Page 12 of Envy
My employees are trained professionals. Some manage the funds of our current companies and others research potential new additions to the MEH family. The only factor that’s consistent among the investments is the diversity of corporations we’re in league with. That keeps my portfolio sound and all my eggs distributed into many baskets. The only thing that can make today better is a positive outcome to the phone call I’m waiting to receive.
My hands shake and my breathing hitches when my line rings. These feelings of anxiousness haven’t affected me like this in a very long time. I’ve been confident in every business dealing I’ve completed. But so much depends on this one call. I’m personally invested in it, and I’m acutely aware of how it skews my typically shrewd judgment.
“Megan King,” I answer.
“Megan, it’s Charlie. How are you?” His voice is upbeat and a little excited, giving me a reason to hope for a favorable vote.
“I’m good, Charlie. Today is our official grand opening, and everyone is so excited. How are you?” All I want to do is blurt out my questions, but I don’t want to give away my angst. It’s uncharacteristic of me and will raise red flags.
“That’s right. Congratulations. I’m glad I reached you then because I have more good news for you.”
“Awesome. Let’s hear it.”Spit it out already, Charlie!
“The board agreed to your generous tender offer, and they have unanimously voted to accept it. They plan to inform the CEO at their meeting next week, and they’d like you to attend in person as a show of faith. They understand you’ll want to replace the board with your own members, and most likely the senior management team too. They want the CEO to know the company will be in good hands when the deal is final and he steps down.”
“That is the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Great job, Charlie. I love having you as my corporate attorney. You are the best at negotiating smooth takeovers.”
Charlie promises to email me the logistics for the board meeting next week, so I can make travel plans to attend in person.
So much for my plan for a hostile takeover. No matter, though. Walking into the boardroom of Weston Commercial Development, Inc. and announcing I’m their proud new owner will be hostile enough.
See you next week, Wyatt Weston.
********
Nothing can break my good mood today. Not my mother’s constant worry about me returning to Savannah. Not Christine’s insistence that I drop this vendetta against Wyatt and his company. Not even the hot, humid oppression that is called summer in the South. Today, I own Weston Commercial Development, Inc., but Wyatt doesn’t know yet. The board hasn’t given him any forewarning since they voted me in and him out. The lucrative packages I offered them were more enticing than their loyalty to a family they’ve known their entire lives.
Most anyone can be bought for a price. But what I’m getting in return is priceless.
Though I’m never late to meetings and don’t tolerate tardiness from my staff, I purposely wait until the current CEO and his board members are seated and about to begin the minutes before I stroll into the room. Maybe I’m making a grand entrance, but I don’t want Wyatt to have even one minute to collect himself. Charlie is already inside, seated at the table next to the chairman of the board.
“Miss King, thank you so much for coming today. Won’t you please have a seat?” The chairman stands to greet me and shake my hand. He’s ancient, well past the age when he should’ve retired and enjoyed his remaining years at a palatial estate somewhere. But his eyes are kind, and I’ve become somewhat of a master at reading people since I left this state.
The only seat that’s vacant is the one to the right of Wyatt, so I take it while keeping my happy expression intact. Wyatt, on the other hand, has just seen a ghost and could fall out of his chair at any moment. Pity I never learned CPR. After a quick glance around the table, I conclude the rest of the board is around the same age as the chairman, so they probably wouldn’t be much help at resuscitating Wyatt either. Thinking about what a damn shame it would be if Wyatt keeled over and died before hitting thirty puts a genuine smile on my face.
“Megan?” Wyatt weakly calls my name. Shock sets in and rattles his brain, rendering him nearly speechless.
“Miss King,” the chairman stresses, “is here at our request. Wyatt, while we appreciate everything you’ve done for us and our shareholders, ME Holdings has tendered an offer that we can’t refuse. Indeed, it would be against the best interests of our shareholders if we didn’t agree to take it. The board has accepted her offer to purchase Weston Commercial. During the transition period, she’ll replace the board members with her own choosing…and, Wyatt, she’ll replace the senior management team as well.”
“What?” Wyatt’s confusion is expected. The shock of seeing me in his boardroom alone would knock him off kilter. But hearing I’ve just bought his company out from under him and that he’ll soon be out of a job must be soul crushing.
One can hope.
“I’m here today as an assurance the company your family built is in very competent hands. My management team will take control, and it will be a seamless transition.” My fake smile is dialed up to the radiant setting. My tone is calm and reassuring while maintaining an air of authority.
“MissKing, is it?” Wyatt asks, his voice suddenly strong again. My, how it has changed from the eighteen-year-old boy I knew. It’s deeper, yet smoother. Commanding, yet caressing.
“It is.” I look him directly in the eye. I’m not about to start backing down now. Not to him. Not to any man.
“Do you have much experience with a commercial real estate development company?” The indirect challenge is there, but I’m not playing his game.
“Mr. Weston, maybe you don’t understand how the world of mergers and acquisitions works. I’m not here to be CEO and day to day manager of Weston Commercial. I just own it. I’ll appoint a board, and they’ll appoint a CEO and senior management to run the operations.”
“I see.” Wyatt nods his head. He doesn’t appear to be as upset as I’d pictured in my mind…as I’d hoped. “I have a proposition for you. Clearly, since the board has already agreed to the package, you don’t have to accept. But I think it would be in the best interest of everyone involved if you did.”
“And that proposition is?” I press.
“You and I can work side by side through the transition period. I can give valuable insight into the daily operations and what skillset the incoming CEO should have. I can even share my ideas for the future of the company when one is appointed, in case he or she wants to implement them. I’ve worked with this board for years, so I have a good pulse check on what the shareholders expect. I’ll be glad to share all that information with you…and more.”
