The votes continue. Yes. No. Yes. Yes. No. Yes.
I count silently. I need enough support to keep this board functional.
The count is close. One vote left.
Thomas Wright. I don't know him well. He's been quiet through the entire meeting.
"Mr. Wright?" Voss prompts.
Wright looks at me for a long moment. "Yes."
The vote carries.
Voss announces the result formally. "By majority vote, the board expresses confidence in Simone LaCroix's continued leadership of LaCroix Petroleum. This meeting is adjourned."
The boardroom erupts in movement. Some board members stand immediately, clearly uncomfortable. Others approach Henry, offering quiet words of support. Patricia remains seated, watching me with an expression I can't quite read.
Finally, she stands and approaches. "Congratulations, Simone. You held them."
"Thank you."
"This isn't over, though. You won the vote, but those who voted no aren't going to forget this. They'll be watching everything you do. Waiting for any misstep." She pauses. "I hope you understand what you've committed to. Constant scrutiny. No margin for error. It's going to be exhausting."
I meet her eyes. "Let me be clear about something, Patricia. I own fifty-one percent of this company. You can watch all you want. You can vote no confidence every single meeting if it makes you feel better. But there isn't a damn thing you can do about me being CEO. I'm not going anywhere."
Her expression shifts slightly.
"So if you're planning to make this exhausting by creating problems, save us both the trouble and resign now. I'll accept it gladly. Otherwise, get on board and do your job. Those are your options."
Patricia's jaw tightens. "Understood."
"Good." I turn away, dismissing her.
She leaves without another word.
I remain seated, trying to absorb what just happened. The vote passed, but barely. Nearly half the board voted no confidence. That kind of division creates problems.
Henry appears at my elbow. "You held the board."
"Barely."
"You won. That's what matters." He starts packing his briefcase. "Those who voted no aren't going to forget this, though."
"Let them remember. I own fifty-one percent. They can be as unhappy as they want."
Henry nods. "Fair enough."
Eventually, I stand and head for the elevator. Luc follows, silently. The executive floor is quiet now, everyone having scattered after the meeting. We take the elevator down to the parking garage level.
"You won."
"Barely."
"Still won." He opens the passenger door. "Get in."
I slide into the seat. He closes the door, walks around to the driver's side, and gets in. For a moment, we just sit there in the quiet garage.
"Patricia made it clear this isn't over," I say. "Nearly half the board voted no confidence. They'll be watching everything I do, waiting for me to slip."
