Chapter 8 - THE VOTE
Hudson Forge scheduled an emergency board meeting.
Mara attended in person.
For the first time in three years.
Ivan sat across from her.
Cynthia beside him.
Rachel Kim presented financial projections for Bellweather.
Ethan Powell presented operational risks.
Thomas Vale was not invited.
The numbers were worse than Mara expected.
Hudson Forge could afford the purchase.
Barely.
If Bellweather’s largest customer renewed.
If interest rates did not worsen.
If integration costs remained controlled.
If no major Hudson Forge customer left.
Too many ifs.
Ivan argued aggressively.
“We need service revenue.”
Mara nodded.
“Maybe.”
His expression changed.
He had expected automatic opposition now that she was angry.
Mara continued.
“But why Bellweather at this price?”
“Strategic fit.”
“Why the consulting agreement?”
“Thomas knows the customers.”
“Why did we pay him two hundred thousand before acquisition?”
“Business development.”
“Where are the contracts he developed?”
Ivan’s jaw tightened.
Cynthia interrupted.
“This is exactly why operators should run companies instead of spouses with spreadsheets.”
Mara looked at her.
“I own fifty-one percent.”
“You own paper.”
The room went still.
Mara did not raise her voice.
“That sentence needs to be in the minutes.”
Cynthia’s face changed.
Peter Sloan, acting as corporate secretary, looked uncomfortable.
Then he typed.
Mara turned back to Ivan.
“I’ll support exploring a service acquisition.”
Hope flashed across his face.
“Not this transaction.”
It disappeared.
“I vote no.”
Because Mara’s voting proxy had expired, her shares controlled the result.
The Bellweather acquisition failed.
Ivan stood so quickly his chair rolled backward.
“You just destroyed us.”
“No.”
“You have no idea what Thomas will do.”
That caught Mara.
“What will he do?”
Ivan looked toward Cynthia.
Wrong move.
Mara saw it.
“Thomas has something on you.”
“No.”
“Then why are you scared of him?”
Ivan gathered his papers.
Meeting over.
But the vote could not be undone without Mara.
That was the costly decision.
Hudson Forge’s relationship with Bellweather began deteriorating immediately.
Thomas stopped taking Ivan’s calls.
Then he sent a letter through counsel demanding payment under a side agreement nobody on the board had been shown.
The agreement carried Ivan’s signature.
May you like
And a second signature.
Cynthia’s.
