The Truth

Ooh, those are fighting words, Paul! I’m about to show you firsthand what you should put some stock in . . . my left fist and my right one. Bam-bam . . . you’ll never see ’em coming if you keep talking about my man like that.

Despite my inner ‘put ’em up’ thoughts, Daniel takes Paul’s insult in stride. “I respect that. It’s the way I work too, ninety-five percent of the time. And yet, when my gut speaks, I listen. Or well, I should. There’s data on that too. ‘Gut instincts’ are likely holdovers of our more primitive brains cataloguing and patterning things we haven’t consciously noticed yet.”

“I can respect that too.”

“This time, though, I had that feeling and didn’t listen. Because the data kept saying something different. Still, that feeling never went away, and I should’ve listened. Maybe if I had, we wouldn’t be where we are.”

“Which is where, exactly? Quit beating around the bush and tell me. Out with it.”

Paul, for a tech guy and company president, is clearly not the experienced iceman Daniel is, and Daniel holds up a hand for calm. “The good news is, my reticence had nothing to do with your company, so to speak. The data does seem to be as good as it shows. But unfortunately, we have a staffing issue. It seems we have foxes in our henhouses.”

“Shit,” Paul says, instantly catching on to Daniel’s meaning. He leans forward, suddenly extremely interested. “I need to know who immediately.”

Daniel explains about his unease with Mark and Brandon and his investigation, which led him to one of TRE’s employees. “Although Tiffany is the one who put that together.”

He looks to me, giving me the floor. I didn’t need it. In fact, earlier today, I said I didn’t want it. But now? Seeing the look in Daniel’s eyes has me feeling like a fucking queen boss, and I thank him silently for it.

“I work in administration at Fox,” I explain. “We noted that Mark and Brandon were receiving calls from the same woman. Initially, we assumed it was personal in nature,” I say delicately, “and while we do believe it is, there’s a definite professional angle too. I witnessed firsthand that Brandon received paperwork on TRE corporate letterhead from Layla Franklin.”

Paul’s forehead wrinkles, his brows nearly lifting all the way up to his bald spot. “Layla Franklin? She’s one of my head contract lawyers. I don’t believe it.”

“I understand the sense of betrayal. I’m battling it myself,” Daniel confesses. “Please, don’t take my word for it. Feel free to do your own due diligence, of course.”

Paul mulls that over as Gina looks back and forth between the two men. Where I had felt like the ‘odd man out’ during introductions, obviously being judged as different than the older and wealthier Montgomerys and Daniel, now, Gina is sitting stoically while we discuss business and the potential ramifications of this news.

It’s pretty clear that whatever she does besides wear nice brooches, it has nothing to do with business.

“I will.” Paul traces a finger around the rim of his scotch glass thoughtfully as the waitress puts down our entrees. Nobody touches them. “But let’s assume you’re right about Layla and your employees. Where does that leave us? We’re deep in negotiations and contract revisions.”

Daniel nods and drums his fingers on the table, looking for all intents and purposes like this is his first time thinking on the matter and this isn’t the culmination of a lengthy discussion about whether TRE was worth pursuing at all after this news. “First, I believe in what you’re doing at TRE.” Paul nods in acknowledgement of the assessment, and Daniel continues, “My employment contract with my acquisitions team provides for a bonus from any successful closing they bring to Fox. I find it helps them be invested. Do you have any such thing with your legal team?”

Paul shakes his head, giving Daniel a curious look. “No. But I do have them on billable hours, with bonuses for certain situations like contract projects, so this deal would ultimately be beneficial for Miss Franklin as well.”

Daniel hums, not surprised. “I see. With both of us having a vested interest, I move that we dissolve our current contract for acquisition. It will prevent issues within the team working on the front line of the project and save financially for us both. Once we do so, I will be terminating Mark and Brandon with cause and reporting them for insider trading. I suggest you do the same with Layla Franklin. After a reasonable time, you and I will reconvene and renegotiate a new contract directly without the conflict of interested parties. That is, if you’re agreeable.”

It’s coldhearted on the surface. By firing Brandon and Mark, there’s no bonus to pay out. And given what Daniel told me today, it’d be a hefty bonus to both men. Some would accuse him of doing this just to keep that money for the company, but I know better.