I feel something ugly twist in my chest. I want to knock all of their heads together and chew them all out. But I don’t, and I wouldn’t. I’m here to support my wife. But I shoot a few of them glares that takethem back a bit. Just like fucking Tyler in the hallway. The balls on that guy. He needs to be taken down a peg or two.
Charles notices the behavior of these assholes, too. I can tell by the way his jaw muscle tightens. He glares at anyone he catches being dismissive, and a few men straighten when they realize they’ve been seen. Still, not all of them bother.
Charles is confusing to me. I see him love his daughter, but I am still on the fence about whether I trust him. I didn’t like the way he talked to her. And I don’t like the way he condones his daughter and wife treating Silvie the way they do. And why is that tool, Tyler, still here? He should have been removed immediately. But it’s not my company, so what do I know, though? I’m here for Silvie. I want to support her in any way she needs.
Silvie steps to the front of the room, calm and composed. Not nervous, even though I know she has to be. This is a huge day for her. She has nothing to prove. Yet to some of these assholes in this room, she’ll never be respected. I know that, and she knows that. That’s why she’s doing what she has to do.
“Welcome,” she says clearly and confidently. “It’s my honor to be your new CEO.”
A couple of heads lift. Not all. One guy is still on his phone as if whatever’s happening there is more important than her.
“I’m excited to continue as we have been when Charles was running the company. He’s done a great job, and I look forward to working side by side with him to continue operating the way it’s supposed to be run.”
Someone at the far end exhales like he’s bored. Another man leans back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes already drifting. It’s disrespectful. Plain and simple.
Silvie sees it. I know the moment she does. Her lips thin just a fraction.
“That being said,” she continues, “the company will run the same. The big question in the room is who will remain to run it with us?”
That does it. She’s got their attention now. I love seeing the faces of those who didn’t think she had it in her. Chairs scrape softly. Backs straighten. Eyes narrow and lock on her like predators suddenly interested in the prey.
Silvie starts pacing slowly in front of the table, heels clicking against the floor. She doesn’t rush. She doesn’t raise her voice.
“Some of you are being downright rude and disrespectful to me right now,” she says. “And I want you to know that won’t be tolerated further.”
The room goes still.
“But this is the last conversation we’re going to have about this. This is the only time I will address it. From this moment forward, you will treat me with respect. If you don’t, you will be gone.”
A few men bristle. One scoffs quietly.
“I don’t care if you’ve been here thirty years or five. I don’t care. We treat everyone with respect here, regardless of gender, age, or experience.”
She stops pacing and leans forward, both hands braced on the table.“I hope you’re really taking this seriously, because I won’t hesitate to fire any of you.”
She turns her head slightly.“Starting with Tyler.”
Every head whips toward the man halfway down the table. His face drains of color, and he sputters, “What?”
Silvie looks up and nods toward the door as two security guards step inside.
“Escort Tyler off the premises,” she tells them. “He won’t be returning. We’ll send him his things.”
A man I don’t recognize steps forward and holds out a manila envelope to Tyler. “You’ve been served.”
Tyler stands so fast his chair tips back, and he snaps up the folder.
“You stupid bitch!” he shouts at Silvie. “You’re going to pay for this. I will sue you!”
Silvie waves at him and smiles like she’s saying goodbye to a neighbor.
He’s still yelling as they escort him down the hall. But I can’t make out what he’s yelling. He’s embarrassing himself. Charles is watching all of this, sitting back, his hands crossed in front of him as if he approves.
“I’ll fire any of you who treats anyone as less than,” she says calmly. “This is not a threat. It’s a promise.” She straightens. “I’ve worked my ass off to get here. And I’ll be damned if anyone evenlooks at me sideways. Do you understand?” She waits. “Nod your heads and respond verbally.”
They do. Every single one. Wilby and I glance at each and every one of these men.
“You’re all getting a contract to sign,” she continues as Wilby opens a folder and passes out papers to them. “It’s basically everything I just told you. If you can’t treat everyone with respect here, you’ll be removed. No severance. No pension. Be respectful. It’s not hard.”
