time to spin this into another sob story. The bottom line is that these people are using our funds poorly and embarrassing themselves and us by association in the process.”
That was some world-class spin he was doing. As he talked, all I could think was that no matter how this turned out, people would get hurt, because Phil could not bear the idea of his executive bonus going to help immigrant families. I felt disgusted with him, with myself, and with all of us who routinely made decisions that hurt vulnerable people, with the excuse that it was all to serve a profit line.
“Do you need me to prepare anything in addition to my planned presentation for this meeting?” I braced myself for his answer.
His expression changed and I dreaded whatever poorly veiled threats disguised as instructions were about to come out of his mouth. “You need to come in there with those IPO numbers. They need to hear why we need to drop this nonsense and that now is the time to go into the stock market. This is the era of the billionaires.” His voice boomed as he spoke, his expression fervent. “Our brand is literally built on catering to the point one percent, and we cannot slow our momentum over this nonsense. You’re our expert. Give them the facts.” My back molars clamped together as his voice resonated in my office. Facts, as long as they were the ones that he agreed with.
He angled his head then, and pointed a finger in my direction. “The Twins have been talking you up to the board for months now. They won’t be able to take it back when you give your recommendation.”
In that moment I could hear Mitzy’s words from one of the promotional videos I’d watched in the last couple of months: “My grandfather started Sturm’s with a mission. Cater to the rich, so he could help those who needed it. The values of this company have always been centered on philanthropy and social justice. From day one.”
Phil stood up then and shoved his hands into his pockets. “We’re counting on you.”
Duke’s bitterness drove him to put Phil in as a puppet to fuck with the family’s legacy and as a way to push his sisters out. And now, I would be the pawn who would finally set all of that in motion.
* * *
I left the office feeling like my hours were numbered. The meeting with the board was set for the next day at 8:00 a.m. and I was supposed to go up there and convince the board to pick profits over people. I would stand up and tell the board that investors liked lean companies. That there were places where they could make cuts. That some of the foundation programs could be reduced. The twins had been subdued when they stopped by my office. Mitzy, as always, was frank and direct when she spoke to me.
She’d told me, “We know you came here to do a job, and we’re not going to put you in a position where you feel like you need to do or say anything on our behalf. We know you’ll do what’s right for Sturm’s.”
By the time they left my office, I felt like my spine was made of ice. I didn’t want to disappoint them; they’d been so good to me. But I had to think about my future at Davidson’s. If I fucked this up, I could kiss that promotion goodbye. Even without the plans for the move to Westchester, Blue and Sofia were depending on me. Fuck, even my parents depended on me for some things.
I could not afford to lose my job, which was why I’d told the twins I would give the report that the board had asked for, and that report was to move forward with the IPO. Then there was Julia. Just thinking about how disappointed she would be in me after this made me feel dead inside.
I hadn’t heard from her much more for the rest of the day, other than a few texts letting me know she and Gail were trying to contact the foster family who took the children after mom was detained and were talking with lawyers to see what could be done for her. My recommendation tomorrow would most likely leave her jobless and, worse, those kids she loved so much hanging. She’d hate me for it. I’d hate me for it.