Cecil clears his throat.He’s smiling way too much, and that tells me that he’s nervous, terrified even.
But, of what?
A hush descends all over the room.It feels like people are barely breathing.My chest feels constricted and I struggle to get air in my lungs.
“Thank you for all coming at such short notice.”Cecil offers a nervous chuckle.“Relax.You all look frightened.”His gaze goes around the room which is now filled with nervous chatter.Cecil glances at Zach.“As of this morning, our company has a new majority shareholder.”
Gasps ripple throughout the room, and I grip my pencil and notebook tighter than is necessary.
Cecil gestures toward Zach like he’s the guest of honor.“Please welcome Mr.Zachary Knight.You might have heard of Knight Enterprises.We’re both thrilled and astonished that such a business is taking an interest in ours.”
My heart slams into my throat.
Zach.A majority shareholder in Stella?
This can’t be happening.He can’t be integrated into the company I work for.Why has he made this move?Something smells fishy.My hands turn clammy as I wring them in despair.I didn’t see this coming.I should have been one step ahead, and instead I’ve been caught off-guard.
I wish I had a job lined up.I wish I was already leaving.I wish I’d handed in my resignation because I can’t be trapped in a company where this man is a majority shareholder.
Zach steps forward with effortless calm and a casual smile.It might fool all the women in this room, but it doesn’t fool me.
“Thank you, Cecil.Good morning, all.”He clasps his hands together, surveying as all slowly, his expression reassuring and kind.
Trust me,he’s saying.
Trust me.I’m a Knight and I will fix everything.
“Announcements like this can feel unsettling, so I want to be very clear.I didn’t join Stella to change what you do.I joined because what you do already matters.Stella has a strong identity which I respect deeply.”
His voice is different from how I remember it from our dinner.Now there’s no softness, but more control.To me he seems more dangerous, more like he knows exactly what he is doing.He’s a businessman, after all, and a Knight at that.He just forced himself into my world, just like his father tried to force himself into my mom’s.
These people are ruthless.
“My goal as a silent partner is to focus on stability and long-term growth.Cecil and the rest of your leadership team remain in full control of daily operations.My only goal is to give Stella the support it needs to stay competitive and continue doing what it does best.I believe in this house and in the people who make it what it is.”
His eyes rest on me again, and my heart jolts in my chest.The more he talks, the more I feel like I’ve just been parachuted into ice cold water.If he’s going to be a silent partner, then why is he standing here?Why is he within walking distance of me?Why is he even in this building?
Katherine turns and looks up at me, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Did you know about this?
She quickly looks away.
Of course I didn’t know about this.Zach Knight didn’t tell me a thing.He made a stealth move—just like his father did.This won’t be good, because Zach will be nice to me, of that I’m sure, and Katherine won’t like it.
I would have preferred being laid off to this.
He watches the room with polite detachment.His hands are loosely clasped, and his body is relaxed in a way that screams Knight power; the understated kind, the kind that doesn’t need theatrics, even though this power move he just made is clearly theatrical.If he wants a reaction out of me, he won’t get one.He glances at me again.Not for long, but still just one second, and it is enough for my chest to twist into a pretzel.
“Mr.Knight will be using one of the executive rooms as a temporary office while he gets a feel for the day-to-day operations of the company.This is an exciting time and the start of an exciting era for all of us here at Stella, and I hope you’ll join me in making Mr.Knight feel warm and welcome.”
People smile.There’s a smattering of excited talk and the air feels loose, like everyone’s worst fears evaporated into thin air.People thought, like I did, that this would be about layoffs, and now that it isn’t, they’re happy.
Unlike me.
My heart sinks slowly to the pit of my stomach.
Zach Knight is going to be in this building, in my space, breathing the same air, and at some point in time our paths will cross.It’s inevitable.
