What was intended to be a status update, has instead turned into a two hour bitch fest with no end in sight. There hasn’t exactly been time to read it over, but I’m pretty sure all the new paperwork he brought in is just more of the same. Instead of worrying about that though, he’s obsessed with all the bad PR he’s been getting lately.
“Mr. Cooper, no one is fucked here,” I say, trying to calm him down and get him back on track. Again. “However, I can’t deny that it’s a difficult case. There’s a lot of documentation stacked against you, and you haven’t been able to present us with any proof that their information is incorrect.”
Cooper sits back, arching his fat fingers over his belly. “I’m a businessman, Mr. Riordan. Times are tough. We all do what’s necessary to stay afloat.” He stuffs his cigar into his mouth for a moment before he remembers himself and pulls it back out. “You’re young, but this is a family operation. I’m sure you know what I mean. Everyone cuts a few corners here and there. Business as usual, am I right? Not like that’s worth all the news coverage.”
Claire’s been surprisingly quiet, but I can practically feel her tense a little bit more for every word that comes out of Cooper’s mouth. It’s like a crank gets turned every time he speaks, and I’m just waiting for the rope to fucking snap.
I wouldn’t blame her. From what she said about her dad, I’m impressed she’s lasted this long. I want to punch him and I don’t have half the cause she does.
Best to get him out of here before one of us loses the battle with self-control.
“Well, Mr. Cooper, there’s business as usual and then there’s legitimate grounds for a class action lawsuit. I’m not surprised the press is all over this. Your company employs a lot of people locally, so of course there’re going to be concerns. If the plaintiff’s attorney does their job, there’s very little we’re going to be able to do without evidence to prove that they’re wrong, or at least exaggerating. We’ll do our best to keep the news out of it, and if that’s not possible, to mitigate the damage.”
His pudgy face stares at me blankly. “Are you sure there isn’t anyone we can just pay to make this all go away?”
Jesus fucking Christ on a stick. I look to the ceiling for inspiration and try again. “Mr. Cooper, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. I’m sure you know as well as I that—”
“Maybe you should consider paying that money to the employees who deserve it.” They’re the first words Claire’s said since we entered the meeting, and while I agree with every one of them, she’s basically telling Cooper to give up and fuck off.
Cooper’s little pig eyes go about as wide as they can, which isn’t very. “I beg your pardon?”
Time to mitigate our own damage. “Claire. We’ll discuss it after—”
She shakes her head, red curls bouncing. “I spent all yesterday and last night until almost five in the morning reading over your documentation. The most reasonable thing for you to do would be to allow us to go to their representatives and find out what sort of deal we could reach.”
“Claire!”
She stops and looks at me, eyes hard and focused. “He asked if there was someone we could pay to make it go away. I’m simply giving him his options.”
Great, fucking great. “Come with me.” I turn to Cooper. “Please excuse us for a few minutes. I’ll send someone in to get you coffee or anything else you might want. We’ll only be a moment.”
Cooper waves his hand magnanimously, like a king granting a favor. “Interns, right? Go feed her a little dick, I find that reminds them to keep their mouths shut.”
She gasps.
My fist clenches and I think there’s a migraine forming behind my eye. I knew he was bad, but I’m starting to think that for once the complaint is actually underestimating the extent of the situation.
I guide Claire with my hand at her back, pushing her ahead of me out into the hall. She stays quiet, but her lips are pressed tightly together like she’s just barely keeping it in. Knowing her, I’m surprised she’s made it this far. Dragging her outside hearing range, I pull her into Dad’s executive meeting room. No one’s going to disturb us here.
The door closes, and she turns on me like a wild beast. “Did you hear that? That’s who we’re defending. You can’t seriously tell me that you’re just going to sit there and listen to the bullshit that lousy excuse for a man is spouting. He’s not even pretending to be innocent. He just wants to cover it up! And, feed me dick!”