Sal Gabrini: His House of Cards by Mallory Monroe

world country.   They also said he would promote pretty blonde
women over them if they gave him sexual favors.     Oh, it’s bad, boss.   The media is going to have a field day with
this story!”
    Curtis was a
hyper gay man who always spoke as if the end of the world was near.   Gemma ignored his hyperbole as she continued
to read the story.   Because it was there
in black and white.   Three African-Americans
and two Hispanics.   And the lawsuit?   They wouldn’t even specify how much they
wanted.   Because they knew it wasn’t
going to matter.   Any self-respecting
company with the worldwide reach of the Gabrini Corporation would settle out of
court post haste.   But they didn’t know
Sal, Gemma thought, as she handed Curtis back his phone.   Sal, she knew, wasn’t about to settle.
    Gemma went
around her desk and grabbed her purse and her own phone, and began to leave.
    “Where are
you going, boss?” Barbara asked.   “We
still have that deposition this afternoon.”
    “Set it up
for tomorrow,” Gemma said.   “Whatever
time is good for them.   And clear my
schedule for the rest of the day.”
    Gemma knew
what kind of man Sal was and what these kind of disgusting allegations could do
to him.   He needed her.   Everything else had to take a backseat.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CHAPTER SIX

 
    Sal, as CEO of
the Gabrini Corporation, was on the phone all morning with nervous board
members when the news first broke.   Now
Tommy, his big brother and the chairman of the board, Sal’s boss, was calling
too.   He was in Europe, but wanted to
know if Sal was okay.
    “I’m mad as
hell,” Sal said as he walked around his office with phone in hand.   “Who do they think they’re dealing with?   But I’ll handle it.”
    “I got a
call from Reno,” Tommy said.
    “Yeah, he
called me too.   He’s worried.”
    “I’m
worried,” Tommy said.   “I haven’t had a
chance to see the full story.   But what’s
the deal?   They’re claiming
discrimination?”
    “Yeah, like
I have time for that shit.”
    “That’s not
the answer I wanted to hear, Sal.”
    “I didn’t
discriminate against anybody.   I didn’t
let my employees hang nooses or demean people.   I didn’t tell racist jokes.   Nobody in my office has been going around doing any of that shit they
claim.   And they know it!”
    “Have they
isolated it to our Vegas office?”
    “Vegas
only,” Sal responded. “They’re targeting me.”
    “But why?   What’s the motive?   Is it just money?”
    “That’s the
only thing I can figure.   But they won’t
be shaking me down and getting away with it.”
    Tommy
exhaled.   “This is news we certainly
don’t need.”
    “Yeah, it
threw me too.”
    “What about
the board?   Have you heard from any
members of the board of directors?”
    “That’s all
I’ve had time to deal with,” Sal responded with drain in his voice.   “They’ve been riding my ass since the story
broke.”
    “I’m sure they’re
going to want you to give a press conference and deny everything before our
stock take any more tumbles.   Because
it’s starting to fall.”
    “I’ll meet
with the press,” Sal said.   “But I need
to talk to Gemma first.”
    “Gemma
doesn’t know yet?   Damn, Sal.”
    “What are
you damning me for?   The story just
broke.   I’ve been answering calls all
morning, and not just from our board either, but from jittery investors and our
lawyers too.   As soon as I hang up from
one, another one is calling.   I’ve got
three on hold right now.   The press has
parked outside of the building.”   Sal
walked over by the window and saw the herd of media in front of the Gabrini
Corporation building.   He quickly began
pacing again.   “This is getting crazy.”
    Then he
stopped and ran the back of his hand across his tired eyes.   “I’ll call her as soon as I hang up from
you,” he said.   “Those nervous-ass
investors will have to