24. Gabriella
Gabriella
“ W hat is happening?” I asked Johnathon as I slipped into the back of the Sinclair press room. The only warning I’d received was a text message from Damien telling me to hurry.
“Dr. Sinclair is about to address our shareholders and customers.”
My brow furrowed. “Was this planned?”
Johnathon handed me his phone. The Twitter app was pulled up with a video paused.
My eyes widened. “Shit, is that Darius?”
Johnathon nodded. “You can watch it. The filming ends when Sinclair security and IMPD physically remove him from the property.”
My heart sank. “Shit, this is bad. What did he say?”
We were speaking low as Damien and Dani were talking to members of the press and the cameras were being set up. If this was going to be like press releases from when I worked here, the broadcast would simultaneously run on multiple mediums and hopefully be picked up by larger news organizations.
“He rambled,” Johnathon said. “Talked about Mr. Derek Sinclair.”
I sucked my lower lip between my teeth. Marsha had been direct in not wanting personal information leaked. The public already knew more than she wanted them to know.
“His marriage?” I asked.
“I didn’t hear that,” he said. “I haven’t listened to the entire rant.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I stood against the back wall. Finally, Damien looked up, his navy gaze meeting mine. The lines of worry and concern were again around his eyes. His jaw was clenched, and his neck strained.
Timothy Evans rushed into the room from the back door, not slowing until he was up front with Damien and Dani. He appeared to be quite animated in his discussion. I made my way closer.
“…bad idea. This will appear retaliatory,” Timothy said.
“As CEO,” Damien said, “and current chairwoman of the board, it is within our rights to defend ourselves, our family, and our company. Sinclair Pharmaceuticals is more than a company; it’s our legacy, and we won’t allow Darius to burn it down around us.”
Timothy was appealing to both of them. “Refrain from saying anything derogatory about Darius. He’s baited you. He wants you to do something to give him the upper hand.”
Dani nodded. As she turned, she saw me, and a feigned smile came to her face. “Welcome to the shit show.” She lowered her volume. “Bet you’re glad you’re not married into this disastrous family.”
“I’m not. I also know you, Damien, and your parents. The disastrous one is the one who is unraveling as we speak.”
“He’s probably calling a lawyer at this moment.”
“Dr. Sinclair,” a woman behind a camera called. “Please stand behind the podium and let us get the lighting right.”
Dani squeezed my wrist. “Thanks for being here.”
I nodded.
When I turned back to Johnathon, the lunch I’d eaten with Niles churned in my stomach. It wasn’t Damien’s assistant, but the woman next to him that caused my blood to boil. “What is she doing here?” I whispered to Damien.
“Fuck. I don’t know how she knew about this.”
I thought about Timothy’s warning. “It was planned. Timothy was right. They knew this would be your next move.”
Damien hurried from me to Dani. The two whispered back and forth.
“We’re about to begin,” the camerawoman yelled. “Quiet behind me. Places.”
Damien took a step back, standing near Dani’s shoulder.
“Three, two, one.” The woman’s hand went down.
“Let me thank you for watching,” Dani began. “I’m Dr. Danielle Sinclair, one of the scientists here at Sinclair Pharmaceuticals and currently the chairwoman of our executive board. I’m here today with my brother, the CEO of Sinclair Pharmaceuticals, Damien Sinclair.
“The chairman’s position on our board is held by our father, Derek Sinclair. I was asked to be his proxy for the time being. Today as CEO and chairperson, Damien and I would like to address some current issues and rumors. First and foremost, Sinclair Pharmaceuticals is stronger today than ever in our history. Second, and no less important, our father, Derek Sinclair, is recovering from an unexpected medical emergency. We ask for our father and mother that you please respect the privacy of our family during this difficult time.”
“Dr. Sinclair,” the few reporters present called out.
Dani lifted her hand. “Please let me finish. And then we’ll open the floor to questions.”
“The rumors of family strife are exaggerated and not entirely factual. Regardless of the validity of the statements you may have heard, Sinclair Pharmaceuticals is on an upward trajectory due in large part to the leadership of my brother, Damien Sinclair. Under his oversight, we have brought a landmark medication to the public. We are working on ways to make our medications less expensive and more readily available. Propanolol has caused a six-fold increase in profits over this time two years ago. Concerns over dividends do not reflect our income, but rather our commitment to research, development, and education. Damien and our father made the joint decision to lower shareholder dividends to allocate more available funding to the needs I just mentioned.”
She turned and looked at Damien. “Would you like to address the public?”
A smile curled my lips as he stepped forward. All outward appearance of his stress was gone, hidden behind his professional mask. As his large hands gripped the sides of the podium, I was once again enthralled with his commitment to this company and his family.
“I am Damien Sinclair. I’ve been CEO of Sinclair Pharmaceuticals for the last four and a half years. Working side by side with my father and my sister has been my life’s objective. Securing a revolutionary treatment for PTSD exceeded any goals I’d ever imagined. Propanolol has brought our little Indiana company to the forefront in pharmaceuticals. I believe we’ll open the floor to questions.”
“Mr. Sinclair,” a gentleman said, standing. “Is it true you are still only a probationary CEO?”
“I assure you I am CEO. It is also true that our father set a probationary timeline, and I am almost to my goal.”
“What does that mean for Darius Sinclair?”
“It has no bearing.”
Another gentleman stood. “Darius Sinclair claims he has been ostracized by his family.”
“Darius is our brother,” Damien said.
Dani stepped forward. “We love and respect Darius and want him to get the help he needs.”
My gaze turned to Timothy, who let his head fall forward.
“Is Darius ill? Mental health? Substance abuse?”
Dani lifted her hand. “Out of respect for the privacy of our family, we will keep the questions to Sinclair Pharmaceuticals at this time.”
The questions continued for another ten to fifteen minutes. Once in a while, someone would sneak in a question about Darius’s live stream, but through it all, Dani and Damien refused to answer. Nothing was said about a wife or marriage.
“Thank you for coming,” Damien said as the questions slowed. “We’re done.”
I waited as the reporters were led from the room. When I looked back to Johnathon, Amber was no longer beside him. I didn’t know when she’d left. I’d been too busy watching and listening to the Sinclair duet.
Bringing my hands together, I mimicked clapping as Damien and Dani came my direction. “You were both amazing.”
“Now we need to have an emergency executive board meeting and get everyone on the same page,” Dani said.
“Here?” I asked.
“Virtual,” she replied.
“What about Gloria’s place on the board?” I asked, speaking to Damien.
“One fire at a time.”
Timothy came close. “You made me nervous.”
Dani smiled a sweet smile. “I want our brother to get whatever help he needs. Maybe an attorney.”
“It was good,” I said, thinking about her comment. “You insinuated but didn’t specifically say what help he required.”
“If anyone infers that is their issue. I didn’t disparage or defame him.”
We all looked at Timothy.
“I think you pushed the line, but an attorney would be hard-pressed to say you crossed it.”