I realize how hungry I am, so I stop on the way home for Chinese takeout. I eat it with a glass of wine while I sample a couple of shows on Netflix before I call Margot.
“Hey kiddo,” she says when I call. “Dumb question, but how are you?”
“You know, focusing on work helps. How are all of you?”
“Stirling is still furious with Damon. I’m pretty livid too, even though I believe Sylvia. He still kissed her. I mean, what the hell, Amanda?”
“I know you need answers, Margot. I have some of them, not all of them. All I can say for now is that Damon’s behavior yesterday is the result of a huge misunderstanding. Like I said before, it’s my fault—again. I’m not sure how I can fix it this time, or if I even want to. Make no mistake, Damon was a huge ass yesterday, and what happened between us is no excuse. Someday, when I’m ready, I’ll share the details. But right now, we need to set it aside. We have more important things to focus on.”
“I know you’re right,” she says. “Speaking of more important things, I talked to Father today. He called right after you texted me, just like you predicted he would.”
“And?”
“In the words of Bette Davis, buckle up, baby sister. It’s going to be a bumpy ride from here on in.”
We both realize that next week’s Board Meeting is going to have huge consequences—that our worst fears about Father’s reaction to our plan are probably going to come true.
* * *
The moodin the board room at the Beverly Hills store is tense on the day of the meeting. Clark is seated next to me on one side, with all of our supporters filling the table on my other side. The handful of naysayers of Margot’s and my plan have gathered themselves near the end of the other side of the table. And as much as I would love to have Margot’s physical presence here, I lobbied twice as hard for her to join by video call from Maui as Father did for her to end her vacation early and attend the meeting in person.
“It’s her meeting, isn’t it? If she called it, she should be here,” he said to me angrily during one phone call. I found a moment of courage and told him the truth.
“Both Margot and I want this meeting, Father. She’ll have the same things to say by video call that she will in person.”
After a pause, I could hear him take a breath to speak, but I forged ahead on a different topic. I’m sure I’ll pay the price for my daring today. We all will.
Margot, then, has already joined the meeting, and her countenance looms in living color on the huge monitor at one end of the table. Father’s seat at the head of the table at the other end near Clark is still empty of course. He finally makes his entrance fifteen minutes after the official start time of the meeting.
After wasting another ten minutes greeting his cronies and blustering about what an inconvenience it all is, he calls the meeting to order in his own rude way.
“It seems my daughters have conspired to bring us together today. So, we’re here—what’s this all about?” Father pins me with a hard gaze. I’ve prepared for this moment and I’m as prepared as I can be.
“Well,” I say in a shaky voice as I flip open the notes I’ve prepared. But Margot interrupts.
“Clark will present some reports we’ve prepared Father. Then we’ll talk about next steps in light of their contents.” I am going to give her the biggest hug when I see her again.
The air is so brittle with frosty disdain as Clark begins to speak that I think the room might simply split right down the middle and we’ll all just fall into a black hole of despair. I’m not far off the mark.
Clark pulls his slide show up on the screen behind Father’s chair, so he’s already annoyed that he has to pivot his chair to look at it. But it doesn’t take long for our intent to begin to clarify. The grumbling and dismissal of our findings starts almost right away, and Father is the loudest. By the fourth slide, he pulls the plug.
“I’ve heard enough, damnit!” he says, pounding his fist on the table. Then he pours every ounce of his anger and vitriol into another glare at me. “I don’t know what you think you’re playing at, but this is my company and—”
“Stop it, Father.” Margot’s voice practically booms over the video call, and her face is like stone. “No one isplayingat anything, at least no more than you’ve been for the past two years—you’ve wreaked havoc on the foundation of this company with your poor choices and fiscal irresponsibility. You’ve brought it to ruin, and what’s worse, you’re taking this family down with you. It’s no secret to anyone who’s paying attention that you’ve had to rent out the family home, and you really can’t afford that house in Palm Springs either. I’m not going to allow you to do that. We’re not going to allow it.”
“This is outrageous!”
“I have something to add, since you were actually looking at me when you asked that question. I have given my all to this company, to this family—toyou—my whole life. I even destroyed the heart of the only man I’ve ever loved to protect him from you! So how dare you question my motives here today. I’m not even worried for myself. I’d have to be pretty stupid not to get my own financial ducks in a row with the way you’ve steered this company straight for the rocks. But as long as I’m still the Manager, and a senior Board Member, this company will die with dignity, do you hear me?”
I’m nearly shrieking by the time I’ve reached the end of my tirade. I’ve surprised myself, and shocked the room into silence.
“Is that so?” Father finally says. “Well, I’m glad all of your finances are in order, because you’ll need something to fall back on—you’re fired!” Exit Father.
The room really does split open for me then. Or maybe it’s just in my head. I think it’s Clark whose hands I feel steadying me and easing me into a chair. My ears are ringing, and people are talking around me, but it sounds like they’re all under water. I hear comments floating around my head likecan he do that?andit’s about time, I never liked the way she ran the store.
First Damon in Kauai, now my Father here in Los Angeles. Maybe I’m a terrible person. And maybe I’m a giant screw-up. It doesn’t matter, because I’m done.Done.
I really don’t know how I got back home that day. I remember Margot unsuccessfully trying to take control of the meeting after Father stormed out. Finally, Clark declared the meeting adjourned. Some of the Board Members walked out with Father, to help him lick his wounds no doubt. Margot said something unintelligible and ended the video call. I think my assistant brings me a glass of water, and Clark is huddled in the corner with the remaining Board Members speaking in hushed tones.
