12. Gabriella
Gabriella
C ompetitors.
Van had been right in his warning. Darius and Amber were working with Dwain Welsh from Moon Medical, gaining access to the pharma coalition, and twisting its objective.
“Mr. Damien Sinclair,” Gloria asked, “what say ye to these charges?”
I’d forgotten the antiquated speech during these meetings. If it wasn’t so serious for Damien, I’d give more thought to finding myself in a low-rate B-movie with horrible script writing.
Damien spoke to the room. “The accusations are ludicrous. I have not jeopardized Sinclair Pharmaceuticals in any way. Can Mrs. Sinclair” —he was looking at Amber— “be more specific. We have many competitors in our business.”
“Moon Medical,” Amber said.
The room filled with whispers.
A smile curled my lips as Damien’s gaze met mine. He was prepared.
“This coalition isn’t new,” Damien began. “This board approved our entrance, understanding the benefits…”
This was the Damien I’d tried to forget, the one who commanded a room and a situation. As if a spotlight were shining upon him, as the handsome star of this presentation, he radiated confidence. His words resonated with all who listened. His tone and tenor were entrancing as if creating a magnetizing pull that drew everyone into his orbit.
It took all my willpower not to turn and watch Amber and Darius during Damien’s well-articulated rebuttal. My satisfaction came in watching the executive board. Gloria Wilmott for one was taking furious notes as other members of the board nodded their approval. Rachel Stokes was listening. Damien had mentioned that she could be a problem. Not only was she one of the newest appointments to the executive board, but she also shared a close friendship with Amber.
“…I yield the floor, Madam Chairwoman.”
The room had returned to silence, the sense of anxiety fading away with Damien’s explanation.
Dani turned to Gloria. “This appears to be old business, not time-sensitive.”
“Mr. Sinclair,” Gloria said, “didn’t mention the new arrangement with the coalition, a campaign with a local fraternity—a not-for-profit—that just coincidentally will benefit his new wife. The campaign with Beta Kappa Phi was not approved by our board. We weren’t consulted.”
“Mr. Sinclair,” Dani prompted.
“As CEO, it is within my rights to make business decisions. This is a business decision, agreed upon by Sinclair as well as the other members of the coalition.”
My skin felt tight as I stood.
“I yield,” Damien said as he turned my direction.
“Mrs. Gabriella Sinclair,” Dani said, “would you like to address the board?”
“Yes, Madam Chairwoman.”
I began, “Mr. Sinclair brought this campaign to Beta Kappa Phi only one week ago. I think we can all agree that with Derek Sinclair’s health issues, Damien had other concerns. That isn’t to imply he didn’t perform his due diligence for Sinclair. I can attest that he did. Yes, I am still employed by Beta Kappa Phi. As campaign manager, I will be working for all members of the coalition.”
Gloria spoke up. “Can we assume that you will be privy to information from each member of the coalition?”
“Yes.”
“Do the members of the coalition know of your marital status? Something Mr. Sinclair was able to fit into his schedule.”
Her question caught me off guard.
I hadn’t even informed my family of my marital status.
“How is that relevant?” I asked.
“You will have information regarding all the companies within the coalition. I assume you and your husband will share a bed?—”
“Objection,” Damien said. “What you’re insinuating would benefit Sinclair, not be a detriment if it were to occur. However, it will not. My wife is a professional, and as for our wedded status or sleeping arrangements ” —he emphasized the words— “there will be no effect on the coalition in any way other than an added incentive for the campaign to be successful. That would be for all the companies in the coalition.”
I took my seat as Dani banged her gavel. “If this was the smoking gun, Ms. Wilmott…”
“This could reflect poorly on Sinclair if with this new campaign,” Gloria said, “other companies grow uncomfortable with the relationship Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair share?—”
Dani interrupted. “That is not our concern.”
“It is if Sinclair is seen in a less-than-stellar light within the pharmacological community. More than that,” Gloria went on, “I’m concerned with Mr. Damien Sinclair’s lack of communication with the board of directors. As CEO he must answer to the chair.”
