Begin Again novel Chapter 12

The next several weeks passed in a blur as Liam adjusted to his new role. He was constantly sitting in various meetings, attending numerous conferences in and out of the country and making sure his father received the best treatment.

His days began as early as 4:00 AM and some nights he'd only drag himself to bed after 2:00 AM. He was cranky and short-tempered, not surprising since he was running on two hours sleep at the very least.

In those first few weeks, he made a lot of enemies in and out of the company; as a result, his security detail had to be ramped up following anonymous death threats.

Liam found the endless army of guards annoying, but the board didn't want to take any chances, not when Anderson Logistics’ share prices took a beating following the news of his father's illness. He wasn't their best choice, but for now, he was the only Messiah who could safely wade them out of shit-creek.

He made a lot of shakeups internally. He disbanded the executive committee and brought in fresh blood, young people who had the vision and the balls to pioneer Anderson Logistics into a whole new era. The senior managers who'd held on to their positions because of their close relationship with his father and not based on real skill or talent were not pleased with his boldness.

He kept his cousins, Julian and Matthew, close, as his second in command. They had as much right to the company as he did. It was his first contentious decision, and it pitted him against his sisters. They thought he was reckless and stupid by giving the two brothers so much control.

But Liam was righting a wrong. "It's as much their company as it is ours. If Dad didn't push Uncle Sullivan out, they'd have a fair share."

His sisters disagreed.

"Uncle Sullivan was weak; he didn't have the balls to take this business forward!" Willow argued.

"Dad made the company what it is today," Holly said naively.

"Dad isn't God," Liam pointed out. "He didn't build the company all by himself. Other people gave their all. Julian and Matthew lost everything when Uncle Sully died. And we all know Dad killed him. He may not have given him the gun he used to blow his brains out. But he drove him into it."

"Stop it!" His sisters snapped at once, their eyes dark with murderous rage.

"Whose side are you on?" Willow demanded.

"I'm on the side of the truth. If Dad didn't sideline Uncle Sully, he wouldn't have been so depressed he thought his only way out was to take his own life."

"Must we talk about this right now?" Holly asked. "What good will dredging up the past do?"

"You don't have to acknowledge it, but I do," Liam said. "I cannot lead this company with a clear conscience if I don't fix what Dad did. We all know Julian and Matt have done way more for Anderson Logistics than any of us in this room, and if you both fail to see that, there's something morally warped with you!"

The argument carried on through dinner, only stopping when Lois sniffled in her seat.

"Enough, both of you," She said tearfully. "Liam is right. They are family and should never have been excluded."

"I will not give up my shares!" Holly dumped her fork on her plate and crossed her arms stubbornly.

"No one wants your fucking three percent!" Liam raged and laid down the law, pointing a stern finger at his little sister. "And your life of excessive spending is over. You will not be closing down stores for your private shopping sprees. Using the company's jet to go party in Ibiza is over. And that fucking penthouse you never live in, you'd better use it soon, or I'll help you get rid of it."

"Mom!" It was Willow, though, who screamed at their mother to intervene.

"Listen to your brother–"

"But he can't make me live like a poor person!" Holly shouted.