She draws in a sharp breath. “That’s not good.”
I nod. “He’s not the only one with an ace up his sleeve, mom,” I tell her with a small smile. “We’re about to find out if the board gives a shit about ethics, or if they care only about pedigree.”
Vincent Strauss rises to his feet, giving my mother a disapproving look as he does so. My mother, who is practiced at ignoring these slights, doesn’t react. Inside me, something hardens. If I prevail today, I’m going to clean house. Cyrus needs to go, and so does half this board. These guys are here because of their connections, not because of their ability. In the last few years, they’ve been more an obstacle than a help as I’ve grown Hartman, but I’ve held off from making any waves because of some misplaced sense of family obligation.
Cyrus did something important when he betrayed me. He made me realize that I’m not required to protect these people. They are going to regret pissing me off.
“Shall we get going?” he asks in his paper-dry voice. “I’d like to open by making a statement.”
Vincent is the Chairman of the Board, and there’s no dissent around the room. He clears his throat. “Daniel Hartman,” he addresses me with a definite tone of disapproval. “This board has kept silent as time and time again, you’ve dragged the good name of this company through the tabloids. But this latest episode,” he emphasizes that word with disfavor, “has cost us an important deal. Cyrus has made me aware that Ryan Communications rejected Hartman’s offer last night. It is my considered opinion that your appearance in the paper yesterday was the direct cause. I’m going to recommend to my colleagues,” he nods at his cronies around the table, “that we seek your resignation, and continue forward under more stable leadership.” His gaze rests on Cyrus.
It’s time to go on the attack. I rise to my feet. “Thank you, Vincent,” I gesture for him to sit, a deliberate and patronizing gesture. I have no desire to be conciliatory, not anymore. I don’t get angry easily, but my blood boils as I survey all of them. “It is customary,” I continue, “to be allowed a chance to defend myself. Let’s start with the picture in the Post, shall we?”
I press a button and the photo of Bailey, Sebastian and I fills the screen that covers one wall of the boardroom. “When I saw the photo, I was furious. Then I realized something that made me even angrier.” I glance around the table, holding each of their eyes in my gaze. “This photo was taken in my home.”
A couple of people sit up at that. Everyone in this room is united in their need for public discretion. But a man’s home is still his castle, and I’m not the only one unwilling to put my personal life under a microscope.
“I didn’t put that camera there, I assure you,” I continue. “And if I didn’t, who did?”
“I don’t see how this matters, Danny,” Cyrus interrupts, his voice tense. “The reality is that the damage has been done. We have to find a way today to move forward.”
“Indeed.” My agreement surprises him. “We do have to move forward, and more importantly, we have to clean house. Hartman has a long and prestigious reputation. Our company does not need to be tabloid fodder, right?”
My mother looks at me with narrowed eyes. She probably thinks I should be highlighting the results that I’ve delivered as CEO, and without Stone’s evidence, that’s exactly what I would have done. However, the documents he’s uncovered for me offer a better way.
“That’s right,” another gray-haired member of the board says, leaning forward. “Am I to understand, Daniel, that this means you are offering us your resignation?”
“Oh no,” I reply, my tone steely. “No, it isn’t my resignation that’s going to be on the table today.” I reach forward and punch in Sophie’s extension. “Sophie, can you ask Juliette Kincaid to come into the boardroom, please?” I take note of Cyrus’ sudden paleness with grim satisfaction.
Let the bloodbath begin.
44
No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time.