“What did you say?” Lottie never expected a young girl like her would have such a meticulous plan! Her father must have been careless and did not look at the date clearly when he signed the agreement. Indeed, it appeared as it had been signed on a Thursday!
“Wendy, what do you mean? You have to explain it clearly.”
Several of the shareholders looked at her with surprise. Wendy swept her gaze across at everyone, and her eyes finally fell onto the second uncle; she looked grave and solemn.
“Grandfather told me a long time ago that he suspected that my eldest aunt and eldest cousin brother might have done something discreet to take over Gale Corporation.”
” Wendy, don’t you slander us!” Lottie almost exploded in a fury. She took the cup on the table and threw it at Wendy. How could such a young lady be so malicious? She even dared to defame them!
“Eldest Auntie, you should know if I am slandering you.”
Wendy, a girl in her twenties, faced Lottie without a trace of menial look. The demeanor of the young Miss Gale took everyone by surprise. Lottie was speechless because she was furious.
Wendy said, “The shares have been transferred to my name, and I have also discussed with my second granduncle; he has agreed to revoke Joseph’s title as the CEO.”
“You—”
“Auntie, Joseph was not born with the Gale surname. You intend to take over Gale Corporation, and thus, you got Joseph to change his last name. You wanted a new look for Gale Corporation!”
“How could this be?”
Everyone disagreed when they heard that Joseph wanted to change his surname. Gale Corporation must stay with the Gale family. How could an outsider be in charge of the Gale Corporation?
” Wendy, Joseph and I have never thought to do so!”
“Only both of you would know about that, but I can’t put the entire Gale Corporation at risk!”
Wendy looked at everyone and did not allow Lottie to retaliate. She announced quickly, “Next, I will take over the position as the CEO of Gale Corporation. I hope that the grandson of my second granduncle, David Gale, will serve as my assistant. Do any of you have comments?”
” Wendy, you have no right to decide for the company!”
Lottie pointed at her and roared angrily, “Your plan will make Gale Corporation fall into an outsider’s hands!”
She had conspired with her second uncle. No wonder her second uncle helped her and gave her his full support that day!
Lottie glowered at her second uncle. “She is not our family’s granddaughter. If Gale Corporation falls into her hands, it will not belong to the Gale family anymore.”
Second Uncle Gale kept his poker face that day. “If she wasn’t his granddaughter, then why did Eldest Brother give her all his shares? Lottie, I don’t want to know what you and your son have schemed, but now, I agree with Wendy’s decision entirely.”
Wendy continued with a wide grin. “I have good news for everyone.”
All the directors, who had yet to make up their minds, turned to look at Wendy and waited for her announcement.
Wendy explained cheerfully, “After I take over as the new CEO, I will sign a City L to Bentson trunk line agreement with Jackson Corporation in Bentson. I believe all of you have heard about this five-year mega project. As long as I become the new CEO, I will be able to get this project.”
“New trunk line from City L to Bentson!”
Someone exclaimed and stood up in excitement. “Really? You can get the project?”
Everyone had studied the project for a long time. It would be good for the Gale Corporation to bag that project; the Gale Corporation would soar to a new height with that project in hand. However, they heard that Jackson Corporation had several existing partners and had yet to finalize their chosen partner for the project!
“But, Miss Gale, how can you be so sure that we will get this project?”
Someone asked questions, so everyone’s eyes fell on Wendy again.
Even Lottie forgot to rebut as she also had her eyes locked onto Wendy. “How can you guarantee that?”
“I have an agreement with me. As long as I become the new CEO, I will immediately sign the agreement with Jackson Corporation.”
Wendy lifted her chin, and her assistant immediately sent the agreement to Second Uncle Gale.
He was so excited that his fingers shook. “It’s true. The Jackson Corporation had unilaterally signed the agreement!”
“Unilaterally signed the agreement? How is that possible? Do you… You and the Jackson family…”
“I’m not sure if you all knew about my relationship with Eldest Young Master Jackson?”
Wendy beamed widely as if she was a little girl in love. It turned out that their future CEO was in a relationship with Eldest Young Master Jackson! Would the Jackson and Gale families be united through marriage? Once they were married, they would work hand in hand on many other projects! That was like icing on the cake for the Gale Corporation!
“Miss Gale, you are the old master’s granddaughter. If you are not the CEO, who else is fit for the position? We can’t allow an outsider to take this position.”
Money would make the mare go faster. Everyone knew how much money they could make in the future once the trunk line project was signed, so some people stood up abruptly and supported Wendy. Who could remain rational when the lust of money was so alluring?
Some of those who were on neutral grounds were immediately biased toward Wendy. However, several shareholders still supported Joseph. Nonetheless, the old master had given Wendy too many shares. Coupled with the support from the second uncle and several other shareholders, Wendy successfully took over the CEO position with an absolute advantage in the board of directors meeting.
“Eldest Madam, they will organize a press conference in the afternoon to announce Wendy as the new CEO. Where is Joseph at such a critical time?”
After the meeting ended, several of the shareholders went to Lottie’s office. They all looked sad. Even if Joseph returned to the company, he might not be able to turn the tide. The possibility that he could achieve that was almost zero.
After all, Wendy had won the trunk line project, which convinced many of the shareholders to switch to her side. It was tough to explain Joseph’s absence at such an important event.
“I checked the CEO’s itinerary. There are no arrangements for him to go outstation these few days. Where is he now?”
“Right, Eldest Madam, I heard that something had happened to your father, is that true? How is your father now? Is he alright?”
It seemed like there were some internal issues within the Gale family. They were all worried if Gale Corporation would be affected by the Gale family’s internal disagreement and if the Gale Corporation’s stock price would be affected…
“Don’t panic, Joseph went out in a hurry to tend to some urgent matters. He will be back soon.”
Lottie was utterly baffled about the situation. She could not even contact Joseph! She had failed to get in touch with him for a day. It was not easy to solve the pesky matter. Where was her dad?
The worst thing was that even Emily was gone! She had lost contact with everyone in the family. Given the years of experience that she had had in the business, she forced herself to remain calm and composed!
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen. Joseph and Dad will be back soon. They will be able to stop Wendy’s madness!”