"I think I can understand why you've created such a row, Klee said. "So much of our lives, so much of what we do and why we do it, is based on our understanding of money. If it's powerful enough to cause people to kill for it, it's powerful enough to get them to rebel against the people, businesses and governments who use it against them. I think I'd like to ask you to speak at a union meeting. We'll talk about that later.
"Okay.
"Getting back to the point of all this, Fuller said, "now that we know what you're about, Mr. Frachetti, we have to decide whether the corporation we are here to oversee can afford to participate in a public discussion of this issue, and if so, how that fits into both the mission of the company and the purpose of its incarceration.
"Not to mention, Wells added, "what to do about a Chief Executive Officer. There is still that to consider. A headless corporation is like a leaderless army... nobody's leading the charge. Someone has to be ultimately responsible, and to answer to the SEC and all of the other agencies.
"I've been wondering about that, too, Claire, Klee said. "And I had a thought. If this follows the model of a normal imprisonment, wouldn't the warden be ultimately responsible for the well-being of the inmates? Under normal circumstances, wouldn't the chair fill in until a replacement could be found?
"Nestor? she said to the back of Bouvior's chair. "That was a question.
His chair swung slowly around. "Finding an acceptable CEO is the most important job of any board of directors. I thought you knew that.
"And if one cannot be found... if the search drags on? Who's in charge then?
"That's up to the board. Why? Did you want to nominate me?
She shook her head. "No thanks. You've done enough damage already, Nestor.
"Under the circumstances, Wells said, "if the court says we can't hire a new CEO, then your choices look like selecting an acting chief executive, either from the board, or from within the company. And since you're here to oversee the business's sentence, if it's from here, that leaves Mr. Klee.
He looked doubtful. "I'll have to think about it.
John Frachetti, who had remained very still during the exchange, turned to the man beside him. "Think about this, then. If you take over as chief executive, labor will be in charge of management. It'll be the biggest story in the business press for months, and it will empower workers everywhere.
"When you put it that way, it's even more frightening.
"Just think about it as balancing the books, Mr. Klee. Labor's been at a disadvantage for far too long.
They both looked over at Claire Fuller, who had started nervously drumming her fingers. "I thought we were trying to quell the possibility of violence. We do that and we could all be tagged as enemies of the state. She grinned. "But I think it'll be worth it.
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