Chapter 250 Schemes Unending
"What?" Dashiell was still a bit surprised.
"My dad's in some trouble, possibly involving someone inside the Lockhart Group. We don't want to alert anyone, so we have to go this route," Cecilia said bluntly.
"How did you find out I'm a hacker?" Dashiell asked.
Cecilia was stunned.
She had only found out about Dashiell's hacking much later.
She thought, 'How should I explain this?'
"Did Alaric tell you?" he raised an eyebrow.
She thought, 'Let's just go with that.'
"He really tells you everything," he chuckled, just teasing.
"Are you available?" Cecilia brought the conversation back on track.
Dashiell replied, "Yes. What do you need, and which department's files should I hack?"
Cecilia said, "I'll send it to you."
Dashiell said, "Okay."
Cecilia hung up the phone and sent the information to Dashiell.
Dashiell replied: [I'll try to get it to you within 2 hours.]
She thought, 'That's incredibly fast!'
Cecilia was left wondering whether Dashiell's hacking skills were just that impressive or if the Lockhart Group's security system was alarmingly weak.
Of course, she didn't have time to think about that now.
She tried to focus back on the case.
It still felt very suspicious.
She thought, 'Where did the extra $25 million dollars come from out of nowhere?
'How much benefit did this guy get from this $25 million under-the-table deal?'
Cecilia felt like her head was going to explode.
The whole situation was giving her a headache. It felt like there was a crucial piece missing that was clouding her thoughts.
A sudden knock on the door snapped her out of her reverie.
Cecilia took a deep breath to regain her composure and looked at the door as Rose entered.
Rose respectfully said, "Ms. Lockhart, the executives are waiting for you in the conference room now."
Cecilia pressed her lips together, clearly irritated.
"Do you need me to turn them away?" Rose asked, sensing that the upcoming meeting might be challenging for Cecilia.
Rumor had it that the chairman hadn't returned to the company yet.
"No." Cecilia stood up.
She had always believed that she could handle whatever came her way. The higher-ups were not likely to shake her resolve.
Cecilia, along with Augustus and Rose, headed to the senior management meeting room in a hurry.
Because it involved business secrets, Augustus had to wait outside.
When Cecilia entered, she paused for a moment.
As Cecilia entered, she was taken aback to find Ophelia there. The old woman was audaciously sitting in the Chairman's seat.
Cecilia thought, 'So she couldn't cause trouble at home, so she came to the company.'
Cecilia hadn't anticipated this turn of events.
"Cecilia, you're just in time. With your father absent, you'll be his stand-in. Given the impact of Theodore's issues on the Lockhart Group, we've temporarily removed your father from his role as Chairman. Vincent will be acting in his place," Ophelia declared with an air of authority, as though no discussion was necessary.
"Grandma, this is a company, not our home," Cecilia didn't get mad either.
She was swallowing her anger and preparing for a battle of wits with Ophelia.
Cecilia said, "Your tantrums at home are one thing. After all, you're the elder, and we respect and tolerate you. But coming into the company and acting this way is another matter. Even if you're old enough to disregard propriety, we younger ones still need to maintain some decorum."
"How dare you lecture me about decorum?" Ophelia snapped, her temper flaring. "Cecilia, I'm here to oversee the Lockhart Group's affairs from the position of its chairman. You better watch your step!"
"Grandmother, you've never stepped a foot into the business world. How can you possibly think you're qualified to run a multi-million-dollar company?" Cecilia asked, her tone still gentle.
"It's my duty as the only elder left in the Lockhart Group to manage the situation in Theodore's absence."
"So all my attempts to reason with you at home were in vain?" Cecilia said with a sigh, not angry but resigned.
It seemed like her efforts had hit a brick wall.
Ophelia continued, "Cecilia, I don't want to waste words with you. This matter is settled..."
"No, I won't allow it!" Cecilia interrupted Ophelia with a commanding voice.
Ophelia's face fell
She thought to herself, 'That insolent girl. Cecilia is showing me no respect, no matter where we are. But it doesn't matter. In fact, this is exactly what I planned. No matter how clever Cecilia is, she won't see my real motive for coming to the office today. My goal isn't to make Vincent the Chairman of Lockhart Group; it's to turn Cecilia and Theodore into public enemies.
'Oddly, Theodore didn't come to the office. If he had, they could have ganged up on me, which would've made it easier to accuse them of disloyalty and ingratitude.
'But even his absence doesn't change anything. Cecilia is Theodore's daughter, and if Cecilia is ungrateful, it's Theodore's fault for failing to raise her properly. The result is the same regardless.'
"The chairman of the Lockhart Group holds the position because of shares, not because someone can replace them. Unless my dad personally says someone else can take the chairman's position, no one can make that decision, not even you, Grandma!" Cecilia said righteously.
In the face of Cecilia's accusation, Ophelia simply stared at her.
Then, with a sudden jerk, Ophelia collapsed, losing consciousness in front of all the executives. It seemed like Cecilia had driven her to this state.
Vincent quickly caught Ophelia, "Mom, Mom, are you okay?"
Ophelia didn't move.
"Call 911, call 911," Vincent shouted urgently.
The meeting room was in chaos.
Accompanied by Vincent's angry voice, "Cecilia, you showed no respect to your grandmother. You insulted her in front of everyone. If anything happens to her, I will make sure you pay for it..."
To be honest, when Cecilia saw Ophelia collapse, she was indeed surprised.
She really hadn't expected Ophelia to use such a dirty trick.
Ophelia would use such a dirty trick.
Upon reflection, Ophelia's visit to the company was undoubtedly part of a plan. Cecilia had let her guard down, allowing something avoidable to occur.
Cecilia watched coldly as Vincent, carrying Ophelia, hurried out of the conference room, followed closely by concerned executives.
Everyone else followed out of concern.
Cecilia did not.
She knew very well that it wouldn't make a difference whether she followed or not.
She didn't want to waste her energy.
Rose beside her was a bit unsettled, "Ms. Lockhart, aren't you going to check on your grandmother?"
"No need," Cecilia said coldly, "She won't die anyway."
Rose didn't know what to say.
She thought, 'I have to admit, Ophelia did go too far. What right does she have to interfere with Lockhart Group's affairs and demand the removal of the Chairman? The position of Chairman isn't something that can be just revoked on a whim; it's completely out of line.
'But then again, Ophelia is Ms. Lockhart's grandmother. Can Ms. Lockhart really be so cold and indifferent when her grandmother has collapsed?'
So, Rose felt at a loss.
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