Page 23 of A Simple Mistake
“I realise these fourteen aren’t all of our active projects, nor are they the most valuable ones,” Harper cut in, “but what would happen if we lost them all?”
Harper clearlyhadread the shareholders’ report.The copy open in front of him had highlights and annotations on every page.It earned him bonus points in Gareth’s eyes.
“We’re working to protect our time and resource investments, of course,” Julian answered him.“If we were to lose them all, we’d be looking to raise additional operating capital, sell company assets, or reduce our staffing.”
“Thank you.”Harper tapped his pen against his teeth as he stared at the data.“Nobody wants redundancies, and credit is expensive at the moment.Would it help if we suspended this quarter’s profit distribution or at least delayed it until the company’s cash reserves are in better shape?”
Gareth had to remind himself to close his mouth, and even Julian blinked.They’d discussed this very idea and had dismissed it as likely to start a war.None of them had expected aNancarrowto make that suggestion.Wonders never ceased.
“You can’t do that.”As expected, Ronald Nancarrow hit the outrage button.
“Nothing in the company articles forbids it,” Aidan contradicted him.“And it would ease the pressure on our cash reserves.”
“Maybe we should put it to the vote.”Gareth kept his eyes on his notes and waited.
“I willnotbe voting for such a ludicrous suggestion,” Cecily huffed.“As shareholders, we’re entitled to the company profits.”
“Of course we are.”Harper adopted the tone of a nanny placating an irate toddler.It sounded hilarious.“But company ownership is a long-term investment strategy.Would you really prefer to take cash now and have the company fold in a few months’ time for lack of operating capital?”Harper had no more luck making Cecily see sense than Julian had ever had.But he wasn’t letting Cecily and Ronald glare him into submission.
“Suspending the profits distribution for this quarter will help shore up our cash reserves.Aidan is right about that,” Julian said.“At the very least, it will buy us time to defend our projects.Let’s vote on it.For a suspension?”
Aidan, Alex, and Gareth raised their hands.As did Harper.
“You’re voting against the family?”
“Grow up, Cecily.”Harper rolled his eyes.“I’m not so old I need to cash in my chips.I’d rather vote to support my long-term prospects.”
Harper’s words drew spots of red into Cecily’s cheeks.Her lips pinched into a mulish line.“No.”
“Motion carried five votes to two,” Julian said.“Any further questions?”
Gareth tuned out while Julian went through the last remaining slides, Ronald and Cecily silent like a pair of grumpy toddlers.Gareth much preferred the regular board meetings, where ideas and suggestions flew back and forth and left them all invigorated by the decisions they agreed on.Not a single shareholder meeting Gareth had attended had been like that.
“I have some ideas about raising short- and medium-term finance,” Harper said when they’d watched Cecily and Ronald stomp from the room at the end of the meeting.“Can I email you?”
“Please do.”Julian held out his hand.“I’m grateful you decided to hold on to your shares and join us.”
Harper grinned.“I dare say, if Cecily and Ronald are your usual fare.I thought my father was hard going, but those two?Do they do anything useful for all the money you throw at them?”
“Not that you’d notice,” Aidan boomed from the far side of the table.
“Then I’m wondering why you’re putting up with them.”
“I’m beginning to wonder that, too,” Julian replied.
And that, Gareth thought as he followed Alex and Jack out of the conference room, was more progress than he’d seen since joining Nancarrow Mining.
“Penny for them?”Gareth asked as he wended his way through the Friday afternoon traffic.“You look like the poster child for brooding discontent.”
Jack turned his head.Shadows lurked at the back of that silver-green gaze.“Not discontent,” he said, almost too quiet for Gareth to make out over the traffic noise.“Guilt.I wanted to watch that dance class—”
“And instead, I made you sit through Julian’s family drama.”Gareth said it carefully, wondering if he’d screwed up.
Jack shoving a fist into his shoulder proved him wrong.“Don’t be an arse.I don’t blame you.Work is work and watching that meeting was illuminating.But I promised to make our family my priority and I’m feeling as if I broke my word.”
“Welcome to the joys of command,” Gareth said, surprising himself.They’d had that discussion—or one very like it—just the previous weekend.Maybe they hadn’t exhausted the topic yet.“The moment you assume responsibility for more than yourself, internal conflict comes as standard.”
“Good to know it’s not just me.”Jack’s shoulders dropped an inch.
