“Everyone, please be quiet,” Agnes said sternly.
“Agnes, I’ve already made my decision,” Simon said. “My contract allows me to resign at any time.”
“Yes, but we need you,” Agnes said. “After this fiasco with Everett, Dover needs stable leadership. We could barely survive with our most senior board member getting arrested for sabotage. With Everett in jail, we cannot survive our CEO resigning right after.”
“You expect me to undo my decision?” Simon demanded.
“We haven’t revealed that you resigned,” Agnes said. “Only the people in this room and a handful of investors know that you stepped down. If you decide to come back, the public will never know and we can get things moving again.”
“Why should I come back?” he asked. “The board has been trying to control me for years. What do I have to gain from returning?”
“We haven’t been trying to control you,” Agnes insisted. “All we’ve ever done is what’s best for Dover.”
“Is that why one of your senior members gave insider secrets to our rivals and hacked into my personal computer system? Was that what was best for Dover?” He frowned, unable to suppress the annoyance that was washing over him.
“That was an unfortunate event that we will not be replicating. You can trust the board,” Agnes said.
“Like hell I can,” Simon said. “I started this company with a completely different idea than what has happened. I built this company from the ground up. Now, instead of being able to enjoy the fruits of my hard labor, and those I hired and trusted, I’m left with only a bad taste in my mouth. Give me one good reason why I should come back.”
“Well, I suspect your resignation had to do with how Ms. Hall was treated.” Agnes pursed her lips. “What if we were to give her a promotion? An increased salary?”
“No,” Heather said sharply. “I’m not going to get by on favoritism.”
Simon knew that Heather would be stubborn enough to refuse whatever Dover gave her. And while he admired her integrity, he couldn’t sit by and watch her throw away an opportunity like this. “It’s not favoritism, Heather—it’s what Dover owes you. After the board practically accused you of spying and sabotage, you deserve to be compensated.”
“I don’t know...” Heather bit her lip.
“Let me put it this way: it’s in the board’s interest to do this because they’ve opened Dover up to a lawsuit. Accusing you of a crime was bad enough, but now that a senior board member was the actual culprit? You have grounds to sue, and I believe Agnes and the rest of the board are aware of this.” He narrowed his eyes at Agnes and shook his head. “I know that the board is trying to cover its ass right now, so don’t bother trying to deny it.”
“I won’t deny it,” Agnes said. “If you return as CEO, Simon, I can guarantee a better position and better pay for Ms. Hall.”
“What if I agree to come back? Can Ms. Hall and I pursue a relationship?” he asked. “It was none of the board’s damn business in the first place.”
Heather gasped and lowered her eyes, her embarrassment obvious.
He hadn’t meant to embarrass her, but many of them problems had stemmed from them not being direct with the board. They might have to hide from the media, but he wasn’t about to return to Dover to end up having to hide his love at the very place he worked.
“The rules are clear,” Agnes said. “Dover’s commitment to ethics will always stand. The company only permits mutual romantic relationships. Both parties have to agree to pursue a relationship and must follow the rules of conduct.”
“Of course,” he said. “I would never pursue something with Heather or anyone else without a mutual agreement.”
Heather lifted her gaze and smiled at him. “I agree.” A soft laugh escaped her throat and the sound went straight to his heart. After all this time fighting for a chance to be with her, he finally felt at peace.
He returned her smile. “In that case, I might agree to come back as CEO—”
Agnes beamed. “That’s wonderful!”