Page 61 of Dominant

“You have a right to own part of that company,” I protested. “When I think about all the work you did, for free…” The only person who was doing any work for free. All four of the Andilets were on the payroll for bogus jobs, something I planned to reverse immediately now that I’d wrested control of the company.

She shook her head. “I wanted to give them to you. I don’t want to have them anyway. I’d rather you had them.”

“It should be your company,” I said, the wheels turning in my head. “I’d like you to continue to have a stake in that company, and I have an idea I’d like to run past you.”

The Andilets had never elected an additional board member when the controlling interest was theirs, feeling that their presence on the board was enough. They didn’t think their daughters Jacqueline or Nicole would be interested, and, as I had learned, Jordan rarely even crossed their thoughts. Since Mark and I were the only board members from Abbott Holdings, it had never occurred to them that anything might come up that would force their hand. They had confidently left board seats open.

But when I put Jordan’s candidacy forward, they had unhesitatingly voted for her, believing that she would support their interests, no doubt, should the need arise.

Jordan was nervous about her first board meeting, and the corporate restructuring I planned to force through, but I explained how her parents had deliberately undercut her.

“I had the fewest shares?” she’d asked, her expression unreadable.

I nodded grimly. “When they restructured to become a partnership and issued shares for the first time, they also had to draft a shareholder’s agreement. Their agreement states that only shareholders with a ten percent interest have voting rights. They purposefully excluded you from that. I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad. Jordan, I’m telling you so that you can see them for who they truly are.”

She looked at me, hazel eyes resolute. “I already knew who they were,” she had said simply.

At the board meeting, I had two motions to put forward. The first, my business plan, was met with skepticism and concern from the Andilets, whose trust I had lost during the takeover.

“The chateau will house an exclusive, private members club,” I explained, presenting a slide that showed some of the club’s astounding revenue. “This club boasts some of the most powerful and wealthy members in the country, and its presence at the winery raises the winery’s profile as well.” I flipped to my next slide. “I predict we’ll see an increase in sales of at least thirty-two percent based on information we already have about how much wine club members consume. In addition, these are people with tremendous purchasing power and connections through supply chain and distribution. I’m confident there would be a far greater increase than what I am able to measure with the data I have.”

The vote passed, unsurprising. With Jordan, Mark and myself, we had the majority - but the numbers presented a clear case. The Andilets would be foolish to vote against it, even if they could.

The second motion was to put a CEO in place, effectively dethroning Jennifer and Jonathan, who were continuing to run the winery operations.

It was a gamble and I knew it. Mark and I would vote for.

Jordan, as the CEO candidate I was putting forward, was recused from voting.

I wanted the Andilets to have a chance to redeem themselves, to give Jordan an opportunity at last.

If they voted against and it was a tie, it would simply be a longer process for me to remove Jennifer and Jonathan. For one thing, there was one more board seat available and only I could elect someone to it.

They had to know their days at Chateau Andilet were numbered.

Voting was done anonymously through an app and results were tallied by Marianne.

“Three to one for,” she announced. “Motion is passed.”

I looked up at the Andilets with surprise. Somehow I hadn’t expected it to go this way. At the very least, I hadn’t expected them to split their vote.

Their faces were easy to read. Jennifer looked livid, but Jonathan gave me a small, rueful smile.

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