Everyone in the Emerson family had shares in the company except Summer.
She used to hope that Lynn would allocate some for her. Even if it were just 1%, at least that would make her feel like she belonged to the Jarrett family. But now, she could not care less. Instead, it was Lynn who made the suggestion. It was such ridiculous.
Summer laughed. She knew Lynn might have his agenda, but she could not help asking, “Dad, how many shares are you going to give me?”
Lynn was equivocal when it came to this. “Surely it will be more than what your mom has. Don’t worry, you will get what you deserve.”
More than what Karen got? So how much was that? Since Lynn was the one who proposed that, how could Summer not exploit this opportunity?
“You’ve got to understand that I’m the young lady of the Emerson family. If you are giving me a share in your company, it has to be 15%. Anything less than that will only make a fool of me.” Summer did not have a share in Jarrett Group yet, but she knew the shareholding situation in the company.
Lynn had 30%, Vicky and her elder brother 10% each, and Karen 5%; that added up to 55%. The other shareholders owned the rest. If Lynn were to give Summer a 15% share in the company, his position would be in jeopardy.
Because if Summer did not vote for him during the next annual general meeting, he would most probably lose his chairmanship in the company. So 15% was no small matter.
Knowing what was at stake, Lynn suppressed his anger. “Summer, I’ve been fair to you. But your demand is a little overboard.”
Fair to her? Summer laughed. “Dad, don’t get so worked up. It’s not good for your health. I was just saying. It’s all right if it doesn’t work out. I can find a job. I’ve something here. See you, Dad.”
Did something happen to the Emerson family? Why would Lynn want to use shares to lure her to join Jarrett Group?
…
When Summer hung up on him, Lynn blew his top and nearly smashed his phone to the ground. He paced back and forth in his office with his hands behind him. “She must have grown confident now to make such an exorbitant demand!”
Vicky poured him a tea. “Dad, don’t get so worked up. It’s not worth it.”
Fit to be tied, Lynn did not take the tea from Vicky. He pointed at her with a clear disappointment in his voice. “I’ve told you many times, don’t go partying at those wicked places. Even if you do, it has to be done discreetly! Now, will the Patel family still honor the marriage arrangement after all the mess you have caused?”
Jarrett Group was in the red now. If Vicky could marry into the Patel family, they might invest in Jarrett Group. But since Vicky’s sex scandal broke out, his plan might have gone down the drain. And that was the reason Lynn was turning his eyes on Summer.
Things went on just fine three months after Summer marriage, and she and Leonardo seemed to get along well. So Lynn figured that he might be able to coax Summer to convince Leonardo to invest in Jarrett Group.
“Dad, it has to be Summer who did that. She has always wanted to ruin my life.” Vicky paused with a mysterious expression on her face. “But I’ve got my revenge.”
“What have you done?” Lynn’s face changed upon hearing that.
“She ruined my life, and I’d not let her off just like that. I wanted to ruin hers too. So I lured her to Violet Gold Club-” Before she could finish, she got a slap from Lynn on her face, good-style. It was loud and clear.
After a while, Vicky looked at Lynn in disbelief. “Dad! You hit me?”
Lynn had rarely gotten so angry with her since she was small, let alone hitting her. He must have blown a gasket.
If Jarrett Group failed to get more funding, it would go bankrupt or be acquired. How could he let Vicky ruin his plan by offending Summer at this critical juncture?
Lynn loved his late wife, and that was why he loved the two children from his previous marriage dearly, especially Vicky who looked exactly like his late wife.
He looked at his hand, sighing.
He calmed down and said, “Vicky, you’ve got to understand that Summer is the young lady of the Emerson family now. It’s important to know who is backing her and time your revenge. She has been doing well since the day she married into the Emerson family. Who knows, she may be able to please Leonardo one day.”
Vicky was indignant. “Does it matter if she can please Leonardo? He’s a cripple!”
She did not agree with Lynn at all. Summer had married into the Emerson family-so what? She was just a miserable bumpkin unloved by even her own mother. But Vicky knew Lynn was in a black mood; she had better not bad mouth Summer.
“It’s true that Leonardo is a basket case, but he is still the young master who will inherit the family’s wealth. Right now, we are facing a financial predicament. If Summer could get us funding from Leonardo, then our problem will be solved!”
“Then just ask her to get the money from Leonardo!” Vicky was persuaded and agreed with what he said.
However, when thinking of what Summer had said to him, Lynn’s expression collapsed. “She must have grown very confident; so much so that she hung up on me and demanded 15% shares in the company. How ridiculous!”
“Give it to her!” Vicky did not take that seriously. “Didn’t you want her to come working in Jarrett Group? You can always find some excuse later and take back the shares.”
Lynn fell into deep thought. After a while, a smile spread across his face. “Clever girl, my sweetheart! Was it hurt when daddy hit you just now? It was my bad…”
“I’m fine, Dad.”
…
No way Summer could have known that Lynn was plotting to get funding from Leonardo through her. Today, she was going to Tip Top for a job interview. Just before she left home, she got a call from Lynn again.
“Summer, I’ve thought over your demand. I will give you 15% of the Jarrett Group shares. When will you start work?”
Summer’s brows were knitted together. There was something she still could not figure out. It was weird enough when Lynn asked her to work in Jarrett Group. Now he had even agreed to give her 15% shares in the company. Should she go or not go?
Fifteen percent was more than what Vicky had. How could she have agreed? Summer smelled something fishy, but she was not afraid.
“I will start work when you transfer the shares to me.”