He grumbled. "I know you don't agree with the company's policies. You and Dad always bickered. But you can't impose your liberal bias on everything we do. I have to run this company my way."
"I understand, Bob."
"What about that list you've been making all these years? Do I have to worry about it?"
The list. Constance hadn't thought about it recently. But when she was young, the list had filled her every waking moment. It contained all of the human rights violations attributed to Westerley International, along with notes she'd made from snippets of conversation overheard at home. Whenever her father blurted out some gossip at the dinner table, or whenever she read a news story about her family's infamous company, the list got updated.
I guess it makes sense that Bob's worried about the list. As CEO, that would have to concern him. But when they were young, Robert was more sympathetic. Only one year older than she was, the two of them had been very close, especially in that loveless home. She often shared choice new list entries with him. But she never showed the list to their father. Burton Westerley would not be happy.
"Don't worry, Bob. The list is my private record. I won't use it against the company. But I'm going to hold you to a higher standard than Dad. Don't disappoint me."
Robert chuckled. "It won't be hard to be better than Dad. All I have to do is cancel the company's contract with Graywater Security. Remember when Dad would sit at dinner and talk about Felix the fixer? Well that guy is still around. He runs a whole team of people at Graywater devoted to solving Westerley International's most delicate problems. These are the guys who do all the dirty tricks you tracked when we were kids. Unfortunately, the fixer man is not going to be easy to get rid of. He's gathered quite a bit of power over the years."
Robert huffed out a breath of exasperation. "Look, if you want to change the company, help me do it. You're getting a seat on the board. Use it, don't ignore it."
"Sorry, Bob. If you can't change the company when you become CEO, how will I be able to do anything from the board? And you know all that corporate politics makes me sick. I'm giving you my board proxy. Use it as you like-Westerley International is all yours." She grunted. "Go nuts."
He belted out a laugh. "Look who's talking. You're the one who is going nuts. Or should I say defending nuts. Trying to save hopelessly damaged street people."