Page 45 of Twisted Knight

“Ditch the exclusivity contract?” Rhett asks, his voice rising in pitch with each and every syllable. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you think Greatland will allow us to renege on our contract without repercussions, legal or otherwise.”

“I’m sure Chad has some people who could help us get around those legal loopholes,” I say, causing Chad to sit up a little straighter as Rhett glares at him.

Bet you didn’t know I knew that, now, did you?

“But there’s no need to renege on anything. Greatland’s contract is about to expire. I see you’ve already had your lawyers draw up a new one to be signed. We’re going to hold off on that, explore other options and see what that nets us.”

“We’re not going back on our word. End. Of. Story,” Rhett insists, his finger jabbing the table with each word for emphasis.

“Our word isn’t binding since the contract will have expired by the time we’re set to make a decision. Besides, there’s something to be said about diversifying, Rhett. We can have more than one supplier for the same product. It’s called not putting all your eggs in one basket. I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase.”

“And there’s something to be said about being loyal to those who have been loyal to you over the years,” Rhett says.

Ah. Yes. The good ol’ boys network. How could we forget the “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” brigade? How about those boys helping to hide your financial fuckups in the process?

Rowan’s been loyal to you, and you’ve screwed her over. How about you learn how it feels?

With a measured nod, I take a slow look at each of the ten people seated at the conference room table. I wait for one of them to speak up and second Rhett’s opinion. Rowan’s head is down as she jots something on a piece of paper. Several others sit with their hands clasped on the table in front of them, clearly disassociating from having an opinion.

I don’t like indifference. I don’t have to like someone’s stance, but take a fucking side, one way or the other.

Then there’s Chad and his wavering expression as he looks from Rhett to Rowan and then back to me.

Where does your loyalty fall, Chad?

“Loyalty. Right. We wouldn’t want you to risk losing all of those kickbacks you’ve been getting from them, now, would we?” I say as I scribble a signature on a piece of paper Audrey slides in front of me. When I look up, Rhett has risen from his seat and stands across the room, glaring at me. “Please tell me that’s not what this is about. I’d like to think we make decisions based on fact and not getting unspoken things in return.”

Rhett shakes his head ever so slightly, but his expression says it all. I’m right and I just called him on it in front of everyone. Curiosity fills his eyes, but I know he won’t voice the question he’s leveling me with in this room: How do you know that?

You’ve made a deal with the devil, Rothschild. There’s no turning back now.

The uncomfortable shuffling tells me a few others in this room get kickbacks as well.

Rowan’s attention has been piqued. She knows her brother well enough to catch the nuance in his voice declaring that he’s not happy about something. In my periphery, I can see her studying her brother with confusion etched across her face.

“Kickbacks? No,” Rhett says.

Blowhard.

“No? I don’t see lavish vacations and extra cash perks to the company CEO—you—stated anywhere in our contracts with Greatland. I mean … they are our aluminum supplier, not our travel agent, right?” I ask. It’s all conjecture at this point—no concrete proof yet—but my accountants are digging, and if it’s there like I’ve seen hints of it in my own data scraping, they’ll find it.

That and Rhett’s sudden widening of his eyes are enough proof for me.

Yep. Now everyone knows you’re on the take. What are you going to do about it, Rhett?

“Fulfilling our agreement with Greatland is about staying loyal to a company who meets every demand that we make. Expedited schedule. Delay in schedule. Change in design,” he says, completely glossing over my accusation. “It’s about taking care of who caters to us when others won’t, and who hasn’t let us down in the decades we’ve been partnered together.”

“But if you’ve never ventured outside of Greatland, then how do you know other contractors won’t surpass the expectations you’ve set … or become complacent with?”

“They’re a solid supplier,” a man in the far corner says.

“Joshua?” I ask. “From purchasing, right?”

He nods, his fingers fidgeting endlessly with the pen in his hand. “Why fix what’s not broken?”

And why pay for the product you’re taking out of here by the case every night and reselling?

I meet his eyes and offer a tight smile. “You can pick up your final check in the HR department.”