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the color, such as it is, drains from Evelyn’s face. It’s been a long time since anyone but her father has taken that kind of tone with her. I can read it plain as day in her face.
    “I’ve provided all the necessary information for your due diligence. My plan is a more hands off approach than Eve’s. I’m not here to eat your company alive, I’m here to keep it afloat. The union and your creditors will get what they want. In addition to market price for the stock, the group I represent will extend an interest-free line of credit to cover Thorpe’s liabilities for the next two years.”
    “This is absurdly generous,” another of them says. “What’s in it for you?”
    “It’ll pay off when I triple the price of your stock, and I will.”
    “How?”
    “I’d rather not say in front of the competition, but look at the terms. If the stock price does not in fact triple by the one year anniversary of the day you sign the papers, all the stock I purchase reverts back to you. I’m going to bet with my money that we can turn this around.”
    “Who’s we?” the old man says. “Ross has a point. Did you dig out of your prison cell with a spoon and find a treasure chest?”
    I smile at him where Eve would wither him with a look.
    “No, but my father’s name used to mean something in the financial world and I want it to mean something again. I called a lot of friends, all of whom have been burned by what used to be my father’s company. Again, all the information you need to make an informed decision is in the packet I passed out. Look, I know I’m asking you to do homework on a Friday…”
    Four of them chuckle softly.
    Gotcha.
    “…but it’s me or her. Do I need to tell you what happens if you hand over the reins to her? My plan involves bringing in consultants. Her plan involves removing your entire management staff and replacing them with her cronies. She’ll increase   your efficiency, alright. She’ll fire the union workers, close down the plant and hire scabs somewhere else. She’ll cancel contracts with your suppliers and start using substandard product from suppliers she controls. She’ll stick knives in your backs from a dozen directions and squeeze out as much profit from the company as she can until the reputation of the brand is ruined, and when it’s not making money anymore she’ll exercise her rights to tear it all apart and sell everything off to pay off the company’s creditors, which if you research the matter, you will find all belong to her. She’s already got you in her jaws. When you sign her papers she’ll shake you and snap your neck. My plan is a way out. If we fail, you’ll be no worse off than if you sign on with her and go under the Amsel umbrella. If you say no she’ll start the wheels on a hostile takeover. She probably already has.”
    Evelyn is staring daggers into me.
    “This is a lot to consider,” Thorpe says.
    Evelyn looks at him, then at me. She rises abruptly from her seat and leaves her assistant to frantically gather their materials. I look around the room.
    “Questions?”
    “We’ll reach a decision soon, I think,” says Thorpe.
    “I’ll be waiting.”
    I give them a winning smile, grab my attache and stride out.
    Evelyn is in the hallway.
    “You son of a bitch,” she hisses. “How dare you-“
    Before I can think, before I can plan, my hand lashes out and I seize the collar of her blouse. Her feet barely touch the floor as I drag her out of the hall into another conference room. She rakes her nails over the back of my first and I let go. She looks at me, looks at the door, and goes for it.   She doesn’t make it halfway before I drag her back by the arm and yank the door shut and twist the lock. She rounds on me with a savage backhand that actually flashes my lights. I taste blood in my mouth from a split lip.
    “Fucking let go of me,” she snaps. “I’ll scream.”
    “You promise?”
    “Let go!”
    “ Eve, listen to me.”
    “I