“They also reported that nothing was stolen, and nothing was missing from your property.” The detective places his hands on his hips, and shoots an interrogative glance at Kalin.
“Detective, they only wanted to see if I had a plan to transfer the shares, and if I in fact did have a plan, who the recipient would be. The stock agreement was left in the desk. But they had to have seen it. It was worth more than anything else in the place.”
“How would they even know about it?”
“The board knew I was upset about being ousted as CEO for spending time with Rebecca. They knew I had very little regard for them as managers, or as human beings for that matter.” Kalen’s tone is glib. “They had to have known I wasn’t going to take this lying down. So they were on the lookout for what my next move would be, and they probably went as far as having me followed by some of their lowlifes.
“This is where Annabelle comes in. They knew I was spending more and more time with her, and that she was already hired as my marketing associate. Certainly they knew that she was positioned to learn the interwork of the company, and possibly more.
“Now they probably saw that we were romantically involved as well. This probably signaled red flags everywhere. Because what the board knows is that I can transfer shares to a family member, including a spouse. If I were to get married again, they would suspect that this is exactly what I would do. And even worse for them, she would be a company manager sitting on the board with an active role selecting managers.”
“The question is, would you get married just to transfer the stock and retain control of the company?” The detective crosses his arms and glares at Kalin.
Kalin runs his fingers along his lower lip and stares across the room for a moment. “Detective, I didn’t think I would ever control this company again. I have enough to live comfortably, and I figured I could start another company or just move on. But after I saw the way these new executives treated the employees, and enriched themselves with what I had built, I knew the right thing to do was to stop them. Even with that weighing on me, I never expected to meet someone like Annabelle.”
Kalin takes in a quick breath. “She really took me by surprise. She’s smart, she’s beautiful, and she could certainly run this company better than these lowlifes.” Kalin glances at me and smiles. “Under my guidance, of course.”
“They’re Ivy League educated managers with years of experience, Mr. Davis. You think Ms. Ried can run company of this size better than them?” he scoffs.
“They already showed how much they know about business when the profits declined substantially in my absence. But they are worse than incompetent, detective. They are dishonorable and devious,” Kalin sneers. “There’s more to running a business than an expensive education. Annabelle has qualities that they never will, and that means more to me than experience or education. I wasn’t expecting to meet someone like her.” Kalin places his hand over mine. “But all the pieces started falling together, and I knew I was falling in love with her, and I couldn’t stop it.”
This is the first time I’ve heard Kalin speak so openly about his feelings for me, and I feel warmth race through me. I can’t stop a goofy smile from spreading across my face. Lia smirks and shakes her head at me. I bug my eyes out at her.
“That’s all very touching. However, it is also very convenient,” the detective barks.
Kalin returns his gaze to the detective. “It would be unwise to get married simply to transfer the stock, Detective.”
“And why is that, Mr. Davis?” His lips twist into a condescending smile.
“Because the stock transfer is an irrevocable transfer. Even if I did get a divorce, I wouldn’t be able to get the stock back. It would be a four-hundred-million-dollar gift to an ex.”
Kalin’s eyes drift to me and back to the detective. My eyes lock on him while he speaks, and I realize he is confessing how he really feels about me. Fear clashes with the warmth of his words, and for a moment I wonder if I this is real, or if I’m wanting to believe in a fairy tale.
“I am the one who is at risk here, detective. I am the one who stands to lose the most,” Kalin says.
“Why would you trust someone like Ms. Ried on the board?”
I glower at the detective.
Kalin exhales sharply. “What is important to me now is that the company is put back on track. I can teach someone like Annabelle those skills. It doesn’t require a Harvard MBA. It requires some integrity and, yes, a bit of backbone and business savvy. But it doesn’t require stealing from employees and cutthroat business tactics to remain competitive. We have competent management throughout the company. We just need honorable leadership. Besides, she is running the advertising with me, not alone.”