Chapter 32
Upon learning of the Chairman’s sudden collapse, Arianne considered the possibility of a mole within the Rochefort Group. It hadn’t been three hours since the incident, but Lucas and the Communication department had already received calls about the rumors.
Arianne hadn’t dared to go to bed after returning home. Instead, she spent another two hours seated on the couch in her living room, the television playing a news and current affairs program.
She turned her laptop on and had an emergency meeting with Lucas and Carmela, the head of Rochefort’s Communication department.
“Ms. Summers, we’ve already received several calls from media outlets. They were asking for confirmation about the Chairman’s condition.” Carmela informed her.
“We’ve already drafted a press statement to release very soon,” Lucas added, “I’m just waiting for an update and a go-signal from Franz p>
Arianne nodded.
“It would be hard to deny the situation at this rate p>
“Yes,” Lucas answered immediately. “For now, Carmela and I are the only ones who are coordinating with you and Franz for updates. It should narrow down the people who had direct access to the information p>
“I’ll send someone to investigate the hospital staff who attended to the Chairman earlier to cover all bases,” Arianne said. “For now, we should remain silent until we’re certain of the Chairman’s condition. I’ll ask Finn to set a board meeting first thing in the morning. We’d better be prepared this time p>
They decided to set an emergency board meeting for the next day, first thing in the morning.
Later, Carmela disconnected from the call, leaving Arianne and Lucas online.
“I have something else to discuss with you,” Lucas said.
“Is this about the merger?” Arianne asked.
“Yes,” he affirmed, “I actually received a few calls from our board members. They’d been asking if the merger would be signed and finalized or not p>
“What about our shares? Is there anyone who wants to sell their shares that could affect the company p>
“Nothing so far. We’ve only noticed a slight dip in the market shares, but nothing concerning.” Lucas replied. “We’ll need to create a contingency plan with Franz if things escalate p>
Arianne hummed, touching her chin out of habit whenever she was in deep thought.
“I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t be directly involved with it,” she reminded Lucas. “I could, at least, pacify the board members and partners while we wait for news p>
Lucas fell silent. Arianne noticed that he wanted to say something to her, but decided not to.
“Alright. I’ll see you in the morning,” he said before ending the call.
Arianne was left restless. Even though her body clock was telling her to sleep, her mind was filled with thoughts and wouldn’t calm down. Rubbing her temple, she glanced at the clock that said 02:35 in the morning.
She shut her laptop down, dimmed the lights, and returned to her room. There were a lot of things to do later.
The conference room was already filled when Arianne and Lucas arrived for the emergency meeting. Everyone seemed to be on the edge of their seats, awaiting the news of the chairman’s condition.
Arianne looked around, seeing that the head of the table was empty. Franz was nowhere to be seen, which was understandable.
The board members voiced their concerns, and Lucas confirmed what everyone had been dreading. He didn’t lie about the chairman’s current situation, but assured them that they had already begun preparing a contingency plan to keep the company stable.
“This would put the merger with Orion Logistics on hold.” One of the board members commented.
“The media also picked up the news this morning. They are questioning if Franz would be able to keep the company afloat during the chairman’s absence p>
“This speculation could hurt the company in the long run.” Another one chimed in.
Lucas did not respond immediately. Instead, he observed everyone’s reactions.
Arianne watched the exchange without intervening.
“The question,” Lucas said at last, “is not whether speculation exists. It does. It’s inevitable at this point p>
He tapped the table lightly with his fingers, his eyes scanning people seated across him.
“The question is whether we introduce instability by reacting to it. You know how the media like to twist things in their favor p>
One of the older board members cleared his throat. “The chairman’s absence creates uncertainty. Markets do not accept confusion and ambiguity p>
Lucas inclined his head slightly. “Which is why interim authority has already been logged p>
That drew attention.
“Logged where?” another asked.
“With compliance and legal. With the merger counterparty.” Lucas didn’t raise his voice. “Franz Rochefort has been formally recorded as acting authority, effective immediately p>
Arianne noted the wording. Recorded, not announced.
A director near the window frowned. “That may be sufficient internally, but the market doesn’t recognize process. It recognizes confidence p>
“And track record,” someone added.
No one looked at her, but the words that were spoken pertained to her.
Arianne didn’t react. Her impassive expression gave away nothing.
Lucas answered instead. “The market recognizes continuity. Which is what we’re maintaining p>
Silence followed. Everyone looked at him.
Another director leaned back in his chair. “Continuity works only if people see the acting authority as capable of maintaining it p>
The implication settled into the room without being named. It had been an ongoing issue since Alex’s passing.
Arianne shifted her gaze to the documents in front of her. Not to read—just to move.
Lucas noticed.
“So far,” he said, “there has been no breach. No withdrawal. No formal notice from Orion Logistics p>
“But there will be pressure,” the same director said. “We’re already seeing it. Are we going to wait until the merger fails p>
Arianne finally spoke.
“Pressure isn’t a breach,” she said. Her voice didn’t cut through the room. It entered it. “It’s a test p>
Heads turned toward her as if they had been waiting to hear her opinion.
“The chairman’s collapse is a variable no one prepared for,” she continued. “How the board responds becomes the signal p>
She stopped there.
Someone waited for more. None came.
Lucas picked up the thread. “Which is why the board needs to be aligned on what we do not do p>
“And that is?” a woman across the table asked.
“We do not overcorrect,” Lucas said. “We do not introduce new authority structures without cause. And we do not speculate on succession while the chairman is alive p>
Another pause followed.
Finally, a director spoke quietly. “If Franz falters, what is our margin p>
He didn’t bother to hide his doubt about Franz this time.
Lucas didn’t answer immediately.
He looked at Arianne.
Not for permission. For acknowledgment.
She met his gaze, once, then looked away.
“That,” Lucas said, “is a question we are not answering today p>
The room absorbed it unevenly.
Some accepted it. Others didn’t.
Arianne noted who remained silent.
And who didn’t.