Chapter 53 CHAPTER 53

Chapter 53 CHAPTER 53
Chapter 53
The Ethics Motion
Aria Hartwell

The boardroom was full at eight in the morning. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to be in my bed with the covers over my head. But the board had called the meeting, and Pemberton had seconded it, and now I was sitting at the long table with a cup of coffee that had gone cold twenty minutes ago.

Pemberton stood at the head of the table this time, not sitting in Cassian's seat by the way. I guess he was smarter now. His tie was too tight and his face was red.

"I call this meeting to order," he said. "We have a motion to discuss. A matter of company ethics."

I looked at the expressions on each board member's face, and I noted the people who were either surprised by a new motion and those who looked passive about it, as if they already knew what was going on. Ethan wasn't here yet, but that was mainly because he had a family emergency to attend to. The board raised no issue at that, and Pemberton looked really serious. He didn't even bother delving into pleasantries before stating the reason why we were convening.

Crawford cleared his throat. "Mr. Pemberton, perhaps we should review the language before—"

"The language is fine." Pemberton pulled out a sheet of paper. "I'll read it directly. 'No employee of Hartwell Industries may engage in a romantic or personal relationship with a family member of another employee. This includes step-relations, adopted relations, and relations by marriage. Violation of this policy will result in immediate termination and forfeiture of all stock options.'"

The room went quiet immediately, and even though the board members tried to find something interesting on the files in front of them, I could still see some people who were trying not to look between Cassian and I to get how we were going to react. Pemberton looked around the table and his eyes landed on me, holding my gaze for a second too long.

"This is not about any individual," he said. "This is about the integrity of our company."

"Then why does it feel like it's about me?" I asked boldly, sitting up forward, and noting how uncomfortable that I was bringing it to the table plainly and openly without cutting through the corners.

No one answered.

Cassian shifted in his chair across from me. I didn't look at him. I couldn't. If I looked at him, I would see his face, and if I saw his face, I would remember every stupid thing I'd done with him in the dark.

"This motion is out of order," Dr. Vance, one of the female board members said. She was barely around, and today was the first time she had attended the board meeting in a really long while. "We have no existing policy on personal relationships. Creating one requires a committee review, not a surprise vote."

"The board can vote on anything at any time." Pemberton's voice was tight. "That's in the bylaws."

"The bylaws also require a three-day notice for any motion affecting employee conduct." Dr. Vance didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to. "This motion was filed at midnight. That's not three days. That's zero days."

Pemberton's face went redder. "Ms. Vance—"

"Doctor Vance."

"Dr. Vance. The board has the authority to waive the notice period by unanimous consent."

"Then let's vote on whether to waive it."

Reeves raised his hand. "I move to waive."

Crawford raised his hand. "Second."

Dr. Vance looked at me and I smiled slightly before shaking my head.

"All in favor of waiving the notice period?" Pemberton asked.

Seven hands went up, including Reeves and Crawford, and the people I thought would remain neutral about the motion. Dr. Vance kept her hand down. I kept mine down, an Cassian kept his down.

"Seven in favor. Three opposed. The notice period is waived."

I wrote something on my notepad. I don't even remember what. I just needed my hand to move so no one would see it shaking.

"The motion is now open for discussion," Pemberton said.

Crawford spoke first. "I think this is necessary. The appearance of impropriety damages the company's reputation."

"What impropriety?" I asked immediately.

Crawford blinked. "I wasn't referring to..."

"You were referring to me. And to Mr. Kent." I didn't look at Cassian. "Everyone in this room knows it. So let's stop pretending this is about policy and call it what it is."

"And what is that?" Pemberton asked.

"A targeted attack."

My eyes darted towards the corner of the room, and I spotted my mother. Cassian had already warned me about this, but I didn't know why she was doing this, or whatever her motive was. I was her daughter, goddamnit! Couldn't she have my back for once in her life? I could feel her watching me but I didn't meet her eyes.

"Miss Hartwell," Pemberton said, "this is not personal."

"Everything is personal." I stood up. "You don't like that my father left me half the company. You don't like that I won't be pushed out. You don't like that I'm still here after everything."

"That's not—"

"So you're using my personal life as a weapon." I looked around the table. "You're pretending to care about ethics because you can't find anything wrong with my work."

No one tried to counter that.

"The motion will be voted on now," Pemberton said. "All in favor?"

Crawford raised his hand, Reeves raised his, Pemberton raised his, and four others raised theirs.

"All opposed?"

I raised my hand, Cassian raised his, and Dr. Vance raised hers.

"Seven in favor. Three opposed." Pemberton smiled. It was small and ugly. "The motion carries."

Just before I could speak, there was a sound behind us, and we all turned to find Ethan making his way into the boardroom, immaculately dressed.

"I'm sorry, I'm late. Did I miss anything?" He looked around before his eyes landed on mine, and he frowned slightly as if he had just noticed how uncomfortable I looked.

"We just voted for a new motion." Pemberton's voice sounded a little high and mighty. "Seven votes and three people opposed."

Ethan found an empty seat beside me before he chuckled. "Is that how it works here?" He cocked his head to the side and looked coldly at Pemberton who seemed to shrink back at that stare. "If my guess is correct, I'm sure that the two co-CEOs voted against it."

"Yes." Pemberton nodded as he began arranging his files, ready to end the meeting.

"But..." Ethan shifted in his seat, "aren't the votes of the co-CEOs higher than yours together?" He looked around the room.

Pemberton thought about it and stuttered a little. "Well, uh, we still outnumber their votes because Mr. Kent carries three votes, Miss Hartwell carries two votes, and Dr. Vance carries only one vote."

"What about my vote? How much does it carry?" Ethan asked with a lazy smile on his lips.

"Um, the same as Mr. Kent's since you're the second highest shareholder in the company."

"Great!" He clapped his hands together. "That means I'm voting together with Mr. Kent."

Murmurs began as everyone began arguing all at once.

"We've already voted, Mr. Calloway." Pemberton tried to smile.

"Oh please, my vote still counts because I was in the building while you guys were voting. That should count according to the laws of the company. Am I right or wrong?"

The murmurs continued, but I felt the huge relief in my chest. It seemed like Ethan was becoming my lifesaver.

I stood up and placed my palm flat on the table. "Now that this is decided, I've decided to move a motion that states that all policies should be reviewed and put together before the month is over. After then, no matter what, policies would no longer be added or removed for whatever reason. And if it is completely necessary, the board will have to take six months to review it before it can be added or removed."

Do read Fated to the bully alpha on the app