Page 55 of Charming
It’s a real possibility that the board is going to ask me to step down and submit my resignation or put me on a forced leave of absence until I give in and resign. The thought of losing my father’s company makes me ill.
Smoothing my skirt down my thighs before I step out of the car that has taken me to the office building, I straighten my jacket and force my head high when I walk into the office like I have each day since my return. Never let them see you sweat.
When I reach my office, my assistant is there immediately with a cup of coffee like usual. I shouldn’t take it from her considering the cups I’ve already had, but I do. “Most of them are already here and are in the boardroom,” April tells me and I nod, unable to find words. “Five minutes,” she reminds me.
Turning toward the large window in my office I take in the view of the city I love. Forcing myself to inhale and exhale, I remind myself that no matter what happens today, I haven’t done anything wrong. And if I’ve learned anything over the last couple weeks it’s that when things happen out of our control, there’s nothing I can do. And it’s senseless to worry. All I can control is myself. I can live by the morals my beloved father and mother instilled in me, I can be true to myself, I can have courage and be kind, and I can trust that while it may not make sense to me at the time, that the path we walk is all part of a greater plan - and all I can do is walk down the road and have faith that it will all work out in the end. And it will. No matter what happens inside that boardroom today.
With one final deep breath, I leave my office and go into the boardroom. Everyone is here. Including Angelica. As soon as she sees me she smirks and I look away immediately and take time to meet the eyes of every person there before I walk to the head of the table. “Hello everyone. Shall we begin?”
Why does it not surprise me that Angelica was elected to do the talking? Funny considering she holds less stock than anyone else in the room. “Let’s not waste time with formalities. You know why you’re here. The board and I have serious questions about your ability to run this company given your recent…behavior…indiscretions.”
“My indiscretions.” I repeat.
“Yes. This company is founded on honesty, hard work, and a good solid reputation that’s capable of promoting businesses via new and innovative approaches that support them in achieving their goals and realizing excellence. Not only do we strive to increase their revenue, we are known for increasing their market share, extolling the excellence of their products, and helping them achieve a reputation of reliability and credibility while enhancing their stature within their industry. ”
“I’m well aware of what this company does, of its mission statement, goals and values. You may recall, that I helped fashion those.”
“Good, then you’ll understand that when your own behavior exposes compromised moral judgment that we’re concerned about our reputation and the subsequent loss of business from existing and new clients. They need to be able to trust that their business is in good and capable hands. Given your mental instability right now, I’m not sure that your position as CEO is in this company’s best interest.”
“Unbelievable,” I mutter.
Pamela, a partner and friend of my dad’s almost since the company began speaks up, “Ella, you have to understand that we are concerned. No well-respected business is going to trust our company with their future if they aren’t comfortable with the CEO that runs the corporation. That’s simply fact.”
Henry, a sweet man that used to sneak me candy when I would wait in my father’s office for him to finish up work sometimes speaks next, “We know you’ve been through a lot. Maybe it’s a good idea to take a leave of absence until you’re feeling better.”
“I’m feeling fine,” I say exasperated. “Anyone else? If not, then let me say a few things. Normally I would be angry that my personal life is under scrutiny. Normally, I would state that it isn’t anyone’s business. In fact, I’m sure that some of the conversation and discussion is violation of the law, and I’m sure HR would agree. However, given the situation, I will indulge you - for now. As you know, my marriage to Jeremy didn’t exactly go to plan.” I almost cringe at my description, but how else would I describe it? “Just before I was due to walk down the aisle, I was told by my stepsister and stepmother that Jeremy had been having an affair with my stepsister. I’m sure you remember that Angelica, you were there.”
“See what I mean?” She says to everyone. “That never happened.”
