Page 131 of Vacation Friends

Maddie held her breath as she waited for them to make the announcement.

As Tom stepped in front of the lectern, the crowd quieted. “When this company was started thirty years ago, we had a different leader at the helm.” An image of Josh’s father appeared on the screen. “This man right here was a wonderful entrepreneur and innovator that put Benchmark on the map. His death was a great loss and left big shoes to fill.”

Applause sounded.

As it did, Adrienne rose and slipped out.

Why was she leaving before the announcement?

It seemed strange, but she probably had a good reason.

Brody rose a moment later and followed her.

“I’m going to be honest and say that this week has been a tough one,” Tom continued. “A lot has happened. We’ve had great losses. But I know all those we’ve lost would want us to go on. Everyone who works for Benchmark believes in our mission. But we can’t continue forward without reflecting on these lives that were lost.”

Pictures of Jared and Logan filled the screen as somber music played.

They had a moment of silence for the lost employees.

When an appropriate amount of time had passed, Tom continued.

“In a moment, after we announce our new CEO, we’re going to introduce the new products we’re so proud to launch. All of you will be the first to know about this innovative technology we’ve been working so hard to create. Benchmark is committed to remaining on the cutting-edge of the industry.”

More applause.

“What do we do when we face adversity?” Tom continued. “Benchmark has seen its fair share of this in the past, and we’ll certainly see it in the future. Just as we do with our projects, we learn from the past as we hope for the future. We mourn, but we move on. We use setbacks as steppingstones.”

Using Jared and Logan’s death as inspiration to move on seemed uncouth to Maddie. But no one had asked her.

“With that said, we’re proud to announce the newest CEO of Benchmark Technologies. This person is someone who can continue moving us forward and remind us about what is important. Who has a vision for this company. Who has more focus than anyone I’ve ever met. Our newest CEO is . . .”

Maddie held her breath.

Then Tom McLemore announced, “Garrick Joshua Harding!”

Maddie wasn’t sure if a gasp swept through the audience or if it was just her.

After all the plotting and planning on the part of others to dethrone Josh, he’d still gotten the position. The board either didn’t know about his escapades or they didn’t care.

She’d guess they only cared about the bottom line.

A round of applause swept through the crowd.

Josh’s picture appeared on the screen. A picture of him with his perfect hair and winning smile. The picture of fake perfection.

Then Josh strode on stage looking as handsome and put together as ever.

Not that Maddie was surprised. Looking at him now, no one would guess that anything had happened. No one would guess that the woman he’d been sleeping with was killed. That his fiancée had broken up with him. That people who worked for him were dead or missing.

Nope, it was all business with Josh right now. He was the king of compartmentalization.

Before he could say anything, a video started playing that highlighted his accomplishments at Benchmark.

Maddie watched in curiosity before her stomach clenched with disgust.

Josh wasn’t a good person. Maybe most people who got these kinds of positions weren’t good people. Maybe in order to be powerful, people had to fight and claw their way to the top not caring who they hurt on the way.

Which just proved to Maddie that this wasn’t the kind of life she ever wanted for herself.

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