Chapter 6 The Domino Effect
THE DOMINO EFFECT
DAMON
Cavanaugh Industries’ head office occupies the top five floors of one of New York City’s tallest skyscrapers, each one below belonging to its subsidiaries. A hundred and one levels of hell, the top belonging to the executive team. To me.
As I tilt my head, the top of the tower hidden by the fog, I hear my father’s voice.
One day, my son, all of this will be yours.
When that time comes, I know you’ll do great things.
My teeth clench, anger stewing in my gut.
That day wasn’t supposed to come for a long time.
He had a decade of vision left in him, and just like that, that vision was taken.
All his dreams were shattered. And I was left behind to pick up the pieces.
Pieces that I never truly wanted to possess.
It’s all a domino effect. A cruel joke played by the puppeteer in the sky.
An eye for an eye. They should have never covered it up.
That in turn made them all guilty. And yet, I’m still here.
Another joke. He’s laughing at me. He left me here so that I’d suffer, so that every waking day, I'd remember everything I lost.
It’s been twenty-three months since I’ve set foot in his building. Since I’ve roamed the halls that were once my playground. Since I laid my eyes on the people whose livelihoods depend on me. That require my presence, my attention, my fucking vision.
“Sir.” Javier opens the front door for me. “We’re late. The Li brothers are waiting in the conference room.”
Everyone looks at me with sympathy as Javier and I make our way through the lobby.
The front desk staff, the security officers, the fucking mailman.
It sickens me. I’ve become a broken child to them.
A young boy. A goddamn orphan. Their sympathy means that I’m weak.
That the edge of my sword has turned rusty and dull.
It’s my own fault. Javier was right. I was hiding.
But the world around me kept moving. I haven’t had a desire to move with it until now.
“Welcome back, Mr. Cavanaugh.” Miranda greets Javier and me outside the elevator doors, handing us both a briefing of today’s meeting.
She flashes me a white smile, and I remember the day I had to cover those pretty little lips because she was screaming my name too loud.
Her cheeks turn pink as if remembering the same memory.
She clears her throat. “We’re all, um…” Tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear, she whispers, “We’re all really glad to see you again. ”
“I’m sure.”
Dismissing the walking reminder of my poor coping skills, I lead Javier into the boardroom.
The Li brothers grin up at me, and I rethink my strategy moving forward.
The terms they offered were offensive, to say the least. It’s because, like everyone else, they think I’m weak, they think I’m broken, they think I’ve lost my touch.
That’s been the theme these past few days.
“Thank you both for coming in so early,” I begin, taking a seat at the head of the boardroom table, Javier on my right.
“In front of you, you will find a revised contract.” I snap my gaze at Javier who is caught off guard.
I silence him with a tactful look. The Li brothers flip open the folder, immediately bursting out with worry.
I put my hand up. “These numbers might come as a shock to you given our previous discussions, but I had time to do some research over the weekend, and I believe you are in no position to negotiate.”
Han glowers at me. “I do not understand.”
I cock my head. “No?” Pulling out a stats sheet from the briefing, I slide it across the table, Javier examining his own copy, eyebrows scrunched as he connects the dots. “Your organization is being investigated by the SFC for insider trading. Did you honestly think we wouldn’t find out?”
“I…” Pei swallows, glancing at his brother. “Where did you get this?”
“I’m not sure how you conduct your company’s business, but here at Cavanaugh Industries, we do our due diligence,” I state. “Now, are these new terms acceptable to you?”
The Li brothers converse amongst themselves, their tones indicating they weren’t expecting to be called out for greed. Javier turns to me, lowering his voice, “How did we not know this earlier? Markus and Yannis said they verified their status twice.”
“I’ll deal with them later,” I whisper harshly as the Li brothers turn their attention back to me. With a smug smile, I ask, “Well? Ready to sign?”
“We need time to think,” Han says, clearing his throat. “It is not—”
“Time’s up, Mr. Li,” I say. “We need your capital and you clearly need to diversify into foreign markets. Pick up the pen and sign. No thinking is required.”
