Chapter 180
Chapter 180
The shareholders' meeting was held in Luther Group's conference room.
Sitting at the head of the table, Artemis was immersed in the documents and ignored the shareholders.
Are they finally panicking? Didn't they think that something like this would happen when Bailey left back then?
“Mr. Longman, isn't the public relations department always liaising with Emmy Boutique's person in charge? Didn't you shift all the responsibilities to Bailey already? Why is Emmy Boutique suing Luther Group now?”
“Exactly. Since it happened because of Bailey, she should bear all the responsibilities. Why is Emmy Boutique suing Luther Group instead?”
In the meantime, Quentin, director of the public relations department, remained seated on the chair and lowered his head silently.
After the shareholders finally finished bombarding him with questions and accusations, he answered calmly and slowly, “Bailey isn't responsible for it because she didn't sign the final draft. Instead, Victoria, director of the HR department, is the one responsible.”
“What? Quentin, what do you mean?” Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.
Quentin looked up at the shareholders and explained, “There is the notion of division of responsibilities in law. Even though Bailey was involved in the new product launch, the one who signed the final draft was Victoria. Let me put it this way—the court will dismiss the case even if Emmy Boutique wishes to
sue Bailey, for she isn't the person directly in charge. Bailey did not sign it. Hence, she isn't guilty, unlike Victoria. Therefore, Emmy Boutique now sues Luther Group instead. Everyone, do you understand what I've said?”
When the shareholders fell silent, Artemis snickered and threw the documents in his hands on the table. Then, he said with a stern look, “All right. The fiasco is over. Stop keeping Bailey on the hook because she doesn't have to bear any responsibility. I'd suggest you think about ways to negotiate with Emmy Boutique, hoping they will withdraw the lawsuit.”
The next moment, Artemis raised his eyebrows and added, “Now that Luther Group is facing a lawsuit, I'm afraid all of you have to suffer huge losses once the share price drops. You might be able to bear losses up to one or two hundred million. What about one billion, two billion, ten billion, or twenty billion? By the way, please don't compare yourselves with me. Since my net worth is more than three hundred billion, I can afford to prolong the lawsuit.”
What the h*ll?
Dwayne, who stood beside Artemis, almost couldn't suppress his desire to stab him with a knife.
D*mn it! I'm also one of the human beings who can't bear such a huge loss!
Meanwhile, Alistair looked deathly pale upon listening to Artemis' words. He jumped up from his chair and questioned, “Mr. Luther, what do you mean by that? Are you not planning to salvage the situation?”
Ignoring Alistair's question, Artemis spread his hands and said with a grin, “Don't you guys always think you're capable enough? After all, you forced me to fire Bailey and were excited about it. Now, please
solve the problem which happened because of your action. I won't interfere as long as I can afford the losses. Nevertheless, I wonder if the money in your bank accounts can help you withstand the financial pressure for as long as I can.”
D*mn it! This guy is so arrogant! In the face of crisis, Luther Group's top decision maker doesn't intend to find a solution but only asks shareholders to bear the losses. Does Artemis think all of us have a net worth of hundreds of billions and can bear losses over ten billion like him? Ten billion is probably our entire net worth! How can we bear losses longer than him?
The answer was crystal clear—they couldn't afford it.
Nonetheless, Alistair refused to give up and tried to make a last-ditch effort to persuade Artemis. “Mr. Luther, we're in the same boat and share the same glory and humiliation. If Luther Group's share price plummets, many of us will have no choice but to sell our shares. However, it's foreseeable that hardly anyone will acquire the shares. At that time, a third of Luther Group's capital will be paralyzed.”
With a wry smile, Artemis shot him a sideways glance and responded, “Well, I'll acquire as many shares as you sell. I believe three hundred billion is enough to take over all of your shares, right?”
Almost instantly, Alistair's face drained of color when he knew Artemis planned to acquire their shares.
Apart from Alistair, the expressions of all the other shareholders also changed.
Artemis is a lot more ruthless than his father, Gerald. Now that his position in Luther Group is as firm as ever, he covets all shares and intends to drive us out to control the entire company!
Everyone was stupefied when they realized Artemis' ambition.
After the silence went on for nearly five minutes, Alistair finally couldn't withstand the pressure. He slowly lowered his head and said humbly, “I had a slip of the tongue just now. Considering our contribution to the company in the past, please enlighten us about ways to resolve the predicament.”
Artemis' lips curled into a wry smile as he tapped on the table and stroked his chin. After a while, he said indifferently, “I don't have the power to make Emmy Boutique drop the lawsuit. Nonetheless, Bailey can do it. Ask for a favor from her if you don't wish to see the money in your bank accounts evaporate.”
What? Must we beg Bailey, the one we drove out of Luther Group earlier?
“Mr. Luther, this—”
Before the shareholder could finish, Artemis stood up and walked toward the conference room's door. “That's everything I have to say. Please decide if you want to lower your ego to ask a favor from her.”
As soon as Artemis left, the shareholders came up to Alistair.
“Alistair, you instigated us to drive Bailey out of the company. Now, please do us a favor by begging for her help.”
“Yes, he's right. Alistair, we followed your orders without questioning you. You can't just watch as our shares plummet and our hard-earned money disappear, can you?”
“That's right. Let's not hope Artemis will act to resolve the crisis, for he covets our shares. He can't be happier that the share price tumbles because he can acquire our shares at a low price and control Luther Group entirely. Alistair, you have to do everything Bailey wants if she can save us. Kneel and
apologize to her if need be.”
At that moment, Alistair was irritated.
His reputation would go to the dogs if he begged Bailey; nonetheless, his entire savings would perish if he chose not to do so.
I'm in a dilemma now. How should I choose?
After a while, he finally answered, “All right. I'll beg Bailey tomorrow.”
Early in the morning, the pitter-patter of the rain echoed along the pebbled path in Mount Willow Cemetery in Hallsbay.
Victoria was walking on the path while holding an umbrella. Just as she arrived at the crossroad, she stopped and stared at the slender figure that moved toward her.
Some said if true lovers missed an opportunity to be together, God would arrange to let them cross paths again.
However, Victoria visited and stopped at numerous crossroads but still hadn't met her lover.
Eventually, she plunged into despair, thinking that a reunion with her lover at a crossroads was a fantasy that only existed in fairy tales.
Am I... seeing things now? Why would I meet the man imprinted on my mind at this quiet and cold cemetery?