Fractured Fairy Tales: A SaSS Anthology

by Amy Marie

  Chapter 17

  Oli

  I dragged myself up the front steps to my new home. It once held such promise; now it represented the façade I’d allowed to become my life.

  “Rough night?”

  I paused with my key in my hand. Slowly, I turned to face the voice. “What the fuck kind of game are you playing, Farr?”

  His chuckle sent chills down my spine. “The kind I intend to win.”

  I slowly retraced my footsteps. “You sound so sure. Tell me, was that information about the child labor real, or did you make that up? I’d be willing to bet your trip you were supposed to be on only went as far as the TV station.”

  “True or not, this kind of scandal doesn’t just go away. It demands new leadership, and there I’ll be, ready to take up the offer when it comes.”

  “No matter who you step on and what lies you spin, right?”

  “Tell me, Oli. What lies have been told? You mean the truth you omitted to Jasmena? Those aren’t my lies. Those belong to you. As for the rest, it’s Sal Knight’s signature on the papers authorizing new hiring. Mena is just an unfortunate casualty.” He shrugged. “Perhaps I’ll let her stay on at FarCap…if she begs nicely enough.”

  I was down my sidewalk faster than he could pull his hands from his pocket. My fist made a resounding sound as it slugged his jaw. He sprawled on the ground. I was on top of him in a second, landing a second blow. But before I could deck him again, strong arms held me back.

  It took him several seconds to stumble to his feet, his hand pressing against his face while he worked his jaw back and forth. I was disappointed it still worked. His arm shook as it pointed at me. “You’ll pay for that, Prince. That’s assault.”

  I heard Gene’s voice over the roar in my head. “You were trespassing, Mr. Farr. Mr. Prince was merely protecting himself on his property. I suggest you leave before you find yourself dealing with the police and press.”

  As I jerked my arms free of Gene’s security, Jeff scurried backward. He was like a yappy little dog. All bark while the big dog was behind a fence, but not so tough when face to face. A bully to the core.

  “Good thing you took your shot when you had a chance, Prince. Go back to hiding behind those who will always be better than you.” He took off down the street when I lunged again.

  “Easy, Oliver.”

  I whirled to face Gene. “I know what I want for my third wish.”

  “I already told you I don’t kill, even if that one makes me question that policy.” He brushed his lapels as if the last few seconds had merely been a mild disruption to his evening drink and cigar. He shook his arms and pulled on his tux’s sleeves to straighten them.

  “No,” I said, looking him dead in the eye. “But you can help me bury him.”

  Gene returned my look before a conniving grin replaced his grim smile. “Since I’m assuming you don’t mean in the ground, let’s go talk.”

  I led the way.

  Chapter 18

  Mena

  “Ms. Knight.”

  “Mena.”

  “Mena!”

  “Hmm?” I swiveled my chair toward my office door from where I’d been staring out my window and saw Kira standing by my desk. Given her worried expression, I wondered how long she’d been standing there trying to get my attention.

  “It’s almost time.”

  “Hmm?”

  “The Advisor meeting. It’s ten o’clock. Are you sure you’re up to this?”

  No. “I don’t have a choice. We agreed to meet again today to reassess after we’ve had a few days to investigate.”

  Not that we’d learned a whole lot. Reporters refused to disclose their source but had put forth a copy of a document with my father’s signature authorizing new hiring of students using scholarships as an enticement. My father denied having ever seen those papers, nor could we find evidence of any new scholarships established. I think I was the only one who believed him. Papa and I both suspected he’d been framed, but until we could prove it, the damage had been done. We’d sent an independent auditor to investigate, but he’d only just gotten to the site.

  In the meantime, people had threatened to boycott our products. Reporters were always at our doors, both at our homes and headquarters. Everyone in the executive admin offices tiptoed like FarCap was about to shatter beneath their feet. I wasn’t about to allow that to happen, but everything felt like an uphill climb.

