It was only seven in the morning, yet the top–floor conference room of the Wade Group was already buzzing with activity.
As the convener of the shareholders‘ meeting, Sean shamelessly upied the CEO’s chair, Ashton’s rightful seat. To make matters worse, he even had an additional chair brought over for Justin, seating him as an equal at his side.
Watching their disy of arrogance, the other shareholders around the massive conference table merely exchanged nces in silence.
In their minds, Ashton had already been written off as CEO of the Wade Group.
What truly preupied them was not whether Ashton belonged to the Wade family, but rather who would seize control of the CEO position next.
Under Ashton’s leadership, the Wade Group had be his personal stage. The shareholders had long grown ustomed to staying absent from meetings, simply waiting for their annual dividends.
While pocketing dividends without effort wasfortable, the emptiness of it eventually gnawed at them.
Many harbored the uneasy suspicion that Ashton might one day sell them all out.
Meanwhile, in the secretary’s office, Jalen sat in silence at his desk, his face unreadable. Behind theirputers, his two assistants worked nervously, their hands trembling over the keyboards.
One of the secretary whispered, “Jalen must be angry.”
Another replied, “Definitely. He hasn’t said a word since he sat down.”
The first secretary frowned in response, “But is he angry at the shareholders, or worried about Mr. Wade? Do you think the people in that conference room will actually force Mr. Wade out?”
The other responded, “He’s angry at the shareholders, no doubt. After all, Jalen is a shareholder too. Everyone was discussing this in thepany chat this morning–he must have seen it. Of course he’s upset.
“But if Mr. Wade really gets pushed out, what happens to us? Will we be fired too? New bosses always bring their own people.”
“Who cares! We’ll just follow Jalen,” the first one said.
The other agreed, “That’s right. All we have to do is follow Jalen.”
The two thought their voices were low, but Jalen overheard every word.
His foul mood unexpectedly lightened after hearing their exchange.
“They’ll follow me wherever I go? <fn824c> For original chapters go to FιndNovel</fn824c>
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20
Heh. These two youngdies know which way the wind blows, he thought.
Just then, Jalen’s phone rang on his desk.
It was a call from Ashton.
235 Youchers
Jalen answered immediately, his tone respectful as always. He greeted, “Good morning, Mr. Wade.”
Ashton asked directly, “Is everyone here?”
Jalen’s eyes hardened as he replied, “They’ve all arrived and are waiting in the main conference room.”
Ashton said, “Good. The meeting begins in ten minutes<b>.” </b>
Jalen’s voice carried a trace of excitement as he replied, “Yes, Mr. Wade.”
After hanging up, he nced at the two assistants, who were pretending to type but clearly straining their ears. “Get ready. We’re heading to the main conference room in ten minutes,” he instructed.
“Yes, sir!” they answered in unison, instantly energized.
“Honey, I’m putting my phone on silent in ten minutes. If you need me, just hack into the main conference room’swork to find me,” Ashton said.
In the underground parking lot, Ashton’s private car rolled to a stop. He was updating Briar on his schedule, ying the role of a devoted husband.
Yet his words sounded anything but ordinary.
Really? Who tells their wife to hack thepanywork as a backup n?
But Briar, on the other end, epted the instruction without hesitation.
She even answered earnestly, “Got it. Don’t worry. If I don’t hear from you in two hours, I’ll just hack the entire Wade Groupwork.”
Ashton had the phone on speaker.
His driver, Brandon, was utterly speechless.
He pondered, ‘Once again, Mr. Wade and Miss Jennings proved the saying true: birds of a feather flock together.
“This wasn’t an ordinary schedule report. It sounded more like Mr. Wade was dictating hisst words.
‘Mr. Wade, are you seriously preparing yourst will and testament over something this minor?
‘And what if she actually crashes the entirework in two hours? The IT department would copse into chaos.
In another car en route to the Jennings Group, Briar ended her call with Ashton and gazed pensively out the
window.
55 vouchere
Briar shook her head in response, “No. Those shareholders at the Wade Group are no match for him.”
Ian chuckled, “Then why the long face?”
Briar sighed, “I’m just thinking how Ashton is about to be put through the wringer. People in the Wade family can be ruthless.<b>” </b>
He replied, “Briar, have you forgotten? With Ashton’s intimidating presence, how many of those cowards would dare mouth off in front of him?”
Briar conceded, “… You have a point.”
Ashton was no saint–he never tolerated the slightest disrespect.
When the time came, who would truly suffer remained to be seen.
Their conversation ended as the car pulled up to its destination.
Ian got out promptly, opened Briar’s door, and said with mock formality, “Miss Jennings, after you.”
Briar stifled augh at his theatrics, then stepped out withposure.
The moment she entered thepany lobby, a receptionist hurried over. While leading her to the elevator, the woman whispered, “Miss Jennings, wee. Mr. Longley asked me to guide you straight to the private elevator. He and several executives are waiting for you in the small conference room.”
Briar nodded. “Understood. You may return to your post.”
“Of course, Miss Jennings,” The receptionist smiled as Briar entered the elevator.
Taking it directly to the executive floor, Briar stepped out to find Nathan waiting at the door, smiling broadly.
He announced, “Well, well, if it isn’t our busy CEO. You finally remembered to inspect thepany. Come on, let’s give her a round of apuse.”
He began pping, and the executives inside followed suit. The apuse wasn’t deafening, but it carried a surprising amount of warmth.
Briar was speechless.
Amidst the apuse, she entered the small conference room.
The moment she walked in, her eyes met Edgar’s furious yet tightly restrained gaze.
10:24 Wed<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>
Briar arched a brow, her eyes sliding down to his legs before asking, “Well! What are you still doing here
Edgar’s face sankpletely. He had already uncovered the truth of how Len was harmed. Now, faced with Briar, it was as if he were staring into the eyes of a demon.
AD
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