Page 38 of His Reluctant Omega

At Jaymes & Associates…

Wilder made his way toward the executive boardroom, mentally reviewing his planned comments as he walked alone. He knew the board was assembled, and when he arrived, he saw his brother was in the middle of the men and holding court, it seemed. The center of attention.

As usual.

Vaughn turned to meet his stare and offered a nod of his head. The other men turned to see where his brother had looked and offered their welcome, as well. Wilder said his hellos as his stare drifted to the large oil portrait of his father behind the chair at the head. It was sandwiched between the ones for his grandfather and great-grandfather.

The weight of their stares was heavy.

“Might we take our seats and get started?” Wilder asked, sensing his brother was up to something.

Outside the windows was a lovely blue day, reminiscent of the one he’d spent in the cemetery. Inside that room, there were more old, gray markers standing sentinel over the past. The board members were curmudgeons, as desperate as his father to retain the tried-and-true measures instead of trying to move the company forward. Progress was a dirty word. If the company had any chance to survive into the future, Wilder needed to look to new, vital projects.

Those board members settled around the massive oak table. All eyes turned his way. “I know you’re all busy, and I appreciate you taking time out of your demanding schedules to be here—so why don’t we get started?”

Wilder took his spot at the head.

Where his father had always sat, presiding over these meetings with an air of confidence and grace he struggled to find in himself. It felt odd to be sitting there, as if he didn’t belong. A little boy, sitting in his father’s seat, feet dangling over the edge.

Animposter.

Wilder pushed the errant thought away before starting the meeting. “I’ll begin with completed projects. We have completed both the Tardif Building and the repairs at the Omega Quadrant wall—as planned, on time.” He grinned. “And both slightly under budget, which will help our bottom line for the quarter.” He glanced around at the smiling faces around the table before glancing down at his notes. “The Harriman retrofit continues, also on schedule. We should complete it this week or early into the next. We have two new projects on the schedule. The retrofit of Hanen Tower begins this week, and we’re breaking ground on Artemis Station next week,” Wilder said. “We’ll send out our best team to the Artemis project. That property is too valuable for us not to focus our brightest and strongest there. But as we know, even our B-team is better than our competition. I’m confident they’ll handle the retrofit with ease.”

“What about the Arc Project?” one of the board members, Amberth Harris, asked. “I know it’s not been in the news yet, but whispers abound. We need to jump in with both feet.”

Wilder turned his gaze to Vaughn—who wore a sly smile, but still shrugged as if he had nothing to do with Amberth’s knowledge of the project—before turning his attention back to the rest of the board members. Amberth held the most shares of the company behind their father, and his presence was always formidable. “It’s a bit too early in the process to discuss that. I’m working on getting a meeting with the Green Trust. Once we have and know what their vision for the project is—thenwe can discuss it.”

“I don’t know, Wild,” Vaughn said as he leaned forward at the opposite end of the table. “The Arc Project could be a monumental victory for the company. Not only would it be the largest build to date, but if done well, it could be just the beginning of a whole new series of projects. The Green Trust has holdings in multiple areas—which could open doors to our company in those provinces. I say this is a chance to grow the firm and take it from a regional entity and into an interprovincial one.”

Wilder glared down the table at his brother, hearing his own words parroted back at him. He bit the inside of his cheek, trying to still his tongue.

“I can’t believe I’m about to say this,but, I agree with Vaughn,” Amberth murmured. “Even if Warden was still at the helm, I would likely want the board to have some say in this project. This could change the company and propel it onward and upward unlike any we’ve ever attempted.”

“Not to mention the financial investment the company would need to make,” another board member stated. “We would need substantial capital beforehand which would likely mean seeking loans or outside investors. We can’t sleep on this.”

“I agree with you all,” Wilder said. “And I have every intention of bringing everything to the board.” He paused. “Oncewe’ve met with them and have a better understanding of what it is they need. We cannot begin making choices now before we even know what it is they require and can formulate a plan.”

“That meeting is imperative,” Amberth said. He turned to the table. “Who do we know at the Green Trust?”

“I’ve already got a call in to some contacts of my own,” Wilder interrupted. “I’ve got this in hand.”

Amberth scoffed.

Wilder sat back in his chair, lifting his chin. “My father had confidence in me or else he wouldn’t have put me in this role,” Wilder said. “Until I give you a reason to doubt me or my decisions as the chief executive of this organization, I suggest youlet me do my job.”

Amberth eyed him, as did several others on the board.

“You’dbestget that meeting,” Amberth said before rising. “I don’t need to sit here and listen to projects underway. We need to eye the future.” He headed for the door, as other board members rose and followed him out.

Wilder sat there, steaming. The disrespect was monumental. None of them would’ve walked out on his father. He hadn’t even finished reviewing everything he’d planned to cover, which, in fact, included a few smaller projects they’d recently signed contracts on. His stare moved to Vaughn, who rose from the opposite end of the table and sauntered closer.

“That went well,” Vaughn murmured, the last of the board to remain.

“You bastard,” Wilder spat, rising to his feet.

Vaughn had the audacity to look surprised. “Me? What did I do?”

“The next time you ask to be left out of a meeting, remind me to say yes,” Wilder snapped before heading for the door. He had to do whatever it took to get that meeting with the Green Trust—or else he’d lose the faith of the board.

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