"He will not give MAE over kindly. I fully expect bloodshed and conflict. We should discuss that option directly." de Villiers said. "He will not be satisfied with 'compensation' alone. It has to be a truly enticing offer. I sadly can not think of such." He looked at Charles. "Moral codes only work as long as they benefit. Nobles are not incorruptable. They just can not afford to be seen with unsavory types in public, that's it.
"So... Let's kill them before they will kill us?" Vardan pushed his glasses up. "Call Quentin at the Board meeting somewhere under MAE control and force him to sign key orders before disposal. Don't forget to ensure that the old man will get the wrong pills in the process"
Raza took a look over the rest of the bosses.
"In the first case, we should make certain that the company wouldn't work without us. We should become valuable to the Enclave."
"I hope that was a joke, Vardan. If you're being serious, then we've already lost." Adelaide was as eager to move forward as the others, but this hasty option just didn't sit right. "Say what you want about the Montlucs, incompetence and blind ambition do not warrant a death sentence. We talk about moral codes, that's where my line sits."
"Where you're right is that we need to be the key pieces. As the board, we can make motions to reduce Quentin's direct influence before dismissing him entirely with an offer he would be a fool to refuse. Or make him nothing more than a figurehead, it doesn't matter. It's all about insulating him from the decision making process - we step in to handle some of his burdens so that he can better focus his attention on the glamour and his socialite status he so adores. If we're here having this conversation, I expect there will be people we trust within our organizations that will support us too. I know my people would. I doubt we're alone in our goals."
Adelaide hoped that her suggestion wouldn't fall on deaf ears. Patience was not a strong suit of people with this kind of directorial oversight - you had to be a fast-moving personality to get where all of the directors were sitting today, and in this case, vengeance seemed to be a strong motivator in the conversation too. To be fair, she had less idea on the "how" to back this up. As the executive with the responsibility of shaping the public image of MAE, though, there were some things the PR team just couldn't spin. If the executives weren't careful, this might be one of those moments.
"I agree with Adelaide." Charles looked at her for a few seconds without blinking but then turned back to Raza. "Moreover, killing the Montlucs is not only the bloodshed but also discrimination of us in the eyes of Enclave command, if... or rather when they reach that this is our guilty."
"I believe you all understand that Enclave shall not forgive us for such an act of stupidly. Most likely the corporation in such a case will be just nationalized, while all we - the Board of Directors, executed for treason and shedding of noble's blood."
"Moreover, you all remember there is not only Fabian and Quentin. Their family is quite numerous and literally, every one of them can claim the corporation theirs after the death of a current CEO." the meeting was taking too long and so Charles has decided to finish, forcing the Board to make a final solution. "How shall we act? The best way to reach a conclusion is everyone to offer their idea and then we just vote."
"In the light of this proposal, I also think we should 'pacify' Quentin." de Villiers said. "Making him a figurehead at most, a puppet, sounds like a good idea, albeit a risky endeavour, however it seems that this is going to be the consensus here." He continued while looking at Adelaide. "There is one problem. How? That part I can not figure out yet to be honest. I am open to ideas. One thing I am certain is, we need more business partners to have a weight on Quentin. Show him he can not dispose us in case of he sniffs what we are up to, without costing him dearly." He looked at Charles. "Any ideas?"
"Our most valuable partners are the Enclave and DHC. Both are more loyal to Montlucs and so if we reach them we will have no positive answer and support of our, shall we say, little revolution." Charles's voice could not show his anxiety, however, deep inside he was disturbed by a lack of support from other directors. Was looking like they are satisfied with their current position of a failed political project that falling apart now. "Their assassination is rude and cruel but taking into account comparison of supports this seems like the only way to get the corporation to our hands. However, perhaps Adelaide has s better idea that Raza do?"
Well, this hadn't gone as expected. Adelaide's heart sank as she realized she was in the minority. These men were obviously too impatient to let "managing Quentin out" be the answer, something that would've taken months of coordinated effort, admittedly. Of course, now that murder was on the table and wasn't being dismissed by the rest, she wanted no part.
The next problem is what would they do with her? Would they consider her another loose end to tie up? Probably, but it was only worth tackling one problem at a time.
"Charles, I'm out. We're corporate executives, not judge and jury. I said I wouldn't take part in this, and I mean it." Adelaide rose from her seat, but couldn't bring herself to make eye contact with the other directors as she gathered her things. "And if you're worried about me keeping quiet, don't be. I know what's good for me, and this hurts all of us if any word of this meeting gets out. My lips are sealed." She paused for a moment, taking a breath, and then turned to leave the room.
