The Love Of Money - Episode 245
08-08-25 (16:06)
Chandler did a terrific job of parrying all the attacks
thrown at him.
"Oh, come now!" the current CEO said as things were
beginning to get a little heated.
"Colin Gerrard's death must be considered! You can't
simply ignore performance when there's instability at
the top... especially when the bloody founder of the
company dies!"
"That's hardly an excuse," another of the men said, and
I recognized him-Gus Hathaway. He owned three
percent of the company and seemed very analytical but
also cutthroat. "A press release wasn't issued until days
after his passing. That huge oversight cost the
shareholders collective millions, and that decision was
yours."
"When the wealthiest man in New York dies, not only
does it affect his own companies but the local
economy. Caution had to be applied... especially when
there were anomalies in his posthumous demands!"
Me. Chandler was talking about me and the fact that
I'd inherited everything. I wasn't the only one who
knew it, either. As I glanced around, several
shareholders were throwing glances my way.
"It wasn't like Gerrard wasn't showing signs of falling
health," Kelly said. "You lacked the foresight to put a
strategy in place that would deal with his death, and it
shows how unqualified you are for this position!"
"Kelly Maddox, did you ever meet Collin Gerrard? You
know how much of a stubborn old codger he could be!
Do you think I made no attempts to install safeguards?
I assure you, you wouldn't have done any better! Do
you know why I'm so convinced? Because you're the
one he fired, where'as I stayed in his service for years
after you were terminated!"
Maddox's face flushed, and her full lips compressed into
a thin line. "You know that's not on me! Logan Gerrard-"
Grayson cut her off. "Logan Gerrard had nothing to do
with Collin growing tired of having you in his bed,
which is the reason-"
"Okaaaayyy!" The woman with the white blonde hair
slowly stood up as she placed her hands on the table
and pressed her fingers into the surface. "I appreciate
this helpful dialog, but I think we should all take a few
minutes to cool off."
Her voice was soft and affected by a gentle
Scandinavian accent.
She wasn't loud, and her tone wasn't harsh, but there
was something about how she spoke that gave off a
subtle air of authority... as if she were the only adult in
a room full of children, and she was telling them it was
nap time.
Chandler's face-which had grown pale-reddened, and
I'd spent enough time with him to be aware of his
embarrassment over letting Kelly get to him enough
that he stooped to mud-slinging.
"You're right, Astrid," he said, his tone clipped. "I suggest
we take a twenty-minute recess to let cooler heads
reign. There's coffee available and more substantial
food in the room just down the hall."
With that, the meeting broke up, and Carla leaned
forward, grabbed Erin's and my attention, and
whispered, "What did I tell you? These meetings are
always exciting! So much tea!"
She put a hand next to her mouth so that people across
the table couldn't see, subtly pointed to Kelly, and
mouthed, "That slut!"
I thought that was rich coming from the woman who
had married a seventy-year-old man for his money
while trying to seduce me in the bathroom of a coffee
shop, but I simply nodded and smiled. Then I followed
Erin into the hall and down to the break room, where' a
magnificent spread of food was laid out for everyone
attending the meeting. Unlike in the board room, where'
cold cocktail shrimp and pinwheels sat on a table lining
one wall, this room had breakfast tacos, donuts, fried
chicken, waffles, and more.
The food wasn't the only thing waiting there. Chloe
stood next to the door, pulled me aside, and walked
down the hall several feet until she was satisfied with
the relative privacy.
"What did you find?" I asked.
"It's not good," she replied.
"What does that mean?"
"Her story checks out," she said.
"What does that mean?" I repeated.
"It means Amber Bell stayed in the Radisson in
Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday and Saturday night,
according to the hotel and Virginia, on Friday and
Saturday night, according to the hotel and credit card
company."
"You confirmed all that in less than an hour?" I asked,
surprised.
"Psalter- isn't cheap," Chloe said.
"Worth it, though," I said.
"Are you sure-
"It's her!" I hissed. "I swear to fucking god, every time I
look at her, I'm convinced all over again!"
"Okay," Chloe huffed, looking past me to make sure we
were still alone. "All the findings show that she spent
money in Virginia. It doesn't mean she was actually
there. I've already got Henry on it. He's trying to get
more solid evidence one way or the other."
"Good" I said. "Thanks."
"How's it going in there?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know," said. "It got a little daytime television.
Chandler lost his cool and accused Kelly of getting her
position because she slept with Colin."
"Hmph," Chloe grunted.
"Yeah. The whole thing has turned into a blood sport.
Kelly isn't much better, but still... I've never seen
Chandler this agitated. I'd like to think it's all moot
because we have enough shares to win with Hiro and
Wayne. Hiro's hard to read, but he doesn't look
particularly impressed by anything being said in there. I
wish Wayne was here so I could get a read on him."
"You can still win it without Wayne, right?" Chloe said.
"Barely, but yeah," I admitted. "I can't win it without
Tanaka at all, though."
"You've done all you can. Worry about what you can
control, Chloe said.
I huffed. "You sound like my dad."
"He's a wise man." Don't forget to leave a Comment 
