“Yes. This is going to get ugly, Gabe. Are you ready for it?”
He adjusted his cufflink. “I’ve been ready. Let’s just hope Victoria can stomach the carnage.”
The elevator opened, and he walked off. “Welcome to my world, Victoria.”
Olivia followed, and the doors started closing. I stopped them just in time, holding my spine straight and proud as my heels clicked on the floor while I wondered what kind of carnage he was talking about. I suspected I was about to see the side of Gabe that he had shielded me from, and I wasn’t sure I would like it.
The board had already taken seats around the large conference table when we entered. A startling picture of white men who looked old enough to be my grandfather. There was no diversity whatsoever.
I took my place next to Olivia, noticing we were the only ones from the top floor who were there.
“Gentlemen.”
“This is highly inappropriate, William. Where is your father? He called the meeting, not you.”
They didn’t know about the transition. He hadn’t announced it yet. For a private company, that wasn’t unusual, but Icinda was large enough for it to matter.
Gabe remained standing, and I noted the changes from when we’d been younger. The tension he held in his jaw, the matured features of his face, the tiny lines at the corner of his eyes. But mostly I noticed the confidence. He’d always had it, but this was more pronounced. A don’t mess with me or I’ll ruin your life kind of look. He was a threat in a suit, all muscle and power that emanated from him.
“My father is no longer CEO and no longer the owner of the company.”
A murmur went around the table.
“As full owner of Icinda Holdings, I have appointed myself CEO and no longer have need for your oversight.”
The murmur grew.
“This is ridiculous. Where is William?”
Gabe slammed his hand on the table, and the room went silent.
“Olivia.”
She rose and handed everyone a packet.
“This is the official announcement that Luna Holdings now owns Icinda.” I tried not to show my reaction to the name. “Icinda will be folded under the umbrella of my corporate holdings, and restructuring will begin this week. That starts with you.”
Dead silence and wide eyes.
“You can’t fire us. The CEO does not have that power,” a man who looked about seventy with thick white hair and dull green eyes said.
“True, as CEO I don’t have that power, but as this board has always been more decorative than useful and seeing that I am the majority shareholder in both Luna and Icinda, I do. Terry, you can stay. The rest of you can leave. I’ll have my attorney contact you about compensation for the private shares my father rewarded you for doing such a pitiful job.”
The room erupted, and I tried not to react. Gabe held his ground as the door opened and two men dressed in black suits with earpieces walked into the room.
“Please escort these gentlemen out of the building.”
Gabe stood, arms crossed, his glare not faltering as the men left in a huff. I squeezed my hands in my lap, trying not to show any reaction.
“Well played,” the remaining man, Terry, said, sitting back in his seat.
“I don’t play,” Gabe said, rolling his neck. “No longer is this board a decorative title given to my father’s loyalists. There’s too much at stake. Olivia will work with you to find replacements. I’m cutting the board down to seven members. I have hand-picked two, and I expect you to fill the remaining seats with diverse members. I will only consider those vetted through Olivia.”
Arms unfolding, he continued, “I’ve brought Victoria Hent on board to fill my former position. With her track record at Bradman, she’ll have the financials for Icinda back on track.”
“After you let them unravel?” Terry dared. His observant green eyes held Gabe’s.
The corner of Gabe’s mouth twitched. “That’s why I kept you on the board, Terry. You’re not afraid to speak up. And no, I didn’t unravel my father’s business.” He glanced at Olivia. “Well, maybe I had a hand in that, but my father’s failure is due to his greed and arrogance. Think what you’d like to think, but make sure you understand the success of the company is the only priority from now on, not title dropping and ego smoothing. Good day, Terry, I’ll leave you in Olivia’s hands.”
