Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
AARON
THE NEXT DAY
M y phone rang but I didn’t want to answer it. I was curled up against Harry and I wanted to stay there, undisturbed. To soak up the absolute bliss I’d found with my husband. Fuck, we were married. I was still wrapping my head around that.
Unfortunately, the outside world was calling. Repeatedly.
“You might as well answer it,” Harry announced and playfully bit my shoulder. “I’ll allow one business phone call during our honeymoon, but that’s it.”
I chuckled at his comment and reached for my phone.
My laughter faded when I realized it was Naomi. Why was a board member calling me first thing in the morning?
“Hey, Naomi what’s up?” I answered.
“Aaron, I think your father is going to put forward a motion to have you removed as CEO,” she announced in a worried rush.
“What?” I exclaimed while Harry stared at me with concern. “How do you know?”
“Because he just called a board meeting. Today at ten.”
“Hold on.”
I scrolled through my emails.
“I didn’t get an invite. Shit.”
This wasn’t an attempted coup, but a real one. My stomach sank but I did my best to remain calm. I shouldn’t be surprised, but the reality that my father would go this far cut deep.
“I’ve got a bad feeling, Aaron. After the announcement of your marriage yesterday, Winston went ballistic and left me five angry voicemails,” Naomi paused. “Congratulations on your wedding, by the way, and I’m so sorry to call you like this.”
“Thank you. And I appreciate the heads-up,” I paused, my brain finally kicking online. “Can you stall? He can’t get quorum without you in attendance.”
“I’ll do my best. I don’t like ignoring a board request, and I don’t even know if I should be talking to you right now, but if this is what I think it is, this time he’s gone too far. You brought in a huge partner and things are moving in the right direction. There’s no justification for wanting to remove you. To be honest, I was considering resigning my seat anyway. Winston’s constant harassment of you and his horrible attitude in general isn’t sitting right with me.”
“I’ll deal with him. Just ignore his calls for now and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
“Okay.”
I tapped End and turned to my husband.
“Winston’s making good on his threat?” Harry asked, reaching for my hand.
“He called a board meeting, minus me. Naomi’s pretty sure he’s going to push for a vote to oust me.”
“What are we going to do?”
Not me, we. This man….
I leaned over and kissed Harry soundly.
“I’ve got calls to make. And he can’t get rid of me if I get rid of him first. I need to get to that meeting and turn the tables on him.”
“Ruthless, but necessary.”
“I didn’t want this to happen—” I paused.
As much as I resented my father, I never wanted things to end up like this. Unfortunately, he’d left me no choice.
Harry cupped my face. “You’re doing the right thing. How can I help?”
“Will you come to the office with me? In case things go south?”
“Of course.”
We showered, changed, and then I called my lawyer and Patrick. Harry fed Endor and Chewie, and after a short walk, we headed into the city. I was too fraught to make conversation but thankfully, Harry chattered away, distracting me from my heavy thoughts.
A half hour later we stepped into my office, and Patrick greeted both me and Harry with an unexpected hug. A hug, two cups of coffee, and an update.
“Everyone’s on their way in and I’ve set up the boardroom. I have your lawyer on standby and the executive team as well. Your father hasn’t arrived yet but I told security to alert me as soon as they spot him.”
“You’re scary efficient,” Harrison quipped. “Show me your ways.”
“Sorry, it’s a secret,” Patrick preened.
“Did you get the paperwork drawn up?” I asked.
Patrick nodded. “Check your inbox. It’s ready to go.”
“I hope I can get him to back off.”
“I hope so too, Aaron. But remember, you’re a great CEO and this company is lucky to have you,” Patrick replied. “I mean that as an employee, a shareholder, and most importantly, as your friend.”
“Thanks, Patrick.”
Harrison squeezed my hand tight, and I leaned over to kiss him.
“Remember, if you go, I go. I’ll be here waiting, no matter what happens.” Harry then gave me a wicked grin and pointed to the hallway. “Now go kick some board ass.”
I was going to do just that.
Harrison
I watched my husband walk out of his office with a confident swagger, but I wished like hell I could follow him to that boardroom. I didn’t like the idea of Aaron facing his father alone, but there was nothing I could do.
Feeling helpless made me edgy. If I spotted Winston first, there’d be no telling what I’d do…
“Do you think Aaron’s going to be okay?” Patrick asked.
The first rule of selling is always lead with the right attitude.
“I do,” I replied with conviction. “He’s got this.”
And if he didn’t, I had him.
“I hope you’re right,” Patrick sighed. “I’ve known Aaron a long time. And considering his family, well, it’s a miracle that he’s as nice as he is.”
“I’ve only met his father, but he’s told me a bit about the rest. His uncle, aunt, and cousins.”
