“You’re content to settle for mediocrity?”
“No. I’m satisfied to achieve success. I’m okay to contribute to the betterment of our customers. I believe Wade still has a chance.”
The shake of her head was barely visible, if not for the way her spray of bangs swayed.
“The executive board is useless,” I said. “With four members there’s always the potential of a deadlock. Wade needs restructuring from the inside out. The ledgers you allowed me to see show unequitable spending that could be thinned. We have departments, whole departments,” I said a bit too loud, “that sit like rotting fruit on the vine. Call Dad and the Butlers. Ask them to listen to me. I don’t want a vote. I’ll lose. I’m not asking, I’m telling. As soon as Van and I marry, I’m going to clean house. If you’re tired, retire.”
“Julia. This is my father’s company.”
“My grandfather. And he left the shares to me.”
Mom’s lips came together.
I went on, “Maybe he saw what I’ve never tried to see.”
“What exactly do you think that is?”
“That my goal isn’t to make me and my friends wealthy but to make Wade Pharmaceutical successful.”
“Hmm.”
“Say what you’re thinking, Mom.”
She stood. “I’m thinking that it’s easy for you to take such a pious stand when you’re about to marry Donovan Sherman.”
“Maybe it is. And maybe if I would’ve married Skylar, instead of coming to this conclusion, I’d be running scared at the prospect of losing everything. It occurs to me that if one day I have a daughter, I hope she isn’t made to walk a road that will lead to her own destruction.”
“It was hardly annihilation for you to marry Skylar. It would have made this easier. The dominos would have fallen.” Mom let out a breath and her gaze met mine. “Come back when the stocks are yours. Until then, your father and I are in control.”
I hated that Van was right.
My stomach twisted in knot after knot as I reached into my purse and removed a letter addressed to my parents. “I was hoping this wasn’t the way it would go.”
Mom looked at the envelope. “Tell me what it says.”
“It’s a letter from Van’s legal team on behalf of me, his fiancée, promising legal action if anything happens to my thirty-nine percent. It’s a warning, Mom. Don’t sell them or purposely devalue them. Forget the meeting. The next time you see me, I will claim them and then the dominos will fall.”
She stood. “What? You can’t marry without me there, without your father.”
“Bye for now.” I turned and left her office.
I made it all the way to the elevator before the tears escaped, sliding down my cheeks. Through blurry vision, I texted Michael.