Page 21 of Bliss with a Billionaire
Heat washed over him at the words, his heart pounding as he slammed a hand on the table. “That’s not true, and I am not going to sit here and let you defame Julia like that. And it’s already been explained to this board. There’s no divorce. We are happily married.”
“If you don’t mind being a cuckold, I suppose none of us should care, either. But still there is a string of trouble that’s been following you around. And it’s been keeping you distracted.”
“I have not been distracted,” Grant answered. “I have improved this company’s bottom line, and I continue to do so. The Solaris project, which I have just secured funding for, will bolster us by another fifteen percent.”
“But that won’t come for months…if at all. Promises, promises, but no results. In two years, what has he done to build your confidence in him? Veronica, you were one of his biggestadversaries. Has he done anything to convince you of his ability to lead?”
The dark-haired woman flicked her gaze to her notes. “Sadly, I remain unconvinced. Julia is a lovely woman, and I’m pleased your marriage seems to be standing the test of time, but the fact remains that there have been repeated mistakes under your leadership.”
She focused her gaze on Grant. “It gives me no pleasure to say this, but a vote for you is an endorsement of the status quo that is untenable. We need a new vision.”
He tilted his head at the words before he shook it. “I have been an excellent leader, and you know that. Your biggest concern with me was my image, and you have to admit that it’s no longer a concern.”
She studied her notes as she flicked up her eyebrows. “I’m sorry, Grant. I just can’t stand with you on this one.”
“I still fail to see the solution here,” Caroline answered. “Voting Grant out leaves us where? A rudderless ship is bound to sink.”
Lydia lifted her chin. “I humbly present myself as a solution.”
Grant scoffed at the words.
Lydia jabbed a finger at him. “And it’s toxic masculinity like that that has put us in this position. Grant Harrington believesno onecan do the job like him.”
“You sure as hell can’t,” he shot back.
“There is that smug arrogance that has led him to make countless errors in his leadership. Whereas, I have more than proven myself with my latest initiatives. I’ve not only built a company that had the wherewithal to become a majority shareholder in one of the most powerful energy brands in the world, but I’ve proven myself on other fronts, too. My shoe brand, LydiLuxe is poised to become a major contender in the fashion world, and my charity, High Heels for High Achievers,is changing lives. And has been celebrated by my ex-husband himself.”
“You made me throw that event,” he argued.
“So, I can be quite convincing, too, apparently,” Lydia said with a chuckle. “At this juncture, can you still afford Grant Harrington as your leader? I don’t think you can.” Lydia finally settled back in her seat, the smirk on her face seeming to be permanent.
“All right, she’s had her say, now I get mine,” Grant growled.
He rose from his seat, adjusting his collar before he spoke. “In the last two years, we’ve navigated unprecedented challenges. And it hasn’t been without missteps, but it’s also come with significant success. We have pivoted on many fronts to expand our holding into emerging markets and launch new projects. These are strategic moves designed to increase our yield.
“While my ex-wife would like you to believe she’s a viable solution, but she isn’t. She has little to no understand of how complex the energy market is. Her…undocumented success in another arena doesn’t make her suitable for this.
“And she’d also like you to believe that my ego is the only thing driving most of my decisions. But that isn’t true either. If I truly believed I was the only one capable of doing this job, I would never have stepped down and named my wife, Julia, CEO of Harrington Global while I ran for Senate.
“Under her leadership, the company’s stock prices rose significantly. Which just proves that I am capable of making excellent decisions on this company’s behalf.”
He sucked in a breath before he made his final attempt to secure his company. “I’m not a perfect leader. But the real question here isn’t just choosing a CEO, it’s choosing a direction for this company. Do you want the one that leads up to continueto be a powerhouse in the industry? Or the one that has the potential to topple the empire we’ve already built.”
Silence stretched in the room as he took his seat again. Had his speech done any good? Even if it didn’t, he’d fought to the end for his company. It was in the hands of the shareholders now.
“Thank you for that impassioned speech, Grant, but it changes little. I demand a vote,” Lydia said.
“Now, wait just a minute, Mrs. Knight,” Mitchell said, adjusting his glasses. “There is another majority shareholder missing from these proceedings. And I don’t feel a vote should be conducted unless a representative from this company is present.”
“Well, that’s news to me,” she said. “And I don’t think we should have to wait.”
Grant narrowed his eyes at his ex-wife. She really played stupid very well. He couldn’t believe she was going to pretend she had nothing to do with this other company who would give her fifty percent when it came time to vote.
“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves here,” Mitchell said. “There is another entity who can match your holdings. That could change the vote entirely.”
“If they were so concerned, why aren’t they here?” Lydia asked.
“Mitchell’s right,” Caroline answered. “Their vote could cancel yours.”