“However what you don’t know is that before I found out that little tidbit, I had already elected not to go through with the wedding. I wasn’t in love with Jeremy, I never was. I had the mental clarity to decide that marrying someone I didn’t really love was a mistake. There is no question that I could have handled that day differently, but I handled it as well as I think reasonable given the entire situation. Then, as you all know, I decided to take my earned, and might I add, well-deserved time away, the time that had been planned for my honeymoon, as my vacation. And yes, while I was in Cabo I met a man and we were married, in a non-binding, non-legal wedding ceremony, but the supposed stories of my behavior printed in the paper are simply not true. My time with Mr. Charming, was not a slip in judgment. I did nothing that would undermine the integrity or reputation of this company – or my own. And quite honestly, I’m not sure what I can do or say that can convince you of any of this. You see, at the end of the day I know it’s going to be her word against mine. What do you want me to say here? How can I convince you that none of the stories and rumors are true? That the fact that my wedding didn’t occur isn’t some tragedy that I’ve had to endure, that sent me over some figurative edge, but rather, was my choice. I would be happy to conduct an interview in the press stating the truth. I have not done so out of respect for all of you and this company. Would you like me to undergo a psychiatric evaluation? Fine. I’m appalled, infuriated, and simply amazed that you would so easily believe a rumor instead of me, someone you’ve known for years, someone who has been unwavering in her dedication, loyalty and passion about this company. And in truth, someone who has steered this company since my father’s death to yield more revenue that has benefited each and every one of you around this table. Yes, it astounds me that I am needing to stand here and defend myself. So tell me, what is it you would have me say or do? But let one thing be clear, I will not admit to something that is untrue to meet your needs and I will not apologize for something that is not my fault, or for which I have no control. As always, I’d prefer to let my history of work do my talking for me. And one more thing. I have learned, that while I may be young, time is precious. It is sacred. And I will not waste any more of mine or yours on this topic. We will resolve this now.”
Something comes over me and I realize I’m simply done playing their game. I don’t owe them a damn thing. “My father,” I say slowly looking around the room at all of them again, “he would be ashamed of every single one of you. He led you all to be so much better than this. And so have I.”
There are gasps in the room, but I barely hear them. Pushing my seat back from the table, I stand to leave. Before I can take a step, the door bursts open and my eyes swing to the doorway.
I’m frozen.
Time stands still.
The air in my lungs leaves my body and I blink rapidly trying to clear my vision. I’m almost convinced that what they all believe is true and Ihavelost my damn mind. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Barrie, I told him you were in a meeting and could not be disturbed.”
Asher is standing in my boardroom. He’s here. In New York. He’s in front of my entire board of directors. And oh god, he looks amazing. I don’t want my eyes to leave him in case he disappears, but movement behind him makes my eyes widen. Douchebag Hunter is standing behind Asher, a small smile on his face. Swinging my gaze back to Asher, I devour him with my eyes. He looks divine. Black dress pants and a blue shirt that makes his eyes blast blue from across the room adorn him and he looks as sexy as I’ve ever seen him. “Asher?” I say and it sounds choked as if I’m almost afraid to believe it.
He begins walking to me and I still can’t move. “I’m mad at you. No, scratch that, I’mfuriouswith you.”
“You’re furious with me?”
“Yes. Do you have any idea how crazy I was when I got back to our room and found you were gone? All you left behind was a note.” He pulls it from his pocket and it looks worn, like it’s been opened and closed several times. “A note that tells me you love me. A note that tells me you’re leaving me. A note is all I had left of you.” He takes another step toward me. “I lost it when you were gone. I didn’t know what I had done or what had happened. I immediately felt lost, alone, and behaved abhorrently. I practically trashed our room. Hunter found me there, in the middle of self-destruction and fessed up and told me about your conversation and that he encouraged you to leave. That he believed all that shit that was being said…or certainly had believed it. I then turned on him and practically beat the hell out of my best friend.”
“It’s true,” Hunter pipes up with a smile, and I notice that he’s got a yellowing black eye.
He takes another step toward me. “I spent four of the best days of my life with you,” he says and I swear right then and there my heart stalls in my chest. “I fell in love with a you at first sight, Ella.” No, I’m wrong. Now my heart has stopped. “I don’t give a fuck what people say about love at first sight because I know it’s real. Do you know what I said to Hunter the first time I saw
you?” I shake my head no unnecessarily. Of course he knows I have no idea. “You were next to me and my friends at the pool. You and Katie were drinking and I heard your laugh, I saw your smile, I heard your hilariously inappropriate comment about your ass and I looked at Hunter and I said, ‘I’m going to marry that girl’.”
“It’s true, he did,” Hunter says again.
“When I took you out the night I approached you on the beach and we went dancing and you were drinking, you didn’t notice that I had hardly drunk anything at all. We had fun together, you opened up to me about what that asshat Jeremy did to you and how your stepsister and stepmother were minions from hell.”
