Chapter 4 - THE BOARDROOM EXECUTION
The color drained,
from Vivian's face,
leaving her looking,
ghostly and frail.
She looked at Robert,
seeking a denial,
a joke,
anything to stop,
the reality of what I had said.
But Robert was staring,
at the documents,
I had tossed,
onto the table.
"The buy-back scheme,
Robert?"
I asked,
my voice cutting through,
the air like a knife.
"Three hundred million dollars,
diverted through,
Cayman subsidiaries?"
"To purchase shares,
held by the pension fund?"
The board members gasped,
their eyes darting,
between me and the CEO.
"Evelyn,
I can explain,"
Robert whispered,
his voice cracking.
"It was for the stability,
of the company."
"No,"
I said,
"it was for your ego."
"You wanted to be,
the king."
"And you let your queen,
treat this company,
like her personal playground."
I turned to the board.
"I have here,
evidence of embezzlement,
fiduciary negligence,
and hostile culture creation."
"I am calling for,
an immediate vote,
to remove Robert Blackwell,
as CEO,
for cause."
"No severance."
"No bonuses."
"And a full referral,
to the Department of Justice."
Vivian finally found her voice.
"You can't do this!"
she screamed,
slamming her hand on the table.
"Do you know,
who we are?"
"I know exactly,
who you are,"
I said,
stepping toward her.
"You are the woman,
who made my daughter cry."
"You are the woman,
who thinks money,
buys the right,
to be cruel."
"But you see,
Vivian,"
"I have more money,
than you could ever imagine."
"And I use it,
to buy silence,
until it's time,
to speak."
"And right now,"
"I am speaking."
The board didn't even hesitate.
They knew which way,
the wind was blowing.
They knew that their own jobs,
were on the line.
Hand after hand,
went up.
"Unanimous,"
the board secretary whispered.
Robert slumped in his chair,
looking like a man,
who had just watched,
his world collapse.
"Security will escort you,
both,
out of the building,"
I said.
"You have ten minutes,
to clear your desk,
Robert."
"Personal items only."
"Any laptop,
any phone,
any document,
belongs to me."
Vivian began to sob,
but there was no sympathy,
in the room.
She had spent years,
looking down on everyone,
and now,
she was the one,
at the bottom.
As they were led,
toward the door,
I stopped them.
"One more thing,"
I said.
"The service entrance?"
"It's the only door,
May you like
you're allowed to use,
on your way out."
