Page 6 of The Exception

Even so, my stomach clenched with dread, based on the title alone. The board had been on my ass for nearly a year, telling me to change my image. I hadn’t heeded their warnings, instead brushing them off as over the top or ridiculous. Shouldn’t my record as CEO of the Huxley empire speak for itself?

In the past, it had. But now that our stock price had dropped, I was in a weaker position. I needed extra shares to regain my footing. Before it was too late.

I remained silent, willing him to damn himself.

“What do you propose?” one of the other board members asked.

“A merger,” Fred said, the word landing with a thud.

Several people gasped, but I was pissed.A merger?Was he crazy? And how long had he been planning this?

Despite my ire, I maintained a calm façade. Confident. Cool. In control.

“One dip in our stock, and you’re talking merger?” I shook my head, and I was sure my expression was patronizing as fuck.

Because, seriously? That was his plan? A merger? That would likely send everyone into even more of a tailspin.

Though, I supposed Donahue had found another path to getting rid of me as CEO. Perhaps I’d underestimated him.

“Has someone approached you?” Sloan asked.

“Moretti.”

Over my dead body,I nearly growled. But I didn’t. Instead, I spun my grandfather’s ring on my pinkie finger beneath the table and tried not to show how ruffled I truly was.

Moretti was a thug in a designer suit, and I wanted nothing to do with him. He’d been accused of multiple things, from bribery to assault, but he always seemed to get off. Regardless of his culpability, he was shady as fuck.

“Absolutely not,” Jasper said. “No way.”

“He’s our biggest competitor. Our biggest threat,” Fred continued, undeterred. A few people’s heads bobbed in agreement.Fuck me.

“I think we should consider it,” Danika chimed in.Dear god.

Between the two of them, they had twenty-five percent of the shares. That alone wasn’t enough to push a merger through, but they could be persuasive. And after a series of recent missteps, I was on thin ice with the board. This latest article didn’t help.

I might be the CEO, but with the way our company was structured, if it came to a vote and there was a tie, the fate of the company fell into the hands of one person. One law firm, actually. An independent third party that had been named in my grandparents’ will and would vote only in the event of a tie.

And if they sided with the board, they could fire me. From my family’s own damn company. Ineededmore shares. A majority of the shares.

“Just think of how it could enhance our reach geographically, as well as our market power,” another board member said.

“What about cultural integration?” Jasper asked. “Employee retention?”

“I’m sure those details could be ironed out in negotiations.” I wanted to punch the smug grin off Fred’s face. I watched with horror as several others nodded their agreement.

Ironed out?This was a takeover attempt, and anyone who believed otherwise was deluding themselves.

“Moretti doesn’t do friendly mergers,” I bit out, wondering how long he had been planning this. “And if you’re concerned about the brand’s image, getting into bed with Moretti is not going to help.”

Donahue shrugged, as if the entire fucking future of this company weren’t on the line. “He wants to expand into the luxury segment, and he knows we’re the best.”

Of course he did. Because we were. Everyone knew that.

“Has there been a formal offer?” Sloan asked, and I was grateful my siblings were asking the questions I wanted to but wouldn’t dare. I was afraid if I opened my mouth, all the thoughts I was trying to hold back would come spewing out.

The Huxley Grand empire had always been a family-owned brand. My grandparents had started the company sixty years ago, and my siblings and I had been carrying on their legacy since their deaths. We now had locations around the globe. And if I had my way, we’d be able to add decadent all-inclusive voyages on the world’s finest luxury yachts to our impressive list of offerings.

Fred wore a thoughtful expression, as if he had all the time in the world. As if he were in fucking control. “No. He’s merely expressed his interest.”

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