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“It solidifies your place as CEO, head of the company,” Giordano admitted.
Massimo’s brows knocked together. There was a real look of confusion on his face. Giuseppe cracked a smile and sat back further in his seat, waiting for the fireworks to start. He was sure there would be fireworks.
“Hold on a minute,” Massimo said, lifting his frame from the table and then placing both of his hands on the back of the chair he’d just abandoned. “You’re telling me that I will not naturally ascend to be the leader of the company.” It was a rhetorical thought, one that he’d uttered aloud.
Giordano had wanted a different opportunity to explain this part of the agreement to his son, but it wasn’t a part of the contract. It was his own family’s contract. He wanted a different opportunity to explain it to his son, but his wife forced the issue.
“Massimo, son,” Giordano started, but he was interrupted.
“So, even though I’m the eldest child, the eldest son, even though I’m the natural ascender to lead the company, there’s a stipulation? Or is that just the first stipulation? Are there more, Mom, Dad?” The breach was important, but this, by far, was more important. It was the most important conversation they would ever have.
“If you just let me explain,” Giordano persisted.
“Explain it to him, honey. It’s about time, he knows. It’s about time they both are made aware.”
Romina brought Isotta into the conversation she’d previously not been invited into. This time, she felt justified in looking at them, even though her eyes occasionally fell back to her plate. That’s where it was safest to look.
“I wanted to have an opportunity to explain this to you when the time was right,” Giordano explained. “However, since your mother has forced the issue, I guess there is no time like the present.”
Giordano adjusted himself in his seat and cleared his throat. “We have a clause in our company’s contract that says that there must be an heir in order for our son, any of our sons, to take over as CEO.”
“Why?” Massimo insisted. “Why is that? I would be the one naturally running the company as the first in line. More than that, which of your other sons has the capacity to run the company effectively? Giuseppe is into tech, not leadership. And your other son, Aurelio, is off in school somewhere doing whatever the hell he is doing. Who else would you turn the company over to if not me?”
“The plan is to leave the company to you, son, but there are contingencies, insurance if you will.”
Isotta was miffed by what she was hearing. It seemed so unbelievable, yet they all spoke as if it was a foregone conclusion.
“So, let me get this straight,” Massimo replied smilingly. But his smile didn’t reach his dark eyes. It didn’t infiltrate his disposition or his voice. His smile only reinforced how pissed he was, and Isotta understood why.
“Not only do I have to be the oldest, not only did I have to marry as part of a contractual agreement. Oh, by the way, son, there’s the second portion of a separate contract that says that I have to have a child before I can be CEO,” Massimo seethed. “Now, let me make sure before I get all the way pissed off that I understand the parameters of this contractual agreement. Does my heir have to be a son? Do I have to ensure that I have a boy child in order to be CEO and run the family company?”
“That would be preferable,” Romina replied. She still smiled. She still wore a smile that didn’t take into account her son’s duress. Romina didn’t seem to care.
“Preferable,” Massimo repeated. “So, what happens if we have a child, and it’s a girl? Would I be the provisional CEO?”
“Why is it so important?” Giuseppe observed. “You’re rich anyway. What difference does it make if you’re the boss?”
“Because,” Massimo snapped. “Because it’s my birthright!”
His voice rang out. Still, his mother was unmoved.
“It’s your birthright, with contingencies,” she replied.
“We need to make sure that you have someone to groom into leadership for the perpetuity of family in the CEO position,” Giordano explained.
“And if it's a girl? If we have a girl?”
“Then you’ll try again,” Romina answered.
“Just a minute, honey,” Giordano replied. He placed his hand on hers, silencing her. She didn’t object. Romina had learned that in her place as his wife. Most of what she’d said had been said to Giordano during private moments. But she knew if she didn’t push her husband to bring it up, he would have waited too late. Romina wouldn’t tolerate that. Massimo needed to know the whole truth. Now was as good of a time as any, and Romina knew she needed to force her husband’s hand. She had done what she set out to do. She could afford to sit quietly.
“If you had a girl, that would be a blessing,” Giordano started. “But as you know, a daughter would marry. That would mean her husband would be the natural replacement.”
“Even over your own son?” Massimo screamed.
Giuseppe sat up a little higher in his chair.
“Or, it would mean that your other brothers, if they married and had a son, would inherit the leadership position.” Giordano could see Massimo's anger and frustration.