  And through it all, I felt more alone than ever. Oli had given me the space I’d asked for, and Papa was devastated. I felt the weight of generations before me on my shoulders. Everyone always had questions, but no one seemed to have answers.

  Kira’s mouth twisted sideways, and I suspected she was questioning my readiness, too. “Are you sure you don’t want to delay this another day? No one would blame you.”

  “No.” I stood and smoothed my skirt. “Another day isn’t going to make a difference at this point. Until the investigators finish, which could be weeks, we have to carry on.” And that meant I had to attend the meeting where I would have to see Jeff Farr again. I hadn’t seen him since the first administrative meeting we’d had the day following the dinner.

  Everyone had been called into work over the weekend so we could formulate a plan as well as a public response. Jeff had appeared concerned, but I didn’t believe him nor trust him. I knew he wanted to be CEO, but I wondered to what length he’d go. Why had he bribed someone to look into Oli? Nothing added up.

  Kira checked over her shoulder and leaned closer to my desk. “Have you heard from him?” she whispered.

  “No. He tried calling and texting me over the weekend, but I haven’t heard anything since. I guess he gave up. You should have seen his face when he dropped me off. I told him I just needed some time. Maybe that was a mistake.”

  Kira was silent. When I looked up, her arms were folded, and she was giving me a knowing look. “I was referring to Jeff, but since I think you’re talking about Oli, I’m going to assume that you’re just as upset about losing him as the trouble with FarCap.”

  I bit my lip. FarCap had always been my life. I never thought anything would ever be as important. Maybe more so. But I had been wrong. I missed Oli, and I missed the kids. Painfully so.

  “Maybe that should tell you something. Instead of blowing him off, maybe you should have let him explain. Whatever he did, it had to be way simpler than the rest of this mess. He could be fighting by your side, or at least taking care of you.”

  Crossing her arms and drumming her fingers on her elbow, she continued her lecture. “Instead, you’ve shut yourself up, letting others figure out what the hell is going on. I’ve known you for a few years. I’ve seen you tackle adversity. You never back down. You’re a take-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of girl. So, you should ask yourself, why are you like this? It’s not because Jeff Asshat Farr has stirred up trouble. Your heart isn’t in the fight today because you left it sitting halfway across the city.”

  I sat and stared while she delivered her little tirade. She was absolutely right. I should have hashed things out with Oli. I’d been so focused on trying to protect my heart, I’d ignored what it really needed.

  “Can you tell the Board I’ll be there in a few minutes?”

  Kira smiled. “Absolutely. Go get him, tiger.”

  I called Oli, but after several rings, I got his voice mail. “Hey, it’s me. I…I’m sorry I left the way I did. Please call me…again.”

  I said a little prayer he’d give me another chance. In the meantime, I had business to take care of.

  Chapter 19

  Mena

  It seemed I wasn’t the only one late. Where was Papa? And Jeff, for that matter. I rechecked my watch. It wasn't like either of them to be late for a Board meeting.

  Sighing, I shuffled my papers once again, checking to see that they were in order. They were. Nothing had changed since the past five times I'd checked. Something wasn't right. I knew it in my bones. Maybe Papa was sick? "I believ
e I'll go check on them."

  No sooner were the words out of my mouth than Jeff walked in. He smoothed down the front of his suit jacket, then unbuttoned it as he sat down...in my father's chair.

  "What are you doing, Jeff? We don't have time for games this morning. You're already late."

  He ignored me as he leaned forward and linked his hands together on the table. "Gentlemen." He nodded his head at the rest of the Board members. "Mena." My name sounded more like he’d sniffed something distasteful and didn't bother to look at me.

  My intestines slowly formed a knot. "What's going on?"

  "It is my duty to inform you that as of a few minutes ago, Sal Knight stepped aside as CEO and Chairman of the Advisory Board for Faris Capital." He ignored the gasps in the room. “Prior to his resignation, he sold his shares to me, making me the majority shareholder.”

