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"We said that we weren't going to start the meeting until you were here. If they want to talk about you, then it's only fair that you're here," Kingsley explains.
Keeping one hand still gripping Clarissa's, I reach for Kylian, and give him a one-armed hug. He looks more worried than the other two put together. Sometimes he still really is our baby brother.
"Well, I'm here now. So, let's go do this."
I step into the conference room first, with my brothers following close behind. We take our seats while everyone watches us with what can only be described as morbid curiosity.
When we sit, the vice-chair, Leonard Applebaum waves his hand for silence. He was the second longest serving board members, before Terry resigned. Now he's the one who's been here the longest. An ally to my grandfather when he was alive, he neither likes nor dislikes us.
"Gentlemen. To expedite proceedings, while we were waiting for you, the board voted for me as interim chairman. Until we can put the chairperson position to a proper vote, I will be in charge of running today's meeting."
The four of us glance at each other. This is probably the best outcome, for now. Kingsley gives Leonard a nod, signaling that we will not oppose it.
Leonard, seated at the end of the conference table, stands. "This meeting has been called due to extraordinary circumstances. One is the recent resignation of Terry Masters. And the other, being the conduct of our director of the America region of Baxter Enterprises. Some of our members have argued that recent events have clearly violated the morality clause of Matthias's contract. It has been raised that Matthias be suspended from his position until a general shareholders' meeting is held. I'd now like to invite statements from members of the board."
For the next hour, I sit and listen as people I've sat with on this board for over ten years, debate my character, my work, my intentions, my failings.
I hear things that aren't real, that are merely perceived, that are plain lies. I listen while others speak with tears in their eyes about my contributions to the company and the city of New York.
Through it all, I look each person in the eyes as they're speaking. I don't interrupt them to argue, and I don't take notes. I'll remember every last word that is said in this meeting and how I'll conduct my relationship with each person when it's all done.
When it's my brothers' turn to speak, they talk about the person I am.
They talk about what was always most important to my grandfather when he left this company in our hands. They talk about why I was born to do this. And they talk about the detriment to the company and its standing in the region if I'm removed.
And when Damien seems like he's almost done, he pauses, taking a second to look around the table.
"My brother, Matthias, does something that most of you sitting at this table have not. He puts the company first, over and over and over again." Without taking his eyes off our uncle, he continues, "Putting the company first doesn't always look like what you think it is. Sometimes it's being quiet when you want to speak up and vice versa. Sometimes it's about knowing the long-term gain is more important that short-term satisfaction. Sometimes, it's about doing something you would never do, but to appease you, the board, and the public, it gets done. And that's what Matthias has done time and again. If you're prepared to have the most popular member of the Baxter family stand down from representing Baxter Enterprises, then I hope you're ready to accept responsibility for the consequences." He sits down, breathing hard, and stares down at his hands.
Gerry pushes to his feet. "It's my turn."
My three brothers look at me, offering their support.
When we all turn to look at our uncle, it's with nothing but contempt for him in our heart.
"You say that Matthias has always done what is best for the company, so is having one personal scandal after scandal after scandal doing what's best for the company? Is having his name splashed all over the tabloids about his womanizing doing what's best for the company? Is organizing a press conference just so he can chase after his little girlfriend, the same woman he just admitted to using for his own agenda to deceive the public, doing what's best for the company? He's an embarrassment to the company and the sooner we remove his name from our company's the better!"
"That's enough!" Kylian jumps to his feet, eyes wild. "You don't know what you're talking about!"
I stand up next to him, pulling on his arm urging him to sit in the chair. "It's okay, man. I've got this," I whisper to him. When he sits, I compose myself and face Leonard. "If Gerry is done, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to speak now."
Leonard glances at Gerry, nods and who sits down, still glaring at me.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the board. Thank you for everything you've said today. For the most part, everything that I've heard was spoken with the express intention of wanting the best for Baxter Enterprises. And what I've realized is nothing that's been said today is convincing anyone of thinking differently. So, to not waste any more of the board's time, I think we should move to the vote. But before I step out of the room, I would like to use my time to share something with you."
I pull my phone out and press a button on a recording.
Patrick's voice fills the room.
Explaining all the plans that Gerry had confided to him about ways he intended on sabotaging my brothers and me, about replacing members of the board who he deemed against him, about schemes he was working on to manipulate the directors.
For ten minutes, everyone listens in complete horror. Even Gerry sits glued to his seat, unable to move.
Once the recording goes quiet, I pick up my phone, and silently step out of the room and close the door shut behind me.
Heart pounding in my chest, I reach for Clarissa, who runs to me, and wraps her arms around me.
"How did it go?" she whispers against my neck.