“A nest of vipers is more like it,” Patrick explained. “No, that’s not right. Most of his family are too lazy to bite. You should go up to the boardroom and wait outside to watch the parade as they come in. They don’t talk to anyone here, since we’re all beneath them. None of them care about this company the way Aaron does. And none of them have the smarts to run it either.”
“Including Winston?”
“He was terrible,” Patrick scoffed. “Autocratic to an extreme. He didn’t listen to anyone but himself and he had no new ideas. The company floundered under his so-called leadership. The man had so many assistants up and quit it was like a revolving door. Several management team members got fed up and left too. Plus, there were rumors?—”
“Rumors?” I asked.
Patrick leaned forward.
“That Winston skimmed money from the company coffers. But then, right before Winston left as CEO, he fired the vice-president of finance, and everyone just assumed the VP was the guilty party. Although, oddly enough, nothing ever came of it. There was no investigation, nothing.”
“That’s very interesting,” I replied, a sudden idea sparking. “Patrick, do you remember the name of that VP?”
“Yes, of course, David Tremaine. Why?”
“You and I are going to find him. As quick as we can.”
Patrick stared at me with knowing eyes.
“I’m on it.”
I pulled out my phone and texted Aaron.
Harrison: We may have another source of ammunition
Aaron: ?
Harrison: David Tremaine, former VP of finance
Aaron: What about him?
Harrison: Do you know why he was fired?
Aaron: Poor performance? I don’t know. I was working in our satellite office at the time.
Harrison: There were rumors that Winston was siphoning money from the company, but then Tremaine got fired, and the whole thing went away
Aaron: You think Winston was guilty all along?
Harrison: I think the timing is suspicious. Maybe Tremaine found out? Or he helped Winston?
Aaron: Find what you can about him and send it to me
Harrison: We’re on it, baby
“Do you think it’s enough?”
Patrick asked me a short while later.
My conversation with Mr. Tremaine was enlightening, to say the least. Not that he could say much with an NDA in place. Still, the timing of his firing was telling and I read between the lines. And even though I had no solid proof, it was better than nothing. I texted Aaron and left the rest in his capable hands.
“For leverage?” I nodded. “Winston cares about his reputation, and the company’s, more than anything else. So, yes, I think it’s enough.”
All we had to do now was wait.
Aaron
I felt like I was a cowboy in one of those old western movies, readying for a standoff. Only, I had a cell phone, not a gun, and I was sitting in a leather chair instead of standing on a dusty street.
Still, I could almost hear the dramatic music playing as one by one, board members filed into the room; Jacob, Naomi, Leonard, Cassandra, Trevor, and Gordy. My father was the last one to join, and judging by the venom in his eyes, he was both surprised and ready to lay into me. I waited to speak until everyone was seated.
“I’m putting forward a motion to dismiss the chairman of the board effective immediately,” I announced unceremoniously.
My blunt comment was met with gasps, then shocked silence, until interrupted by the loud smack of my father’s hand hitting the table.
“I’m not the one acting like a complete and utter fool!” he countered. “I put forward a motion to remove Aaron as CEO.”
I ignored his statement and kept going.
“I’ve contacted our auditors,” I replied calmly.
This time, surprisingly, my father had nothing to say.
“Why?” Jacob asked.
“It’s come to my attention that, prior to my taking over as CEO, there may have been inconsistencies in the company financial reporting,” I explained. “This occurred around the time David Tremaine, our former VP of finance, was fired.”
I stared at Winston. For a second, I swore I saw a flash of fear in his eyes. His face paled. I glanced at Gordy, who was fidgeting like mad. My aunt’s face wore a shocked expression, and even Trevor looked like he might be sick.
“Inconsistencies? You mean someone in the company was manipulating the books?” Trevor asked.
Gordy put his phone down and shared a look with my father.
I shrugged. “I can’t say for sure at this point. But I’m concerned enough to call for a thorough investigation.”
“Winston?” Leonard barked. “What the hell’s Aaron talking about?”
“Nothing,” my father snapped. “Nothing that concerns you. It’s just smoke and mirrors. Aaron’s trying to distract you from the fact that he’s incompetent to lead this company.”
“On the contrary, I’m cleaning up the mess you left behind,” I stated assuredly. “Still, I didn’t expect it to be quite this…dirty.”
“Are you suggesting possible criminal activity?” Jacob commented.
“I’ve contacted a forensic accounting firm who will thoroughly review the company books including any items that pertain to the board,” I paused. “Given this turn of events, and to avoid any hint of impropriety until the investigation is complete, I vote to remove Winston as the chairman. Unless, of course, he would like to offer his resignation.”
“I second the vote,” Naomi stated.
“How dare you!” Winston bellowed.
“I’m not sullying my reputation,” Jacob interrupted and turned to me. “Let’s vote.”
I wasn’t a gambling man, but I was about to bet my entire career.