Chapter 410 Planning to Give You a Portion of the Group's Shares
Seb's profile was as cold as ice. "Let's hear what Ayla has to say first before we make any decisions."
"Alright," Sharon replied.
After getting ready in the morning, Ayla was about to head out when a servant from The Bridges Villa rushed over.
"Ms. Bridges, Mr. Garry Bridges wants to see you," the servant said.
Ayla frowned. "Did Grandpa mention what it's about?"
The servant shook his head. "No idea."
"Okay, got it. You can go back now," Ayla said.
Once the servant left, Ayla changed her shoes and looked at Leo, who was still eating breakfast. "Leo, can you take Jerold to school later? Grandpa wants to see me, and I don't want to be late."
Leo smiled gently. "Of course."
After Ayla left, Jerold threw down his spoon, looking annoyed.
"Dad, I don't want to go to school. I don't want to see Demetrius!" Jerold whined.
Leo looked at him. "Didn't you promise your mom and me last night that you'd behave?"
Last night, after Leo got home, Ayla told him about her plan to use Jerold's injury to get some leverage with Seb. Leo agreed and helped her convince Jerold, promising to take him on a trip abroad during his next vacation. Jerold reluctantly agreed.
But now, Jerold was having second thoughts.
Seeing Leo's serious expression, Jerold felt his heart skip a beat. He then rolled his eyes and clutched his head, frowning. "It's not that I don't want to go, but my wound still hurts. If I go to school now, everyone will laugh at me!"
Seeing Jerold's exaggerated grimace, Leo found it amusing but kept a straight face. "You really don't want to go? Maybe Demetrius will apologize to you in front of everyone today. You should get along well, maybe in the future...."
Leo trailed off.
Jerold looked up at him, puzzled. "Dad, what about the future?"
Leo put down his knife and fork, his expression indifferent. "Nothing. If you don't want to go to school today, just stay home and play. Go back when you feel better."
"Okay, thanks, Dad! I knew you loved me the most!" Jerold said.
Leo's eyes flickered, and a smile tugged at his lips. "Yes, I love you the most."
After instructing the servants to take good care of Jerold, Leo changed his clothes and drove away.
"Ayla, if Seb doesn't agree to your terms, do you have a backup plan?" Garry asked.
Ayla nodded and took a document from her bag, handing it to Garry. "Grandpa, this is a project that the Bridges Group is planning to develop, but the land needed for the project is in Seb's hands. If Seb doesn't agree to bid with the Bridges Group, I'll negotiate to buy the land at market price. If he still doesn't agree, I'll have to take it to the police."
Ayla continued, "The Bridges Group and Silvercrest Group do have close cooperation, but for the Bridges Group to develop better, it has to compete with Silvercrest Group."
Her eyes were full of confidence as she spoke.
The Bridges Group had developed rapidly in Metropolis over the past few years. If it really came to a fight with Silvercrest Group, it was uncertain who would win.
Garry glanced through the document, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Good, you're doing the right thing. But it's best to negotiate with Seb and bid for the urban development project together."
"Got it, Grandpa," Ayla said.
"If we get this sorted out, I'm planning to give you some shares in the group. That way, your voice will carry more weight around here," Garry said.
Ayla's face lit up with joy. "Really, Grandpa?"
She had dedicated immense effort to the Bridges Group over the years. Yet, despite her contributions, the lack of shares meant that her voice didn't always command the respect among the shareholders.
Having shares would make it a lot easier to get things done. Plus, it would bring her one step closer to taking over the group!
"Of course it's true. I've seen how hard you've worked. Don't worry, as long as you keep it up, I won't treat you unfairly," Garry replied.
Ayla was excited but tried to keep her cool. "Grandpa, it's an honor to contribute to the group's success. I'll work even harder and not let you down!"
Ayla arrived at Silvercrest Group just before nine.
After giving her name, the receptionist confirmed her appointment and escorted her to the elevator.
"Ms. Bridges, Mr. Smith's office is on the top floor," the receptionist said.
"Thanks," Ayla replied.
She had been here a few times before but had always met with the vice president or other department managers. This was her first time going to Seb's office.
The elevator quickly reached the top floor, and as soon as she stepped out, Paul approached her. "Ms. Bridges, I'll take you there."
They soon arrived at Seb's office. Paul knocked lightly on the door, and after hearing a "come in" from inside, he opened the door.
"Mr. Smith, Ms. Bridges is here," Paul said.
Seb put down his documents and looked up calmly. "Alright, make Ms. Bridges a cup of coffee."
As he spoke, he got up and walked towards the sofa.
Ayla smiled and walked straight to the seat opposite Seb. "Mr. Smith, I know you're busy, so I'll get straight to the point. About the fight between your son and my son, I'm sure you already know the details."
Seb nodded. "Yeah, so?"
Ayla frowned slightly but kept her patience. "Mr. Smith, your son pushed my son, causing him to get hurt. Don't you think an apology is necessary?"
"If my son really pushed your son, then yeah, an apology is needed. But how can you prove that my son pushed him?" Seb asked.
Seeing that Seb had no intention of negotiating, Ayla looked grim. "What do you mean, Mr. Smith? Are you saying my son's injury is fake?"
"I never said your son's injury is fake, Ms. Bridges. The point is, how can you prove that his injury was caused by my son?" Seb said.
Ayla's hand clenched tightly, and an intense urge to get up and march straight to the police overwhelmed her.
But remembering Garry's promise of group shares, she forced herself to suppress her anger. "Mr. Smith, I asked Ms. Price in the office yesterday. Demetrius saw Jerold showing off his new shoes and, out of jealousy, stepped on Jerold. The two kids fought over it, and Demetrius might have accidentally pushed Jerold, causing Jerold to hit his head on the desk, resulting in a big cut that needed stitches. Do you need me to show you the medical records?"
