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Finn’s eyes scan over the assembled people. He looks in control on the outside, but it’s a facade. Everyone can feel it. He stands in silence because he doesn’t know what to say.
“I’m late for my meeting,” Daniel snaps. “I don’t know who the hell you people are. My son is supposed to be here.Phineas. Where the hell is he?What did you people do with him?”
There’s a second of pin-drop silence, and then everyone in the room is talking at once.
“—long has this been going on? I think we’re owed an explanation for—”
“—know about this? The shareholders—”
Finn ignores the barrage of questions. He takes a few steps back from his father and strides toward him, as if he’s just stepping out of the crowd.
“Mr. Hughes.” He puts up a hand, and Daniel looks back, panic in his eyes. “Your son is just outside. Come with me. I’ll take you to him.”
“He was just with me.” Daniel’s voice shakes now. “I turned around for a second, and—”
“It’s all right. He’s just outside, safe and sound.” He puts an arm around his father and ushers him toward the exit, as if it’s perfectly normal for him to talk about himself in the third person.
“Are we going to get an explanation?” one guy asks.
Finn turns his head, keeping his father facing away from the pissed-off party guests. “His medical issues are none of your business.” His voice is clipped. “Any other questions?”
“Who’s been running the company?”
“Who the hell do you think?” Finn barks. He closes his eyes, struggling for composure. “He’s been the CEO, but I’ve been acting CEO for years. For fuckingyears.”
That’s not the same as being CEO. Daniel’s name has been on emails. His signature was on some of the paperwork for the Summit merger. The acquisition. Themistake.
Unless it wasn’t really his signature. Or was it?
“The shareholders deserve to know,” someone says.
There’s a grumbling agreement in the room. That’s not really what they mean, though.Wedeserve to know. That’s the problem with secrets. People don’t mind them. They just mind not being in on them.
“Fraud,” someone calls from the back.
Fuck.This is turning into a coup, except what can people really do? These men have a majority stake in the company. Their name is on the goddamn building. This isn’t France in the 1800s. Unless everyone is planning on burning down the skyscraper, they still work for this man.
Part of me is angry. Finn lied. He made a big scene about being honest, and he lied.
And part of me sees an opportunity.
“What’s the nature of your father’s condition? This could have major implications for—”
“No.” Finn’s tone is so sharp that the room goes silent again. “Not right now. Let him have ascrapof dignity, would you? Jesus. This man signed your paychecks for years. In some cases, decades. Henderson, he put your kids through Yale. Worth, he paid for that ski lodge. Grange, what happened when your brother ended up behind enemy lines? The government turned its back on him until my father made the call to Senator Micheals. And this is how you repay him? With the fucking inquisition?” Finn gathers himself. “Come on, Mr. Hughes. Let’s go to your son.”
They leave behind a stunned silence. Some people look chagrined, but there’s still doubt in the room. Still anger that they may have been duped. Murmurs rise again.
The rumors about the party itself were nothing compared to the speculation flying now. Greg pushes through the crowd and stands next to me, shaking his head.
“Did you know?” I ask him.
“I hadnoidea. Nobody did. The whole board is—look.” He points. A group of board members has gathered in a tight circle. One of them is whisper-shouting. “They kept it secret.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket.
Christa: What the hell happened at that party? Finn’s dad isn’t well?
Will: He looked strange. Like he didn’t know where he was.
