"Patricia's been working them since last night. She's probably got half the board convinced I'm too damaged to lead."
"Armand tried to break you. Julien tried to break you. They're both done." He turns me to face him, expression hard. "Patricia wants to finish what they started, make her work for every inch of ground. Make her bleed for it."
"She's not scared. She's opportunistic."
"Vultures circle the weak. You're not weak." His hand cups the back of my neck. "So don't act like it. Fight dirty if you have to. If you want, we can begin to collect information about board members."
"How do you know there's anything to find?"
Luc chuckles. "There's always something to find. Everybody has something they don't want people to know about them... everybody. Besides, at the end of the day, you're the majority shareholder. I don't believe they can really force you out. Make things decidedly uncomfortable? Yes, but at the end of the day that's all they can do."
I know I shouldn't find that comforting, but I do.
A text from Henry lights up my screen:
Board call moved up. Chair wants to get ahead of afternoon news cycle. Major investors already calling with concerns. Be ready.
I show Luc the message. "Less than an hour."
"You need anything?"
"Just you here when I'm done." I stand, head upstairs to change. Can't take a board call in sweats and a t-shirt, even if it's just audio. The armor helps.
I pull on a tailored blouse, slacks, heels. Fix my hair and makeup. By the time I come back downstairs, I look like the CEO who runs a billion-dollar company, not the woman who's been hiding at the Pascal estate while her uncle sits in a federal holding cell.
The call starts on time. I dial in from my laptop, see the names populating as other board members join. Twelve total. Chair Richard Voss, Patricia Moreau, Henry Castellanos, and nine others who've been sitting on the fence waiting to see which way the wind blows.
"Good afternoon," Voss says when everyone's connected. "Thank you all for making time on short notice. I'm sure you've all seen the FBI press conference this morning regarding Armand Deveraux's arrest."
Murmurs of agreement. I stay quiet, let him set the tone.
"The federal charges are serious and appear well-supported. The FBI made clear that Simone was the victim of this surveillance operation." He pauses. "However, we need to address the ongoing impact on LaCroix Petroleum. Our valuation has taken a significant hit. We're fielding calls from investors, partners, and media. The exposure from this case is significant."
"Simone," Voss says, his voice taking on that careful, diplomatic tone that means he's about to ask for something he knows I won't want to give. "We appreciate everything you've done for this company. Your leadership has been strong. But given the circumstances, we need to consider whether a leadership transition might be in the company's best interest. Tominimize ongoing damage and allow us to move forward with a clean slate."
"You're asking me to resign." I keep my voice level. Professional.
"I'm asking you to consider what's best for the company you've dedicated your career to building."
"What's best for the company is stable leadership from someone who knows the business, has investor confidence, and can navigate this crisis. That's me." I don't give him room to interrupt. "I was victimized by my uncle. The FBI confirmed that publicly this morning. I did nothing wrong. I won't step down because Armand Deveraux tried to destroy me."
"No one's suggesting you did anything wrong," Patricia says, her voice smooth and sympathetic in a way that makes my teeth clench. "But we have to think about perception. The media coverage has been brutal. The surveillance footage, the lifestyle exposure, the connection to a murder investigation. Investors are nervous. We need to project stability and discretion."
"I've led this company through expansion, acquisition, and record profits. My track record speaks for itself."
"Your track record is excellent," Patricia agrees. "Which is why stepping down now, on your own terms, would be seen as putting the company first. We could position it as you taking time to recover from the trauma of what Armand did. Everyone would understand."
She's good. Framing resignation as strength, as putting the company first, as reasonable response to trauma. Making it sound like my choice rather than the board forcing me out.
"I'm not resigning," I say clearly. "And I'm not stepping aside voluntarily. If the board is uncomfortable, you're welcome to resign from the board. I own this company."
Silence on the line. Then Voss speaks. "Simone, we understand your position. But we're asking you to consider thepractical realities. The media scrutiny, the investor concerns, the ongoing federal case. Even if you have the authority to remain as CEO, we need to ask whether it's sustainable."
"The path forward is me continuing to do the job I've been doing. Leading this company. Managing our investors. Delivering results." I keep my voice steady. "I understand some board members are uncomfortable with the lifestyle exposure. But I won't step down because I was stalked and violated. That's what Armand wanted. I won't give him that victory."
"This isn't about what Armand wanted," another board member says. Walter Brandt, one of the old guard who voted against my appointment as CEO when my father died. "This is about what's best for the company. And right now, the company needs leadership that isn't mired in a federal conspiracy case."
"The company has that leadership. Me. I'm the victim in the federal case, not the perpetrator."
