BE MY OBSESSION

CHAPTER 10

•SHELBY•

After settling into his new office, William wasted no time in calling for a meeting. Despite my reservations about his easy acquisition of power, I reluctantly joined to uncover his plans for the merger ceremony.

I was annoyed by his audacity to use my meeting room without consent. However, given his recent bothersome behavior, I decided to let it slide.

When I entered the room, he had already taken my seat at the head of the table. I shot him a glare and opted to sit at the opposite end, avoiding direct confrontation.

The merger project team gradually filed into the room, taking their designated seats. To my surprise, Shay entered with Jason. As a partner, it made sense for him to be present for the merger proceedings.

They both sat to my right, and a silence settled over the room as everyone focused their attention on William.

"Thank you for your time. We have an important matter at hand that demands our focus. In a matter of weeks, the decisions we make here and present at the merger ceremony will determine our roles within this company—each and every one of us."

William's gaze lingered on me as he concluded his statement.

"I understand that the finance team is already working on our merger funding," he turned to Mr. Ashcroft, the head of the finance department, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, indeed, Mr. Fontane. My team and I are diligently working on the funding and agreement. We believe we are well-prepared to commence our merger project plan," Mr. Ashcroft responded, eliciting a satisfied nod from William.

"I'm pleased to hear that. As the merger project manager, I expect everyone in this room to collaborate in establishing a new general ledger structure, updating employee and department numbers, revising payroll, adjusting budgets, updating online authorities, winding down outdated entities, transferring asset ownership, and setting up discrete cost centers to calculate monthly goodwill 'earn out' provisions. Additionally, any necessary accounts should be established to fulfill our obligations under the acquisition agreement and more. We need all hands on deck for this project."

Once again, his gaze darted towards me, and I rolled my eyes, shifting my attention elsewhere, only to find Shay also observing me with a knowing smile.

"Every merger is different, requiring a tailored implementation that accommodates specific needs. There's no one-size-fits-all solution. People, systems, and work practices differ. Like anything in life, meticulous planning leads to better outcomes, minimizing surprises. In short, let's plan our work and work our plan," he added, prompting nods of agreement and contentment from the attendees.

"Alright, let's get started, shall we?"

Everyone opened their neatly arranged files, and the projector hummed to life. I begrudgingly skimmed through the documents, feeling a sense of tedium.

"Mr. Anderson, as the representative of the company's law firm, I understand you are responsible for handling all the legal documentation pertaining to the merger. Is that correct?" William directed his attention to the middle-aged man seated toward the end of the table.

"Yes, you're right. My team and I will finalize all the required documents before the merger ceremony," Mr. Anderson confirmed.

"Very well, thank you." William acknowledged, and a few moments of silence ensued before he turned his focus to the individuals seated on his left.

"Miss Cooper, any updates on the employment contracts?"

Miss Cooper flipped through her file to verify before responding with a smile.