“At this moment,” Dani said, “that would be me. Damien has communicated with me each step of the way. If the pharma coalition is concerned about their campaign, that is their business, not that of Sinclair Pharmaceuticals.”
“As long as he is on probation…” Gloria began.
“Take a no-confidence vote,” Darius said, standing and speaking over the growing chatter. He looked around the room. “What shareholders here today were surprised by the low stock revenues the last quarter?”
Heads nodded.
He went on, “Anyone can make up statistics. The real numbers are the ones on our quarterly dividends, and they are obviously down.”
“Down,” Damien said, “because of reappropriating the funds. Revenue isn’t down.”
I took in the expressions of the board members. With each face, I was confident that Damien would survive the vote. I also knew it wouldn’t be unanimous, which in itself would be a ding against him.
“Madam Chairwoman,” I said, once again standing, “I move that a vote be tabled until I, as the Beta Kappa Phi campaign manager, have the chance to discuss the board’s concerns with the other CEOs of the coalition. It seems obvious that the voiced concern isn’t about Damien’s performance for Sinclair.”
“You can’t make a motion,” Darius said.
Standing taller, I repeated what Damien had told me yesterday. “As Damien’s wife, his property is my property. I’m now a shareholder in Sinclair Pharmaceuticals.”
“And that is the issue,” Amber added. “You can’t represent the entire coalition?—”
Dani hit the gavel again. “We are not the coalition. I call for a verbal vote to table the no-confidence vote until we have more information making this discussion relevant to our board.”
“I second,” Lyn Sharp said.
“All of those in favor of tabling the call for a no-confidence vote, say yay.”
Responses came from the board and the room.
“Those opposed.”
Nays came from the room and front table.
Dani sat taller. “With a show of hands. Yays.”
My focus was on the board. Shareholders couldn’t vote. Art Hatfield, Lynwood Sharp, and Dani lifted their hands.
“Those opposed.”
Gloria, Rachel Stokes, and Grace Haas lifted their hands.
Dani nodded. “The decision is made. The vote will be tabled.”
“It was a tie,” Gloria said.
It was Lyn who addressed the concern. “Dr. Sinclair has the voting power of both Derek and Marsha Sinclair. That makes the vote four to three in favor of tabling the vote.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sharp. Is there any other business?” Dani asked.
“The addendum,” Damien said.
Dani nodded. “It was brought to my brother’s attention that there is an old addendum in the company bylaws, a clause that would allow the appointment of a CEO if the candidate were married. In essence, it would remove the remainder of Damien’s probationary period now that he is married, making him a permanent CEO.” She turned to Gloria. “That permanent appointment would demonstrate the strength you are concerned about.”
“We can’t put someone into a position of power with a no-confidence vote hanging over his head,” Gloria replied.
“I’ve never seen this addendum,” Mr. Hatfield said.
“Me either,” Grace Haas added.
Gloria turned to me. “The board would need proof of a marriage.”
Dani sat back and lifted her phone. A moment later, she looked up. “The bylaws including the addendum has just been sent to everyone’s inbox. I motion we adjourn today’s meeting of the Sinclair Pharmaceuticals executive board and plan to reconvene a week from today. During that time, I ask that all board members familiarize themselves with the addendum in question and that Mr. and Mrs. Damien Sinclair contact the pharma coalition and return to our meeting prepared to address the board’s concern.” She turned to Gloria.
“Second,” Gloria said begrudgingly.
Dani hit the gavel. “Meeting adjourned.”
Damien came to my side and reached for my hand and spoke low. “This isn’t over.”
“It should be,” I whispered. “You’re married.”
“We need to make the no-confidence go away.” He tilted his head toward the front of the room, where Gloria, Rachel, Darius, and Amber were conversing. “They’d rather take down Sinclair than let me continue as CEO.”
Dani appeared at our side. “Mom was right to ask you to keep Darius and Amber away from Dad. I don’t know what’s with them, but damn.”
I reached out and rubbed her arm. “Thanks for the two votes.”
Her smile grew. “That was fun.” Her expression sobered. “Damien, you don’t really think they’re a threat, do you?”
“Nice try, sis. We’re going through with the bodyguards.”