“I know, but I can prepare. And the marriage will happen.”
Dad leaned against the soft upholstery chair back. “I’m tired, little girl. I’ve been working for a long time and your mother and I were talking. We don’t know how long it will take until the new formula we’re working on will become cleared for use or profitable. The assholes in Washington are trying to make changes to the way Medicare pays for different medications. Alzheimer’s is predominantly a later-in-life disease. We need Medicare yet we still don’t get the reimbursement we do from private insurance. We’re barely getting by. We aren’t. You know that.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that maybe now, with the payment made and hope on the horizon, it’s time to sell or maybe there’s another answer.”
I jumped from the chair. “No.”
“We could get a better price if we leak the Alzheimer’s rumors.”
“You’ve always been against Big Pharma.”
“I still am. I received a call yesterday that has me thinking.”
“No, Dad.”
“It was from a smaller pharmaceutical company out of Indianapolis, Sinclair Pharmaceuticals. They’ve been working on a game-changing compound to help with PTSD. Damien Sinclair called, owner to owner. He believes we could work out a merger. Both of our facilities are moderate in size. Together we could push for a larger share of the market.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“That’s how the big companies, Pfizer, Roche, and Merck to name a few, became large. Two companies merged to become one. They added another and another. Maybe if we merge, we won’t lose our autonomy.”
My head was still shaking. “Don’t do this. Van’s payment bought us time. Let’s use it.”
“The decision will be up to the executive board.”
“It’s Marlin, isn’t it? He’s pushing to sell. He wanted to sell before. What Skylar said about a wedding gift is bullshit and you know it. Marlin wants out and especially now that Van is involved.”
“I agree that Marlin isn’t happy about Mr. Sherman.”
“Fine,” I said. “Then he and Gwen can sell their shares. You heard Van offer to buy them the other night at his house. We don’t need the Butlers. Let’s get Wade back to where the decisions aren’t up to a board of different families but one family. One, Dad. Ours.”
“And Mr. Sherman.”
“Yes, when we marry, he’ll be part of this family.”
“Waiting could lower our value.”
“Or it could raise it. I know I’m not a scientist, but I can read balance sheets, cash flow and equity statements. I can look at our spending from a new and fresh perspective. Van will help me.”
Dad’s head shook again. “Marlin is against it.”
“Fuck Marlin.”
My father’s eyes opened wide. “Little girl.”
“I need your help. Convince Mom and the Butlers to stick it out at least two more months until the next payment.” I stepped closer. “Come on, Dad. You’ve given your soul to this company. We have new shareholders. I want to know them too. I want all the information, everything including the progress on the research and development and how much we’re spending on that. I’ll stay here in Chicago and devote my time to making this work.”
“You’ll stay here at home?”
“Here in Chicago. Van and I will be staying in a hotel.”
Dad didn’t respond.
“Give me a week or two to learn what I can and meet again with the board. Today I’ll tell them my vision. I’ll capitalize on Van’s financial assistance, and I’ll tell them what I need. It isn’t up to Marlin Butler alone to sink this ship or to deny me the information that as a major stockholder is within my rights to request.”
“You aren’t a stockholder yet.”