Page 97 of Five Mountain Daddies

“Unfortunately, the board wouldn’t accept that,” I say tohim.

He glances over at Ingram. “Your doing, as we’re allaware.”

Ingram just shrugs. “I have to do what’s best for thecompany.”

Samuel scoffs and goes to say something, but I interrupt him. “This isn’t about that contract, this is about the new one. We need to keep these talks open and figure thisout.”

Samuel nods but he doesn’t look happy. I open up a folder and start going through some of the changes he suggested, line-by-line, while Ingram and his lawyers follow along. Laura is on her phone the whole time, clearly not all that interested inthis.

I manage to get control of the situation and try to engage Samuel, but he’s clearly not interested. He’s busy glowering at Ingram like he wants to murder him, and I feel like I’m talking to a brickwall.

“What if we dropped a vacation day, but increased pay by twenty cents?” I ask, glancing over at Ingram, whonods.

“No thanks,” Samuel says. “Won’t be worthit.”

I sigh. “What will be worth it?” I askhim.

He arches an eyebrow. “The contract I gave you, as I gave it toyou.”

“You know that’s not going to happen,” I tellhim.

He shrugs. “I don’t know what to say then. Maybe we’re wasting our timehere.”

I clench my jaw. I don’t know what his deal is, why he’s acting like an asshole, but I can sense the tension in this room. I know Ingram is the reason for everything. I thought he could put it aside long enough for us to get some work done, but clearly I waswrong.

I look at Ingram and back to Samuel, and I make a decision. “Everyone out,” Isay.

The entire room looks at me, including Laura. “Excuse me?” sheasks.

“Everyone, get out,” I say. “I’m sick of this. Samuel stays. The rest of you,leave.”

Ingram gapes at me. “You can’t… kick usout.”

I stare at him. “I outrank you, Ingram. Getout.”

He hesitates a second. The whole room is staring at him. But finally, he stands up. “As you say, CEO.” He smiles at me, full of venom, and leaves the room. His lawyers follow himout.

“Are you sure about this?” Laura asksme.

I smile at her. “It’ll be fine. Please,go.”

She shrugs and leaves theroom.

I turn back to Samuel and Roy. “I can’t order you out, Roy, but could you please give us some time to talkalone?”

He looks at Samuel, who reluctantly nods. Roy smiles at me. “You got some balls,” he says, before leaving theroom.

I look across the table at Samuel, who stares right back at me. “So, should you start taking off your pants, or should I do it foryou?”

I sigh. “That’s not what we’re doinghere.”

“It’s not? I figured you needed a little stressrelease.”

“No,” I say. “But I think you do. What’s your deal,Samuel?”

He glances away from me. “It’s that fucker,” hesays.

“I know, but come on. We need to get this contract negotiated, for both our sakes. You can’t let him get to you. That’s what hewants.”

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