Page 1 of Merging with the Billionaire

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Twelve board membersstared at Conrad Gaines with penetrating glares of distrust. Even though this was his sixth takeover of a company on the verge of financial collapse, he never got used to the looks of anger and resentment he received from the people whose lives he was about to change.

Conrad hadn’t created the mess that caused them to be in this situation, but one wouldn’t know that from the hostile looks he received from the men and women sitting around the table in front of him.

Didn’t they get it? They were lucky he was doing things differently this time. He was trying to help them salvage what they could from their company and walk away without a complete loss. It was better he stepped in now, then let them face the bankruptcy court and long line of creditors the company owed.

“Today is a new day for Vital Corp. Together, we’re going to resurrect this dying company. The plan is to—”

Before he could finish, a gray-haired man from the back blurted out, “Don’t you mean you’re here to strip the company of its assets and then leave us with nothing?”

“I’m not sure where you’ve gotten your information from, but that’s not my intent,” Conrad countered, remembering to keep his voice even and not show anything but professionalism.

“I get my information from your track-record. Everyone knows when you arrive, it means a company is struggling to breathe and you’re there to put the pillow over it to make sure it suffocates.”

There were a couple of coughs and a few raised eyebrows around the table, but from their continued animosity, it seemed they were all in agreement with the other man.

Conrad was going to have his work cut out on this latest endeavor, but he was always up for a challenge.

“If you’re aware of my track-record, then you know I take my work seriously and I always accomplish my goals. Lucky for this company, I don’t want to see it go under. I want to strip out what’s causing the company to flounder, divert those assets to the areas that are profitable, and thereby strengthen the whole company.”

“Everyone knows you don’t do something for nothing, otherwise you wouldn’t be as rich as you are,” a second man chimed in. “You’re in it for the profit, so what are you getting out of this?”

“Simple, I’ve come to an agreement with your CEO. In exchange for my help, he will give me exclusive rights to your cutting-edge, yet-to-be-released, solar panels. Once they’re folded into my solar energy company, my profits will double, Vital Corp will get a residual royalty for every panel sold, and both companies will come out stronger for the partnership.”

Conrad left out the fact that the other man was correct. He wasn’t the type of businessman that helped struggling companies on a regular basis. Most often, he was the first in line to see what he could get from their yard sale as they went under.

Why shouldn’t Conrad be that way, when no one helped him while he struggled his whole life? He was used to people treating him with hostility, and in return, he met them with indifference. Everyone around him was simply a number on a spreadsheet.

The reason for his change in pattern this time, however, was that Conrad had an ulterior motive for wanting the technology for the panels. Gaining them was the final step in his plan to get revenge on Roger Boswell, the man who made his life a living nightmare in college.

He’d heard a rumor that Boswell Oil was looking to branch out into the solar energy business, and Conrad wanted his solar company to be enticing enough to cause Boswell Oil to do business with him. The new, exclusive technology he was getting through this deal was exactly what Conrad needed to get Boswell Senior on board with letting him in the front door. Once he did that, he could set in motion a plan to get revenge on the man’s son, and finally pay him back for all the rotten things Roger and his friends did to Conrad while they were in college.

“Any other questions?” Conrad asked, looking around the room. When no one else answered, he took a seat at the head of the table and continued. “Let’s get started. Please turn to page three of the restructuring plan.”

* * *

Tiffany Boswell ignoredthe whispers and stares of her male employees, knowing that if she gave them any attention, it would only make the situation worse.

She was used to having to prove herself to them. They had resisted her authority at every turn since she took her position as the co-COO of Boswell Oil a month prior. She was aware they all thought her father—who still remained the CEO, at least on paper—had given her the position along with her brother because they were his children. In part, that was true, but Tiffany had earned her right to sit at the head of the table. After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree from Harvard business school, one would think the men at the company would understand she wasn’t just some vapid blonde with nothing upstairs. She understood what it took to run a Fortune 500 company.

“Good morning, gentlemen, it’s time to get to work,” she said, placing her briefcase next to her chair before she took a seat.

“Why were we called here? We all have work to do,” Eli Smith, a middle-aged, thin man, inquired with an irritated tone. “Every minute we’re in here is another we could be spending closing deals with customers.”

“As you know, since I’ve taken over as COO—”

“Co-COO,” Mr. Smith corrected. “Where is your brother, by the way? Is he going to grace us with his presence today?”

“He’s probably too busy planning his upcoming wedding extravaganza to deign coming into the office today. It wouldn’t be the first time he skipped work,” John Wen, a friend of the other man chimed in.

“Gentlemen, my brother’s personal life is not the focus of today’s meeting. Let me reassure you, I’m more than capable of handling the running of this company without him present,” Tiffany stated firmly. Giving both men withering stares, she added, “You should get used to me steering the ship; this is the new way at Boswell Oil.”

“As you wish, Miss Boswell. Let’s get the meeting under way then,” Mr. Smith commanded.

Though she didn’t like the senior sales manager ordering everyone around like he was in charge, Tiffany knew to pick her battles. Deciding to let it go, she said instead, “I’ve been doing an overhaul of each department, starting with production the first week. Last week, I took a look at processing and distribution. This week, I’m examining our sales. Since all of you are the head of our regional sales divisions, I decided this conference is in order.” She reached down and pulled a binder from her briefcase, flipped it open and continued. “Looking at the sales data over the past two years, I’ve noticed consistent discrepancies between the units guaranteed and billed. Why is that?”

“There’s often shifts between what a customer initially orders and what we end up sending out,” Mr. Smith explained. “Their needs often change.”

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