"That's not necessary. But it seems like you're only telling your son's side of the story, Ms. Bridges. My son told me a different version," Seb said.
Ayla looked at him coldly. "Are you saying my son is lying, Mr. Smith?"
"Ms. Bridges, why don't you take a look at this?" Seb played the video he had received that morning and placed it in front of Ayla.
At first, Ayla didn't understand, but three minutes later, her face turned extremely dark.
Wasn't the classroom surveillance broken? How did Seb get this? Her face turned pale. "This is impossible."
If Jerold had indeed fallen on his own, Ayla risked not only losing any leverage over Seb, but also offending him completely.
Seb's expression remained indifferent. "If you don't believe it, I can have the video authenticated. You can also choose to call the police, as you mentioned yesterday."
Ayla shook her head repeatedly. "This is impossible."
Seb barely spared her a glance as he stood up, his demeanor turning frosty. "I have work to do, so I won't see you out, Ms. Bridges."
Ayla walked out of Silvercrest Group in a daze. The warm sunlight fell on her, but she only felt cold, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
Since she hadn't handled this matter well, Garry's promised shares were out of the question. Moreover, if Garry found out that Jerold had lied, he would be even more displeased with her, thinking she hadn't taught Jerold well.
Thinking of this, Ayla gritted her teeth and decided she had to keep this matter hidden no matter what!
But how?
If she lied to Garry and said the matter was resolved, he would find out she was lying once the bidding process started, and he would be even angrier when he learned the truth.
That left only one option! She had to find a way to get that piece of land from Silvercrest Group!
Having made up her mind, Ayla immediately went to Leo's office.
When Ayla told Leo she wanted to pull all the company's funds to buy the land from Silvercrest Group, Leo flatly refused.
"Ayla, that's illegal. And if Grandpa finds out, we're both finished. You won't have any chance of getting into the Bridges Group in the future."
Ayla was on the verge of breaking down and gritted her teeth. "It's all because Jerold lied! And after all these years, Grandpa finally promised me shares in the group. I have to take this gamble no matter what!"
"No, doing this would not only harm you but also our family. I won't agree to it!" Leo said.
Seeing Leo's resolute expression, Ayla felt deeply disappointed, and her gaze turned cold. "Leo, I didn't expect you to be like this. Everything you have today is because of me! But now you won't help me! Grandpa might not even find out. As long as we get that land, I can slowly put the money back, and no one will know!"
Ayla's expression was almost hysterical, but Leo remained unmoved. "No matter what you say, I won't agree. I'm doing this to help you."
Ayla sneered. "Fine! Leo, I've seen through you!"
With that, she grabbed her bag and stormed out, slamming the office door behind her. Leo's expression remained indifferent as he returned to his desk to continue working.
Ayla didn't go to the group but headed straight to Jerold's kindergarten. When she found out Jerold hadn't attended class that day, her anger flared, and she drove home quickly.
As soon as she stepped into the villa, the scene where Jerold was playing on the floor only fueled her rage further.
Jerold looked up and saw Ayla's furious expression, and he was startled. "Mom, why are you..."
Before Jerold could finish, Ayla grabbed him and spanked him hard. "Why did you lie? Do you know how serious the consequences of your lie are?"
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she hit Jerold even harder.
Jerold, who had been pampered all his life, had never been hit like this. He immediately started crying and screaming, tears streaming down his face.
"Mom, stop! I know I was wrong. I won't lie again," Jerold pleaded.
Ayla slapped him a few more times, but it didn't relieve her anger. "Shut up!"
Scared by her cold and terrifying expression, Jerold froze for a moment, then burst into a terrified, piercing cry that echoed through the villa.
A servant hurried over. "Ms. Bridges, you can't hit Mr. Wendy like this. He's already scared."
Ayla shot a cold glance at the servant, who immediately fell silent, looking down at the floor and pretending not to see anything.
Annoyed by Jerold's crying, Ayla handed him over to the servant. "Make him stop!"
Ignoring Jerold's gasping sobs, Ayla went upstairs to her bedroom. After closing the door, Ayla threw her bag on the floor and sat at her vanity, her expression exhausted.
If Leo wouldn't help her, she really didn't know who to turn to.
Did she really have to confess everything to Garry?
The thought of this possibility made Ayla feel suffocated, but she couldn't think of any other solution.
That evening, when Leo returned home, he immediately sensed something was wrong. Usually, Jerold would either be watching TV or running around the villa, but today he was quietly staying in his room.
A servant approached to help him change his shoes and whispered, "Mr. Leo Wendy, Ms. Bridges was in a bad mood today. She came back and spanked Mr. Jerold Wendy, then went to her room and hasn't come out yet."
"I see. I'll go check on her," Leo said.
Hearing this, the servant sighed in relief. Whenever Ayla was upset, Leo could always calm her down.
"Alright, dinner is ready and being kept warm in the kitchen. You can eat anytime," the servant said.
Leo nodded and headed upstairs. Standing at the bedroom door, Leo knocked.
A voice full of irritation came from inside. "Didn't I say I wasn't having dinner tonight? If you bother me again, pack your things and leave!"
"Ayla, it's me. Open the door. We need to talk," Leo said.
There was a brief silence, then Ayla's cold voice came again. "Leo, since you won't help me, there's nothing to talk about. Sleep in the guest room tonight. I don't want to see you."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "I was actually thinking of a solution to help you, but it seems you don't need me. I'll be going then."
The room fell silent again, as if Ayla hadn't heard him, but Leo stood calmly at the door.
After a few seconds, he heard footsteps approaching from inside, stopping just behind the door.
The next moment, the door opened, revealing Ayla's still-angry face. "What solution?"
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