The executive meeting at Xue s.h.i.+pping had commenced. 

The business leaders and executives had mixed reactions upon seeing her enter the hall.  Some were relieved that finally, someone from the owners had taken interest in the plummeting s.h.i.+pping business.  However, some were incredulous that the family would send their princess rather than the young master during this dire and grave times.

As soon as the meeting started, Xue Jinxu was bombarded with complaints - both petty and serious.

BAM!

"Silence!"

"Butler Lee, please preside.  I want you all to rank your concerns by severity and impact from the most serious down to the shallowest one.  While at it, we can discuss all of it one by one if you'd like, but since, according to you all, it's dire times, I don't see the need to tackle every single one.  All the more would we not achieve anything if you all discuss simultaneously in one go!"

"I'm giving you three minutes tops.  Arrange yourselves and your agenda first and then we will reconvene."

"Butler Lee, please."

"Understood, Big Miss."

With all the poise in the world, she left the meeting hall.  The elegant clik-clok of her heels accompanied her, and the double door behind her closed with a thud.

At the confines of her office, she made a quick call to the house husband.  "What's wrong?" His tone was laced with concern.

"Nothing.  I just missed you.  I just came from a marketplace-like meeting.  It's not even done yet.  Actually, we wasted precious time in clamor and disarray.  They must have been truly alarmed by the changes."

"And how are you taking it?"

"As for me, I have never felt more energized.  It's painstakingly unnerving even to me, but nothing can ever be undoable or unconquerable to me."

Chen Linyun smirked at the end of the other line.  "That's the Xue Jinxu that I know.  Go rock the boat."

"I'm going to return Xue s.h.i.+pping to the top spot."

"Go get them.  Wow, that's fierce."

Xue Jinxu giggled.  "I better go now.  They should be done fixing themselves."

"Don't forget our appointment later."

"En.  And then maybe we can go to the mall and do some shopping.  I can barely fit into my clothes!"

The husband laughed heartily.  "As you wish."

Back at the meeting hall, when she reentered, she was slapped with deafening silence.  Butler Lee handed her the sorted out agenda.  The business leaders fidgeted in their seats.

The top priority in the list was the internal strife at Xue s.h.i.+pping.  "What about it?  Can anyone give a brief background of it, the depth of the issue, and perhaps some recommendations and action items?" She recited with a blank expression.  She clasped her fingers and placed her hands under her chin, elbows supporting her head's weight.

The director for Human Resources, Director Zhang Yong spoke up.  In the last quarter, the attrition rate doubled compared to the usual rate for the past ten years.  The rapid turnover of people was alarming.  We surveyed the employees and here are the top reasons that popped out."

A list was flashed on the projector screen.  The main reason was the lack of job security.

Xue Jinxu stared at the screen.  Her face remained unreadable.  "Is it not the job of the superiors to pacify their team members' apprehensions?  If it's not within their control, they should have raised it to proper channels.  Is this process still in place and observed?"

"After the survey went out, what action items did you do, Director Zhang?  Did you develop more employee engagement activities or programs that would boost the employees' confidence in the company?"

"I admit that the owners had been absent these past weeks, but we have an organization in place.  The day-to-day operations should not be hampered by the absence of one or two members of the top management.  Each of us also has responsibilities and owners.h.i.+ps.  I guess it's not a closed-door secret that my husband encountered such an ill-fated accident during his recent trip, and in that sense, the management of Xue s.h.i.+pping returned to me.  I may be away all this time, but my role had not discontinued.  I still steered this company remotely.  I give approvals and recommendations through Butler Lee.  All of you know it.  Why is it not cascaded downwards?"

"On a lighter note, tell me what should be done, and we will consider it."

"We have to boost the morale of the employees."  One director exclaimed. "Our talented employees are our a.s.sets."

"The annual sports fest event is coming up soon.  Perhaps you can give the opening remarks that will be both motivational and encouraging to our employees.  As I see it, it's a good avenue to give answers to the concerns that give confusion and uncertainty to them."

Another director with contrasting beliefs spoke up.  "With all due respect, the employees' main concern is the stability of the company.  The next generation leader should meet with them and speak to them, not just an interim."

'HUH!!!  This guy.  Am I just an interim?' Xue Jinxu smirked.

"Why, Sir, am I not the next-generation leader of this company?  Am I not the owner?"

"Please don't get offended, Big Miss.  What I mean is that these past years ever since you stepped down, the company has been managed by short-lived temporary OIC's.  The young master who stayed at the CEO position all these years had not shown himself nor attended any single meeting nor conference."

"Get to the point." Xue Jinxu could smell what this old fart was after.

"Perhaps the young master could partic.i.p.ate in the sports fest, either during the opening ceremony or the awarding rites.  What's important is that the employees' inquiries would put to an end by his attendance and presence.   It's not that much.  We make do every day without his aid.  The Big Miss has been doing a great job all these years."

Xue Jinxu's lips curled up.  'The old fart did not fail to curry favor at the very end.'

'I can't tell if he's being genuine or if he's setting up a trap.  Indeed, the young master has not partic.i.p.ated in any events lately.'

To recall, during the absence of her twin brother, the young master, and CEO, Xue Jinxu would occasionally dress up as a man and portrayed the role of her brother.  After all, they were twins.

However, why would she do that if the real deal could grace the event himself?  That's what she was thinking.