Read For Her Protection: 1 (Personal Protection) for Free Online Page A

The
projection screen at the rear of the room lit up. “WHM is a premier offshore
manufacturing company and I have a negotiated contract to produce Halifax’s
current hardware components at one fifth of our current production cost.”
    Sneaking backstabber .
    Charlize’s stomach sank into a bitter pit of bile. She
swallowed. Not only had he done this behind her back, his words were a jab at
her—implying he was doing what she hadn’t—but worst of all his actions brought
them one step closer to losing the last of Halifax’s soul. More of her uncle’s
tactics. If in doubt, sell it or get it done offshore. Never mind none of these
tactics had worked, never mind that sales were dropping, never mind their brand
had all but disintegrated.
    Frank continued, flicking graphs across the screen. “This
would immediately up profits and slash costs dramatically.” He clicked to a new
slide. “Here you see Halifax would be out of debt and back in the black in
twenty-four months.”
    Charlize studied the graph on the screen, which was
decisively vague as to how those estimates were calculated. Frank clicked again
and the bile in her stomach started to boil.
    Assholes !
    He’d used the very reports she’d asked for—the reports they’d
withheld from her but that he now used to articulate his point.
    “Unfortunately this manufacturer is in high demand and we
must seize the opportunity before our competitors do. All they require is the approval
of our CEO and we can begin planning immediately for a stronger Halifax
Enterprises.”
    Frank turned to Charlize. He did nothing more than look at
her but she saw the triumph in the smug arch of his forehead as clearly as if
he’d leaned over and whispered “checkmate” in her ear. She curled and uncurled
her fingers.
    All heads turned toward her. She needed to act. But first
she’d have to stall. At least long enough to think of a better action than to
leap forward, grab the remote and jam it up Frank’s closest orifice.
    “Perhaps I’m mistaken but I would imagine that one-fifth of
production costs must equate to some reduction in quality materials and
workmanship?”
    A series of voices rose back up and drowned out the end of
her words. Charlize pressed her lips together and breathed heavily through her
nose.
    Frank raised his hand and silence fell again. “Now,
Charlize, I understand your concern. The reality is we no longer have the
luxury of remaining static in our production practices, we need to move
forward.” He slid a folder across the slick glass surface of the conference
table. “Time is a crucial factor. It’s all been thoroughly investigated. Our
legal team has vetted and approved the contract. All you need to do is sign at
the sticky tabs and you can save the company.”
    Charlize gazed at the folder then up at the fifteen faces
studying her—waiting to see what she’d do. She looked at Frank. “Well this is
certainly a compelling analysis you’ve put together, Frank.”
    A satisfied quiver twisted into his smile. “Why thank you,
Charlize. So let’s not waste time.” He pulled a pen from inside his jacket and
handed it to her.
    Charlize glanced back across the sea of faces. Neville, who
moments ago had been so vocal, now watched her silently. She frowned. As
director of manufacturing operations, Neville would lose almost all his staff,
his factories, maybe even his own position. Yet there he sat, offering not a
word of protest…
    “You know what amazes me the most about this report? How you
were able to put together projections without access to financial reporting.”
    Deep lines cut into Frank’s cheeks. “You’re mistaken. We
have access to all financial reports.”
    Charlize smiled. “Is that so? Because I have been completely
unable to obtain correct or accurate reporting at all since assuming the role
of CEO.” She snapped the folder closed. “So if you could simply provide me with
the full information referenced in your analysis, I would