“What if we…”
“Refuse?” I finish Pei’s sentence, letting out an incredulous laugh.
“You won’t and do you know why?” I lean forward, gaze hard and cold.
“Because if you refuse to sign with us today, I will ensure that your name is blacklisted from every Fortune 500 company around the fucking globe.” I stand up, adjusting my tie.
“Sign the damn contract and don’t you ever try and fuck with me and my company ever again. Understood?”
The Li brothers nod, hands nearly shaking as they pick up the pens and sign the contracts, cursing under their breaths.
I round the table and hold out my hand to the two shady men. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, gentlemen. Miranda will see you out.” Once the Li brothers exit the conference room, I slump down in a rolling chair, Javier shutting the door behind them. “Call in Markus and Yannis.”
“Damon…” Javier frowns, knowing exactly what I’m about to do. “I’m sure it was a mistake. I’m sure—”
“Now,” I command. Javier pulls out his cell phone and dials two numbers as dozens of my employees take turns sneaking glances into the conference room.
I can’t remain a broken child in the eyes of my subordinates.
Sympathy must turn back into fear and fear into respect.
Markus and Yannis scurry into the boardroom, both visibly nervous as they take a seat. “No need to sit.”
“Damon, we—” Yannis begins, but I cut him off.
“One of you is getting fired right now,” I say, reclining into the chair and interlocking my fingers over my chest. “Who will it be?”
Their faces turn white. “Damon, please.” Markus stutters, shooting Javier a desperate look. “It was a—”
“You have a minute to decide,” I state. “If you cannot come to a mutual decision then you’re both fired.” I pause, waiting for a response but they remain stunned and muted. I sigh. “How unfortunate. It’s a shame I'll have to lose both my COO and CFO on the same day.”
“Fire Yannis,” Markus peeps, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. “He… He was the one who suggested the Li’s. He’s the one who…”
My gaze floats to Yannis. “Is that true?”
Yannis swallows. “Yes, it is.”
“I see,” I hum, pursuing my lips. “Alright then. Yannis,” his eyes widen with trepidation, “take those contracts and process them immediately.” He blinks, confused, as I turn my attention to Markus. “Clean out your office. Miranda will go over severance with you before you leave.”
“What?!” Markus shouts. “But you said—”
“While I think self-preservation is a valuable asset, loyalty, in my opinion, is far more important,” I state.
“You’ve worked with Yannis for over five years, and it took five seconds to throw him under the bus.
I don’t need people like that working for me.
” I push myself to my feet. “Best of luck to you, Mr. Fields.” I nod at Javier, and he follows me out of the office.
“Make sure security is on standby. I don’t need Markus making a scene. ”
“I can’t believe you did that!” Javier hisses under his breath as I walk to my old office. Hesitating for a split second before entering, I swallow away my demons and step inside. “What are we going to do now? Markus was single-handedly—”
“We’ll find another CFO,” I say, gliding my fingers along the desk. No dust. “Has someone been in here?”
Javier pinches the bridge of his nose. “Of course. It is not a crime scene. We have cleaners.”
“Right,” I hum, leaning against the edge of the desk. Javier continues to grumble. “Enough theatrics, Javier. I had no intention of letting either of them go today. Markus should’ve kept his mouth shut, and he’d still have a job.”
“I don’t believe you,” Javier admits. “That was a power move, and you know it.”
“And so what if it was?” I cross my arms over my chest. “You wanted me back here, right? Well, here I am.”
“You could’ve eased in, Damon,” Javier says, shaking his head. “You do not need to dive head first.”
“Too late now,” I say, glancing around my office, my gaze landing on the stocked liquor cabinet on the far side of the room. My stomach churns. “I want those gone by tomorrow morning.”
“Why not take Jonathan’s office?” Javier suggests. “It is cleaned out and ready for you.”
