Chapter Fifty

 

 

…no one will cry at my funeral, will they…

 

Corporate Reorganization

 

By the first of November, Pemberley, PLC was back on track. The three members who had led the insurrection were ousted, along with all who had supported them, even down to the faithless Darcy cousins. Fitzwilliam had not only purged them, he’d cut them off from the family, revoking any allowances they received from the estate. They were on their own, having to find employment elsewhere. He also made sure that would not be easily done. He went for blood, setting an example for those who remained. Now that he had control of sufficient shares of stock, the board of directors and those who worked for him would fear and respect him. Whether they liked him or not, he didn’t care.

After effectively cleansing the London office, he called a special meeting with some of his top executive officers to discuss the restructuring of the U.S. and Canadian headquarters. He had replaced Dashwood, Stanley, and Wesley with his cousins William, Benson, and Richard. Now it was time to reorganize abroad. As the group assembled around the boardroom table, Fitzwilliam called the meeting to order.

“Gentlemen, I’ve called you together to advise you of my plans and our next move. I am reorganizing the U.S. offices in New York and L.A. Ottawa has already been taken care of. Stephen Darcy left yesterday to replace Sean Ashton as President of Darcy & Winthrop Publishing in Canada. Both the U.S. and Canadian restructuring is to be a complete surprise to those who work there. Therefore, as I have already directed Stephen, I require total secrecy. These changes I’m about to disclose will take effect immediately after the New Year with a target date of January tenth to be completed. As with Sean Ashton, I want Edward Darcy and Charles Wilson to think they have survived.” Fitzwilliam tapped his pencil on the table while he looked from one to the other of those assembled there.

“William, as my Financial Director, I want you to also take control of the New York office as President of American Affairs, replacing Wilson. When you arrive, you are to inform him that he no longer works for us. Give him this letter, which will explain his termination along with a severance settlement,” Fitzwilliam said, handing a package to his cousin.

“Once there, I want you to do a systematic audit and investigation of the office. Fire anyone who took part in this attempted takeover or whom you believe to be incompetent. If you want the position on a permanent basis, it’s yours. Wilson is to vacate the penthouse in sixty days, and then it, too, is to be yours. Until then, use the corporate quarters at the Darcy Executive Suite. Do you have any questions?”

“Not at this time. I’ll review the situation and get back with you at a later date if I do,” William answered as he studied the papers in his hand.

“Benson,” Fitzwilliam said as he turned to his younger cousin, “you’re being promoted. As Technical Director for the Pemberley Board, I want you to go to the L.A. office and do the same in your new position as President of Darcy Technologies. You will replace our cousin, Edward. Here is his letter of explanation,” Fitzwilliam said, handing a package to Benson. “He gets no severance package beyond that which I legally have to provide. He’s a Darcy—he should have known better. There’s a high cost to pay when blood betrays blood. As with your brother, if you want the position permanently, it’s yours. The same living accommodations apply to you, except Edward has only thirty days to vacate the Los Angeles suite.

“Once the two of you have secured the offices and everything has returned to normal, you may split your time and residence between Britain and the U.S. Let me know in six months if you plan to take the positions on a permanent basis.”

Glancing around the room, Fitzwilliam concluded. “I think that about does it. Unless there are any further questions, this meeting is adjourned.”

Everyone remained silent.

Fitzwilliam nodded and dismissed them. “Now let’s go to lunch. I’ll meet up with you at White’s in about half an hour.”

As the others were leaving, David pulled his brother aside. “Fitzwilliam, may I have a private word with you?”

“Sure, give me a minute to give this paperwork to Betty, and I’ll be right back.”

Taking the papers in his hand to the desk just outside the boardroom, he gave them to his personal assistant to be filed and then returned to speak with his brother.

“What is it, David?”

David sat on the edge of the table and looked his brother squarely in the eye. “Fitzwilliam, don’t you think you’re being a bit excessive with this entire restructuring? I understand firing them, but cutting them off from the family completely? You seem intent on causing as much pain as you possibly can. You enjoy watching them twist in the wind. Edward, Ashton, and Wilson were only minor players, barely involved, and yet you toy with them, letting them think they survived. And what about Henry and Edmund? You served their heads on a silver platter in the last board meeting. Edmund lost everything he had. He and his wife and children are now living with his parents whilst Henry is living with his wife’s family, barely surviving. I don’t like it, Fitzwilliam.”

