Chapter 3 #2
He hadn’t acted like one in a long time, thanks to his father’s disapproval, but he’d still do right by him.
“No, this isn’t how it works,” Hem said, drawing every one’s attention to him.
“I was enjoying a whiskey in Manila when I was asked to come back to Bharat. And why? Because I find out that the board went rogue and made the decision, without management or my father’s knowledge, to put together a bullshit meeting.
This isn’t the first offer for purchase we’ve received, but it’s the first one that you’ve all felt the need to take this seriously.
Why is that? Who is pulling your strings? ”
“Where is your father?” another board member asked. “Sending his thug sons to bully us and do his dirty work like a coward?”
Hem calmly straightened his cuffs with diamond cuff links that matched the stud in his ear.
His charm iced over. “Talk about my father like that one more time and you’ll find yourself out of a board seat, a job, and in a precarious financial situation.
Depending on my mood, I may just rip your fucking throat out, too. ”
“Theoretically,” Ajay interjected.
Hem grinned at his brother. “Yes, theoretically of course. And like I said, this is an inconsequential meeting. Dad hasn’t worked on something new in the last five years but a few weeks ago, inspiration struck. Inspiration that will line all of our pockets like it has for the last three decades.”
“He’s in the innovation center,” Zail chimed in. “He couldn’t catch a flight back in time, and I told him not to bother with dialing in.”
“And as my brother so eloquently stated,” Ajay added, “this is a bullshit meeting. I agreed to Sanjeev’s suggestion to use one of his attorneys for the compensation committee, but no other decision can be made outside that scope without my express approval. Understood?”
“And don’t think for a second,” Hem said, leaning on the conference table, “that if you try to do anything to jeopardize the health of this organization, my brothers and I will wait patiently on the sidelines.”
“We talk to our shareholders, too,” Zail said as he adjusted the kada on his left wrist.
There was a hushed murmur that spread through the room. The threat was clear, and so was the implication that there was a traitor on the board.
Hem knocked on the conference table in front of Mina’s laptop and waited for her lashes to sweep upward before her eyes met his.
“I’ll get you the information you need after you sign NDAs and R&R documents.
Based on the letter WTA sent detailing the formal offer, we have thirty days, but I made some calls to secure an extension?—”
“What?” Sanjeev burst out. “You had no right to do that without our approval!”
“I had every right,” Hem said patiently. “This isn’t going to be an easy compensation review. Our decision is due by the next quarterly board meeting.”
Mina nodded. “That still doesn’t give us a lot of time.”
“I know,” Hem said. “I expect you to be here in two days, Ms. Kohli. We’ll need to pull in some other team players. You’ll need assistance, especially a technical patent?— ”
“That’ll be me.”
Hem raised a brow. He’d have to do some digging into her backstory. She’d piqued his interest. “Excellent,” he said. He stood to his full height again and nodded to his brothers. They moved to the door, and he grabbed his bag to do the same.
“Wait!” Mina said, standing again. “I know that Zail runs R&D and Ajay is COO transitioning into CEO, but what are you doing here? I thought you left the company.”
“We want to know that, too,” Frankie Uncle said. “You storm in here, ordering us around like you’re COO again, but you have no right. You quit, remember?”
“Bharat’s success is in my best interest,” Hem said and swung his briefcase strap over one shoulder. “Since Bill left, I’ve been appointed Interim SVP of Legal.” He motioned to Mina with his chin. “Isn’t that convenient?”
With the satisfaction of seeing shock on her beautiful face, Hem left the room with his brothers following close behind.
The familiar rush of adrenaline was pumping through Hem’s bloodstream, and after he and his brothers were halfway down the hall and tucked in a vestibule away from prying eyes, Ajay gripped Hem’s shoulder to pull him to a stop.
“What was that about?”
“That was deflection and arrogance,” Hem said. “Why didn’t you tell me that Sanjeev selected his niece to be a part of the compensation committee?”
“With what time?” Ajay said. “And you know her. We all know her. I figured she was the least threatening option that we had.”
“I agree,” Zail mused.
“I’m more interested in your new role at the company,” Ajay said. “Interim SVP of Legal? Are you serious about coming back?”
Hem swallowed the lump in his throat. “It’s the only executive position that doesn’t require board approval. And this way, I can oversee the compensation committee work.”
“That’ll make Dad feel better in no time,” Zail said.
“It’s temporary,” Hem replied. “But necessary. It’s clear that at least half the board wants to accept the offer. You can see the hunger on their faces.”
Ajay’s expression darkened. “No one is going to take Dad’s business from us. I know you two don’t see eye to eye anymore, Hem, but you coming back means a lot.”
“You know I’d do anything for the family.”
“Right,” Zail said.
They bumped fists in a triad, the same way they’d been doing since they were kids.
It was time to get to work, Hemdeep thought.