billion book
Chapter 2125
Just after finishing her breakfast, Rose arrived.
"Good morning, Ms. Tesdal," Rose greeted, looking considerably more normal than she had the day before.
"Mhm," Rosalynn mumbled, her attention still fixed on her iPad, not bothering to look up. "You've got a bit of time; help yourself to some breakfast if you like."
Rose nodded and made her way to the distant couch. She reached into her bag and began nibbling on the snacks she had brought with her.
Felix, standing beside Rosalynn, couldn't help but jest, "Does she think we poisoned the airport food to off her or something?"
"Just leave her be," Rosalynn yawned, hastily chasing it with a gulp of strong Americano to wake up her senses.d2
Ten in the morning, inside the Strand Group boardroom.
"Jose, weren't you on vacation just a couple of days ago? What brings you back so soon?"
"Call of duty, my friend," Jose replied with a smirk. "When the boss summons, you don't just stand around. Besides, I'm curious to see if our dear Jacob, whose involvement with the family business is less than his exploits at Bane Corporation, can really make waves here."
"This drama has been dragging on for far too long," a man of Graham's age, with a portly figure, said from the seat to the right of the president's chair. "Some folks are on the fence because they fear Jacob. Today... well, today should settle everything."
The moment he spoke, the room that was buzzing with chatter instantly quieted down.
The man was named Sanderson, and for decades, there was a persistent rumor about him.
It was said that Sanderson was Graham's half-brother, and they shared the same father but different mothers. While Graham was the legitimate son of Mrs. Strand, Sanderson was born out of wedlock. Since Sanderson's arrival at the Strand Group, his ascent was nothing short of meteoric.
Somehow, he also mysteriously acquired a significant share of the Strand Group's stocks.
For years, Sanderson worked quietly behind Graham, seemingly content with never vying for power.
But now, no sooner had the Strand family encountered trouble than Sanderson took the lead in suppressing Graham.
It was Sanderson who proposed to strip Graham of his chairman position.
During the meeting, Sanderson spent over an hour detailing Graham's neglect of duty, an accusation list too long to enumerate.
With his stirring speech and the current public opinion, Sanderson managed to oust Graham from his position, appointing himself as the acting chairman. He claimed he would relinquish the position once Jacob returned, but of course, that was contingent on the shareholders' approval.
After all, appointing or dismissing a chairman required a formal vote from all shareholders.
"Mr. Sanderson, you have our full support," one of the shareholders proclaimed. "Graham and his son Jacob have failed us, not to mention the huge losses we've suffered this year. Anyone backing them is out of their mind!"NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.
"Exactly. I've never been fond of Graham and his son-no backbone, the lot of them. Graham forever under his wife's thumb, and Jacob, a shameless playboy who's deceived countless women! They're long overdue for a taste of their own medicine!"
"Leroy, weren't you dead set on marrying your daughter to Jacob not too long ago? Now you call him a playboy?" someone teased.
Leroy's face flushed, "Before Erica's scandal broke, who knew he was such a jerk?"
"Enough," Sanderson tapped the table lightly, commanding silence in the room. "The most important thing today is to set the course for the Strand Group. Let's not waste time on trivial disputes."
"Mr. Sanderson, without these trivial disputes, what advantage do you have left?" a robust voice echoed from outside the boardroom. Everyone's gaze snapped towards the door.
As the door swung open, Jacob strode in, impeccably dressed in a suit, looking tougher than before, flanked by his father's loyal old subordinates.
Sanderson's face broke into his signature genial smile.
"Jacob, it's been so long. You look... different," he said, the smile never reaching his eyes.