“Edmund and Henry Darcy,” Fitzwilliam breathed out. “When we were young, they were like brothers to us. But they grew up and away from the Darcy heritage. It’s been a long time since they held any feelings of loyalty or allegiance to us. They are Darcys in name only. They hate us, and you know it. They have accused us of seeking special privileges, when in reality they wished for what we had even though they benefited from the family legacy and were quite well off.”

“Yes, but does the end justify our means?”

Fitzwilliam released an exasperated sigh as he took a seat on the table beside his brother. Stroking his family ring, Fitzwilliam glanced up and looked his brother in the eye. “David, in some respects you have as much of a classical education as I do. You know from history that all of the enemy must be destroyed in order for the empire to continue and prosper. It was even true amongst our own family. There comes a time when family loyalties are put to a test.” Fitzwilliam paused and locked eyes with his brother. “Have you not learnt anything from our family history? I’m sure you remember The Wars of the Roses and Richard Darcy’s attempt to wrest control of Pemberley lands from Thomas, his brother, the rightful heir. Thomas had to cut him down on the battlefield—his own brother. And have you forgotten our forefather Henry Darcy and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms? I don’t know about you, but I have learnt from history, and I don’t intend to repeat its mistakes. From this point on, I will demand total loyalty.”

Fitzwilliam glanced at the portrait of Fitzwilliam A. Darcy I that hung over the Chairman’s seat. Looking back at David, he nodded with a light sigh “When you have two forces vying for control, only one can succeed. The opposition must be eliminated, and all that is affiliated with it must go. In order to prosper, we must be willing to get our hands dirty and eliminate anyone who stands in our way. Maybe you should refresh yourself with Machiavellian principles. If I can’t have their respect out of friendship, I’ll have it out of fear.” Fitzwilliam’s words were as cold as his eyes.

“I told you I would go for blood, and you agreed. If this were the 16th century, I’d have their heads on London Bridge. I want the people who work for me to be loyal, and I don’t care what I have to do to obtain their allegiance.”

David frowned, clearly uncomfortable with his brother’s answers. “Yes, I did agree in principle, but this is excessive.” David glanced away and then back. “What about Uncle Harry? You have been excessively cruel to him. I thought we agreed to allow him to gradually pay back the money Father had lent him. He’s on the brink of bankruptcy. You have ruined him!”

“Father is dead. That loan belongs to me now!”

“But we agreed to extend the olive branch for Aunt Samantha’s sake, and yet you didn’t.”

“That was before Elizabeth left me. After that, everything changed.” Fitzwilliam’s words rang with a twinge of sorrow. “She was my grounding force, my reason for living. It was her and our plans for our children that drove me, motivated me. When I lost her, I lost all care and concern for life. All that’s left is a job to do, and that is what motivates me now.” Fitzwilliam paused and cocked his head as he narrowed his eyes. “Did you really think I would show them mercy? The board of directors, especially Dashwood, cost me my wife. I told you I would get them—every single one of them, right down to the last cousin!”

“Yes, but Fitzwilliam, this is a scorched earth policy. We will be viewed as ruthless. Does that not bother you!?”

“Not in the least, Brother,” Fitzwilliam shot back. “I’ve never cared much for what others thought, and I care even less now. I never wanted this job, but now that it is mine, I will do it. Do you think they would not have done the same to us had circumstances been different and they had been successful? Still waters run deep, David. They should not have underestimated me. It’s a world of mice and men.” Fitzwilliam spoke in a hardened voice. “Which are we?”

“Fitzwilliam,” David shook his head, “we are more than the wars of our fathers. This is not the medieval world. You’ve done things I wouldn’t do.”

“Then I guess no one will cry at my funeral, will they?” He glanced away and then drew back, catching his brother’s gaze. “David, I’m operating on gut instinct—trust me!” Fitzwilliam said, slapping his brother on the back as they rose from the table and made their way out of the boardroom.

David glanced at the portraits of Darcy men about the boardroom as he walked out shaking his head. …There’s nothing like a wake of blood to see where you’ve been, is there, Brother? We’re just like our predecessors.