Jacob originally planned to discuss this matter with Andrew when the family was gathered yesterday, but under everyone’s pressure, even if he didn’t agree, he had to agree. However, he didn’t go back, not giving Jacob a chance to speak at all.
After Jacob got angry, he felt somewhat helpless and could only make a trip to the company himself.
“Andrew, when you took over the company, we had an agreement. If you manage the company for three years, I’ll give you 10% of the company’s shares. As you know, the eldest son inherits the company, which is the Turner family tradition, and now that Henry is back…”
“So, I have to step down?” Andrew’s lips curved into a cold smile, his deep blue eyes were inscrutable like gemstones.
His father was typical of burning bridges after crossing them.
Initially, when Thomas managed the company, he was, at most, a steward of the status quo. There was a serious issue of favoritism within the company, even his wife Stella had her hands in the company affairs. Later, when Thomas fell seriously ill and was hospitalized, chaos erupted within the company, facing a crisis.
Helpless, Jacob had to ask Andrew to return to take charge. Andrew excelled in the business world, and only he could turn the tide.
Jacob promised Andrew 10% of the company’s shares after three years, which, based on market value, amounted to tens of billions. He believed this deal was mutually beneficial.
However, within just two years of taking over the company, it had already slipped from Jacob’s control. Giving away this company fortune was easy, but getting it back would be hard.
Jacob had a feeling of inviting trouble into the house.
Andrew slowly stood up, his tall figure emanating an invisible pressure. He held a burning cigarette in his left hand and walked to the whiteboard standing nearby, picking up a marker and sketching on the board.
“These are Thomas’s backers. They’ve funneled large sums of dirty money into over a hundred subsidiaries under our family’s financial group’s name, then, disguised as financial investments, returned the funds cleanly to the backers. As for who Thomas’s backers are, I think you’d be interested. The names of several prominent figures who’ve fallen under anti-corruption campaigns in the last two years are included.”
After listening to him, Jacob’s expression changed from initial shock to gradually becoming furious.
Clearly, he wasn’t aware of Thomas’s insider money laundering using the company’s financial group.
Andrew flicked the cigarette ash lightly and smiled faintly, “After Thomas took over the company, due to mismanagement, almost all subsidiaries across various locations were running at a loss. To cover the deficits, he turned the Turner family’s financial group into a money-laundering hub. He took two layers as consulting fees from it, using it to cover the company’s losses, barely appeasing the company’s shareholders. Without my intervention, the company’s financial group would have faced a dismal end. If I leave now, under such a scorching sun, will Thomas be sunburned to death?”
Jacob’s face turned ashen, and he trembled slightly.
“You’re burning bridges before crossing the river. If you’re in such a hurry to destroy the bridge, be careful you don’t fall into the river.” After Andrew finished speaking, seeming to recall something, he raised his eyebrows arrogantly. “Oh, I almost forgot, Thomas was already close to death. But I assume you wouldn’t want him to die in prison.” Even werewolves had to abide by human laws.
Andrew’s low voice was steady. He firmly extinguished the barely burned cigarette butt with his two long fingers on the ashtray, the flame snuffed out between his fingertips in an instant.
Jacob shuddered slightly, realizing belatedly that for Andrew, causing Thomas’s death was as simple as squashing an ant.
“I didn’t go back yesterday because I wanted to save face for you and the eldest brother in front of the family. The Turner family’s financial group can only be cleansed under my control,” Andrew continued.
It took a full two years for Andrew to completely eliminate the loyal insiders Thomas and his wife had left in the company, setting the company on the right track and making it profitable.
After Jacob’s initial fury, he seemed somewhat powerless. “Do you want to swallow the entire company’s financial group?”
“The company was never just Thomas’s alone, so talk of swallowing doesn’t apply,” Andrew replied.
Layla was Jacob and his wife’s legitimate child. If not for the Turner family’s backward and irrational tradition, she would rightfully inherit the family’s financial group.
Layla’s capabilities were by no means inferior to Thomas’s. She even discovered his secret money laundering activities.
Jacob’s expression worsened. He knew there was a deep-seated grudge between Thomas and Andrew. If even the company’s financial group couldn’t move him, did it mean he had to push Thomas to his death for Andrew’s satisfaction?
“What exactly do you want?” Jacob demanded.
“I haven’t decided yet, but you should know me. I believe in returning favors and avenging wrongs,” Andrew replied curtly, intending not to waste further words with Jacob.
He raised his hand and pressed the intercom, summoning his secretary to usher Jacob out.
The secretary respectfully requested Jacob to leave, which almost made Jacob burst with rage. The chief secretary of the CEO’s office used to be under his control, yet in just two short years, she had become Andrew’s confidante.
Those who once stood by Andrew’s side in the struggles of power were either expelled by him or turned into his pawns.
Jacob left in a fit of anger, slamming the office door heavily.
Andrew paid no mind to it, raised his arm to check his steel watch, then grabbed his suit jacket placed nearby and left.
It was rare for him not to have any social obligations. He intended to return home early to spend time with Asher. As a father, he was actually neglectful; he had very little time to spend with his child.
Even more surprising was that Isabella was at home. Considering she was busier than Andrew, spending more than half of the month flying in the sky.
When Andrew entered, he saw Asher holding a bubble machine, spraying bubbles all over the floor. Isabella sat nearby, smiling contentedly.
He furrowed his eyebrows slightly. He didn’t quite like the idea of children playing with such chemical items.
“Try not to buy him these things in the future,” he said sternly to her.
She wore a helpless expression. “If I don’t buy it for him, he’ll snatch it from others.”
Not long ago, Isabella and Asher were sunbathing in the neighborhood’s small garden when a boy with a blue bubble machine caught Asher’s attention. He stretched out his chubby little hand and said, “Want.”
The boy, who seemed a few months older than Asher, was protective of his toy and refused to share it.
Asher followed the boy around, stretching his hands out and saying, “Want.”
When the boy didn’t oblige, Asher made a gesture of thanks with folded hands, saying vaguely, “Thank you.”
Still, the boy refused to share. Asher got completely angry and lifted his hand, aiming at the boy’s face.
The boy started crying after Asher hit him. The boy’s mother hurried over, scolding Isabella harshly. Isabella could only nod apologetically.
Amelia, however, didn’t think much of it. “Our Asher practiced proper etiquette first; it was the other side’s fault.”
Isabella: “…”
To prevent similar bloody incidents from happening again, she had no choice but to buy Asher the same bubble machine.