The "Boardroom Breach": The 6-Week Global Hostile Takeover
[Jay's POV]
It was Week 6, and Keifer had finally agreed to a "Remote Executive Session" with the London Board of Directors. He hadn't been to the office in forty-two days, and the London branch was starting to "Glitch" without the Ice King's direct supervision.
"I'll be in the Home Command Center (the study) for exactly sixty minutes, Jay," Keifer said, adjusting his tie—his first time wearing one since the hospital. "The 'Perimeter' must be 1,000% silent. This is a high-stakes 'Merger Discussion'. Any 'System Noise' could weaken our 'Negotiation Leverage'."
"Don't worry, Keif," I smiled, holding a sleeping Aurora. "The 'Double-Heirs' are in 'Power-Save' mode. Go run your empire."
The "London Sync": [Keifer's POV]
I sat behind my mahogany desk, the 8K monitor wall displaying twelve nervous-looking executives from the London office.
"The 'Acquisition' of the Sterling Group is non-negotiable," I said, my voice cold and "Alpha-Standard." "If the 'Profit Margins' don't hit 15% by Q3, I will 'De-list' the entire—"
WAAAAAA-HAA!
A "High-Decibel" siren echoed from the hallway. I froze. The London Board froze.
"Mr. Watson?" the Lead Director stuttered. "Was that a... 'Security Breach' at the Mansion?"
"It is a 'Temporary Audio Interference'," I gritted out, hitting the 'Mute' button.
I looked at the door. It burst open. Alexander was in his high-tech "Mobile Walker," and he was currently being pushed at "High-Velocity" by Jay, who looked like she had just lost a "Hostile Takeover" battle herself.
The "Dual-Input" Interruption: [Jay's POV]
"I'm so sorry, Keif!" I whispered-yelled, trying to grab Alexander, who was determined to reach the "Shiny Buttons" on Keifer's desk. "He 'Bypassed' the nursery gate! And Aurora... she's in a 'Mood'!"
Aurora was tucked under my other arm, and she wasn't crying—she was "Protesting." She looked at the monitor wall, saw the twelve men in suits, and let out a sharp, authoritative "EH! BAH!"
Keifer forgot to check if he was still muted.
"Aurora, please! I am in the middle of 'Liquidating' a competitor!" Keifer hissed.
The London Board stared in silence. I realized the "Mute" hadn't clicked.
"Is that... the 'Heir Apparent'?" the Director asked, leaning into his camera.
The "Heir" Negotiation: [Author's POV]
Seeing his "Empire" watching him, Keifer realized there was only one way to "Optimize" the situation. He didn't kick them out. He sighed, reached down, and lifted Alexander onto his lap.
Alexander immediately grabbed Keifer's 500 fountain pen and began to "Analyze" it by trying to chew the gold nib.
"London," Keifer said, his voice returning to its "CEO Gravity." "Meet Alexander Keizer Watson, the Primary Shareholder of your future. And this—" He gestured to Aurora, who I had set down on the desk.
Aurora didn't play. She crawled (well, wobbled) toward the microphone, looked at the Lead Director, and let out a long, wet raspberry. "Pffft-t-t-t!"
The boardroom went silent. Then, one by one, the London Directors started to chuckle.
"I believe the 'Lady Aurora' just 'Vetoed' our Q3 projections, Mr. Watson," the Director laughed.
The "New Management" Verdict: [Jay's POV]
Keifer looked down at Alexander, who was now successfully "Inking" the front of Keifer's white shirt, and then at Aurora, who was currently "Deleting" a spreadsheet by slapping the keyboard with her tiny palm.
"It appears," Keifer said to the monitor, a rare, genuine smirk breaking his "Ice King" mask, "that the 'Watson Mainframe' is under 'New Management'. The merger is approved, but only if the Sterling Group provides 'Optimal Childcare Facilities'. Meeting adjourned."
He slammed the laptop shut.
"Keifer!" I laughed, picking up the ink-covered Alexander. "You just ended a multi-billion dollar meeting because of a raspberry!"
"The 'Data' was clear, Jay," Keifer said, picking up Aurora and kissing her cheek. "She 'Vetoed' the deal. And in this house, the 'General' always has the final 'Encryption Key'."
"1,000%," Aurora "Cooed," looking 2,000% smug.