4 Words

“We’re just too different, Lo.” The words echo through my mind as I stand paralyzed, wrapped in confusion. I close my eyes, tilting my head to the sky and take a deep, unsteady breath.

“Harlow, did you hear me? We’re going to have to ask you to step down. Effective immediately. I’ve already gotten approval from the board.” Lennox says, sliding me an envelope, finally snapping me out of my disbelief. Reviving my dignity I straighten myself up and make direct eye contact with the treacherous snake. I remain quiet for an excruciating amount of time, maintaining an unbreakable stare. Lennox clears her throat and glances away. I soak her discomfort in like water.

“We’re just too different.” I manage to scoff out. “You’re right, Len. We are too different. You’re slimy snake and I’m the grass that grows unknowingly protecting you. Giving you cover to conceal what you are.” Her pebbled, dirt eyes widen. Like she has a right to be offended. “It’s funny,’ I say, my words scathing, “Everyone told me exactly the type of person you were but I defended you. I trusted you! We’ve been best friends since tenth grade. My parents hang a stocking at Christmas for you. I helped you start this business from nothing. I used my own money to fund this. I use my degree to run it. I use my connections to market everything and get high profile clients to represent. Or have you forgotten? You’d be a washed up junkie in the projects if I didn’t pick you for my charity case.” Tears start to form in her tiny, darkened eyes. I almost feel remorse but then I see the manila envelope ripped open in front of me and my anger rekindles. “You’re a fraud, a con artist. You fabricated these fictitious documents, testimonies, and photos to push me out of the company all because I wouldn’t take on your street thug boyfriend as a client of our firm. Wait, did I say boyfriend? I forgot, he left you faster than Nick Cannon is having babies once he realized you’re worthless to him and in your twisted mind you blame me.” I feel like I’m jumping realities. My heart is pounding. Everything is a blur around me. It’s taking every ounce of control I’ve ever possessed to not explode. I grab my bag and turn to head out of the double doors that once held my solace. I pause right before pushing my way out and glance back over my shoulder. “And for the record Len, I have no problem representing criminals. It’s just not going to be some wanna be gas station rapper selling burnt bags of garden grown mid. It’s going to be the head of an organization and you’re not even going to know their name once I’m done. Olivia Pope would even call for advice.” She stands there, her already thin lips pressed into a line. Guess the snake forgot how to hiss. “A little advice, when choosing an enemy, Len, make sure it’s not the one who created you. Because, when I’m done — Atlantis will be easier to recover than the house of cards you’re sitting in. Your little fence you put up to protect you, it’s nothing more than a facade.”

Finally making it out of the front doors on to the bustling hustle, also known as the Manhattan streets, I welcome the distraction. I grab my phone from my purse and press stop on the recording . I knew something was going to go south eventually. Lennox has been acting questionable for weeks and after seeing her new sleazy hookup following me; I was prepared for every scenario.

I still can’t believe she turned the board against me. Talking about ‘I’m not heading in the same direction as the companies vision. We’re just too different and need to cut ties.’ If a war is what she wants then consider this as shots fired. The first battle may be won but whatever she is planning, I will grind to dust.

“Luca.” My financial advisor’s voice rings through the back speakers of my town car. “Luke, I want you to dump my shares of LCORP.”

As expected, there is a long pause on the other end of the line. I can feel the questions racing through his mind faster than the speed of light. I sit silently waiting to see what he says next.

I have a don’t ask don’t tell policy on life. Something my dad drilled in me at a young age. I never offer up information if not needed or inquired. You won’t even know my favorite color at free will. Information is power and the more information only I have the more power I can possess. It’s the reason I went to law school and got into the public relations business. Some of the most powerful and influential people in the world spill their dirty secrets out to me for free. Well, that’s not exactly true, I charge a hefty retainer fee.

“I’m sorry Lo, I must have unknowingly eaten an edible or taken something. Could you repeat that?”

“No, Luke. You heard me right. Dump all of it. You were also right about Len. She’s about to get a first hand lesson in the true price of double crossing your only ally. Hopefully she has what it takes to the pay the bill.”

“Lo, the profit margins are good. Revenue is growing. This is already worth over triple the price then when you guys went public two years ago. Don’t be so hot headed for once in your life and think it through. If you do this, you relinquish all ownership. All voting rights in the company. Everything you’ve built since your senior year of high school. Everything you went to college for. All of it. Take a day or two and think it over. Act logical instead of emotional for once. I’m saying this not only as your advisor but your big brother. We can brainstorm a way to get you back in and Lennox back to where she came from. Just be rational”

“Either dump the stock or transfer my portfolio to someone who can act unbiased. I didn’t call for advice. If I wanted a heart to heart, I would have called your personal cell. Besides, I’ve got a plan in motion already.” My phone starts beeping with another call coming in. Right on time. “I’m serious Luca, I want it done before the end of the business day or you’re fired. Family or not.” I hear him call out my name as click over to my next call.

“Hugh, just the man I was needing to talk with.”

“Always a pleasure, Lo. What’s going on? Your message said it was ‘critical I got in touch with you swiftly.’ I’ve been in court the first part of the morning. We have a recess right now, so make it quick.”

