A Piece of My Heart

Part 40:The rat takes the cheese...

"Hello, can you please tell Michael Paul is on the phone"

Cynthia feigned a coughing fit as she handed the phone to Michael and said while coughing, it's for you , I think, Michael, take it here, (coughing) and then return to your office downstairs"

"Who, who is it ?" Michael asked.

"Sorry, couldn't make out the name, was coughing to much. Please make it fast" Cynthia said.

Cynthia left her office and told one of the secretaries to gather the board in the conference room for a meeting, meanwhile she hurried to Rosalie's office, closed the door and dialed Sir Peter.

"Cynthia Lewis for Sir Peter please."

"One moment and I'll connect you" said the operator at Scotland Yard. While she waited for Sir Peter, Cynthia cleverly turned on her radio and television to obliterate any sounds that could be heard from outside the office. 

"Sir Peter, I'm here at my office in New York. Michael made himself at home in my office and I just received a call from Prenter asking to speak with Michael. I had a coughing jag while answering so they both didn't know I heard who was calling. What should I do?" Cynthia asked.

"Nothing, I will get back to you tonight while you are at your apartment. Stay calm Cynthia"

"Right chief. Sorry couldn't resist. Have you spoken with Freddie, how is he?"

"He's fine and misses you. You  two are really something for the books, tonight then" Said Sir Peter as he hung up. For the books?, she thought.

Cynthia's intercom buzzed and was told her board was gathered in the conference room. No one knew she was back as yet so when she walked in talking stopped and the board looked at each other not knowing what to say.

"Well, my friends, it seems there are plenty of shenanigans going on in my absence, anyone care to elucidate?" she asked as she looked around and saw that Michael hadn't joined them, he was probably still speaking with Paul Prenter.

Sidney Leffler, the head of marketing stood and said, "to be honest Cyn, we are all very confused. We were told that you were going to stay in London with Freddie Mercury and giving up the business. Live Aid was to be the last event that you were involved with and keeping Rosalie and Karen with you."

"And what was I going to do in London with my crew? All move in together with Freddie Mercury? You all knew I had surgery, correct?" she asked.

With murmuring from around the table, Anne Marks stood up and said, "Cynthia, are you kidding us? We weren't told, in fact we were surprised we hadn't heard from you or your crew."

"So your telling me all calls from London to Cyn, Inc., were either blocked or diverted, or were they going directly to Michael?" she questioned.

One by one, they turned to each other and gasped, realizing what was going on, a subtle take over while Cynthia was abroad with her having no contact with her staff here in New York.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear, while we have well over $10,000,000,000 in assets, you sitting around  this table, are the only shareholders. Legally, I cannot be forced into going public nor giving up control of MY business" Cynthia stated.  "We will discuss this at length tomorrow but right now I am off to Scotts family. You know his father passed away?"

Again, the murmurings around the table. 

"What's the matter with you people. Have you become so apathetic that you haven't reached out to Scott from the company?" Cynthia cried out.

"Cynthia" Anne said, " we were told by Michael that he was taking care of everything."

"That bastard!" Cynthia shouted. "Well, I'm back now and there will be some changes made,   but right now I'm off to Scotts. Please be here by 8AM in the morning, we have a lot to discuss. I will say that the Live Aid after party will be glorious and quite a feather in our cap. Everything is going smoothly with  Ryan, Rosalie and Karen at the helm over there while I'm here."