Chapter 2 - The Man in the Work Jacket
Lucas laughed first.
“You expect us to be intimidated by a mechanic making phone calls?”
Michael didn’t answer.
Richard did.
“Michael.”
His voice had changed.
Willow noticed immediately.
Five minutes earlier, Richard had called her father trailer trash.
Now he used his first name.
Carefully.
Michael looked at him.
Richard swallowed.
“What exactly did you activate?”
Michael removed his work jacket and handed it to Willow.
“Put this on.”
“Dad.”
“You’re freezing.”
She slipped it around her shoulders.
It smelled faintly of motor oil and cedar soap.
Home.
Lucas scoffed.
“Can someone explain this ridiculous performance?”
Richard ignored him.
“Michael.”
Michael finally answered.
“The audit rights.”
Richard’s face drained of color.
Lucas looked between them.
“What audit rights?”
Willow stared at her father.
“Dad?”
Michael sighed.
“This isn’t how I wanted you to learn.”
“Learn what?”
Richard stepped closer.
“Donovan, we can discuss this privately.”
“No.”
“We have known each other for thirty-one years.”
“And for thirty-one years, you’ve mistaken my silence for weakness.”
Lucas frowned.
“You two know each other?”
Michael looked at Willow.
“Your grandfather used to own Donovan Precision Manufacturing.”
Willow blinked.
“My grandfather was a machinist.”
“He was.”
“That’s what you always said.”
“He was also one of the best industrial engineers in Illinois.”
Michael glanced at Richard.
“And fifty-two years ago, he helped Richard’s father build the original Sterling Industrial Group.”
Lucas laughed.
“That’s absurd.”
Michael ignored him.
“Sterling didn’t have enough capital to expand. Your grandfather did.”
Willow stared.
“So Grandpa invested?”
“Forty-two percent of the original company.”
Richard said sharply, “Non-voting interest.”
Michael nodded.
“Originally.”
Lucas looked at his father.
“What is he talking about?”
Richard’s face was stiff.
“Old paperwork.”
Michael continued.
“When Sterling reorganized in the eighties, your grandfather agreed to surrender day-to-day control.”
Willow whispered, “Why?”
“He hated corporate life.”
Michael smiled faintly.
“He liked machines. He liked building things. He hated boardrooms.”
“That sounds like Grandpa.”
“It does.”
Michael’s smile disappeared.
“But he protected our family.”
Richard said, “Enough.”
Michael looked at him.
“He inserted a dormant oversight clause.”
Lucas shook his head.
“What clause?”
Michael answered.
“If certain financial covenants were breached—or evidence appeared showing misconduct threatening the company—Donovan Holdings could demand an immediate forensic review.”
Willow stared at him.
“Donovan Holdings?”
“My company.”
“You own a holding company?”
“I own several things.”
Lucas actually laughed.
“You own an auto shop.”
Michael nodded.
“I do.”
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
Lucas noticed.
“Dad?”
Michael said, “I like fixing cars.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t need to.”
Richard stepped toward Michael.
“The clause hasn’t been valid for years.”
Michael smiled.
“You sure?”
Richard said nothing.
Michael raised his phone.
“I kept every amendment.”
Lucas turned on Richard.
“What is going on?”
Richard snapped, “Not now.”
“No. Now.”
Willow watched father and son face each other.
Something ugly passed between them.
Fear.
Michael looked at Willow.
“Sweetheart, do you remember asking me last Christmas why I never accepted Lucas’s offer to invest in the shop?”
“Yes.”
“Because I already knew enough about Sterling Capital to stay far away.”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you know?”
Michael turned to him.
“I know the company has been shifting pension liabilities into shell subsidiaries.”
Richard said, “Careful.”
Michael continued.
“I know there are irregular commercial property valuations.”
“Dad,” Willow whispered.
“And I know Sterling Global Holdings borrowed against assets it does not fully control.”
Lucas went pale.
“How could you possibly know that?”
Michael gave him a long look.
“Because some of those assets belong to me.”
The ballroom seemed to stop breathing.
Willow stared at her father.
Richard whispered, “You promised.”
Michael’s expression turned hard.
“I promised your father I wouldn’t interfere as long as the Sterlings ran the company legally.”
Richard looked around at the watching guests.
“Not here.”
Michael’s eyes moved to Willow’s cheek.
“You chose here.”
Lucas stepped toward Willow.
“This is your fault.”
Michael moved between them.
“Finish that sentence.”
Lucas stopped.
Michael’s voice stayed quiet.
“Finish it.”
Lucas looked away.
That frightened Willow more than shouting would have.
Lucas had never backed down from anyone in front of her.
Not once.
Michael looked at Willow.
“We’re leaving.”
Richard spoke quickly.
“Michael, wait.”
Michael kept walking.
Richard followed.
“If you activate that review, lenders will find out.”
“That’s the idea.”
“You could destroy this company.”
“No.”
Michael stopped.
“You did that yourselves.”
Richard’s voice dropped.
“What do you want?”
Michael looked at Willow.
Then back at Richard.
“My daughter safe.”
Richard swallowed.
“And?”
“A full examination of the books.”
“No.”
Michael shrugged.
“Then I’ll let the lawyers handle it.”
Richard grabbed his arm.
Michael looked down at Richard’s hand.
Richard released him.
Lucas said, “This is extortion.”
Michael turned.
“No, Lucas. Extortion is when someone threatens illegal harm for gain.”
He nodded toward Willow.
“This is a father using contractual rights after watching his daughter get assaulted by the CEO’s son.”
Lucas’s face turned red.
“I am the CEO.”
Michael smiled without humor.
May you like
“For now.”
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