Page 56 of One Month's Notice

“This new proposal is certainly more impressive than before.” Rita flicked through the pages, underlining figures in a red pen. “However, it doesn’t quite match what we need for the technology to meet our growing user base.”

“Oh, Natalie. What were you thinking?” Clara shook her head. “We have been over this before. Those investors have been discounted. The numbers just don’t add up. Why are you wasting our time?”

One by one, the rest of the board members muttered their agreement. Nat felt a wave of anger wash over her.

“Because they’re the right company for us, Clara,” she snapped back, her voice echoing around the room.

“Enough,” Michael said. The room fell silent. “While we appreciate your input Natalie, I think it’s best we proceed as originally planned.” Michael cast Nat’s work aside and reached for the agenda.

Nat managed a nod, her hands clasped tightly under the table to steady her shaking fingers. As the discussion moved on to logistics and financial forecasts, she retreated into herself, painfully aware of Michael’s icy gaze from across the table. Clara, perched at the other end like a cat who got the cream, sent a smug glance in Nat’s direction every so often, relishing the tension that simmered between Nat and Michael.

The meeting dragged on, each tick of the clock stretching longer than the last. Finally, they agreed to break for lunch before their afternoon session. The board members filed out, their chatter echoing hollowly in Nat’s ears. Michael lingered behind, his posture rigid and hard lines carved around his mouth.

“Can we talk?” His voice was barely audible above the shuffle of papers and closing doors.

“Of course.” Nat followed him out into the corridor, away from the curious eyes still inside the room.

“I’m really disappointed.” Michael turned to face her, his eyes betraying a flicker of hurt. “You went behind my back, presenting a proposal we’d already decided against. It makes me look like I don’t have control of the company. That I can’t manage my staff. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking about what was the right thing to do,” Nat shot back, her frustration boiling over. “How can you stand there and act like this isn’t a terrible mistake? This deal with Spinigma—it goes against everything you’ve said you wanted for the company.”

Michael’s jaw clenched, and he looked away for a moment. “It’s not that simple. There are other factors at play—financial stability, shareholder expectations. We have been over this before.”

“Since when do you prioritise money over integrity?” She crossed her arms.

“Since I became responsible for the livelihoods of everyone at this company,” he said, his own arms mirroring hers. “It’s not black and white.”

Nat searched his face, looking for the man she knew cared deeply about his work and the impact it had. A face of hard stone stared back at her and she flinched at the anger in his eyes. This time, she wasn’t going to back down.

“Well, I’m not going to seek your forgiveness for standing up for what I thought was right. I just hope this decision doesn’t come back to haunt you.” She turned and walked away before he had a chance to respond. She didn’t want to hear any more of his excuses.

Her heart was still pounding from the confrontation with Michael as she made her way across the office.

“Jamie,” she called softly when she spotted him by the vending machine, his tall frame slightly hunched as he fiddled with a stubborn button.

“Hey. How did it go?” Jamie straightened, offering a sympathetic smile when he saw the look on her face. “Oh, that bad?”

“Understatement of the year.” Her words hung heavy with defeat.

“Come on, let’s grab some lunch. You look like you could use some air.”

They found a quiet corner in a nearby deli, away from the lunchtime chatter and the busy counter. Over sandwiches and iced tea, Nat recounted her ill-fated attempt to change the board’s mind.

“I just thought if I could show them—make them see the other side. But it was like talking to a brick wall.”

“You did what you could,” Jamie reassured her. “You put up a good fight for what you believe in. That counts for something.”

“Maybe.” Nat nibbled on the edge of her sandwich. “But it wasn’t enough. And Michael is furious with me.”

“Hey, there’s still a chance, right? The court case?”

“Right.” She perked up at the mention of what her brother was dealing with. “If the judge agrees the prosecution can go ahead, the board will drop them like a hot potato.”

“Exactly.”

“But we’re running out of time.” Nat checked her watch. “If there’s any kind of delay with the judge’s decision, it will be too late.”

“Don’t give up hope.” Jamie placed his hand on Nat’s, offering her an encouraging grin. “It’s not over until it’s over.”

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