. I don’t want to hear that religious mumbo jumbo. I’m talking cold, hard facts.” In the past, Frank wouldn’t have challenged Dave’s reliance on religion to fix their problems. Dave had changed. Times had changed. Frank had to change too, just to keep up. “Look, little brother, do I have to remind you that we’re in the business of helping churches learn how to operate ethically and with integrity?”
“No, you don’t have to remind me,” Dave said with an edge. “I know my purpose for creating DMI better than anyone big brother,” he added, sounding angry.
“Then you can understand my point. Who’s going to listen to anything we’re peddling if the head of DMI leaves his wife and four children to marry his mistress, a woman he got pregnant while he was still married”
“You know that’s not how this went down. You know Madeline wanted the divorce, not me. I tried, but I couldn’t stop her from finalizing the divorce last year. Her mind was set.”
“Maybe you should have tried harder before picking up with the mistress.”
“We were finished long before I considered marrying Sherry.”
“That might be a fact, but know that’s not what people on the outside will believe. Between the media and your long list of jealous adversaries, they’ll make a big deal out of this.”
“Perhaps, but I’m willing to take the chance.”
Frank chuckled. “You used to be unbeatable when it came to DMI business, but I’m waiting to see how this turns out. I just don’t see you winning this round.” He rose from his seat. “I think you’ve lost your touch.”
Dave’s secretary brushed against Frank on his way out of his brother’s office. “Excuse me, Mr. Mitchell,” she said, causing both brothers to respond, since they were not sure which one she meant. “Mr. Dave,” she added, smiling.
“Well, I’m out,” Frank said.
“Mr. Morgan Davis’s office from the Midwest Association of Bible Scholars just called, and they’ve requested an urgent meeting with you this afternoon.”
Frank paused mid step and backtracked into the office. “MABS? What do they want?”
“Their secretary is holding on the line. Can I schedule him for two o’clock?” she asked, directing the question to Dave.
“What’s the meeting for?” Frank asked, knowing this was the largest new account they’d signed for the Midwest expansion. After taking a hit on revenues over the better part of six months, DMI couldn’t afford to lose new business. They had to nurse each account like a newborn.
“His secretary just said that he wants to fly in and meet this afternoon, and that it was important based on a chain of recent events.”
“Go ahead and schedule him for this afternoon,” Dave said.
The secretary darted from her boss’s office to finish the call that was on hold. That left Frank with Dave.
“What do you think he wants?” Dave asked Frank.
“I can’t read a crystal ball, but if I had to put money on it, I’d say they’ve gotten wind of your upcoming marriage and a taste of the rumors and gossip that are hitting the airwaves.”
Dave scrunched his face and shook off Frank’s pessimism. “No, I doubt that. MABS is too large of a ministry to be swayed by media innuendos.”
“Get real, little brother. Religious folks read the papers too. Look at how much damage the divorce did to DMI. Can you imagine what’s going to happen when everybody finds out more specifics about the affair, Sherry’s age, and the baby? I bet Davis has gotten wind of the story and wants to distance his organization from the fallout.”
“No, it has to be something else. Hopefully, he’s just coming to touch base.”
“He’s flying from Chicago to Detroit in the middle of the day just to say hello? I don’t think so.”
“Frank, don’t be ridiculous. I know the man isn’t showing up here to say hello. Give me some credit. I’ve run this place for fifteen years. I know how DMI works and how our clients think. That’s why we’ve realized unprecedented growth every year,” he said and meandered toward the windows.
“Maybe that was true before.”
“Before what? My divorce or my engagement to Sherry?” Dave asked, snapping at Frank.
“Either one. You pick, because they’re both nails in DMI’s coffin. How did the media find out so quickly, anyway?”
“Good question. Nobody has spoken to me or to Sherry directly, other than the travel agency and the dress shop that she’s using.”
“Who knows how your business got out there? Just goes to show that you can’t hide. End this train wreck now and save yourself. Save the rest of us.”
Dave faced the windows and flung his hand in the air. “I’m not rehashing this conversation with you. I have to get to work. I need to review their contract and be ready for Mr. Davis.”
“If it was only that simple. Read a contract, meet with a disgruntled client, and walk away with your so-called unprecedented growth record intact. Well, not this time.”
Dave turned to face Frank. “What do you suggest I do, since you have all the answers?”
“I don’t know, but you’d better figure it out soon, before we lose the new business and the old.”
Dave sat at his desk. “I have to get to work.”
Frank knew that meant Dave was tired of talking about this matter. He would gladly exit, but not before adding one more comment. “Oh, and, Dave, where is your faith now? I suggest you bring it for this meeting, because you’re going to need all the help you can get on this one. See you later,” he said and actually left this time.