AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So am I to understand you do not believe I’m going to be able to deliver what I promised? Because, that’s exactly what it sounds like.”
The attendees remained silent for a moment before shifting in their seats and clearing their throats in near unison once more, all indicators they doubted me.
I didn’t come from a wealthy family.
I built my billion-dollar business from nothing. But, I did come from a family where a man’s word is all he has. And now, unbelievably, these people for whom I’d made untold billions of dollars over the years questioned my promise to them.
Don knew good and well how that sort of innuendo would sit with me. In the past, I might have even considered letting it go, but after everything I’d been through not only with work but with Fiona in recent weeks, I’d reached my level of tolerance for bullshit.
“I’ve got something to say to all of you, and once I have, I think it’s safe to say that the meeting will be adjourned.” I stood there, without moving, barely breathing for a couple of moments. When I’d decided on what I wanted to tell them, I spoke once more. “I believe that I’ve always performed over the years, and frankly, I’m incredibly fucking insulted at the innuendo coming from all of you.”
As soon as I uttered those words, I noticed Don lean forward over the conference table and drop his forehead into his hand.
However, at this point, I simply didn’t care.
“So, as of now, I am withdrawing my offer to you. You’ve made it more than clear you don’t believe in what we’re doing, and that’s not the kind of investment partners I’m interested in.”
Without another word and without giving any of them a chance to respond, I disconnected the conference call.
Don shot to his feet, “Jesus Christ, Gabe! What the hell was that? Now what are we going to do?”
I waved him off. Disgusted beyond belief at the lack of faith shown by the investors, I said, “They can all go fuck themselves. I don’t want to talk about this right now, Don. We’ll discuss it later. Take your team and get out.”
Flabbergasted, Don motioned for all of them to gather up their things and go. In less than a minute they’d filed out of the conference room, all of them that is, except for Don. He stood in the doorway and turned towards me.
“What’s gotten into you, Gabe? This isn’t like you.”
I shook my head as I looked at him.
“Not right now, Don. As I said, we can talk about this later.”
Don walked through the doorway of the conference room and closed the door behind him. Now left alone with my thoughts, I realized how stupid I’d been to let my temper get the best of me.
At the same time, I wasn’t about to sit there and be insulted.
For a moment, I even considered getting on the phone and calling each of them myself to extend an apology. But the more I considered it, the more I realized it would just come right back to the same issue…
When will the Link Protocol be ready?
There was only one person in control of that outcome… and it wasn’t me.
FIONA
We were as close as we’d ever been to a breakthrough.
With the help of Amanda and Melissa’s replacements, the lab team pulled together as never before, and after several final confirmation tests, I’d gotten the answer I’d wanted.
“Are you sure this is correct?” I asked as I brandished the test results in front of my team. “If I take this to Gabe, he’s going to run with it. This is right, isn’t it?”
After a series of collective head nods from the assembled group, I tucked the paperwork underneath my arm and made my way out of the lab to give Gabe the good news. After exiting the elevator on his floor, I walked towards Holly’s desk.
“Is he available right now?” I asked, as I looked at her.
“It’s… really not a good time, Fiona. He just got off a terrible conference call with the investors.”
As she finished speaking, a hollow pang hit my stomach. Was I too late? Was everything in ruins now with the investors? For Gabe to be this upset about something… Well, it had to be bad.
As I stood there thinking it over, Holly spoke once more.
“Let me try him.”
I nodded, and a few moments later, Gabe picked up the phone.
Holly placed her hand over the mouthpiece and looked up at me from behind her desk.
“Is it urgent?”
“Yes, it is. Absolutely.”
After conveying my statement, Holly placed the phone back down in its cradle and gestured with her head in the direction of his office.
“Go ahead.”
I smiled and hurried past her desk, opening Gabe’s door with a flourish. As I entered, the first thing I noticed was his posture. In a semi-slumped position, Gabe sat in his executive chair, mindlessly tapping a pen on the top of his desk. Closing the door behind me, I frowned as I looked at him. With the results still under my arm, I walked towards him.
