Page 104 of Isabela

“I have Madison at the front desk,” Gael explains. “You have a press conference in the next hour or so, let’s get your uncle’s office taken care of to see if he has anything incriminating on his computer.”

“A Madison Duncan,” Mr. Bartow answers, making me smile.

“I should probably put my shoes on then, huh?” I ask, moving away to slide my shoes on.

“You’re looking good, kid,” Harrison says with a smirk as I rejoin him to walk to the front desk area.

“That’s all Aria,” I admit. “Shit, my computer is in the conference room. I don’t want to leave my stuff there.”

“I’m coming with you,” he says easily, following me. “So this thing with you and Gael, is it serious?”

“I told you he was coming in hot, Isabela,” Theodore mutters.

“I didn’t know he would be asking about my love life,” I respond to Theodore. “Your father says hello by the way.”

“I did no such thing,” Theodore says, amused as I giggle.

“You’re playing spies, I see you’re my father’s new favorite person,” Harrison teases me. “He so rarely gets to be in the field anymore, mostly by his choice.”

“Tell my son it’s because the Society is such a well oiled machine, I don’t get to have fun anymore,” Theodore grouses, making me shake my head.

“Tell him yourself, Sir,” I murmur. “As to your question, Harrison. Yes, it’s very serious.”

“You know he’s in his late thirties, right?” Harrison mutters.

“Please remind him that I’m also married,” Gael says drolly.

“I don’t think that’s going to help your case, baby,” I respond to Gael. “Gael said you know he’s also married, right?”

Harrison huffs and then nods. “Alright, so we don’t typically pay attention to that in the Society, because so many of us are in poly relationships. I guess I’m being a bit silly, Isabela. You don’t need another parent. You had two amazing ones,” he says.

My eyes get misty as I nod. “Yeah I did.”

The door is slightly open to the conference room, and I ease it open. The air smells slightly sour, making me wrinkle my nose as I walk inside. Most of the board is still sitting at the table, and I hear the end of the clip play.

Did they play it again?

“Gentlemen,” I greet them as I move across the room to get my bag and laptop.

“I motion to take a vote,” one of the members says, surprising me. I almost trip, catching myself on the table as I look around the room.

“Motion granted,” grunts Carl Tibalt, the Vice chair.

“I move to remove Mr. Miles Gardner as chair of the board,” the member states.

“All in favor?” Carl asks.

“Aye,” says the entire board in unison.

“Holy shit,” Gael rumbles in my ear. “It looks as if you’re about to see history in the making, Little One.”

“All in favor of Harrison Travers taking the seat of Chairman?” Carl asks.

“Aye!” the room yells.

“Gentleman,” Harrison says in a hushed voice. “Thank you for your vote of confidence. I accept.”

“Motion carried,” Carl states. “Isabela, on behalf of the entire board, we are so sorry all of this has happened. We had no idea, though it doesn’t excuse any of it. We simply thought the profit margins were falling and it was time to cut and run.”

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