Chapter 63
CHAPTER
They knocked on the office door of Elaine Fixx, the CEO, and were told to enter.
She glanced up at them in surprise. “Rhett, Hugh? What are you two doing here? You’re not on my calendar.”
“Well, that doesn’t really matter, does it?” said Rhett. “Not now.”
“I’m not sure what—”
Rhett turned to Prentiss, “Hugh, deliver her the 411.”
Prentiss, without meeting Fixx’s eye, said, “Um, it appears that Mr. Temple is once again the CEO of this company.”
“There’s no ‘appears’ about it, Hugh,” snapped Rhett.
Fixx stood. “I don’t understand. I was named in Barton’s will as the CEO.”
“Yes, but, there were, um, complications that, I mean today, well, it seems that—” stammered Prentiss.
Rhett interjected, “Jesus, just shut up, Hugh. Here’s the deal, Elaine. I own sixteen percent of the voting shares in this company.”
“Right. Not nearly enough to remove me as—”
“And I have been named guardian of my sister Angelina’s trust, and I also have her power of attorney.
Her trust owns fifty-one percent of the shares of Sybaritic Investments, meaning that I control sixty-seven percent of the voting stock, a supermajority.
That means that I can name me as your replacement, and I have.
” He turned to Prentiss. “And by the way, you’re fired, dumbass.
Get out. I already canned the rest of the board this morning, but I saved you for last because I wanted to tell it to your ugly face. ”
Prentiss blanched. “But—”
“Leave now or security will give you the heave-ho.”
Prentiss hurried from the room, leaving Rhett and Fixx staring at each other.
Fixx said, “You got control of your disabled sister’s trust and you’re using it to take back control of the company? That is beyond… brilliant, Rhett.”
He appraised her in a new light. “That response might have just saved your ass, Elaine. But I need to know one thing first.”
“What?”
“Did you sleep with my father?”
Fixx looked at him nervously. “I’m smart and I work hard, and I really want to stay at the company.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
“Yes, I did. Your father made it, um, clear…”
“Fine. That is the perfect answer. You’re now executive VP in charge of acquisitions.”
“Walter Nash’s old job?”
“If you want it.”
She came around the desk and hugged him. “Rhett, I don’t know how to thank you.”
He cupped her firm butt with his hand, startling her. “I already have some ways for you to thank me properly. Now, move across the hall to Nash’s old office. Oh, and dinner tonight, just the two of us.”
She looked at him nervously. “Oh, I’m so sorry, my husband and I have—”
“It wasn’t a question, Elaine. And hubby or not, you let my dad bed you, so get with the program, my new senior executive VP.” He kissed her on the lips and left with a spring in his step.