Ask Me For It

Chapter 24 - Dans Le Noir

George's POV

Negative space is usually a positive for creativity. At least, that's what I always taught the kids. Mercy seemed to grasp and interpret this idea well. She saw the good in things and found opportunity when you didn't think there was any.

Hero, on the other hand, struggled with this concept.

In Hero's view, negative space referred to the emptiness around a work of art or, as he put it, the void that Josephine left behind.

I'm no fool. I know very well what she means to my son. Negative space allows the point of interest or art to stand out against its vast bleakness.

Like a picture, Josephine was art to Hero, and his life was the vast negative. His entire being was trained on her causing everything in the background to fade away in sheer contrast.

He has the right depth of perception when it comes to her. His life has become a dark background, and in the foreground, she is light.

It is because of this he must know what we've discovered.

"The attack on Josephine is planned for this week." I've moved towards the only sturdy item in the room, the large oak desk.

I'm walking on eggshells as I tell Hero the latest information my security team has gathered. He's already broken a vase, a lamp and a chair. This is an improvement from previous conversations, so I'll take it.

"Her partners have arranged a special dinner for their new clients, and that's where the attack is scheduled to take place." Hero heard every word I just said but didn't move a muscle. I know he's heard me because he's clicking his jaw, nostrils flared with his gaze set on one spot on the wall. He hasn't been sleeping or eating well, and instead, he's been working out-a lethal combination since he's more muscle than body fat and gets angrier as this situation evolves.

"I think we should let the cops know now, Hero. They should manage this and get both Jack and Dan behind bars." This was the wrong thing to say.

"You think that'll solve the problem? You don't get it, do you? It's not Jack who is trying to get at Jo... it's mum and her partner. If Dan and Jack are reported to the police, we don't get to figure out who this partner is! We won't get to keep Jo safe! We can't go to the cops just like I can't be CEO of this company because they'll go after her ... my only weakness." He booms.

"Well, Martha's stocks have been transferred multiple times now, and we have a bigger problem. She anticipated what you two were up to. While you manage Mercy's shares in trust, she is doing the same with all her transferred shares. They belong to someone else, but she still holds a position of power." Morgan chimes in. He's been sitting at the opposite end of the room-a safe distance from Hero.

"I'm done! This insanity needs to end here!" Hero rolls up his shirt sleeves and moves towards me with purpose, stopping immediately in front of me. Both his hands come up to rest on my shoulders as he meets my eyes. "Do you trust me?" I can see a storm brewing inside him and know he's getting ready for something big. "Yes, without a doubt, son." I give him the reassurance he needs.

"We need to understand the exact market value of our stock then have another company take us over. The company taking us over will need to do this as an all-cash deal. Shares of everyone's stock will disappear from their portfolio at some point following the deal's official closing date and be replaced by the cash value of the shares specified in the buyout. They would no longer have any ownership stake." He steps back from me and turns to look at Morgan.

"We can issue phantom stocks to remaining employees without worrying about assigning any ownership. This way, mum gets her money. We will no longer have to worry about ownership of DFT Group since it will cease to exist." Hero looks from Morgan to me, eyebrows raised with a smirk on his face.