Chapter 17 #2
"You're not concerned about my judgment. You're uncomfortable with my private life becoming public. That's not the same thing. My judgment built this company's success. My judgment doubled our revenue through aggressive expansion and strategic acquisitions. Those are facts. Measurable results."
I stop at the head of the table, facing Voss directly.
"What happened to me was a violation. Someone installed surveillance equipment in a private club and used it to document my most intimate moments. Then someone leaked that footage to destroy my career. I didn't choose that. I didn't invite it. I was the victim of a crime."
My voice hardens. "And if this board walks away because I was victimized, you're telling every woman in this industry that private consensual choices make them vulnerable to professional consequences. You're telling attackers that their tactics work. You're completing the assault my uncle started."
The room is absolutely silent.
"I acknowledge the exposure. I acknowledge the media attention.
What I refuse to acknowledge is shame. I've done nothing wrong.
I engaged in private, consensual activities in a space designed for privacy.
The violation of that privacy was criminal.
The only people who should be ashamed are the ones who committed those crimes and the ones trying to profit from them. "
I look directly at Patricia.
"My record speaks for itself. Revenue doubled. Strategic acquisitions. Company thriving. Those are the metrics that matter when you're evaluating leadership. Not private life. Not consensual choices. Results."
I return to my seat. "I own fifty-one percent of this company. You can resign if you want, but I'm not going anywhere. So you need to decide: are you going to work with me to address this crisis, or are you going to make it worse by creating more drama?"
Every board member stares at me. Some look horrified. Others impressed. Patricia watches me with an expression I can't read, something calculating behind her eyes.
Voss clears his throat. "Thank you, Ms. LaCroix. Does anyone else wish to speak before we vote?"
No one does.
"Then we'll proceed. The question before the board: do we express confidence in Simone LaCroix's continued leadership of LaCroix Petroleum?"
He starts the roll call. Each board member votes in turn.
Henry Castellanos. "Yes."
Patricia Moreau. "No." Her voice is cool, unsurprised.
Walter Brandt hesitates. "Yes."
Margaret Sullivan. "No."
The votes continue. Yes. No. Yes. Yes. No. Yes.
I count silently. I need enough support to keep this board functional.
The count is close. One vote left.
Thomas Wright. I don't know him well. He's been quiet through the entire meeting.
"Mr. Wright?" Voss prompts.
Wright looks at me for a long moment. "Yes."
The vote carries.
Voss announces the result formally. "By majority vote, the board expresses confidence in Simone LaCroix's continued leadership of LaCroix Petroleum. This meeting is adjourned."
The boardroom erupts in movement. Some board members stand immediately, clearly uncomfortable. Others approach Henry, offering quiet words of support. Patricia remains seated, watching me with an expression I can't quite read.
Finally, she stands and approaches. "Congratulations, Simone. You held them."
"Thank you."
"This isn't over, though. You won the vote, but those who voted no aren't going to forget this. They'll be watching everything you do. Waiting for any misstep." She pauses. "I hope you understand what you've committed to. Constant scrutiny. No margin for error. It's going to be exhausting."
I meet her eyes. "Let me be clear about something, Patricia. I own fifty-one percent of this company. You can watch all you want. You can vote no confidence every single meeting if it makes you feel better. But there isn't a damn thing you can do about me being CEO. I'm not going anywhere."
Her expression shifts slightly.
"So if you're planning to make this exhausting by creating problems, save us both the trouble and resign now. I'll accept it gladly. Otherwise, get on board and do your job. Those are your options."
Patricia's jaw tightens. "Understood."
"Good." I turn away, dismissing her.
She leaves without another word.
I remain seated, trying to absorb what just happened. The vote passed, but barely. Nearly half the board voted no confidence. That kind of division creates problems.
Henry appears at my elbow. "You held the board."
"Barely."
"You won. That's what matters." He starts packing his briefcase. "Those who voted no aren't going to forget this, though."
"Let them remember. I own fifty-one percent. They can be as unhappy as they want."
Henry nods. "Fair enough."
Eventually, I stand and head for the elevator. Luc follows, silently. The executive floor is quiet now, everyone having scattered after the meeting. We take the elevator down to the parking garage level.
"You won."
"Barely."
"Still won." He opens the passenger door. "Get in."
I slide into the seat. He closes the door, walks around to the driver's side, and gets in. For a moment, we just sit there in the quiet garage.
"Patricia made it clear this isn't over," I say. "Nearly half the board voted no confidence. They'll be watching everything I do, waiting for me to slip."
"Then don't slip."
"It's going to be exhausting."
"Yeah." He starts the engine but doesn't pull out yet. "But you held the board. You still run your company. Armand's in federal custody. That threat's contained."
I close my eyes. "But Julien's killer is still out there."
"Yeah."
The silence stretches between us.
"The protection detail continues," I say.
"It does." His voice is flat. "Until we find who killed Julien."
I open my eyes, turn to look at him. He's watching me with that intensity that makes my pulse spike.
"But you should know something," he says. "The detail's professional. What I want from you isn't."
My breath catches. "Luc—"
"Not asking for an answer now. You just fought for your company. But you should know where I stand." He shifts the SUV into gear. "Let's get you home."
He pulls out of the parking garage, heading toward the estate. I lean back in my seat. Patricia's warning echoes in my head—constant scrutiny, no margin for error, board members waiting for me to slip.
And underneath it all, the knowledge that Julien's killer is still out there. Still a threat.
The protection detail continues, Luc stays—but not just because of the job.
My phone buzzes. Text from Henry:
You did it. Get some rest. We'll strategize tomorrow.
Luc's hand finds mine in the dark. I turn my palm up, threading our fingers together. Julien's killer is still out there. The board is fractured. The danger hasn't ended.