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“We don’t enjoy these visits, Christian,” she said plainly.
David grumbled something while Adrian toyed with his phone.
“Then we actually have something in common,” I said.
She met my eyes and let out another one of those sighs she loved so much. Trisha produced a folder from her briefcase and made a show of flipping through its contents, occasionally looking up at me over the pages. “Projections show we’re likely to be down between one and two percent this quarter. That’s after a loss of two percent the previous quarter.”
“I’m aware,” I said. Trisha might have been my last ally, but she was also only in my corner so long as she believed I was the best option for the company.
She set the papers down, leaning forward. “I’m going to cut to the chase because I like you, Christian.”
She definitely did not.
“We all greatly respect the work you and your brothers did to get Stone Financial Corporation to where it is today. But it's our responsibility to protect the legacy and continued growth of the company. That’s why we were forced to remove your brothers last year. I hope you understand the position you put us in.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Actually, I don’t. Please enlighten me.” My lack of sleep wasn’t helping my fucking temper. I wanted to tear her stupid folder in half and flip the table. This was my company. My baby. I’d built it from the ground up with my brothers. These goddamn pencil pushers thought they could come in here and threaten me? I wanted to hear her say it plainly, if she had the balls.
Trisha flashed a tight smile. “The numbers alone are concerning enough, Christian. But rumors are spreading here and among the other branches. People are saying you’ve withdrawn–that you aren’t even leaving the tower anymore. There are even rumors that you can’t keep an executive assistant employed for more than a few weeks. After what happened with your brothers, I imagine you can see how this looks.”
“It looks like I’m working hard to keep the company moving forward.” My words came out tight and strained through clenched teeth.
“You call a two percent loss moving forward?” David asked with a sneer. He had a few gray hairs hanging on for dear life atop his shiny head and jowls that wobbled with every word. But I despised the man most because he seemed to exist solely to make snide, obnoxious comments that made me want to throttle him.
I pointed to the papers on the table. “You talk about losses this quarter and last. But you’re conveniently ignoring the five percent and eight percent growth we saw the previous two quarters. We expanded to Fairhope and have been relocating employees. Of course we haven’t had as much growth the past two quarters.”
“Excuses,” David scoffed under his breath.
“I’ll be as clear as I can, Christian.” Trisha’s smile was probably supposed to be comforting, but it looked unnatural and unpracticed on her face. “You are dangling by a thread. We can replace you, and frankly, we plan to. One foot out of line. One small fuckup. Even a ding to your reputation. All we need is an excuse, and I’m sure you’ll give it to us before long. You may not be as much of a mess as your brothers, but we can all see you’re already unraveling.”
I clenched my jaw, waiting for more. I’d been on the edge for months now, but hearing Trisha’s threat set a cold ball of ice in my stomach. I refused to lose my company. I fucking refused. “Then I suggest you get the hell out of my building. If you’re hoping for me to make a mistake, you should leave me to it.”
Trisha put her folder back in her briefcase and stood, brushing imaginary lint from her blouse. “I wish I could say it was a pleasure.”
I watched them go, imagining the only thing Trisha would consider pleasurable might include puppy stomping or iron rods shoved up her tight, stuck-up ass.
Adrian lingered behind, waiting until Trisha and David had left.
“What do you want?” I asked.
He smirked. “I can get Trisha off your back, if you like.”
“You want me gone as much as the rest of them,” I snapped. “Don’t play games with me.”
His smirk widened. “But games can be so fun. Think about it, Christian. All I’d ask in return is a small favor. My offer stands, but you need to act before the board has you removed, or even I won’t be able to help you.”
“I don’t need or want your help. Get out of my fucking office.”
Adrian shrugged as if he hardly cared. “Think on it.” A few seconds later, he was gone and I was alone again. It felt like I could finally breathe.
I sighed. A few years ago, I would’ve called a meeting with my brothers to talk about what I’d just heard. I would tell Hector to keep an eye on Trisha and do some digging. He’d probably come back in a few weeks with confirmation that she was gunning for my position, or that she was bought and paid for by someone who was–probably Adrian, if he was so convinced he could call her off. Then I’d have asked Lance to get dirt on each of the board members that we could use if shit hit the fan. And I’d be able to go back to do what I did best–make the company run like a well-oiled machine.