  He ignored the gasps in the room, mine being the loudest.

  “Thus, according to our bylaws, that makes me the new Chairman, and until someone else is named, the Chairman acts as the interim CEO as well. I look forward to this new challenge and your cooperation as we take this company in new directions and into the future, and when the time comes, I'm sure I can count on your support to be named permanent CEO."

  I stood, my chair falling over in my haste. "You can't be serious!"

  "Oh, but I am."

  One of the Advisors cleared his throat. "This is highly unusual. Why were we not advised of this sudden turn of events?"

  I was vaguely aware of someone righting my chair and gently guiding me into it.

  “Gentlemen, Faris Capital has always portrayed itself to be a family company of high values and goodwill to all it employs and to the customers it serves. This revelation certainly shows the weak leadership of its now former CEO. FarCap in no way supports this breach of conduct. In the aftermath, Sal Knight has decided it is in the best interest of his company to step down.”

  I pointed a shaky finger at him. "You're lying. He would have told me.”

  "No, Ms. Knight, I'm not. I just got out of the meeting with your father, where he signed the paperwork. I’ve just turned the documents over to my lawyer. You’ll receive your copies in due time, and you’ll see that all is in order." He sat as if it was just another routine announcement and not a dramatic upheaval of our company.

  "You sneaky son of a bitch,” I snarled. “You've always wanted to take over. I won't let you get away with this."

  He leaned back in his chair and swiveled back and forth, flipping the bottom of his tie as if he was already bored. "I must say, Ms. Knight, your behavior isn't flattering or professional. And given the questionable behavior you’ve recently exhibited with Oliver Prince, I suggest you rein yourself in if you'd like to remain in your current position."

  The murmurings between the other members increased. I heard the words, but my brain couldn't process what was happening.

  "You're a dirty, scheming bastard. I’m going to see my father."

  His words stopped me. "I'm sorry. I believe he's already left the building."

  I looked around at the other members. I could see their confusion and distaste for the situation, but no one was speaking up against Jeff. Were they that intimidated by him?

  "I'm not going to let you get away with this, Jeff. As Senior Vice President and member of the founding family, I should be named as the CEO. You might own the moment, but you don’t own the day.” I swept my hand in the direction of the table. “We all have a say about the future here. We set it up that way on purpose. With the Advisory Board's vote and mine together, we hold the quorum."

  "Are you so sure they'll back you? As I'm prepared to show, you've demonstrated questionable judgment in recent months. Your leadership and moral character are in question."

  "What are you talking about, Jeff?" The member sitting next to him spoke up. I'd known him since I was a little girl. He was once the CEO of his own company until he retired and took on a new role as an advising member for us. He'd always been kind to me, but now I heard doubt.

  Jeff looked positively gleeful as he addressed the other men in the room. "Ms. Knight has recently been in a relationship with a known criminal, Oliver Prince. He's been arrested on more than one occasion, was kicked out of numerous foster homes, and ran away from the same Children's Home that this company helps to sponsor. He dropped out of high school and for several years was homeless. Now he’s working with Gene DeLampe at his private club, where no one really seems to know what goes on behind closed doors. There have been rumors of the mafia and drug lords holding court there for years."

  I sat. My legs wouldn't hold me anymore. Could any of that be true?

  But Jeff wasn't done. "And it is this person that Jasmena Knight has taken into her confidence, sleeps with, and takes advice from, including deciding on the lab that she’s convinced all of you is an asset to Faris Capital. Really, when you think about it, they could be making drugs there given who Ms. Knight now associates with. Tell me, gentlemen, is this who you want to be the face of this company?"

  I received several curious looks, some outright nasty. Murmured conversations took place behind hands or papers held up to block faces.

  "Jeff." My voice sounded like I'd been strangled. And in a way, I was. Anger, fear, shock, and betrayal made for an enormous wedge in my throat. "Why are you doing this?"

