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Chapter Ten
For several weeks I lay low at Natalie's house, eating bad food and considering it a success if I showered.
I knew what I would have to do. If the company covered it up, I would have to go public. I'd have to break my promise and tell the truth, even if it hurt ExploreR. Even if it hurt Rob.
Natalie said he'd been calling her. My parents even said he’d called. They had no idea who he was, of course, the sweet dears had never even heard of his company.
He’d even sent people to scope out Natalie's house, but since I didn't leave the living room, they eventually gave up, especially when Natalie threatened them with garden shears.
I watched television and cried and tried to pretend as if I had a choice about what I should do. I had to do the right thing, but I wanted to put it off.
I was watching the news; admittedly only because I wanted to look at other people's misery to take my mind off my own. Except, it didn't help, because Rob Michaels was giving a press conference.
I stopped crying. I felt angry at his gall. To show his face in public after such a horrible atrocity, to lie, to spin things.
I turned up the television. I wanted to listen to exactly what lies he told so I could refute him.
His speech was short.
“I'm here today for three announcements. The second and third are because of the first. The first announcement is that ExploreR was responsible for the Antwon Lake Disaster. I was responsible for the disaster. I was sensibly informed of the danger, but I ignored it.”
The crowd of reporters erupted. I jumped up from my chair too, knocking over the chips I'd been eating morosely.
“Please save your questions for the end. Our VP of PR will be happy to answer everything. That was the first announcement. The second announcement is that I resign as President of ExploreR, and will willingly sell all of my shares to public trade. The proceeds from the sale will go toward a recovery fund for the people of Antwon. There are also police officers here to arrest me. I will be prosecuted to the furthest extent of the law, and so will anyone under my employ who is also deemed responsible.”
The cameras panned, and there really were police officers standing sheepishly at the side of the stage.
I started hiccupping. “Shut up,” I shouted at my damn chest, “I need to hear this!”
“The third announcement is that the company will no longer be run by any one individual. It is being entrusted to a co-equal board of chief officers and presidents, who will oversee the various parts of the operation. The details of this board's constitution can be found on our website, but its first co-chairs will be Anya Talova and Amelia Salle, two employees who tried to avoid this tragedy and any other wrongdoing by our company. I ignored them both.”
My hiccups were replaced by crying. I couldn't believe this.
He'd given the company to us. He trusted us that much, loved us that much, and loved his mission enough to give everything away to save the ship. It's like a captain who throws himself overboard to save the crew.
It was either a trick of perspective or my deranged, hopeful mind, but it seemed as if he looked right at me through the camera.
“In the interest of full disclosure, I will ask Amelia Salle this question now. Amelia, I'm about to go to prison, and all of my assets will go to the families who suffered because of my mismanagement, but knowing that I'm about to be a broke, convicted felon—will you marry me?”
The crowd was silent. Confused, probably. They had no idea who I was.
Rob waited as if he expected to hear my answer.
I screamed it. I felt ridiculous, but I yelled, “Yes, of course! I love you, Rob Michaels, you idiot!”
He nodded and said, “Write me your answer or come visit me in jail. Whichever you're comfortable with.”
He nodded to the quiet crowd, “I'll be leaving now. Please direct your questions to Ms. Talova.”
He left the stage with the officers. Natalie came running in with her cell phone. She'd been streaming the press conference.
“Want to be my maid of honor?” I hazarded.
