Chapter 7 - SEVEN WORDS
After Harrison said, “Release her immediately. She’s my successor,” nobody moved.
Not really.
Not emotionally.
It was as if the entire ballroom had forgotten how to breathe.
Marcus stared at Harrison.
“I’m sorry?”
Harrison stepped farther into the room.
“You heard me.”
Vanessa looked at me.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at Harrison.
“Successor to what?”
Harrison’s eyes stayed on Marcus.
“My position.”
A murmur rolled through the guests.
Marcus laughed.
It sounded wrong.
Forced.
“You’re joking.”
“I don’t joke about succession.”
“Harrison, this makes no sense.”
“It makes perfect sense.”
“She has no executive experience.”
I finally spoke.
“Actually, I do now.”
Marcus turned to me.
“What?”
I held his gaze.
“For the last six months, I’ve been working directly with Harrison.”
The color drained from his face.
“No.”
Dana appeared behind Harrison.
“Yes.”
Marcus looked around the room.
He needed an ally.
No one stepped forward.
“This is insane.”
Harrison’s voice became colder.
“What was insane was ordering security to remove a voting shareholder from a company event.”
Marcus blinked.
“A what?”
“A voting shareholder.”
Vanessa whispered, “Marcus…”
He ignored her.
“How many shares?”
I reached into my clutch.
Pulled out a folded page.
Handed it to him.
He read.
His eyes stopped moving.
Then he looked at me.
“This is fake.”
“Helen’s shares,” I said.
He looked back down.
“My aunt’s trusts transferred voting control to me after her death.”
“You never told me.”
“You never asked.”
“That makes you—”
“The largest individual shareholder,” Harrison finished.
Someone near the bar whispered, “Jesus.”
Marcus handed the paper back like it was burning him.
“This changes nothing.”
Harrison tilted his head.
“Interesting choice of words.”
“You can’t hand her your job because of family connections.”
“No.”
Harrison smiled.
“I’m handing it to her because the board voted.”
Marcus froze.
“When?”
“Forty-eight hours ago.”
“You held a board vote without me?”
“You were recused.”
“Why?”
Dana opened the black folder.
Harrison’s voice dropped.
“Conflict of interest.”
Marcus stared at him.
“What conflict?”
Harrison turned toward the stage.
“Since you wanted a public evening, Marcus, I think we should continue publicly.”
He walked toward the microphone.
Guests slowly turned.
Marcus didn’t move.
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“What is happening?”
He whispered, “I don’t know.”
That was the first honest thing he had said all night.
Harrison stepped onto the stage.
Tapped the microphone once.
Then looked out over the ballroom.
“Ladies and gentlemen, before dinner continues, the board has an urgent governance matter to address.”
Marcus’s face went pale.
Dana stood beside me.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Good.”
I looked at her.
She smiled.
“Means you understand how serious this is.”
Harrison opened the black folder.
“Marcus Whitmore, please come to the stage.”
Marcus didn’t move.
Harrison’s voice sharpened.
May you like
“Now.”
And that was when Vanessa suddenly turned toward the exit.
