31
Ianto hurried down the hallway cursing as he struggled into the jacket Mavis was helping him with and her soft clicking had him on edge as he swung outside the door to answer her, "I know. I did not welcome them either. Whatever this meeting is, it is both emergency and not bloody authorised. Try to get Grandy on the phone while I deal with this, yeah? Please Mave? Scold later?"
Since taking ownership of his 40% shareholding there had been a new level of respect and understanding between him and the board … well most of them. Of course the 20% of his grandfather helped with his status as the Brig placed that into his portfolio also, giving Ianto a tidy majority rule. Whatever this was, it was not going to be nice.
Ianto squared his shoulders and took a moment to let his hand smooth the front of the jacket, making sure the tiny bump was unseen before pushing confidently through the doors with a look of annoyance, entering to find the board already pouring drinks and plucking at the food laid out by hasty yet efficient bugs.
"Gentlemen, and ladies of course" he began to speak calmly, "To what do I owe this unscheduled visit? Please let's sit and talk."
Ianto went to move for the table and stopped as his father appeared from the huddle, heading for the chairman's seat with confidence. Ianto stood watching as the arrogant arse pulled the chair out and then swiftly slid into it before his father could, "Thank you Mister Jones, let us remember you have a meagre shareholding and should not even be here as it is not enough to sit."
Ianto then smiled disarmingly at the rest of the table as his father stood gaping then shot down to the end of the table to sit next to Rhiannon, her face one of shock to match his.
"Gully?" Ianto turned to a white haired man that had a stack of papers, "Please. How can I help you today?"
"We have heard rumours of another buying up some of our shares, those little part percenters are caving." He told Ianto, "we are concerned that someone is building a base of strength to gain enough to sit at the table."
Ianto's eyes slid to his father, "Yes. Those pesky little minorities."
It was not lost on anyone as his father bristled but it was Rhiannon who spoke, "I do not know why you keep up this nastiness Ianto. Daddy took care of us all for years as head of this table, you know he did. If you give him back the portfolio then his, mine, yours and the Brig will be majority rule."
Ianto frowned as he looked at her, "Rhiannon, me and Grandy already have majority rule. We are 60% combined."
"Rubbish" she snorted turning to her father "Daddy?"
"I have 40% shareholding" Ianto said calmly, "My grandfather gave me controlling interest of his 20%. This gives me 60%. Majority no matter who is trying to play games. Does it Mister Jones."
Ianto then turned to face his father, "Not 3% anymore, you have now moved up for a five percent haven't you? Congratulations Mister Jones."
The silence was deafening as the two men stared at one another, then Ianto's face changed, "You think he will leave them to you!"
Ianto's father looked away first, the question answered in that moment and Ianto snorted, "It is not up to me or you to decide what will happen when the Brig passes on. How dare you assume he will leave you everything, what if he chooses to sell his shares to enjoy a retirement overdue? What if he leaves everything to the Federation Fund?"
"You?" his father sneered, "Like he would leave it to you? Over me… his own son? You know that will never happen, after all you are probably not even mine with your mother such a disappointment! The clinic could have used anyone's jizz to get you!"
"My mother is not the one in question here when it comes to morals old man, let us not forget who is a paedophile at the table." Ianto smiled serenely, "Or do we need to play some of that old CCTV footage of you in my childhood room for the members?"
"I wouldn't mind if we put all of that in the archives never to be seen again" a voice boomed as the Brig entered the room and Ianto turned to watch his grandfather stalk into the room, "There is no need for me to be reminded that I have a child molester for a son, only the fact his own son is such a replica of me that I find some peace. Now I hear you openly challenging his parentage? Are you mad? Look at us. Replicas. Look. He could be no more one of my descendants if he were my direct son."
Ianto knew.
In that moment as his grandfather blustered and slipped… he knew.
"Mama used medical help right?" Ianto said softly, "Grandfather, did you help too? After four failed attempts at a son, being told she could only have daughters by my father …you had sons right? Grandfather? Did you provide more than money?"
The old man turned to face the youngling he had always loved so fiercely knowing the gig was up. Of course he knew, he had always known deep down that superior brain would work it out one day and it was a relief to see no anger or animosity in the youngling's face as he rose from the chair to approach.
"Did you help the DNA jump father's inferior mix by simply bypassing it? Did you provide DNA matter for the clinic?" Ianto's face had honest hope "Are you my natural father?"