Chapter 86 Chapter Eighty Six
Silence descended the room, wrapping everywhere like a cloak of thick blanket. People exchanged looks before they settled their gaze on Lucas.
I looked at Lucas‘ unfathomable expression and I wondered why he was doing all of these? What was the need for this power he was seeking to gain? Why did he have to take revenge after he had forgiven them? Had he been waiting all these while for Doris to be out of the picture before he made his move?
I sighed. I couldn’t quite fmdrag my gaze from this man addressing everyone, his eyes willing everyone to raise their hands and vote to support him. He seemed too unfamiliar, too cruel. Where was my softhearted Lucas? The one who shrugged and said, “it’s all in the past now.” A hand slowly raised in the air and all heads turned to the man that raised his hand. Almost a second later, another person raised their hand, voting their support and in mere minutes, several hands of the shareholders that supported Laucas were up in the air.
As they continued to raise their hands, my heart sank further down. I could already see Mark losing his position and I imagined Lucas cruelly kicking him out of the company. It was funny. how I was able to easily conjure up Lucas doing something so insensitive. I guess it was all lingering underneath the surface all these while.
Mark would lose his position in GT Group and there would be nothing I would be able to do about it.
I thought about speaking to Lucas. Perhaps I could talk him out of this whole fiasco. He claimed. he loves me right? So he’d listen to me, I tried to convince myself but one look at Lucas standing there, the firm set of his jaw, his eyes glinting with satisfaction and greed, I knew better than to be delusioned. There was no talking him out of this one.
The door to the conference room suddenly burst open and all heads turned to see Mark leisurely and confidently stride in, his chin in the air and his assistant in tow. When he was well into the room, he glanced at everyone with that indifferent set of facial expression.
He tutted nastily, “A shareholder meeting was going to be held and no one informed me?” He raised a mocking brow, “You think that would make removing me from my position any easy?“. He scoffed and settled his biting stare on Lucas, “How desperate are you?”
Maybe it was his hypocrisy or the assured way he spoke but slowly, most of the shareholders retracted their hands.
Lucas gaze darkened but he continued to coerce the shareholders, “You do not have anything to worry about. This man here is all talk and that’s all. He has only forty six percent of the Group’s shares. If you all cooperate with me, together, we’d have forty nine percent of the shares. As long as we unite, we can redistribute the speaking rights of the board of directors”
Lucas‘ words hung in the air as everyone processed them. They discreetly looked between themselves. Quite alright, Lucas‘ offer sounded more inviting and m*uth watering even though he was new amongst us.
When Mark was in charge as the CEO of GT Group, he was autocratic and had absolute speaking rights. He never bothered to seek anyone’s opinion, though he made decisions that prospered” the company, a lot of the shareholders were dissatisfied with this.
Once again, hands started to fill the air.
Mark cast an indifferent gaze at Lucas. And I could see that he hadn’t changed a bit. If I hadn’t known that he lost his memory,I would have ever believed that he did. He was handling his memory loss quite alright. I wanted to go up there and give him a pat on the shoulder and afterward tell him that I am proud of him.
We all watched as she made his way to the podium, literally snatched the microphone from its stand and spoke into it. I think there is still one shareholder in this room who has not chosen to collude with you.” My heart rammed in my ch*st as his gaze fell on me. “Sydney,” he said firmly, “please, make your choice.”
Chapter 86 Chapter Eighty Six
I nervously looked around and found everyone looking at me, waiting for me to make a choice. I bit my l*p. I should have listened to Grace and gone back home to rest. Or maybe it would have been better if I had remained unconscious until the damn meeting was over.
But I didn’t listen to Grace and I am not on the hospital bed oblivious to what was happening around me. I am here in this conference room and I have to make a choice now.
My gaze slid to Lucs who was looking at me, encouraging me with his eyes that I didn’t need to make any choice. I could easily announce that I didn’t want to merge my shares with anyone’s but that would still mean I was indirectly supporting Lucas..
My eyes traveled from Lucas to Mark. As usual, Mark’s gaze was unfathomable or maybe it was but all it said was, “You don’t matter. Your measly shares don’t matter so no matter who you choose to side with, I don’t care and I will still remain the CEO.
That unabashed confidence in himself. That was one of his personalities that I had once fallen in
love with.
I got on my feet. I wondered what will become of my relationship with Mark after I have announced my decision. Right now, my five percent will determine the fate of GT Group; it will determine who will hold the reins.
response
I didn’t realize I was already standing and everyone was expecting my until I was shaken out of my transfix.
“Miss Sydney, are you choosing to abstain? Time’s not on our side, we need your response,” the host said pensively.
I exhaled deeply. Then I tipped my chin and held the host’s gaze. “I choose Mark.”
There was a deafening silence. There was a triumphant and arrogant smile on Mark’s face. I felt the probing stare on my temple. I took the dare and turned my gaze to Lucas. His face had twisted in an ugly way and I couldn’t recall ever seeing Lucas this mad.
I will speak to him later, I assured myself. He would understand that I had promised Mark and I couldn’t pick sides with him.
“Very well, in that case, I will announce that I will continue to serve as the CEO of Z Group.” Mark said in a you–all–are–worth–nothing tone. “And I will be even more autocratic in the future. I will solely take decisions that will move the firm forward. All shareholders must understand that the ability to lead the group to a higher position, to double your dividends, is determined. by individual ability, not by mere blood relationships or conspirations.”
I didn’t think Lucas‘ facial expression could turn uglier at Mark’s words. The shareholders who chose to unite with Lucas and make him the leader looked shocked by his words.
With the look in their eyes, you could tell that they were reevaluating their choices. Yes, Mark indeed was autocratic and overbearing but it was undeniable that he led the group to unprecedented achievements and heights. He did have absolute speaking rights, but everyone. knew and could see that he used the power to bring real benefits to the it’s employees and shareholders.
“Alright, everyone please leave, I have family matters to deal with,” he ordered as though he were speaking with children.
I gaped at him, had losing his memory made him even more arrogant and rude?
