Gracey was right, the auditorium is standing room only and all the chatter dies down as soon as I take a step out of the curtained sides. And I take my time as I strut across the stage to look at as many people as I can, meeting their eyes with my own, connecting with them.
Allan and Douglas have seats next to the lectern. It was most certainly a conscious decision to place those chairs in front of the photos and floral wreaths of our dead and dying board members. Public acknowledgement is important but the way the photos of our founding Board members makes it blatantly clear they are not the reason we’re all here.
The three bunches of Delonix Regia do a good job of distracting people from dead and dying assholes too.
Both Allan and Douglas stand and join in the applause that sounds like torrential rainfall, as it echoes and bounces through the room. But rain is a symbol of new growth and today I soak in that energy before raising my hand, bringing it to a close.
Once I’ve spoken, Allan will swap with me to deliver his own speech. We’ve worked over the words and sentiment and mostly we mirror each other, though there’s small but important points of differences too. Allan’s most noticeable difference is sure to cause as much scandal as the proclamation of support by The Phoenix Group. He’s officially resigning from all corporate duties to venture back to his laboratory to focus on his passion which is science.
I look down and blow out a long exhale before turning slightly, my eyes flying to Darius, then to Ram and Kai cleverly concealed within my security team. I smile at Allan before doing the same at Douglas. The order makes a lot of sense to me though in honesty I could look at those five people, and think of Tris, Sim, Raney, and Margot, in any order and it would be representative of their importance to me.
Darius takes an unscripted step out of formation, handing an unopened bottle of water over, making a huge fuck off statement at the same time. But it is what it is, and we are what we are.
He stays near me too, drowning me in a cloud of his sweetened support.
Casting my gaze from the first row to the back, and also looking directly at the cameras beaming my face into our other staff rooms, I smile. I hold the room with nothing but a smile too. I’m done dancing to expectation and will do this how I see fit.
And then I start, consciously keeping my voice ringing in clarity, but soft too.
“Thank you for being here.
“I know the past few months have been some of our most challenging times, but if any company could withstand, and prosper in the face of adversity, it is Verdune.
“And there is a reason Allan and I chose to speak with you before we spoke to our Shareholders. Because my father and I gauge our success not on increased returns, or record breaking profits, but on our people.
“Yes, we push you hard in our expectations that you do better in what you do, every day. Striving for growth serves us but it serves you too because our biggest asset is you. And that will not change. Irrespective of what our future holds, you have to know that you have played, and continue to play, a pivotal and vital role in ensuring Verdune is the industry leader.
“And we are.
“Our facilities are constantly upgraded, our machinery and equipment is replaced, the systems we use are adapted because we listen. You tell us and we listen, because you are our single most valuable resource and we will continue to invest in you.
“There are some days when the pile of work sitting on my desk is a task I can’t endure. I ask myself if I need to do this, if I need to be here, I second guess every decision I need to make. I lack the motivation to see the future and every time that happens I walk from one department to the next, not stopping until I’m down the end of the line and have seen your motivation, felt your passion. What you do, does not go unrecognised.
“Your belief in my family’s company, and our future is what I utilise when I’m at my worst. Because we all know that working here is not a job, it is a way of life. Who else in this country has such an energetic and inspirational team of people working with them? I guarantee you can’t answer, because we are the apex of success because of the passion our staff share.
“Yes, we’ve lost people who we believed would be forever integral to our success, but I believe we will continue to succeed not because of a handful of people but because of every person here.
“Our future is ours alone. Like our success.
“Allan and I both agree by embracing the adversity that would make others cower, by accepting Verdune is facing a vulnerability like no other because of recent tragic situations, we have already pushed past the ceiling of achievement and definition of success.
“We are already steering towards a better course.
“Vulnerability is not weakness. It is a reminder of who we are as people, but also it reflects the community we live in. Sadness and grief, uncertainty, and instability, does not define us but our ability in dealing with each of those difficulties will forever herald the moment Verdune achieved its great success.
“And my future with Verdune is not going to be tied to me taking a pack anymore. Because like you, I am a person, more than capable and ready to fight for the future I want.
“I hope you take that step with me because I don’t need a pack to succeed, I only need your support.”
I take a slow step back, happy to finish my short but hopefully poignant speech. And I can feel Ramses bursting at the seams to come over, our bond is overflowing with pride and I have to bite my lip to stop the overly girlie smile. We will have reason to celebrate soon enough, well once Allan has delivered his equally short speech and we’ve finished answering any questions.
A rumble of applause sweeps through the auditorium, and I stand humbly before them before I walk towards Allan and Douglas. Darius trails next to me and all the guards flow into position close to the stage.
I risk a look at Dare, and I catch his adoring gaze for a second. It’s long enough to make my heart race. It’s also long enough to not see where a sudden volley of abuse comes from.
Responding to someone calling my name, I twist.
But I also know how to handle unknown risks. Trusting my instincts, I haul ass.
