Chapter 27 - Claire Bennett, Candidate
The Bennett Logistics board did not make Claire’s candidacy easy.
That was exactly what she wanted.
Seven candidates reached the final round.
Three Fortune 500 executives.
Two logistics veterans.
One technology founder.
Claire.
The press assumed she would win because of her last name.
Claire responded by requesting that Thomas leave the selection committee.
He agreed.
The board chair, Margaret Cole, interviewed Claire for four hours.
“What is Bennett Logistics’ greatest weakness?”
“Dependency on my father.”
Margaret raised an eyebrow.
“Explain.”
“Our culture trusts Thomas’s instincts so completely that too many managers wait for his approval.”
Thomas, watching through a board recording later, would hate hearing that.
Claire continued.
“A healthy company shouldn’t collapse when its founder goes fishing.”
Margaret almost smiled.
“What would you change first?”
“Executive compensation.”
That surprised everyone.
Claire proposed tying bonuses not only to profit but to safety, employee retention, and verified customer satisfaction.
One director challenged her.
“You’re asking executives to accept less pay.”
“I’m asking them to earn all of it.”
The interview continued.
“What about automation?”
“Use it aggressively where it removes dangerous or repetitive work.”
“And layoffs?”
“If automation saves money by discarding people without retraining them, we’re simply transferring efficiency gains from workers to shareholders.”
Some directors disliked that.
Claire knew.
She didn’t soften it.
Meanwhile, another candidate, Grant Hollister, ran a competing campaign behind closed doors.
Grant was charismatic.
Experienced.
And willing to tell directors exactly what they wanted.
He promised twenty percent cost reduction in eighteen months.
Privately, he suggested selling regional warehouses and outsourcing drivers.
Claire learned about it through public documents from his previous employer.
She did not attack him.
Instead, she presented her own five-year plan.
Moderate growth.
Lower debt.
Fleet electrification where practical.
Employee training.
Technology modernization.
Not glamorous.
Sustainable.
The board narrowed the race to Claire and Grant.
Thomas stayed silent.
At home, Claire finally asked.
“Who would you choose?”
Thomas smiled.
“Not telling you.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“What if I lose?”
“Then you lose.”
Claire laughed.
“Excellent parenting.”
“You asked for fairness.”
“I regret everything.”
Election day arrived.
The board voted.
Claire waited in a conference room.
Thomas sat beside her.
No conversation.
Finally Margaret entered.
Claire stood.
Margaret looked at Thomas.
Then Claire.
“The board reached a decision.”
Claire’s heart pounded.
“We selected Grant Hollister.”
Silence.
Claire nodded.
Thomas remained expressionless.
Margaret continued.
“Seven votes to four.”
Claire forced a smile.
“Thank you for telling me.”
Margaret left.
Thomas waited.
Claire stared at the table.
“That hurts.”
“Yes.”
“I thought I had it.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“Aren’t you going to tell me they’re wrong?”
“No.”
“Dad.”
“You wanted a real process.”
Claire exhaled.
“You’re incredibly annoying.”
Thomas smiled.
“What will you do?”
Claire thought.
“I’ll support Grant.”
Thomas nodded.
“Good.”
“And if his plan hurts the company?”
“Then?”
“I’ll fight him.”
Thomas laughed.
“That’s better.”
Grant became CEO on January 1.
His first speech promised stability.
His second promised efficiency.
Three weeks later, he announced restructuring.
Claire read the confidential proposal.
Her blood went cold.
Warehouse closures.
Driver outsourcing.
Pension changes.
Four thousand jobs affected.
Grant had lied to the board.
His interview promised gradual modernization.
His actual plan was immediate extraction.
Claire marched into his office.
Grant barely looked up.
“You have a problem?”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“You’re not CEO, Claire.”
“I noticed.”
“Then perhaps you should learn what losing looks like.”
Claire stared at him.
Grant leaned back.
“Your father built a sentimental company.”
“And you plan to gut it.”
“I plan to make it profitable.”
“It already is profitable.”
“Not profitable enough.”
Claire realized something.
This battle would be different.
Grant wasn’t Victor.
He wasn’t committing crimes.
He was doing something completely legal.
And potentially devastating.
Claire walked toward the door.
Grant called after her.
“Claire.”
She stopped.
“Your last name doesn’t give you authority anymore.”
Claire turned.
“No.”
May you like
She smiled.
“That’s why I’m going to earn it.”