I roll my eyes. You’d think as much money as I pay to have Hugh on retainer as head of my legal team he’d be more gracious. But, I didn’t hire him for his politeness. I hired him because he can make Italian don’s cower and doesn’t mind getting a little dirty to win. Plus, he has the majority of the judges in his pocket. Everyone knows, it’s not what you know or how good you are but, who you know and what you have on them. I take a deep breath before responding. “Pull the contracts for the building on 57th street and send out an official eviction notice to LCORP.” The phone goes silent. It’s rare to render Hugh speechless.

“You’re going to need to give me more details on this. I know you’re withholding a few vital details, that as your lead legal adviser, I should be looped in on. Why exactly are you evicting your company from a building you silently own? What did you do, Harlow?”

“You know how you and dad have always told me ‘people can’t change their nature. They just camouflage into their surroundings waiting for a chance to strike.’ Turns out you guys were right. Lennox is a scheming leech. She fabricated an entire folder on me and covertly met with the board of directors to push me out of the day to day operations. I have Luca selling all my shares in LCORP as we speak. She’s up to something bigger than this. I can feel it. You should have seen her. The gleeful look in her eye and the vindictive smirk when she slid me the packet she had been building.”

“I warned you to cut ties with her when she lied about needing the money for her spring semester sophomore year. Then went on a six month travel exploration and gas lit you for getting into Yale when she was stuck at NYU.”

‘I know, I know. Let it go already. I’m usually good at reading people I don’t understand how everyone but me read her like a book.”

“Trauma bonds are a real thing. You always felt guilty about what happened the summer after freshmen year. You took her in like a stray. The only reason your dad allowed it was because he didn’t know how to communicate with you or get you through the situation. He solved the issue like he always does, with money.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and block out the memories trying to claw their way out of the depths where I buried them so many years ago. Maybe if I close them a little tighter I’ll teleport to a different dimension.

“I’ll have to review the contracts and see what repercussions may fall back on us for doing this. She may try to come after you for retaliation or unlawful eviction. I’ll find a loophole.”

“No need, I knew she wouldn’t read the legal documents from the lease. I added in a list of clauses for eviction. One being if either of us left the business for any reason the current lease would be terminated effectively immediately and a new one would need to be put in place. Since I own the building. We won’t be renewing any leases. I’m going to personally buy the building from my shell corporation so she knows exactly who is behind it.”

“Slow down on your villain origin story Harlow. Call me before you make any major moves. I’ll help you crush her but let’s not give her ammunition to load the guns with. Be rational Lo. You’re too hot headed, just like your father. I’ve got to get back into court. I’ll work on serving her the eviction notice by the end of the week.”

The line goes dead. I melt back into the leather seats of the town car and watch the world keep moving. Like nothing happened. Like it doesn’t matter that reality as I know it is falling like ashes into the ruins around me.

The driver pulls into the underground garage of my condo in Tribeca. I take the private elevator up to the penthouse. The elevator is all glass and allows me to look down at the city below. It climbs upward into clouds that are concealing the top of the building like a child hiding beneath the covers from a monster.

I exit into the lobby of my condo and immediately head to my home office. I open my laptop and draft up a letter explaining the situation, then send it to all my connections. I notice my profile from the company is still active. Rookie. I would have revoked my remote access days ago if I was going to pull what Lennox did. I quickly download all the client flies and store them to my personal cloud. Then forward the explanation letter to the entire company. Excluding the board and Lennox.

I still have administrative control, so I go in and change all the passwords for everything. Then I update the authentication methods; removing anyone remaining at the company. Shutting my computer down I go to the kitchen and pour me a glass of my favorite wine.

‘It’s done. Your shares have been sold and you have fully pulled out of LCORP.’ The text from Luca looks back at me mockingly. I sigh, but I’m not sure if it’s in relief or in grief. I close my eyes and accept the circumstances for what they are.

The greatest weapons are forged in fire and I’m walking through hell right now. If you would have told me this morning that four words were going to turn life as I knew it upside down, I would have laughed in your face.

Words are more powerful than any weapon known to man. They have the ability to build nations, start wars, save lives, end them. They can change your entire existence in less than thirty seconds and make you feel as if you’ve had your inside ripped out and trampled on. They have the ability to control a narrative however you want, regardless of the situation or facts. If anyone understands the power of words, it’s me. Growing up with a media mogul father and the daughter of a former president as a mother, I’ve seen the way words wield power and influence. More powerful than money, weapons, or fear. The reason everyone is so desperate to be heard is because they think what they have to say will change the outcome of their circumstances. 

Unfortunately, for Lennox Anderson, her words fell out of her mouth like dominoes. Each one hitting the other causing a serious of unfortunate events. I guess it’s time for her to see just how different we actually are. I chug the rest of wine and head down the hallway to my bedroom to try and sleep. Ending the day and closing this book for good. 

Tomorrow, I begin a brand new story and I won’t be the same naive character I was prior. I don’t mind being the anti-hero in this story. 

Let the new narrative begin.