Smokescreen

“Yeah, he’s bringing a stack of folders according to his assistant.”

“I’ll handle him, do me a favor. Call Stella and tell her I’m held up. See what she wants for dinner and have it delivered.”

“Already done. You’re having pizza tonight. She said it’s Thursday Night Football.”

God, I love that woman.

“I know you do, what’s not to love?”

“Did I say that shit out loud?”

“Yeah, hun. I’m going home. See you tomorrow?”

“Probably late afternoon. Since it’s Friday, I’m going to Stella’s office in the morning.”

“Good Luck, he’s walking in now.”

The intercom cuts off and Edward rounds the corner. His focus is solely on me and doesn’t even acknowledge Dana when he shuts my door.”

“We need to talk,” he says glaring at me.

“Talk.”

“You’ve been so wrapped up in this JOS shit, you haven’t taken New York seriously. They’re threatening to back out.”

“No, they’re not.”

“Bullshit, boy! I’ve been on the phone the last four days with anyone from their project manager to their COO. They’re ready to walk!” he screams at me, veins bulging in his neck.

I get up and walk around my desk, planting myself right in front of him. I lean on the and cross my arms and legs. “Edward, you’re talking to the wrong people. I’ve got this handled. Leave it alone.”

“No! You’ve ignored this company for too long. Working to save JOS was a project out of your hands until you went and sabotaged it with a piece of pussy. Now you ignore future opportunities? I won’t stand for it. Get your head out of your ass and back in the game.”

Rage simmers in my soul and I lose my temper for the first time ever with him. “Never refer to Stella as a piece of pussy again. I’m saving your ass and the companies we own by being lead on this. We’re fucking owning the re-build and our numbers are showing it. This week alone, our stock grew. People are begging to get me on TV to talk about the turnaround. Our investors are making money, you’re making money, and Hurst & McCoy is back in the news—with a positive light for the first time since my dad died. You live in your mansion, cheat on your wife, ignore your daughter’s drug problems all you want. But don’t you ever, ever say I’m not taking this business seriously! You want to ride on the coattails of a company that made some serious shady decisions. Well, that’s not going to happen again.

“I know what the books say and I know too much about you. Keep your shit together, keep Erica away from me, and don’t ever question my business ethics again.”

“You little shit—”

“I’m not little anymore, Edward. I’m a grown man now running a multi-billion dollar company. My dad may have let you be a part-time partner but I don’t see you as a partner at all. Go back to your corner office, your whores, and your pathetic a

ttempts to scare me. But I’m done. The board and I may not have a past like you do, but if I present them with your expenditures, I bet they’d listen to me. Don’t underestimate me. I’m here for the good of the company, but you’ll never treat me like a piece of shit again.”

“Listen to me, you may think you have some control here, but I hold all the cards. I’ve let you get away with fucking around the last few months out of pure respect for your family and the man I called my friend. Get your shit in line or you’ll regret it,” he sneers and stands.

Toe to toe, I’m about six inches taller, but he holds his ground. I don’t look away until he finally turns to leave. No more words are said, but the threat is clear.

My first call is to Jake Freed. He agrees to meet me tomorrow morning for a briefing. Then I call Pedro on his private phone.

“Mr. McCoy,” he greets me.

“Pedro, listen I need to be quick. I want you to watch around the factory closely, tell me if you see anything out of the ordinary.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, but with the new machines coming in and our plans moving forward, it’s good to keep our eyes out.”

“Yes, sir, no problem.” He stalls for a sec and then asks, “Is Stella around?”