Page 352 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

“That won’t be necessary,” I say, raising a hand. “We’re doing bad enough without me grabbing a huge payout on my way out the door. I want two things and two things only,” I say.

“All right,” Reeves says. “We’re listening.”

“First,” I start, “I’ll transfer my stock in the company over to whomever replaces me, but I keep all my private holdings. I won’t screw the workers the way you’re going to, but I’m not going to be left humiliatedanddestitute.”

“What else?” Reeves asks, scratching his red chin in anticipation.

“Second, I know I can’t convince you not to move the company,” I say, “but we’re going to do right by all our employees. Everyone gets a fair severance and a recommendation.”

“Define ‘fair,’” Reeves says.

“They keep their benefits for one year after they’re laid off or until they find another job, and they get no less than sixty-percent of what they would have made over the same period,” I answer.

“That’s going to cost a lot of money we frankly can’t throw around right now,” Reeves says. “I don’t know if we can do that and keep the company afloat. After the expense of that building in Mulholland that’s never going to get used. You left us with a state-of-the-art office building in a place nobody wants to go.”

“You have my terms,” I say. “Take it or leave it, but I’m warning you: You leave it, and you’re going to spend the last days of this company trying to pry me out of my office because I willnotleave my people with nothing. And make no mistake, theyaremy people. Either you meet my terms, or I’ll make sure each one of you goes down just as hard as I do.”

“Well,” Reeves says, almost tripping over himself sitting down, “I’m sure we can figure out something, but we’ll need to look into the numbers.”

“I had accounting look into it,” I tell him. “Malcolm will make sure you all get a copy of the full report. You’re right, Reeves, it is going to be expensive, but if we’re going to get through this with any sort of marketability—screw that,” I say. “It’s the right thing to do, and you all know it.”

“And will you be bankrolling any of this personally?” Verne, the smug do-nothing asks.

“We’ll talk about it if it comes to that,” I say, “but I’ve seen the numbers and itisdoable.”

Reeves starts, “Are you saying you’re okay with the company moving to—”

“I’m not okay with it and I never will be,” I say. “But I’m not a fool. For a while, it looked like the company was going to rebound, but I’ve learned enough to know when something’s not working.”

The board talks amongst themselves and I just zone out. It’s a yes or no proposition, but they’re going to say yes. I’m giving them more than they wanted.

In a minute, one of them is going to figure out they can pay the worker’s pensions from the legacy money I won’t be taking and they’re going to run out of reasons to debate.

I had Marly and Malcolm both look into it. These eight who’ve been bemoaning the relatively insignificant cost of the headquarters in Mulholland were going to send me away with more money than I could ever spend—and I’ve developed some expensive tastes. A few years ago, I even had a satellite put into orbit so I’d have something interesting to look at when I’m in the bathroom.

Why? Because I could.

The board finally comes around to the right conclusion and Reeves tells me, “We’ll have to do some more checking, but what you’re proposing should be doable.”

“Great,” I say. “I already have the paperwork prepared.” I press the intercom button just below the table.

“Yes, Mr. Scipio?” Rochelle, the closest assistant I have to the board room, responds through the speaker.

I say, “Would you send Marly in, please?”

“Um, she says she wants to talk to you before she takes anything anywhere,” Rochelle says.

“I’m on my way,” I say and stand. “Well, gentleman, it looks like I’ll be bringing in the contract myself, just as soon as I fire someone. I’d make your move on CEO pretty quick and make it good,” I tell the board. “You pick the wrong kind of evil to replace me and you’ll lose investors than you would with me still at the helm.”

I walk down the hall to Rochelle’s office. Marly is waiting outside and she’s reading through the papers.

“You’re fired,” I tell her.

“Yeah,” she says, “you tell me that so often, I just stopped believing it. Have you read these?”

“I wrote them,” I say. “Well, I had Malcolm help with the legalese, but yes, I’ve read them.”

“Are you out of your mind?” she asks. “You’re just going to give up after all this? Tell me this doesn’t have anything to do with that woman.”

---