Chapter 3 – What the Room Didn’t Know

“Most of you know Walter as the face of Reed Auto Group,” Diana began, her voice carrying easily through the ballroom’s sound system. “What most of you don’t know is that every one of our seven locations is financed through a holding company my father left me, Hartwell Capital, which I’ve run as the majority owner of this entire operation since the day we opened our first lot.”

A ripple of confused whispers moved through the crowd, several employees glancing toward each other, recalculating an org chart they’d apparently never fully understood.

“I’ve also personally guaranteed every loan this company has taken out for the last twenty-two years,” Diana continued, “including the expansion loan for our newest location in Springfield, which closes in eleven days. That guarantee is, as of this moment, withdrawn.”

Walter’s confident smile finally faltered. “Diana, that’s — we can discuss the business side of this privately, don’t you think —”

“We could have,” Diana said, “before you decided to discuss the personal side of it in front of three hundred people during dinner. I think it’s only fair the business side gets the same audience.”

She turned back to the crowd, unhurried. “I’ll be making one phone call tomorrow morning, to our primary lender, informing them of the change in personal guarantee status. I expect that call will be relevant to quite a few of you.”