The Deception (Filthy Rich Americans 3)

His meek voice barely reached to the end of the table. “I’ve elected Marist as my proxy for any voting that takes place today.”

A red flush bloomed up Macalister’s neck and peeked out over the top of his collar, but the color didn’t reach his face. It was too full of a dark, ugly look, and there wasn’t room for anything else. He didn’t have to use words to threaten him because his piercing glare was more than enough, and Liam Shaunessy physically withered under it.

But Macalister abruptly straightened, and a calm washed over him. “You’re terminated, effective immediately.” His focus swung to me. “As you are no longer a proxy for a board member, I’ll ask you to leave.”

I stood there in my nude pumps and powerful red dress, grinning darkly. I am two moves ahead of you. “You can fire him from his job, but you can’t remove a director during a board meeting unless you have cause. Isn’t that right, Royce?”

Excitement flashed in my husband’s eyes. “It’s in our by-laws.”

It was there specifically for situations like these. It protected members from retribution if they needed to vote against the chairman.

Macalister’s stare tried to burn a hole into me as he realized how he’d been trapped. He couldn’t cancel the meeting, stop or delay the vote. I’d put him in check, and now we’d find out if he could survive the endgame Royce and I had created, or if he was going to lose, once and for all.

“Do you have cause to remove Liam?” Mr. Burrows asked. He had a soft spot for Royce and been the easiest to sway to our side.

Macalister grabbed the back of his chair at the head of the table and pulled it out, his usually graceful movements jerky with frustration. “Not at this time, although I strongly oppose that he’s willing to risk the future of this great company and pass his power off to someone who has no experience.”

I strode to Mr. Shaunessy’s seat, which was now mine. “I promise I have what’s best for this company in my mind. And you’re aware, more than anyone, how far I’m willing to go to protect it.” My gaze swept over the rest of the table. “Don’t forget, I’ve already proven my loyalty to every person in this room.”

A few of the men shifted uncomfortably in their seats. What they did to me was safe in the darkness of the dining room, but out here, under the bright lights of the boardroom, there was nowhere to hide.

Mr. Shaunessy took one of the empty seats at the far side of the table because he’d have to stay and observe. I smoothed my hands under my skirt and sat in the chair, keeping my posture straight and my chin up. Alice would be so proud of how I looked as I attempted to destroy her husband. I thought of her in her office right now, probably unaware of what was happening in the boardroom just down the hall.

And once the two Hale men were seated, Royce directly across from me, all nine men in the room set their gazes on me and promptly turned to stone, realizing how dramatic the shift in power had just become.

To say the room was tense was an understatement.

It wasn’t welcoming at the table I’d had to buy, negotiate, and blackmail my way to get on, and I stood out in my red dress from the group of men in dark suits, most of whom were twice my age. But I didn’t fucking care if they liked it or not. A year ago, they hadn’t cared whether I liked being on the table, had they?

Medusa impatiently tapped her polished nails on the tabletop, wanting to get started, hungry to vanquish her foe.

Mr. Burrows was the oldest member of the board, but he was a marathon runner and in excellent shape, making him look like he was still in his fifties. His bright eyes blinked as he was the first to break.

“Right.” He glanced down at the iPad before him. “I hereby call to order this emergency session of the board of directors of Hale Banking and Holding and note that all current members are present for the proceedings. Marist Hale is also present, representing Liam Shaunessy’s interests today as his appointed proxy.”

Macalister dropped his arm on the table with an angry thump and ran the tips of his fingers over the pad of his thumb as he spoke. “Yes, let’s get on with it. Royce, you have something you’d like to say?”

If my husband were nervous, I couldn’t tell. All I saw were the beautifully violent eyes of Ares as he drew in a preparing breath and readied his weapons to strike.

“I was against the purchase of Ascension from the beginning. It wasn’t the right time, or the right company, but my father wouldn’t see reason. I had concerns about the numbers over there and that we were taking on a huge risk, but . . . no, I didn’t speak up about it. I should have, but, frankly, it wouldn’t have fucking mattered anyway. My father is obsessed with winning, whether it’s good for the company or not.”