Chapter 11

Now there were ten females. Ten of any gender would tend to elicit some discomfort at least. With these girls, though, that never seemed to become an issue. Only Julie, Ginny and Kristi had been raised in the US. The others in Europe or Asia. All of them had attended Swiss schools, and all were raised knowing they had a duty to perform and were always careful to remember that.

The Chambers did not grow up that way, but Momma Chambers instilled in them a hope and an example of what was expected of a good Southern Belle.

Of all of them Ginny was the most apt to stray. Kristi, by just looking at her was the most desirable. There was something about the mix of all of them. The moniker, Paul’s Harem or the Merry Band came close to describing that special thing they shared, and it was not just Paul. Something clicked. Maybe it was the acceptance, or that each was well educated, even Kristi was nearly a 4.0 student. One teacher suggested she let him tutor her after school. One bad grade and lover boy Jones was history, but not in time to change her one ‘B’ grade.

Another thing that was not usual was that there was never any negative reaction from their families. No mother or father complained, threatened or seemed upset with the ‘arrangement’ their daughters had. There were various answers which one might postulate but the simple reason was, by their own admission they were now part of the Daimler family, albeit not as wives, but each was being treated with the same concern and respect as though they were and I’m not taking about money. They were not mistresses, concubines or whores going to the high bidder. They were loved, honored and treated as part of the family. They would not change anything if they could with the exception of taking those pills until Diane told them she was with child. Kristi being the exception almost asking daily, “Can I just not...”

It was to Diane each would need to petition, not Paul. He was a man after all and would cave to any and all of them if he would been asked. They all just knew that if Diane’s rules were ignored, that none of them would want to pay the price, her retribution would be final, swift and without mercy. A summary execution might be preferred. Whenever she would ask her Father or brother to intercede, like she had asked Daddy about the call at night, it was because she knew their solution would be kinder and more gentle than what her’swould be.

Everything she ran was done with an iron hand. It would be her way or the highway. Several of the old partners of corporations Daimler had bought found that out. When they were recalcitrant in one meeting she would call another half way around the world, wherever she was at, for the same day. Shares she owned outright and the shares she controlled by proxy were 51% or greater anyway, after one or two of these lessons they usually learned to play nice. A third lesson was never needed. She either sold short, then bought shorter or they exited the board. It did not matter if their name was Krupp or Fahd, play nice with her or pay the price, winner take all and so far she had always won. That was one of the things Paul loved and hated about her, it was not only determination, he could admire that trait, it was her black or white view of things he disliked.