“Wait one damn minute,” Curtis interjects, his face turns from brown to red. “I’ve built this company with my own hands. This is my baby.”
“No. You’re sitting next to your baby. Enjoy your retirement,” Axel’s tone is cold, but I’m amused.
Normally, I’d feel bad about someone’s bread and butter being ripped away from them, but they were living reckless and placed themselves in this position.
“Daddy! You can’t let that bitch…”
“Enough!” Curtis silenced her. “Pay attention. This isn’t about Heaven. You’ve taken all of this too far. Wassergot was one of our biggest sponsors.”
“And I’ve talked to a few of your other sponsors who are willing to pull out at my word. Take the deal, you have no control over your child. I’m sure Heaven isn’t the only one. I’m willing to bet I can go interview other employees and will get a similar story. Some people don’t do well with power.”
He’s sweating. I can see the condensation bead his forehead as he pulls out his phone and sends a text. Moments later, an older gentleman enters with his readers in hand. I recognize Clarence from when I worked here. He’s the in house attorney.
The other two idiots are silent as Curtis fills in his attorney. The room is silent as he reviews the paperwork. They whisper amongst themselves then Curtis hangs his head.
Ashley cries as Curtis signs the deal. She glares at me like I’m the devil when the only thing I had to do with it is know Axel.
“You did this!” she shrieks, her tears running down her cheeks as she leans—what I presume—menacingly on the table.
“Did I? Last I checked I was just sitting here with my boyfriend. Do you ever take responsibility for anything you do, Ashley? Your dad just lost his company due to your bullshit. Do you not get that?”
“You did this,” she repeats.
“So you’re saying. I got my ex to cheat on me with you, had you two get married, told you to have a false interview with his new station, and post more lies about me on the online magazine? I didn’t harass you.Youdid this!”
“I’ll get you back, bitch.”
I swear Ashley is a broken record. It’s exhausting.
Beau speaks now that he’s done reviewing the paperwork with Clarence. “Well, it’s official, iFit is now under Mr. Behr’s control. Do you want the other set of paperwork now or later, Mr. Behr?”
Axel’s cool gaze is still fixed on Ashley. “Now, Beau. Now is a very good time. Curtis, you can stay on for up to one year with a CEO’s salary to make sure the handover happens smoothly. I’m not interested in uprooting all of your employees' lives. Ashley and Dre, in case you didn’t notice, you’re fired.” He looks at Dre for a beat. “Damn, fired twice in two days. That’s a record.”
“You sonofabitch. I see your plan, steal a black owned business and erase his legacy.”
Beau hands a paper to Axel but Axel slides it over to me. “No, it’ll still have a black owner, but thanks for trying.”
“What? What’s this?” I ask slowly.
Axel smiles down at me then kisses me on the forehead. “Congratulations, baby. I just bought you a magazine.”
I’m shocked. My heart races because surely I haven’t heard him correctly.
Dre jumps up and rushes to our side of the table. Curtis and Clarence grab him before he makes it to us. Axel raises to his full height, his body tight with anger.
“Let him go. He’ll be unemployedandbeat the fuck up.”
“You slut! You just spread your legs for the higher bidder.”
“Shut the hell up, Dre. You cheated on me. Save your outrage for your wife. Hers is the only leg spreading that should concern you.”
“Get out. Get out now!” Curtis yells then points at Dre and Ashley. “Both of you—out!”
Ashley visibly swallows because I don’t think he’s ever yelled at her. Her eyes well up with tears before she runs out with Dre close behind her.
“Do we have a deal, Curtis? Do you want to take the year for a proper hand over? I’m serious. I have no desire to dismantle it and displace your employees. My team will do an audit, and if your people are legit, they stay. Get your daughter and son-in-law together. No more trouble will come your way if they behave. We’ll announce your retirement and the real terms will stay between us. The lies stop today. If they don’t want me to take what they have left, both will record a public apology for Heaven to post to her page. They wanted to ruin her career so I ruined theirs.”
Curtis nods. “Yeah. I’ll do that. I want to make sure it’ll still thrive.”