I swallow. “No. I’m fine here.”
“If you want to be the boss, Damon, then be the boss,” Javier says. “Your father’s office cannot remain empty forever.”
“And it won’t,” I grunt. “Leave. I have work to do.”
“As you wish,” Javier says, striding to the door. He turns his head over his shoulder. “Oh, by the way, I found some more information on that stripper you wanted me to find for you.” My lungs expand. “Just some school records and shit. Nothing too exciting. It’s all in your inbox.”
“Thank you,” I say, circling the desk and sitting down.
Once Javier exits my office, I quickly turn on my computer, anxious anticipation thrumming through my veins.
A dialog box pops up that reads: Updating System.
Do not turn off the computer. Tapping my fingers on the glass desk, I stare at the loading bar, growing more impatient as the minutes pass. Fuck! This is going to take forever.
Needing to keep myself preoccupied so as to not punch a hole through the fucking screen, I begin mindlessly rummaging through desk drawers that haven’t been opened in two years. Old files. Random stationery. A bottle of scotch.
I reach further into the drawer, slicing my finger on the edge of something sharp.
Wincing, I tug on the culprit and pull out a picture frame.
I stop breathing. The catalyst. The first domino I knocked over.
The beginning of the end. My finger traces the engraved writing on the bottom, leaving a trail of bloodstain in its wake. To my love. If I just—
“Do you love me?” Alison whispers, nuzzling her head into my chest. “Damon? Do you love me?”
I stare up at the ceiling, bedsheets tangled between my legs. “Of course, I do.”
“Then why…” She swallows. “Then why can’t I meet your family? You’ve met mine. Don’t you think it’s time? It’s been—”
“Soon,” I whisper, kissing her hand. “You’ll meet them soon.”
A hot tear drops on my shoulder. “You promised, Damon. You told me—”
“I know, but I need more time,” I say, hating myself for keeping her a secret, but my father would be livid. The wound is still fresh. I can’t risk opening the healing skin. Not yet. “Just a little while longer.”
Her jaw clenches against my skin. “You said you were ready this time.” She sniffles. “And I believed you, Damon. I stupidly believed you, but you—you’re ashamed of me, aren’t you? You’re—”
“Ashamed of you?” I ask, sitting up against the headboard. “Why would I be ashamed of you? Look at you.” I trace the edge of her jaw. “You’re perfect.”
She shakes her head, holding back tears. “I don’t believe you.”
“Baby…”
“Take me to dinner with you tomorrow then,” she says, pleading. “Your father’s birthday dinner. Take me.”
My lip twitches. “I can’t, Alison. I—”
“You’re ashamed of me.” Tears well up in her eyes. “Damon, I—I can’t do this anymore. I can’t sit here and wait for you.”
I cup her cheek. “Alison, no, please. I just need a little more time.”
“No.” She pulls away from me, sliding out of the bed. “I-I’ve given you all the time I could afford to waste, Damon.” She sniffles again. “I think time’s up.” She hugs herself. That should be my job. “You should leave, Damon. I-I need you to leave.”
My heart collapses into itself as her words ring in my ears, and they keep ringing and ringing and ringing until the ringing turns to sirens, and the sirens turn into flashing lights, and the pain spreads from my heart to my head to my bones until I’m back in the hospital again.
“No!” I growl, whipping the picture frame at the wall, the glass shattering upon impact. I bury my face into my hands, willing the memory back to where it belongs. “Fuck.”
The computer dings when all the updates finish, and I snap my gaze to the login screen. Maybe this is a sign. A sign that I should stop. Why pursue the failings of history? Why crave the bitter and inevitable end that’s bound to repeat itself? I want to stop. I know I should. But…
I type my password into the login screen and pull up my inbox, her name causing a familiar ache in my chest. It hurts.
But it’s the type of pain that all addicts chase.
Like a high. A high that always results in a low.
Always. Emery’s employment and school records fill up the computer screen, and I count down the days until I’m high again.