For a moment, all Tommy could do was breathe. Relief washed over him in a dizzying rush, leaving his legs weak.
“Excellent.” He exhaled, rubbing his wrist where the cuff had been. “We need to get back to Brooklyn. You may have just unintentionally put Evie in danger.”
Chapter Five: Downfall
When Evie arrived at Sloane Tech with the FBI, Rupert was already waiting in the lobby. She explained what she knew as they rode the elevator to the executive floor, and he assured her he had called an emergency board meeting. Everyone, he said, was on their way.
While the agents set up recording and tracing equipment in Tommy’s office, Evie told Rupert she believed her father was behind it and why. His expression hardened as the color rose in his cheeks.
“I’m afraid there’s more to it than just Thomas paying for your education or disagreeing with your father about the company’s direction.” Rupert ran a hand through his neatly combed white hair and exhaled, shaking his head as both agents looked up and moved closer. “We forced him to take his retirement at an investors’ meeting in September.”
“Forced him?” Agent Smithback asked. “Why would you do that?”
“He’d become increasingly antagonistic and volatile. In our September board meeting, he lost his temper with our Chief Financial Officer and threw a glass across the room.” Rupert paused, his voice dropping. “We held an emergency meeting afterward. The majority wanted to terminate him immediately, but Thomas suggested we offer him the chance to retire amicably instead. He had enough vacation and sick leave to see him paid through December, without having to come into the office. He tried to refuse, but when we explained the alternativewas termination, he accepted the package. He refused to use his leave, and Thomas decided it wasn’t worth a fight.”
Evie groaned and pressed her palms over her face as she sank into a chair at the conference table. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Rupert rested a comforting hand on her shoulder, his expression full of regret. “Oscar asked that Thomas not tell you or Della. He wanted to share it himself when he was ready.”
“Or he was already planning to get rid of Mr. Sloane and thought he’d step back into the CEO role,” Agent Harker said quietly.
“That was my thought as well,” Rupert admitted with a weary nod. “Unfortunately for Oscar, when Thomas became CEO three years ago, the first thing he did was draft a succession plan that didn’t include him.”
Evie swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing as Rupert guided her toward the head of the table. The room was already beginning to fill. Executives and department heads trickled in, murmuring to one another as they took their seats. Their curious glances shifted between her and the two FBI agents in their dark suits. She’d met every one of them the year before, when Tommy announced her as his successor, and nodded at them politely.
The last chair scraped back just as the door burst open. Her father strode in, blustering as always, his presence filling the room like a storm breaking.
“What’s going on? Why wasn’t I told there was a meeting? Evie? What are you doing here?” Oscar demanded, scanning the room. His gaze caught on the two agents by Tommy’s desk, and for a fleeting moment, Evie thought she saw something almost like fear in his eyes.
Rupert rose from his seat and gestured to an empty chair at the far end of the table. “We didn’t inform you because you’re not needed. But since you’re here, have a seat.” His voice was calm, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable.
Oscar hesitated, his frown deepening. For a moment, it looked like he might argue, but then he dropped into the chair with a huff, crossing his arms like a sulking child.
Rupert cleared his throat and surveyed the table. “I regret to inform you that this afternoon, while Thomas and Evelyn were visiting his parents’ vault to pay their respects, they were approached by a man who kidnapped Thomas. Evelyn was left unharmed and was able to reach the police immediately. The FBI was called in and is now leading the investigation.”
A heavy silence fell. The hum of the agents’ low voices was the only sound in the room. Rupert nodded toward them. “Agents Harker and Smithback are coordinating the search from here. We’ll assist in any way we can. To that end, I move that, should a ransom demand come through, the board authorize immediate payment of the required funds.”
“Seconded,” said Hattie Fairbanks, the Chief Financial Officer.
“All in favor?” Rupert asked.
Hands rose around the table almost in unison. Only Oscar’s stayed down—until he realized every eye in the room was on him. Scowling, he lifted his hand with a reluctant flick, earning himself a few withering looks from the others.
Rupert announced that the motion had passed, then rested a steady hand on Evie’s shoulder. “Until Thomas is found, we must follow his contingency plan. Effective immediately, Evelyn Stanley is Acting CEO of Sloane Technologies.”
A ripple of murmurs spread through the room, quickly silenced by the screech of a chair sliding backward.
Oscar shoved his seat away so violently it struck the wall behind him with a sharp crack, leaving a dent. “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN EVIE IS ACTING CEO?” he roared. “SHE’S A KID! SHE HAS NO IDEA HOW TO RUN A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!”
He slammed his fist on the table. Flecks of spittle sprayed across the polished surface. “I SHOULD BE IN CHARGE! I’M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER!” His face was crimson, his breathing ragged and a vein was pulsing dangerously in his forehead.
Evie froze. She knew this was part of the plan, but that didn’t stop the flush of embarrassment and anxiety that rose in her chest. Every eye in the room was on her, and she wanted to disappear into the chair.
“Mr. Stanley, get a hold of yourself,” Rupert said sharply. The disgust in his tone was unmistakable. “Evelyn will follow Thomas’s contingency plan, and the board will support her. This arrangement is temporary until Thomas returns, or, heaven forbid, is found deceased.” He released her shoulder and crossed his arms. “And let me remind you: as of January first, your employment with Sloane Technologies ends. Whatever happens here today, that does not change.”
Oscar’s eyes blazed. He grabbed his chair and hurled it across the room with a wordless roar. The crash made several people jump. Evie shrank back instinctively, heart hammering. She had seen her father angry before, but never like this.
He turned on her, jabbing a trembling finger in her direction. “YOU AND TOMMY PLANNED THIS! YOU’RE PART OF HIS PLAN TO FORCE ME OUT! WELL, IT WON’T WORK!”
