“My brother, Matthias, does something that most of you sitting at this table have not. He puts the company first, over and over and over again.” Without taking his eyes off our uncle, he continues, “Putting the company first doesn’t always look like what you think it is. Sometimes it’s being quiet when you want to speak up and vice versa. Sometimes it’s about knowing the long-term gain is more important that short-term satisfaction. Sometimes, it’s about doing something you would never do, but to appease you, the board, and the public, it gets done. And that’s what Matthias has done time and again. If you’re prepared to have the most popular member of the Baxter family stand down from representing Baxter Enterprises, then I hope you’re ready to accept responsibility for the consequences.” He sits down, breathing hard, and stares down at his hands.
Gerry pushes to his feet. “It’s my turn.”
My three brothers look at me, offering their support.
When we all turn to look at our uncle, it’s with nothing but contempt for him in our heart.
“You say that Matthias has always done what is best for the company, so is having one personal scandal after scandal after scandal doing what’s best for the company? Is having his name splashed all over the tabloids about his womanizing doing what’s best for the company? Is organizing a press conference just so he can chase after his little girlfriend, the same woman he just admitted to using for his own agenda to deceive the public, doing what’s best for the company? He’s an embarrassment to the company and the sooner we remove his name from our company’s the better!”
“That’s enough!” Kylian jumps to his feet, eyes wild. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
I stand up next to him, pulling on his arm urging him to sit in the chair. “It’s okay, man. I’ve got this,”
I whisper to him. When he sits, I compose myself and face Leonard. “If Gerry is done, Mr. Chairman, I’d like to speak now.”
Leonard glances at Gerry, nods and who sits down, still glaring at me.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the board. Thank you for everything you’ve said today. For the most part, everything that I’ve heard was spoken with the express intention of wanting the best for Baxter Enterprises. And what I’ve realized is nothing that’s been said today is convincing anyone of thinking differently. So, to not waste any more of the board’s time, I think we should move to the vote. But before I step out of the room, I would like to use my time to share something with you.” I pull my phone out and press a button on a recording.
Patrick’s voice fills the room.
Explaining all the plans that Gerry had confided to him about ways he intended on sabotaging my brothers and me, about replacing members of the board who he deemed against him, about schemes he was working on to manipulate the directors.
For ten minutes, everyone listens in complete horror. Even Gerry sits glued to his seat, unable to move.
Once the recording goes quiet, I pick up my phone, and silently step out of the room and close the door shut behind me.
Heart pounding in my chest, I reach for Clarissa, who runs to me, and wraps her arms around me.
“How did it go?” she whispers against my neck.
“I guess we’ll find out soon.”
I debate going up to my office while I wait, but my feet refuse to move. Kiara and My-Linh make room for Clarissa and me in the office next to the boardroom, saying that they’ll be back with coffee.
Kiara shares a look with me and mouths “good luck.”
Emotions swirl in my stomach as I think over everything that’s happened today. First, reuniting with Clarissa, now, sitting outside my own boardroom wondering if ten minutes from now, I’m still going to have my job.
Clarissa rubs my back in circles. “Just breathe. We’ll do it together, okay? After three.”
The gesture, mirroring all the actions I’d done the same for her, unravels the knot of tension in my chest. I rest my head on her shoulder with a sigh. “Can I come work with you? If I get fired?”
She chuckles softly. “Sure, I need someone to stand outside and do crowd control.”
I laugh and kiss her neck. “I think I’d actually like that. I can use my brainpower to think up ways to spoil you.”
Her fingertips brush through my hair as she whispers comforting words. It makes the waiting slightly more bearable.
Almost an hour after I’ve left the boardroom, the door finally opens, and the board files out, none of them meeting my eyes.
Finally, Damien steps out first, followed by Kylian and then Kingsley.
I can’t tell from the looks on their face what’s happened. Which is surprising in Kylian’s case. Kiara must’ve been teaching him to work on his poker face. Either that, or they’re just really trying to hold back showing the bad news on their face.
They walk over to me, my heart in my throat.
“The vote was nine to ten,” Kingsley says, without elaborating.
Clarissa touches my back.
“You’re safe,” Damien finally adds.
Relief blankets me like a warm cocoon and a single sob bubbles out of me. “Oh, my god.” They give me a moment to celebrate before the serious look is back.
Kylian leans in an says, “There’s more.”
“Gerry?”
Kingsley nods.
Before he can tell me what else was discussed in the meeting, Gerry storms out of the boardroom and makes a beeline for me, his face contorted with hate.
“You. You are going down for this. We’re not done, you little fucker. You think you’re so smart, but
I’m smarter.”
He looks behind me, sees Clarissa, and lunges for her. In the background, I hear My-Linh shout,
“Clarissa, watch out!”
I push Clarissa out of the way. Reaching for Gerry’s shirt, I shove him to the ground. “When are you going to learn? I keep my promises. Stay away from her.”
He scrambles to his feet and leers towards her. “You made a grave mistake, sweetheart. You’ll realize that soon enough.” When he turns to my brothers and me, his eyes are wild and red. “You all are about to realize you’ve messed with the wrong person.”
“We’re ready,” I say. “Let’s settle this once and for all.”