Charming: A Modern Day Sexy Cinderella Story (29 page)

When Katie and I walk in our front door a few hours later, I give her a hug and wish her sweet dreams before escaping to my room. Shutting the door behind me, I change into my pajamas and then get into my desk drawer pulling out a manila file I keep inside. Rifling through the contents, I select what I want, then pull a shopping bag out from under my desk and take out a wrapped package.

Peeling away the tissue paper, I take the back off of a silver picture frame. Placing the picture I just selected inside, I close the back then bring the frame to my bedside table. The photo is the beach in Cabo. It’s a panoramic view of the shore and off to the side are rocks with water spraying into the sky from the impact. Looking at it makes me sigh with pleasure. If I close my eyes I can almost feel the sun on my face, wind in my hair and the sand in my toes.

It’s the first time since my return I’ve been able to frame an image printed from the many photographs taken while away. It’s also the first time I’ve been able to look at one and feel fondness and not heartbreak. Today was a better day.

My hands are shaking and I honestly don’t know if it’s due to nerves or if it’s because of the three cups of coffee I’ve already had. I woke up with the sun this morning unable to sleep. I was too wound up thinking about the meeting with the board. I actually did something I haven’t done in a long time. I got out of bed, got dressed, put on my running shoes, and went for a jog.

It’s something I did a lot after my father passed away. Running somehow helped relieve my stress. I’m no marathon winning runner by any means, but I can do a fast paced walk, light jog while looking pretty good in running attire, with the best of ‘em. Typically, with every smack of my feet against the pavement I’ve been able to beat the stress or sadness from my body into the concrete. It’s true that sometimes I nearly ran myself sick, not always able to stop, but I felt a need to run until I felt nothing at all.

Nothing.

That’s something that I could walk away with today.

Angelica has been manipulating things behind the scenes for a while. I’m sure she and Jackie had some kind of plan when it came to my relationship with Jeremy and planned on using him to push me out of the company. I remember she intimated that when she told me about their affair, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all. And when she didn’t have Jeremy to use as planned, she determined to use the wedding fiasco against me. And my time with Asher and what happened between us only played nicely into her hands. It gave her the right ammunition she needed to put her little plan into action, I’m sure.

Planting the story in the news about my mental status and allowing herself to come across as the worried stepmother was brilliant really. The board of directors, while old friends of my father’s whom have known me since I was in diapers, are old fashioned. They will protect the company they helped build at any cost, and if that means pushing the founder’s daughter and CEO out in order to preserve its reputation and standing that’s what they will do.

I get it. I do. Our company gains clients because of our unmatched reputation in this industry. It’s a company built on integrity and intelligence. How can we expect to thrive and gain new business when potential clients could be worried that the CEO is out of her mind? Or that I could embarrass their company’s voice or brand?

I have no idea what’s going to happen today, but I know that I’m not going down without a fight. From the information I’ve been able to gain from gossipy board members, the rumor mill at work, and from my assistant April, they are under the impression that I completely lost my mind over the heartbreak of Jeremy’s betrayal. Some of the board members were at my wedding; they saw first hand how that went down. And I’m told that Angelica told them that I was on medications for a long-term mental health condition. One that had never been exposed to protect me. I suppose I can see why they might think I’d lost my mind. I suppose a lesser woman than me could.

Then there’s my marriage to Asher. They believe that it was a quickie wedding because I was reeling from the loss of Jeremy. That I was acting out. Or further evidence of my instability and irrationality. It doesn’t help that there were people that came forward with stories about our time in Cabo. Asher’s “friend” Spring gave an interview telling the press how worried she was about Asher because his new bride seemed “unstable.”

The woman that took a picture with Asher at the restaurant and kissed him on the mouth, sold the photo to the press and gave an interview stating that I almost “lost my mind” when she kissed Asher, her friends that were nowhere near the table when it happened, backing up her story and adding details about how I yelled and screamed for them to get away from “my man.”

The man that offered to help me with my sunscreen snapped photos of Asher and I together. The weird thing is that he took them not only of us at the pool but getting ready to go out into the ocean on our wave runners too. That means he had followed us which is incredibly creepy. His story stated that I flirted and came onto him, asking for help with the sunscreen, and that Asher lost his mind and almost hit him for touching me.

I mean really, I’m not sure why Hunter was so worried, if anything, it sounded like poor Asher had trouble reeling in his crazy wife. My guess is he’s eliciting more sympathy than anything else.

It’s a real possibility that the board is going to ask me to step down and submit my resignation or put me on a forced leave of absence until I give in and resign. The thought of losing my father’s company makes me ill.

Smoothing my skirt down my thighs before I step out of the car that has taken me to the office building, I straighten my jacket and force my head high when I walk into the office like I have each day since my return. Never let them see you sweat.

When I reach my office, my assistant is there immediately with a cup of coffee like usual. I shouldn’t take it from her considering the cups I’ve already had, but I do. “Most of them are already here and are in the boardroom,” April tells me and I nod, unable to find words. “Five minutes,” she reminds me.

