11. Chapter Eleven
Chapter eleven
Inés
The board meeting at Locke I'm sitting right beside him at that table. My heart is racing a little as we wait for the others to file in. It feels surreal, after so many years of being on the sidelines.
Harrison reaches over and squeezes my hand under the table. He gives me a small smile, as if to say everything's going to be okay. But I'm not here for comfort today; I'm here to claim what's mine.
Cynthia arrives with her usual air of confidence, wearing a tailored suit that screams money and power. She barely acknowledges me as she takes her seat across the table. Typical.
The rest of the board members trickle in, each taking their places with the kind of casual authority that comes from knowing they're part of an exclusive club. But I've been in this world enough now to know it's all just posturing. And I'm done playing their game.
When the meeting starts, I watch as Harrison runs through his usual updates about sales figures and upcoming releases.
He's smooth, charming everyone with his easy charisma, making it look like nothing could possibly be wrong with our company.
But I can see his hesitation, his subtle glances at me whenever he mentions the nonfiction list or our new hires.
I let him finish before clearing my throat softly. He stops mid-sentence and turns to me, giving me the floor.
"Thank you, Harrison," I say evenly, meeting each board member's gaze as I speak. "I wanted to address a few concerns regarding recent changes at Locke just for a moment. Her eyes flick to the document, then back to me, and I watch her recalibrate in real time. But she doesn't deny it. She can't. That's her handwriting, her initials, her decision.
"It's not about ego," I say evenly, my voice quieter now but no less firm.
"It's about respect for the work I've done here.
And transparency." I turn my attention back to the rest of the board members, some of whom look genuinely concerned now.
"I think we all deserve to know what's going on within our own company, especially when changes are being made that affect everyone's work. "
Cynthia opens her mouth to argue, but I'm not done yet.
Before she can speak again, I add, "There are also questions about Margaux's role here at Locke that part stays between us for now.
Her network knows how to keep tabs on people who need watching.
"I'm sorry," I say sarcastically to no one in particular, "but this looks an awful lot like she was being groomed for this position before any of us were even informed.
And as for the photos taken after she was hired...
the morning after each was taken, Margaux clawed away more and more responsibilities from me and my team. "
The room is quiet now, everyone processing what I've just revealed. Even Harrison looks shocked; he didn't know about these dinners any more than I did.
"Is this true?" one of the board members asks Cynthia directly.
She glares at me before answering coolly, "I was simply getting to know her better so I could determine if she'd be a good fit."
"And did you determine that?" another member presses. "Or did you make up your mind before you even brought her on?"
"What did she promise you?" Harrison interjects suddenly, his voice low but firm.
It's the first time he's really stood up to his mother like this, and I can see it takes effort on his part.
But there's also real anger in his eyes now.
"What did Margaux offer you that made you so eager to push my wife out of her own company? "
Cynthia looks taken aback by his accusation but recovers quickly.
"This isn't about me, darling," she says, trying to regain control of the conversation.
"And just wait a moment, all of this is just one woman's version of events.
How dare you suggest I'd ever do something to undermine Inés.
She's my daughter-in-law, for goodness sake. "
"Sounds like a fair bit of conjecture, if you ask me," a member of the board pipes up. I'm sure it's the same person who once asked me to get him coffee. "We don't have any proof of any wrongdoing."
"Actually," I say, opening a folder on the table in front of me. "I do."
I've prepared for this moment. I pull out statements from two of our most loyal editors and an agent who have witnessed Margaux's behavior firsthand.
They detail how she's been taking credit for their work, making changes without consultation, and creating a toxic environment within the team.
And then I hand over the sworn statements from Diane Aoki, who many of them them know by reputation, had compiled from her network.
Solene Marchand, who was Margaux's personal assistant in France and witnessed her do this same thing to her own husband's publishing house.
And Bess Whitcomb, a well-respected agent who has tracked Margaux's pattern across three different companies.
"Her M.O. is always the same," I say, as they pass the statements around. "She comes into a company, makes herself indispensable by taking over others' responsibilities, then positions herself as the savior when things inevitably fall apart because no one knows what the hell is going on."
I can feel the tide turning now. The board members are exchanging glances, whispering to each other. Even Cynthia seems less sure of herself, though she's trying hard not to show it.
"This is absurd," she insists, her voice a little less steady than before. "You're all just taking her word for it?"