Chapter 29
That went a lot easier than I expected. Which told me that I was missing something. I had really expected her to put up more of a fight and when she didn’t it set off my alarm bells.
Which makes me think about the conversation she had with Alan that mentioned inheritance‘
and ‘twenty–fifth birthday. Much as she was now done at Fredericks Design Co., I know I am
not yet done with her. No doubt the same applies to her father.
Speaking of her father, I motion to Alana to have Alan brought in by his security team. We could hear him coming down the hall. His blustering booming voice trying to exert authority.
he no longer had.
“I do not need you to show me where the conference room is, I built this damn company, How dare you try to lord it over me. I own this place!” frustration and anger evident in every harshly spoken word. He barged into the room ahead of the security guard, flinging the door open hard enough it smashed into the wall. He started to berate Alana, but I stood up and slammed my hand down on the desk which quickly turned his gimlet eyes in my direction..
He began to shout at me, hoping to intimidate. “Anna, how dare you…”
I cut him off. “Alan Fredericks, sit down and shut your mouth. You are not in charge here. I am.” My voice dripped with ice. “Effective today, you are removed as a member of the Board of
Directors, your stipend ends here and now. You are forever banned from setting foot on any property owned by Fredericks Design Co. Do I make myself clear.” I grated out through.
clenched teeth.
He didn’t take long to respond. “You have no right to do this! You can’t remove me as at Director. I built this damn company. My name is on the sign out front. Who the hell do your think you are?” If he thought he could bully me, he was wrong.
“I don’t think, I know who I am. And that is the SOLE Owner of Fredericks Design Co. You built nothing! My mother, Iris Fredericks built this company with her talent, her hard work, and seed money from a business loan. And I most certainly do have the authority to remove you from
the Board of Directors.”
I looked at Tony, who then pulled out a copy of my mother’s will, as well as the Policy and Procedures document for the company. He then proceed to prove to Alan that not only did I have the authority to remove him from the board, I had a duty to do so.
“Iris Fredericks will clearly states that you would retain a seat on the Board of Directors only so long as you strictly adhered to the Policy and Procedures of the company. Any breach of that would result in immediate removal from the Board, and removal of the stipend, as well as
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any and all financial benefits. As of today, your company health benefits and company credit card have been cancelled. The company car has been seized by security and any personal belongings are waiting for you along with those from your desk.” Tony delivered this information with relish.
Alan’s stare never left my face. “You need a reason to terminate my position on the Board. I see no proof of any wrong doing on my part.”
Alana slid a legal size envelope over to Alan, instructing him to open it. “All the proof we need is there in that envelope. You should take time to review it.” Her cold demeanor must have clued him in that we had more than enough proof to remove him. “Everything there is backed up by audio/video security camera footage. We have enough to have you charged with fraud, extortion, corporate sabotage, professional sabotage, professional misconduct, condoning workplace s**** harrassment, and attempted theft.”
He opened the envelope and began studying each document, clearly stunned there was so much verifiable documentation of his crimes. “How? There is no way you. I don’t understand. How did you get this?” In the face of overwhelming evidence, he was finding it hard to
formulate sentences.
“You should know how we have access to all this.” I shook my head in disgust. “If you had been doing your job as a Board Member the way you should have, you would have read the
memo sent out when I took ownership of the company. Security cameras were placed in every
area of the building, except the bathrooms. Footage is recorded 24/7/365, duplicated and stored in several locations to prevent loss.
His reaction to this bit of news spoke volumes. “Security cameras? Where?” he practically
screamed.
“As I said in every area of the building, other than the bathrooms.” My smirk set him off.
“You f**king b*tch! That’s illegal. You can’t do that without written permission! I’ll
I’ll sue you for
invasion of privacy!” His face was crimson red and spittle was flying out of his mouth as he
screamed at me.
‘Not illegal when the employees and Board Members have signed acknowledging they know
of the cameras and consent to being recorded.” Tony’s response was fast, as was his sliding a
copy of the consent form signed by Alan down the table to him.
Alan grabbed it, read it, then tore it into tiny pieces that he threw in my direction. “See where
that gets you, b*tch.” He spat.
I just laughed as Tony replied to Alan’s temper tantrum. “That was a photocopy, Alan. The original is safely tucked away where it can’t be destroyed. As is every single second of video
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footage of every meeting, every conversation, every action, that went on in this building.”
Alan’s face paled, and he sat abruptly in his chair with a thump. He began shaking as he focused his eyes on me. “How long? How far back?” His voice was now raspy, as though he was suddenly afraid.
“Oh, my I thought. ‘He has something he really wants to hide. I need to look at every second of video footage of his office, and Adams office. Rather than answer him truthfully, I just smiled at him and whispered, “Long enough.” Alan looked on the brink of collapse.
Tony took over again. “This envelope,” he waived a white No. 10 envelope in the air, contains a cheque to cover your services up to end of day today. It also has a separate cheque for the *****d of your share of pension fund contributions, plus accrued interest. Please sign this form indicating you have received both cheques.” He slid the envelope and form down to Alan.
Alan couldn’t seem to stop staring at me, and I just stared right back at him, giving nothing away. Finally, with hands that trembled slightly, he opened the envelope and examined the contents, then he picked up the pen and signed the form. He stood up and made his way to the door on unsteady legs. I could hear him muttering, “she knows, she knows” as the security guards guided him back to the secure room to collect his personal belongings. He would be held there until after I had left the building.
We all sat in silence for a couple of minutes as we thought about Alan’s reactions. He appeared truly shocked that we had video footage going back years. His near collapse, and his muttered ‘she knows‘ means he knows there is something on the footage that is explosive. Something they don’t want me to know. Something I need to know.
Bradley broke the tension. “Well, that was interesting. His reaction about the video footage is telling. Anna, he is hiding something. Something he doesn’t want you to know. You are going to have to watch every second of footage where he is involved.”
Spencer backed him up by saying, “Whatever he is hiding, I bet it’s bigger than Fredericks Design Co. Something with far more reach and power, I think.” Victor and Tony were both nodding in agreement.
I studied those four men, all the while thinking, knowing they were subtly sending me a message. Confirming my belief that they couldn’t tell me what they knew, but they were still ensuring I had enough hints that I could figure things out.
I nodded in return. “I hear what you are saying. I will definitely be reviewing every second of footage regarding Alan, Fiona, and Adam. All three of them are hiding more than what we’ve seen so far. Perhaps gentlemen, since you are the lawyers for Fredericks Design Co,” I looked pointedly at Spencer and Tony, “and Bradley is my new partner, and Victor his right hand man,
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we can arrange to do just that. To paraphrase, ‘many eyes, make light work The guys seemed chuffed that I had picked up on the subtle hints, and asked for their help.
Meanwhile, Alana and Jonathan had been quietly conversing on their own as they put documents in order in preparation for our meeting with Adam)
I took the engagement ring Adam had given me out of my purse and placed it on the table in
front of me. Originally, I had been planning on returning the ring in private. But after seeing
everything I did today, screw that. I was doing this publicly. I don’t care if it humilates him or
not.
I want this over with Time to slay viper number three.
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