Chapter 397 Relinquishing Control of the Corporation
<Chapter>Chapter 397 Relinquishing Control of the Corporation</Chapter>
"The board has seen your competition. They are displeased with the results and have held several meetings in which they've criticized you heavily. They've even gone as far as drafting an agreement, leaving it on your desk, expecting you to simply sign off and surrender control of the corporation. They want to reduce you to a fixed monthly dividend."
The audacity of it all was downright outrageous!
Ashley's voice trembled with more intensity than usual. Even Steven, who was seated beside Abigail, overheard the conversation.
Despite being irked by the board's audacity, Abigail managed to maintain her composure. She spoke softly, asking, "Where are you right now?"
"I've been ousted from the company. I'm at home... Don't go to the office. I fear they'll make things difficult for you. Come home. We can strategize then."
Abigail was of the belief that avoiding confrontation wasn't a solution, especially when they didn't have any brilliant alternatives at hand. "We'll have to face this eventually," she stated.
"I'm going to stop by the office first. Don't wait up for me at dinner, alright? Don't worry, I can handle this."
"Abi..." Ashley's voice cracked, a sob barely concealed beneath the surface.
She wiped away her tears, puzzled as to why life, or fate, or whatever force out there—like some capricious deity— insisted on testing them. Hadn't they already weathered enough storms? Why couldn't the bitter precede the sweet? And why did Abi have to shoulder it all? Ashley felt a well of guilt within her.
"Mom, our life will get better, I know it. Dry your tears," Abigail reassured her, catching the break in her voice. "The more people wish for our downfall, the more we must stand tall. We will show them that we aren't easily broken."
Her words left Ashley crying softly over the phone.
"There now, go freshen up. Have some tea, and enjoy the garden. I'll be home after I've sorted everything."
After calming her mother, Abigail ended the call. Unable to contain his curiosity, Steven asked, "Are you in trouble?"
Abigail met his gaze, a resolute spark in her eyes, "It’s nothing. Just another hurdle. But we'll clear it, as we always do."
Abigail didn't elaborate, but her emotions were in a complicated knot.
At her age, lacking managerial experience and any noteworthy achievements, it was understandable that the seasoned board members might resist her leadership. However, their move to oust her mother from the company was a bit too ruthless.
"Need help with anything?" Steven glanced over at the young woman beside him.
Abigail shook her head, "It's not something anyone can help with."
This was a battle she had to face alone.
"Could you drive me to M Corporation, please?"
Ten minutes later, when the driver pulled up in front of the M Corporation building, Abigail expressed her gratitude, "Mr. Medici, today you've gone out of your way to help me—a ride back home, taking care of me when I needed an IV, and now bringing me here. I owe you a meal. But something's come up. I'll make plans with you later. Thank you so much for today."
Steven, seeing the girl's formal politeness, felt that she was being overly courteous. "Of course."
"I should go in now."
As Abigail stepped through the corporation's doors, Steven could see through the car window that the receptionists appeared to be gossiping and pointing at her arrival with unwelcoming and even disdainful expressions.
He and his sister had thought that returning control of the corporation to Abigail and her mother would improve their lives. It seemed they had overlooked the challenges that still lay ahead for the mother-daughter duo.
Abigail, innocent by nature, found herself in uncharted waters, her ability to navigate them uncertain.
Upon entering the building, she immediately caught the icy whispers of the receptionists.
"Look who we have here... The one who got her uncle's family killed."
"You know she's cut off all ties, yet you dare gossip here. Watch your job is next on the line."
"Yeah, right, as if I'm dying to work for her."
The receptionists sneered, their grudge against Abigail clear. Both had been charmed by her cousin Neil and had hoped to benefit from his fortunes. However, Abigail's upheavals had left them with nothing, aside from the bitter taste of being used by Neil.
Neil's family, now confined to a jail cell, had reportedly taken their own lives.
Abigail had no desire to stoop to their level, but their remarks stirred something within her. She was no longer willing to be an easy target. Recalling her friend Abella's assertive demeanor at the company, she decided to follow suit.
"You don’t wish to work here anymore? Good, I don't wish to employ you either. Settle your affairs with HR within half an hour and clear out."
"What right do you have to fire us?" one of the receptionists snapped, slamming her hand on the counter, "And you know, there are labor laws. You can't just fire us without compensation!"
"You’re talking about labor law with me?" Abigail chuckled, clearly amused, "Did your precious labor law mention that if employees are terminated because of their own fault, the company owes them no severance? With your habitual tardiness and ducking out early, breaking the company's rules, shouldn't I be the one seeking compensation from you?"
"You—you..."
The receptionists were taken aback by her sharp-tongued response, finding themselves at a loss for words.
"You have half an hour," Abigail continued coolly. "If you're still here after that, I'll have security escort you out."
"Oh, Abigail, if your father's spirit is watching from above and seeing you run the company like this, he'd surely regret ever having a wretch like you!"
Abigail paused, just as she was about to step into the elevator. She turned and sneered, "If my dad could see how I'm handling this, he'd probably say I'm being too lenient. I was willing to let you off the hook before, but since you don't seem to appreciate that, I'll just make sure to thoroughly check for any other rule-breaking you might have done and seek damages for that, too."
One of the receptionists was so infuriated by Abigail's words that she was nearly breathless.
With a click of her heels, Abigail stepped into the elevator. The receptionists, left behind as the doors closed, continued to point and curse after her, their vitriol witnessed by Steven.
Upon reaching the top floor, Abigail immediately called for a meeting of all shareholders and the chairman to attend.
Usually, meetings called by Abigail would be ignored, but today, with her control of the company at stake, everyone showed up.
Back in her office, Abigail glanced at the documents on her desk, all prepared for her signature.
'Pathetic,' she thought. 'This looks too desperate.'
"Ms. Parsons, you've finally arrived." Her assistant had been hiding in the corner for quite some time, but upon seeing Abigail, she dared to emerge, saying, "You have no idea how scary they were earlier. I didn't dare show my face."
The assistant felt like the most miserable one in history. Whereas most executives' assistants are revered, she was looked down upon, and even threatened with being fired.
'Being an assistant intern these days is just too hard!'
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