Page 102 of Executive Decision
“He wants to sell to a VC firm. I need all of us on the same page. We need to stop this in its tracks and keep it out of the media. He’s got cronies and you were right. He doesn’t give a flying fuck about the company. Dad made a bad choice and I just couldn’t believe that.”
“You heard Cal, Davey, he wasn’t all there. I don’t believe he wanted it stripped for parts.”
“The company?” Derrick called, walking over hands on his hips. “Fuck that shit!”
“I know,” Davey agreed. “Well, so, we need to do some damage control. I’m going to sack him, Daphne, but I need you to step up. That plan you’ve worked on? I need you to present it.”
“Okay, but Bernie won’t tolerate?—”
“I don’t really care. I need you to quietly circulate it. Can you do that? Let’s seed doubt and impress people with the vision we do have.”
I shook my head. “Not so fast, brother. If I do this, I need a leadership stake. I did all the work?—”
“And you will need my finesse and connections to make it a reality.”
“We are a team, Davey, but only if you swear you won’t bench me ever again.”
“Daphne, I won’t bench you. I have plans. You need to trust me.”
“Not plans to dump me in HR?”
“Fuck no. Trust and you will see,” Davey said.
* * *
Cal
“Clear my evening and make sure no one will bother me,” I said to Jo.
“What now?” Jo asked. “I hope this doesn’t have to do with your girlfriend’s happy news.”
I did a double-take, “You heard?”
“Oh, it’sallover the news. ‘Legendary Chicago Heiress Settles Divorce in Landmark Settlement’. Check out theTrib’sfront page right now.”
“Well, it does,” I said. “We are going out to dinner.”
“Cal, this is still a bad idea?—”
“Her divorce is signed. It will be finalized?—”
“You shouldn’t count your chickens yet. Look, I think you care about her. Something about her being David’s favorite kid probably doesn’t hurt, does it?”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with David. It has everything to do with how I feel about her. I am allowed a personal life,” I insisted. “She makes me so happy, Jo. She supports me.”
“I am begging you toplease, pleasehold off until after the DNC.. Anything that could distract from your keynote is a bad idea.”
“All we are doing is going to dinner. I’m not confirming or denying anything, but in the past few months, I’ve never taken her to dinner. She has just fought a battle. I want to celebrate it.”
Jo shook her head. “I’ve said my piece, but I stand by it, Cal. This is your choice, but also your sword to fall on.”
35AN EVENING OUT
Daphne
“Well, you look lovely.”
I spotted Mum in the mirror by the front door. I’d waited until the last minute to put in my earrings.