  "Sorry, darling, it's just business."

  "But this is my family business. Not yours. You're just a son of a bitch who's trying to steal a company.”

  And no one would fight for it like me. Jeff probably thought he’d poked a pussy cat. Instead, he provoked a tiger.

  "Listen up." One by one, the private conversations ceased. I looked each member in the eye. "Many of you have watched me grow up. You saw me come to my father's office every break I had. And for those of you who weren't here, you know my family. You know my father, who with my mother by his side, continued to grow this company by expanding the number of labels we own. You've seen how we care about our employees. We care about our community, and we care about our customers. We even established a creed that we've strived to live up to. It's what makes this a family company.

  “You know me, gentlemen. I've learned from my grandfather and my father. I've studied and proven myself and my loyalty to this company over and over again. You know we support children and would never knowingly use them for our own gain. If you believe differently, then I question your loyalty.

  "Each of you was asked to be on this Board because you are compassionate and have shown integrity. Some of you had fathers who worked here. Some of you even worked here yourselves. You know our core principles and how we strive to live up to them, both in our professional lives and in our personal ones.”

  I circled the table, pausing to stand behind them one by one as I continued. “You were chosen because you had risen up to be leaders in your work and in your communities. Imagine someone trying to kick you out of your own legacy to which you've devoted your life. FarCap isn't Jeff's life. It's his ambition and power trip.

  “I can’t answer as to where Jeff found his information about Oliver Prince. It doesn’t describe the man I know. Oli is kind and loves to make other people laugh and feel better about their day. He’s fostering a brother and sister, creating a home for them. And if there’s any truth to the homelessness, since when is that a crime? Ask yourself how Jeff happens to know things that happened to a young man while he was a teenager. Those records should have been sealed. Anyone who abuses their power to dig up information just to discredit me is not someone you should trust.”

  I paused for a breath and walked back to the head of the table.

  "So now it’s up to you to choose who you stand with. You must decide whose commitment to this company you'd rather honor. Jeff isn't worthy of your admiration or your trust. He seeks glory only for himself on the backs of all those who have built this company. He'll turn on you just as fast as he turned on my father. This company isn't just my legac
y, it's my family, and I stand with my family. Will you stand with them as well? Or will you quietly sell yourself to the man who has no loyalty to you or this company?"

  This time the heads were nodding, and smiles of approval rather than condemnation were in the majority.

  Someone started clapping. “Oh, well said, Ms. Knight. I knew I liked you.”

  All heads swiveled toward the door. It was Gene DeLampe who walked into the room as if he owned it, wearing a dark red paisley suit with a black shirt. It was hard to tell what made everyone stare at him more—his outfit or his demeanor.

  My attention, however, was on the man behind him, Oli. His shoulders were straight. and his head was held high, looking smart in a navy blue suit. He walked to the end of the table and stood between Jeff and me. He stole a few seconds to glance in my direction. Shadows still lined the delicate skin under his dark lashes, but his eyes were brighter.

  "Good morning, princess. I hope you'll excuse the interruption," he whispered.

  I studied Oli for some kind of clue. “What’s going on?”

  He winked but said nothing as he looked back at Gene.

  Jeff's head rolled on his shoulders, looking exasperated. "Why are you here? Don’t you have some underground deal you should be working on instead of interrupting a tedious speech that changes nothing?”

  Gene leaned close to Oli. “Funny he should say that, isn’t it?”

  Oli chuckled, causing Jeff to glare at him. “Do I need to call security?”

  Gene cleared his throat and straightened his tie. "You might, but first, I’d like to explain why I’m here. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gene DeLampe, and as you were already informed moments ago, I am the owner of a private club called The Cave. I’d vouch for the character of all my members, but then that would include Mr. Farr here, and honestly, after learning what I have about him, I cannot applaud his character.” He glanced sideways at Jeff. “Consider your membership terminated, by the way.”