Turning toward the large window in my office I take in the view of the city I love. Forcing myself to inhale and exhale, I remind myself that no matter what happens today, I haven’t done anything wrong. And if I’ve learned anything over the last couple weeks it’s that when things happen out of our control, there’s nothing I can do. And it’s senseless to worry. All I can control is myself. I can live by the morals my beloved father and mother instilled in me, I can be true to myself, I can have courage and be kind, and I can trust that while it may not make sense to me at the time, that the path we walk is all part of a greater plan - and all I can do is walk down the road and have faith that it will all work out in the end. And it will. No matter what happens inside that boardroom today.

With one final deep breath, I leave my office and go into the boardroom. Everyone is here. Including Angelica. As soon as she sees me she smirks and I look away immediately and take time to meet the eyes of every person there before I walk to the head of the table. “Hello everyone. Shall we begin?”

Why does it not surprise me that Angelica was elected to do the talking? Funny considering she holds less stock than anyone else in the room. “Let’s not waste time with formalities. You know why you’re here. The board and I have serious questions about your ability to run this company given your recent…behavior…indiscretions.”

“My indiscretions.” I repeat.

“Yes. This company is founded on honesty, hard work, and a good solid reputation that’s capable of promoting businesses via new and innovative approaches that support them in achieving their goals and realizing excellence. Not only do we strive to increase their revenue, we are known for increasing their market share, extolling the excellence of their products, and helping them achieve a reputation of reliability and credibility while enhancing their stature within their industry. ”

“I’m well aware of what this company does, of its mission statement, goals and values. You may recall, that I helped fashion those.”

“Good, then you’ll understand that when your own behavior exposes compromised moral judgment that we’re concerned about our reputation and the subsequent loss of business from existing and new clients. They need to be able to trust that their business is in good and capable hands. Given your mental instability right now, I’m not sure that your position as CEO is in this company’s best interest.”

“Unbelievable,” I mutter.

Pamela, a partner and friend of my dad’s almost since the company began speaks up, “Ella, you have to understand that we are concerned. No well-respected business is going to trust our company with their future if they aren’t comfortable with the CEO that runs the corporation. That’s simply fact.”

Henry, a sweet man that used to sneak me candy when I would wait in my father’s office for him to finish up work sometimes speaks next, “We know you’ve been through a lot. Maybe it’s a good idea to take a leave of absence until you’re feeling better.”

“I’m feeling fine,” I say exasperated. “Anyone else? If not, then let me say a few things. Normally I would be angry that my personal life is under scrutiny. Normally, I would state that it isn’t anyone’s business. In fact, I’m sure that some of the conversation and discussion is violation of the law, and I’m sure HR would agree. However, given the situation, I will indulge you - for now. As you know, my marriage to Jeremy didn’t exactly go to plan.” I almost cringe at my description, but how else would I describe it? “Just before I was due to walk down the aisle, I was told by my stepsister and stepmother that Jeremy had been having an affair with my stepsister. I’m sure you remember that Angelica, you were there.”

“See what I mean?” She says to everyone. “That never happened.”

“However what you don’t know is that before I found out that little tidbit, I had already elected not to go through with the wedding. I wasn’t in love with Jeremy, I never was. I had the mental clarity to decide that marrying someone I didn’t really love was a mistake. There is no question that I could have handled that day differently, but I handled it as well as I think reasonable given the entire situation. Then, as you all know, I decided to take my earned, and might I add, well-deserved time away, the time that had been planned for my honeymoon, as my vacation. And yes, while I was in Cabo I met a man and we were married, in a non-binding, non-legal wedding ceremony, but the supposed stories of my behavior printed in the paper are simply not true. My time with Mr. Charming, was not a slip in judgment. I did nothing that would undermine the integrity or reputation of this company – or my own. And quite honestly, I’m not sure what I can do or say that can convince you of any of this. You see, at the end of the day I know it’s going to be her word against mine. What do you want me to say here? How can I convince you that none of the stories and rumors are true? That the fact that my wedding didn’t occur isn’t some tragedy that I’ve had to endure, that sent me over some figurative edge, but rather, was my choice. I would be happy to conduct an interview in the press stating the truth. I have not done so out of respect for all of you and this company. Would you like me to undergo a psychiatric evaluation? Fine. I’m appalled, infuriated, and simply amazed that you would so easily believe a rumor instead of me, someone you’ve known for years, someone who has been unwavering in her dedication, loyalty and passion about this company. And in truth, someone who has steered this company since my father’s death to yield more revenue that has benefited each and every one of you around this table. Yes, it astounds me that I am needing to stand here and defend myself. So tell me, what is it you would have me say or do? But let one thing be clear, I will not admit to something that is untrue to meet your needs and I will not apologize for something that is not my fault, or for which I have no control. As always, I’d prefer to let my history of work do my talking for me. And one more thing. I have learned, that while I may be young, time is precious. It is sacred. And I will not waste any more of mine or yours on this topic. We will resolve this now.”

Something comes over me and I realize I’m simply done playing their game. I don’t owe them a damn thing. “My father,” I say slowly looking around the room at all of them again, “he would be ashamed of every single one of you. He led you all to be so much better than this. And so have I.”

There are gasps in the room, but I barely hear them. Pushing my seat back from the table, I stand to leave. Before I can take a step, the door bursts open and my eyes swing to the doorway.

I’m frozen.

Time stands still.