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The guys weren’t joking when they said their families have been grooming them to take over their business empires, because I swear even still in high school they’re probably more suited to run a multi-million-dollar company than most seasoned fifty-year-olds.
According to Arlo, everything about this meeting will be a powerplay tipped in our favor, culminating in the main event at the end. From the way the room is laid out, to the way we plan to lead the meeting, we’re the ones in control.
Just like the other times we’ve been together, Tally and I are sat next to each other in the middle of the row, Carson beside me, Arlo beside my sister, with Olly to Arlo’s right and Wats to Carson’s left. All of the guys are dressed to impress in beautiful business suits, while I’m in a fitted black pencil skirt, a black tailored jacket, with a pink cami beneath it, and Tally’s in a deep red 1940’s style dress that hugs her curves. If nothing else we look the part.
“It’s time,” Olly says, barely restrained glee pouring from him.
Looking to my sister I take in her warm, happy eyes and feel her calm spread to me, as I turn around, forcing my expression into neutral disinterest and turn towards the doors, my hand still gripping Carson’s tightly below the desk where no one can see.
As the ten men, including my father, all file into the room I swallow down the nerves that try to flood to the surface, I know how to use my game face, another useful skill my mother taught me, and I won’t let these men intimidate me.
“Good afternoon gentlemen,” I say politely. “Thank you so much for joining us today. Please take a seat.”
The men all glance at one another in question, but when the first sits, the others follow suit, all except for my dad.
“What’s going on? What is the meaning of this?” he demands, his face red and angry.
“Freddie, why don’t you take a seat,” Arlo says, his voice calm, the threat in his tone impossible to ignore.
Reluctantly, my father lowers himself into the only empty seat, glaring contemptuously at us.
“Perhaps at this point introductions may be a good idea,” I say. “I am Carrigan Archibald, this is my twin sister Tallulah Archibald, then we have Arlo Lexington, Oliver Montgomery, and to my left is Carson Windsor and Watson Hilborn.”
“You still haven’t told us what you’re doing here,” Dad jeers. “This is a shareholders meeting, not a school project.”
A dry laugh comes from Arlo as he smiles. “As I’m sure you’re all aware a lot of Archibald Inc shares were sold recently following the change in beneficiary in the Archibald Estate. That forty-nine percent was purchased by four different companies.”
“Kosto incorporated,” Olly says, lifting his hand into the air and waving.
“Osveta Holdings,” Watson says.
“Karistus,” Carson says, with a fuck you smirk.
“And Ceartais,” Arlo says, lifting his hand in a condescending salute.
“Of course that leaves the remaining fifty one percent, which is owned equally between myself and Tallulah. Welcome to a new regime gentlemen,” I say, faking as much bravado as I can muster.
“No,” Dad cries. “That’s not possible.”
“If you’d like to turn to page one of your booklets, you’ll find the legal documentation of ownership,” Tally says, so happily that I have to hold back the grin that’s trying to break free.
“We don’t plan to tell you how to suck eggs,” Carson announces. “You’ve all proven that you’re good at your jobs given how successful Archibald Inc has continued to be over the last four years since Harold’s death. However, we do have a couple of issues that we need to address.”
From this point on the guys take over, running the meeting how we planned, while the men all stare at us, some obviously more comfortable with their new teenage bosses than others. My eyes stay focused on my dad, his skin a sickly gray color. His lips are downturned into a stunned frown as he just stares at the papers in front on him, his eyes flicking back and forth over the legal documents that prove that between the six of us we now own Archibald Inc in its entirety.
He looks like he’s aged ten years in the last forty minutes, and a sick sense of satisfaction rolls through me at watching him suffer. After the guys have discussed the changes that we plan to make to the business, I’m shocked to find the room full of smiles and nods of agreement.
I look to my sister and she smiles back at me, before she addresses the room. “We know we’re young, but Archibald Inc is ours now and we intend to see it prosper long into the future. My great-grandfather played an essential role in the running of this business and in the future one of us will step into his impressively large shoes, and with your help we’re confident we can uphold the Archibald name for generations to come. With that in mind, we’ve come to a unanimous decision that we’re hoping you’ll support us on.”
“Freddie, would you mind standing up?” Arlo asks, a wide, unassuming smile on his face.
Dad jolts to attention and looks around the room, his eyes falling on all of us smiling at him and openly encouraging him to stand up. Reluctantly, his pushes to his feet, his lips parting as a question forms on his lips.
“Dad,” Tally says sweetly. “You’re fired,” she announces succinctly. “Your termination is on the grounds of gross misconduct and misappropriation of company funds. We’ve had it brought to our attention that on a recent trip to Marrakesh you used the company jet, property, and expenses allowance under the guise of visiting new clients, but we have proof that instead you spent the time on an impromptu vacation with your wife, meeting with no potential clients, resulting in zero revenue made to offset against the trip. Unfortunately for you, Archibald Inc prides itself on its hardworking ethos and fortitude towards constantly striving for success. As an organization we cannot allow one bad apple to make a mockery of our ancestors’ perseverance and drive to succeed. On this occasion we won’t be pursuing any legal action against you, but we ask that you return to Archibald Inc now and clean out your office, or alternatively we can have security do that for you,” she says with a wide smile.
“You…” Dad stutters. “You can’t do that.”
“Actually, we can,” I say, pushing up from my seat and bracing my hands on the table in front of me. “Tally and I aren’t just majority shareholders, we’re also directors as per Great-grandfather’s will, so perhaps a motion. All those in favor of the termination of Frederic Archibald on the grounds of gross misconduct and misappropriation of company funds, please raise your hand,” I say, never taking my eyes from my father, as every person in the room lifts their arms into the air. “Motion carried,” I say, allowing my lips to tip up just enough that he can see. “You remember Greg, our former driver, right? He’ll take you to the offices to collect your things.”
