Gracelyn Kim.
Matthew Holloway.
My stomach tightens. The composition of this lineup isn’t helpful. But I’m the only one who isalmostan internal candidate.
Ronald continues. “As outlined under Article Seven of the Governance Charter, this election will proceed through weighted shareholder voting. Each voting member’s ballot will be weighted according to their eligible voting shares.”
A few heads nod.
Everyone already knows this. Still, procedure matters, I guess.
“Additionally,” Ronald says, glancing briefly toward me, “under conflict-of-interest provisions established by the board following the 1991 governance reforms, any shareholder actively standing as a candidate shall have their voting shares suspended for the duration of this election.”
The statement hangs heavily in the room. Everyone knows what it means.
My 4.6% shares. Gone. The 27.8% I got handed.Gone.
Not counted.
Not mine to use.
For this vote, I might as well own nothing.
Ronald doesn’t miss a beat. “Therefore, Mr. Levi Astor’s shares will not participate in today’s tally.”
A murmur travels through the room before quickly fading.
I glance toward Taewon, his expression unreadable. For once, he isn’t smirking. He’s taking this just as seriously as I am. He has to.
The irony isn’t lost on me.
A year ago, I would’ve walked into this room assuming victory. I would’ve chalked this up as mere formality.
Now I know better.
We have nine locked votes. Or at least that’s what wethinkwe have.
Nine people Taewon and I had spoken to personally. Who had assured me they were on board. Who’d looked me in the eye and promised support today.
But Astor Holdings has been rotting for decades. And rot doesn’t disappear because people make promises. It has the potential to survive in uncertainty.
In fear.
In self-interest.
In last-minute changes.
So while Ronald moves through procedural disclosures, my mind drifts briefly to the conversations that brought us here.
Benjamin Huxley reassuring me over a late-night call.
Christa Jennings making me work for every ounce of her support. Even her posse, according to her, will support me.
Daniel Penner forcing me to justify every risk assessment; his demeanor is that of an interim Co-President that he is.
The Gauthier couple and Monica Chaturvedisounded exhausted but determined despite their doubts.
Each one is capable of swinging the result. Of changing their mind.
