Page 53 of Nanny for the Bossy Billionaire

I hate that I have to wait. I just hope that I don’t drop dead of a heart attack in the meantime.

18

REID

“Sir, you have a meeting across town in about two hours, Julia says as she walks into my office. “Because of traffic and all the construction going on along that route, I would suggest you leave now in order to make it there in time.”

“Thanks, Julia,” I say.

It’s about time I promoted her. She’s really good at her job. So efficient. I would love to keep her as my assistant forever, but she really has outgrown the position.

Well, I better get going.

I pull my jacket off the coat rack and I’m shrugging into it when my office door bursts open.

Clive is panting as his eyes shift around the room. When they land on me, he says, “Are you heading out?”

“Yes, I am. I have a meeting. What’s up?”

“Um, can you please sit down?”

Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. Clive always has a smile on his face. The fact that he has asked me to sit down with the grimmest look possible sends a chill down my spine.

“What is it?”

“Please, sit down.”

“Clive, fucking spit it out. I don’t need to sit down.”

He throws his hands up and yells at me. “Oh my God! Can you for once do as you’re told? Sit!”

I take a deep breath then retreat to my seat.

Clive sits across from me. “I have some bad news.”

“I kind of figured.”

“About two hours ago, Ernest Packard died.”

My heart sinks and my mouth goes dry. “What?”

“Old man Packard died peacefully in his sleep this morning. That officially means his son, William, has inherited his board seat. Also, I heard that Eve is about to call for a board meeting for two weeks from now. The reason she will give is that she wants to pay her condolences as an organization to William and also welcome him to the company.”

I draw in a deep breath then let it out slowly, and my shoulders sink with the effort. “I guess that’s it then. I’m out.”

“Not necessarily.” Clive looks contemplative.

“What do you mean?”

“If you play ball I’m sure the board will keep you. Ultimately they don’t want to have to choose a new CEO. It looks good that the founder of the company is still the CEO. Plus, there’s the other benefit of you knowing what you’re doing. Finding a competent CEO will be almost impossible. They will be lucky to find someone with half your knowledge and experience. I think most of them who are willing to vote with Eve will reconsider if you go along with their plan. It wouldn’t matter that she wants you out, they’ll keep you.”

“I am not doing that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I will never be somebody who actively contributes to the destruction of this company.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little over the top? There are so many ways around this. You can continue with your own plans for diversification while also taking theirs on. If you’re worried about puttingHarris Tech’s brand on home appliances, we can work around that. We can create a strategic business unit with a different name for those appliances.”

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