Page 46 of Handling the CEO

“Oh, let him be, who gives a fuck what he’s recording,” I make out Jon’s voice and then he appears in the shot, basically granting permission for the video.

I can understand how this will be going bad soon, even from the implications made by Nate that his friend is always drunk.

Jon is stumbling around the room, holding a glass of amber-colored liquid, when he runs into a redhead.

“Hey big man,” she purrs, “you want some molly?” and she hands him a questionable pill, and my breath catches for a second, but he pushes her away.

“Nah, too much for me these days. Got this though if you want to go light it up out back.” He holds up something which resembles a joint and puts his arm around the woman and they disappear from view.

“Fuck man, you got the girl again? Lucky you—just put that out if you start fucking!” Nathan screams after them, and then the video cuts off.

I am quiet, mind whirling, trying to make sense of what I saw and the horrible interpretations of the recording. Although I didn’t see him take anything, and alcohol is not illegal, he is holding a potential joint which—without a medical license—is illegal in Florida. Jon also mentions some historic possible usage of MDMA and Nate is doing him absolutely no favors, blabbering about the women in Jon’s past.

If this video comes up in a custody hearing, it will look as if he has substance abuse issues, and combined with the women, it will tank any potential for getting Tae. I am afraid now when I peer at Richard and I can see the triumph on his face.

“Checkmate DJ—so what will it be? ‘Zephyr’ or Jon’s custody of his sister and, of course… his reputation? You choose, but I expect the software by tomorrow. Oh, and don’t assume that video you have of Miranda to be usable—Ramsay bought the restaurant and will make sure the source is destroyed, and we will say you fabricated it. You know—smart programmer like yourself, a bit of editing won’t be out of reach etc.” He crosses his arms and stares me down, smug bastard, and then sashays out of my house, leaving me reeling.

There is only one thing I can do.

Jon

Iwasbeyondanxiousby the time we got to my former stepmother’s in the morning. My knuckles were white from grabbing the steering wheel, and DJ basically had to yank my hand off it to calm me down. Luckily, Tabitha was on her phone, so didn’t notice. And even luckier, Miranda wasn’t home.

Tae’s disappointment was aparent, especially as she texted in advance, so I tried to distract her by discussing school. Dahlia actually succeeded by talking nonstop about TV shows and admiring her clothes and knickknacks while helping her pack.

By the time we got back to the car, I had to pull my girlfriend to me and kiss her breathlessly, as without her I would have lost it. I almost told her right then and there, on Miranda’s driveway, with my sister looking for her headphones upstairs. With the maid spying on us to check if we won’t steal the silverware. I should have told her last night, when she put her arms around me. Or when she placed the last egg roll on my plate, as she knows they are my favorite.

And I will tell her tonight. I will put her over my shoulder as she giggles and carry her into my bedroom, sit her on the bed and tell her that she is my rock and that I can’t get the smell of her hair out of my mind. That I wasn’t looking for anything when I walked into her brothers’ shop weeks ago, but I ended up fighting with her over a shirt and falling head over heels for her. That I hope she loves me back.

My day at the office has been quite bland, with some audit meetings running over lunch, then time to review reports on sales before we submit them to the board.

I am ready to meet the Lexingtons for the custody arrangement tomorrow before we go to the judge. My lawyer again is delighted we have so much video evidence and has prepared the paperwork for full guardianship to transfer over to me. I wasn’t sure my sister would want to move in with me, but Tae assured me that although she loves her mom, she would rather stay with me and only visit with her every other weekend and on some holidays.

By 3 pm I finish the bulk of my work and think to call DJ to make sure she wants to meet at the house after I get Tae—and realize I am casually planning a school pickup—when my VP walks into my office, with a serious expression on her face.

“Hey Mike, how can I help?” I ask in a good mood.

“Jon, I wanted to invite you to conference room 2. The board is waiting for you there.”

“What?” I almost fall off my seat. “Why are they here? We had nothing set up? Who called them?”

“It is probably better if you come see for yourself,” she avoids the question and ignores me as she goes towards the meeting, leaving me scrambling after her as a kindergarten kid following the teacher.

As I walk in, I am stunned—the entire board is there, people my father knew and some fresh faces. Ten executives sat down waiting for me like an unruly child coming to get scolded. Ever since I took over from my dad, they have been judgemental assholes trying to second guess every move I made. Only by sheer luck and grit I managed to keep them in check and to hold my job as CEO of McAv as many of them don’t approve of me, despite lining their pockets with our profits, with more money than my father ever made.

“Hello everyone, I see I am late for something. Could anyone let me know to what?” I start out strong as these sharks can smell blood in the water and are ready to tear me to pieces if I falter.

Gus Lemkin, one of the ‘old guard’ members with his white hair, fitted three-piece suit and expensive Rolex, points to a chair at the end of the table, like I am interviewing for X Factor. The hell with that, and I take my normal seat in the center, staring them down.

“Jon, thanks for coming on such short notice,” Amelia Ibrahim, one of the newest board members after acquiring a lot of our stock, starts. “Some disturbing news came to our attention, and we wanted to discuss it with you.”

Came to their attention? I glance over at Mike, leaning by a wall, no emotion on her face whatsoever but avoiding my gaze.

“OK, so what is it? Financials are good, Inspection passed.”

They shuffle in their chairs, at least some of them looking contrite.

“Firstly, can you confirm that we had a data breach? I understand we had a case of corporate espionage,” Gus begins the interrogation.

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