Summer With You

board room politics

The first board meeting after the rebrand was supposed to be ceremonial.

It wasn’t.

Mira sat at the head of the table where Victor Malik used to sit. The chair was too big, the mahogany too polished. She kept her hands flat on the table so they wouldn’t shake.

“Good morning,” she said. “Let’s get started.”

CFO Diane Carter cleared her throat. “Ms. Hale, before we get to Q2 projections, there’s an item the board needs to address.”

Mira glanced at Zain, who was sitting to her right. His expression didn’t change, but his jaw tightened.

“Go ahead,” Mira said.

Diane slid a folder across the table. “We’ve received a proposal from Sterling Capital. They want to buy 18% of Hale-Malik at a 22% premium.”

Mira opened the folder. The name on the cover made her stomach drop.

_Sterling Capital Holdings. Managing Partner: Richard Vale._

Victor’s old college roommate. One of the board members who walked out with him.

“They’re offering cash now,” Diane continued. “No contingencies. It’s a clean deal.”

“It’s a takeover,” Zain said quietly.

All eyes turned to him.

Zain leaned forward. “Sterling doesn’t do friendly acquisitions. They buy in, replace management, strip assets, sell for profit. You know that, Diane.”

Diane’s face stayed neutral. “I’m presenting the numbers, Mr. Malik. The board decides.”

Mira closed the folder. “We’re not selling.”

Board member Harold Chen frowned. “Ms. Hale, with respect, 18% at a 22% premium is a $340 million injection. That’s liquidity we could use for the Chicago expansion.”

“And what happens when they want 51%?” Mira said. “What happens when they want my seat?”

Harold looked uncomfortable. “That’s hypothetical.”

“No,” Zain said. “It’s history. This is how my father took control in 2012.”

The room went quiet.

Mira looked around the table. Seven people. Three had been loyal to Victor. Two were neutral. Two were hers.

“We vote,” Mira said. “All in favor of entertaining Sterling’s offer?”

Two hands went up. Harold and Diane.

“All against?”

Mira, Zain, and board member Elena Ruiz raised their hands.

“Motion fails,” Mira said. “Sterling gets a rejection letter. And if anyone leaks this to the press before I say so, you’ll be out before the ink dries.”

Harold’s face went red. “You can’t threaten the board, Ms. Hale.”

“I can fire the CEO,” Mira said simply. “Which I am. Effective immediately.”

Diane’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Mira stood up. “Meeting adjourned.”

She walked out with Zain right behind her.

The doors closed, and Mira exhaled for the first time in 20 minutes.

“You just fired your CFO in front of the board,” Zain said.

“She was going to sell us out,” Mira said. “And she knew it.”

Zain stopped her in the hallway. “You okay?”

Mira looked at him. “No. But I will be.”

Zain nodded. “Good. Because Victor’s going to try again. And next time, he’ll be smarter.”

Mira smiled, tired but real. “Then we’ll be smarter too.”

She took his hand.

“Ready for round two?”

Zain squeezed her hand. “Always.”