Blackbird (A Stepbrother Romance #1)(8)
In the same neutral voice she begins laying out the terms, and what Amsel has to offer. It’s very generous, if you’re an idiot. She’s asking them to put themselves in her hand, and the only person who cares less about any of these men than each other is Evelyn. If they’re smart they’ve studied and if they studied they know she’s going to give the company six months to turn around or gut it and pour the money from selling off the equipment into another takeover like this.
One company in five that Amsel has acquired since Eve took over the company has been broken down and sold off to competitors. I wonder if she ever thinks about the consequences of her actions. My father would be disgusted at what his name has come to represent in the circles he traveled. A shell of a company run by a frigid bitch on one side, his ex-con son on the other, a walking embarrassment to the family. God knows I did enough embarrassing shit in my youth, but who doesn’t?
“Thank you, Ms. Ross. We’ll take it under consideration,” Thorpe says.
There’s a note in his voice she doesn’t like, by her scowl.
“You may remain if you like, to hear the counter offer.”
I’m not going to lie. That was definitely my idea.
I saunter up to the podium and open up my attache. I don’t have a projector, nor do I have a presentation. Instead I pass out folders. Thorpe has already seen the proposal, this is for the rest of the board. They open and I see their reaction when they lay eyes on what I’m proposing.
“Eve has done a good job of explaining why you’re screwed, so I’ll spare you a retread of the gory details.” I shoot her a glance. “Thanks, by the way. You saved me from talking myself raw.”
“Young man,” one of the older board members says, “I don’t appreciate your tone.”
“I’m not here to sell you my tone. I’m here to save you from her.”
They all look at Eve. She shrinks just a little into her chair, her eyes wide. When Eve gets mad, her eyes go wide and she tucks her bottom lip under her teeth. She does that now, and her hands go white as she grips the arms of her chair. Whiter, anyway. She’s furious.
Good.
“The details are in the papers I’ve provided. Bottom line is this. I want thirty percent of the common stock, for which I am prepared to pay generously.”
“With what?” Evelyn snaps. “What do they pay you in prison, a dollar a day to stamp license plates?”
“Miss Ross,” Thorpe says, a hint of warning in his voice.
All the color, such as it is, drains from Evelyn’s face. It’s been a long time since anyone but her father has taken that kind of tone with her. I can read it plain as day in her face.
“I’ve provided all the necessary information for your due diligence. My plan is a more hands off approach than Eve’s. I’m not here to eat your company alive, I’m here to keep it afloat. The union and your creditors will get what they want. In addition to market price for the stock, the group I represent will extend an interest-free line of credit to cover Thorpe’s liabilities for the next two years.”
“This is absurdly generous,” another of them says. “What’s in it for you?”
“It’ll pay off when I triple the price of your stock, and I will.”
“How?”
“I’d rather not say in front of the competition, but look at the terms. If the stock price does not in fact triple by the one year anniversary of the day you sign the papers, all the stock I purchase reverts back to you. I’m going to bet with my money that we can turn this around.”
“Who’s we?” the old man says. “Ross has a point. Did you dig out of your prison cell with a spoon and find a treasure chest?”
I smile at him where Eve would wither him with a look.
“No, but my father’s name used to mean something in the financial world and I want it to mean something again. I called a lot of friends, all of whom have been burned by what used to be my father’s company. Again, all the information you need to make an informed decision is in the packet I passed out. Look, I know I’m asking you to do homework on a Friday…”
Four of them chuckle softly.
Gotcha.
“…but it’s me or her. Do I need to tell you what happens if you hand over the reins to her? My plan involves bringing in consultants. Her plan involves removing your entire management staff and replacing them with her cronies. She’ll increase your efficiency, alright. She’ll fire the union workers, close down the plant and hire scabs somewhere else. She’ll cancel contracts with your suppliers and start using substandard product from suppliers she controls. She’ll stick knives in your backs from a dozen directions and squeeze out as much profit from the company as she can until the reputation of the brand is ruined, and when it’s not making money anymore she’ll exercise her rights to tear it all apart and sell everything off to pay off the company’s creditors, which if you research the matter, you will find all belong to her. She’s already got you in her jaws. When you sign her papers she’ll shake you and snap your neck. My plan is a way out. If we fail, you’ll be no worse off than if you sign on with her and go under the Amsel umbrella. If you say no she’ll start the wheels on a hostile takeover. She probably already has.”
Evelyn is staring daggers into me.