Taking Control (Kerr Chronicles #2)(49)
Author: Jen Frederick

My hand curls around the edge of the glass door. I’m tempted, for a strong and long moment, to take Louis’s head in one hand and the glass door in the other and bash the two together until one or both of them break into little pieces. But physical violence is transitory. Louis will hurt more when I remove his status and money-making ability.

“There’s a very important piece you are missing here, Louis.” I pin him with a stare and this time he can’t look away. I won’t allow it. “To be a good investor, to make good decisions, you have to be both unemotional and observant. You’ve shown neither trait here.” He opens his mouth to interrupt, but I continue. “Every attempt I’ve made to inform you that Victoria would be an integral part of my life has been met with either dismissal or disdain, which means you failed to notice both recent warnings and past signs. I stick up for people in my circle. You were once there.”

He gives me a weak nod as we both probably recall his first management meeting, which took place at Colicchio & Sons. The target’s outgoing CEO mocked Louis’s lack of an Ivy League education. I reminded the CEO that at least Louis had a college degree and a business school education—unlike myself. He’d shut up after that, and Louis had worn a grateful look on his face for an embarrassingly long time.

But in the months that I’ve spent with Tiny, I have sensed Louis’s impatience with me. He worried I’d take too long to make decisions, his attention had begun to wander, and—like a jilted mistress—he’d sought affirmation elsewhere. Jake’s investigative report telling me that Louis had racked up large debts at high end department stores, as well as overextended himself with other high-end toys, only confirmed what I’d begun to suspect. Louis wouldn’t be happy working at Kerr Inc. much longer. I’d merely hastened his exit.

His latest purchase had been a yacht. A f**king yacht. What a fool. He had been meeting covertly with Howe’s investment firm, likely passing on reports and insider information.

“If you’d just wake up, Ian. There’s so much business out there for us, and we’re letting it pass us by.” His brows are furrowed and the handle on his briefcase is clutched so tightly that his knuckles are white.

As he rolls out, his face hardens and a shifty gleam appears in his eyes—a look that says he’s going to pull one over on me. But he’s too late. If he thought I was a vicious, money-hungry ass**le before, he’ll appreciate how a predator with a family to protect will act. And perhaps learn a good lesson.

“There’s always more business,” I drawl.

Louis doesn’t waste time. Likely he has some reporter in his pocket. We all do. In just a few hours, the stock for Kerr Inc. has fallen dramatically. The business television ticker hints at instability in Kerr Inc. upper management.

Tokyo won’t be alive for another few hours. I shoot off an email to the legal counsel handling the SunCorp offering. I want to move forward on this now that I’ve dealt with Louis.

I’d hoped to have a late lunch with Tiny, but the chaos caused by Louis’s departure prevents that. Just another checkmark in his “Con” column.

“I wanted to take you out, bunny, but I have some business to attend to.”

“Oh, okay.” She’s clearly disappointed.

“I’m sorry. I could break away for maybe thirty minutes if you can come down here.” Thirty minutes is time I don’t really have, but I hate the sound of her dismay.

“No, it’s not a big deal, besides I’ve got something to work on—but can you be home early? Like six or so?” There’s a weird thrum in her words. I can’t make out the emotion, but it sounds vaguely like excitement.

“I’ll be there,” I promise. And I will, even if I have to burn the trading floor down to get a moment’s respite.

Rose brings me lunch and a sheaf of papers. “What’s this?” It’s a stack of resumes, of younger investment analysts and recent business school graduates. “Just some replacement ideas for Louis,” she says demurely.

“Thank you.” My soft laughter follows her out.

I field a dozen or more calls from hedge fund managers wanting to know more about the Wall Street rumors about Kerr management’s instability. I tell them the truth—that Louis Durand has left the company. Despite my evidence, I don’t share that he’s been stealing information. It would only make the company look weaker. When Gabe reaches me by mid-afternoon, I know the tipping point has been reached. “Do I need to sue anyone on your behalf?”

Gabriel Allen has a voice he wields like a weapon. I’ve seen other lawyers nearly piss themselves at a glare and a sharp command. His sonorous tones are set to comfort at this moment.

“You can pack away your therapist persona. I’m perfectly fine.”

“I’m watching your stock fall by fifteen percent. The more it falls, the faster the pace of the selling.”

“My ticker says the same thing yours does.”

“You’re playing some deeper game.” It isn’t a question.

“I built Nessie for just this purpose.”

Gabe’s silent for a moment. “You knew, then?”

“I suspected. Asked Jake to look into it, and he sent the confirmation this morning.”

“When were the flags first raised?”

“About a month after I met Tiny. I’d been spending more time with her away from the office. I could tell he was getting restless. I’d hoped that I was imagining things, but…”

“Better safe than sorry,” he finishes for me.

“Yes.”

“When will you step in?”

“Tomorrow. Maybe Wednesday. If the price is going to drop, let’s wait it out.” Instinct, honed at a young age, tells me that now is not the time for action.

“Your nerves are made of steel.” He compliments me.

I snort. “As if yours aren’t? Besides, this is only dangerous if you care. Kerr Inc. could die tomorrow and I’d still have enough funds to make sure that Tiny and I lived a good life. But thanks for the concern. I won’t forget.”

“I was elected to call you. Everyone was perturbed, but we didn’t want to inundate you with calls if you were busy putting out fires.”

“I’m watching the conflagration right now and enjoying the heat.”

Louis has inadvertently timed his leak perfectly because the domestic stock market closes with Kerr stock at an all time low. By the close of trading, Kerr Inc. stock had fallen by nearly a quarter, erasing nearly $19 billion in market cap—a record drop off by a holding company that had only seen growth since its inception over a decade ago. Some business talking heads called it a correction, saying that the market cap had been too high for too long. I saw it as an opportunity.