173|Down A Perilous Path—Part 1

Halfway through the second half of the meeting, Stuart Gardner, one of the longest-serving board members and Lukas's biggest supporter, suggested they should follow the crisis management plan.

"Which is?" Austin asked pointedly.

"We keep our mouths shut, of course!" replied Gardner, rolling his eyes all the way to the back of his head as if Austin was the slowest person on earth for asking something that was clearly obvious to him.

"Are you out of your mind?" Grayson and McIntyre were on their feet at once, pointing accusatory fingers at Gardner. Unlike everyone in Lukas' camp, they clearly hadn't forgotten whose interest they were supposed to protect, insisting the only way they could all paddle out of shit creek was through complete transparency with the shareholders.

The debate continued for another fifteen minutes, with Gardner and Lukas crying sabotage.

"That's your best plan?" yelled Gardner, stomping his feet like a preschooler. "Rat us out to the shareholders?"

His confidence