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His face blanches and he sweeps his arm across the table, sending the papers flying. "These mean nothing! I am the CEO!"
I turn to the Chairman. "I move that Gerald Baxter be permanently removed as CEO and also from the board of directors, effective immediately."
Matthias stands. "I second the motion."
He splutters, slamming his hand on the table. "You can’t… you have to go through the shareholders.
I point to my brothers and my father. "We five hold 50% of the shares. You know what we’re going to vote. Do any of the other shareholders in this room vote aye? We only need 1% more."
All movement in the room stops for a split second. And then one, two, three more board members raise their hands.
"I vote aye."
"Me too."
"Aye vote for me."
Leonard looks around the room, taking stock. And with a shake in his voice, says, "By my count, the motion to remove Gerald Baxter from the board of directors stands, with over 51% of the shareholder’s vote." He bangs his gavel, still in shock. "Mr. Baxter, please leave the boardroom. You are no longer a member of the board of directors of Baxter Enterprises."
The shock is palpable. From him, from the board, and even from us.
“I… am… the… CEO,” he blubbers, sitting back down in his seat.
“Gerald. It’s time to go.”
“I am the CEO!” he shouts again.
Leonard reaches for the phone in the middle of the table. “Security to the boardroom, please,” he says, replacing the handset. “Gerald. You should leave now, before we have you escorted out.”
“I’m leaving over my own dead body!”
I stand, seething that I’m still having to look at his face. “That can be arranged if you don’t get the hell out of my building.”
The sound of my voice triggers something in him and he stands, mouth practically foaming from anger. “You won’t get away with this. I’ll be back.”
“No. I don’t think you will, you poor excuse for a man.” It’s hard not to sneer at him, my nose scrunching up in sheer disgust. “He would be so ashamed of you. I’m glad he’s not here to have to see it.”
He suddenly takes off on what he probably thought was a run but appears more like a waddle, about to lunge for me. Then he changes his mind half-way and lurches toward Clarissa instead.
“Clarissa! Watch out!” someone yells.
She quickly sidesteps his body, and Matthias makes it over to her just in time, slamming his fist into Gerry’s bulbous face, knocking him to the ground. Reaching for Gerry’s collar, Matthias pulls his arm back, his face a picture of dogged resolve.
Clarissa reaches over and touches his shoulder. “Don’t. Don’t waste another ounce of energy on him. Ever again.”
Security pushes through the door, dragging Gerry out, spluttering and bleeding from the nose as he’s removed.
For good.
The boardroom door closes, shutting out the commotion and slowly, everyone takes their seats.
Leonard shakes his head, as if trying to reset his brain, filing away what just happened for a later time, and then addresses the room
“Right. Well. You’d think that was enough excitement for the day, but believe it or not, we’re only now coming to our actual order of business. Voting for our new CEO.”
I stand up.
And walk out of the room.
