Chapter 66 One Week, Give Me a Satisfactory Price
After Anne got better, she went back to school like a good kid.
Once she was out of prison, Edward moved her to a new school, and Anne swore off her old friends for good. With just six months left until graduation, she didn't want to waste her last semester, so she headed back to school without much convincing from me. Unlike other college students, Anne still refused to live on campus and made the long commute across the city to get back to Howard Villa every day.
With Anne at school, I was bored out of my mind at home, so I decided to drop by the Cooper Group. Ever since Edward made me the president, I hadn't really shown my face around there.
After Mia passed away, the Cooper Group went through a bunch of changes—acquisitions, leadership shifts, etc. But the core business stayed pretty much the same, and the staff structure didn't change much either. Even Mia's secretary kept her job. Basically, everything was still running smoothly. My visit today wasn't just for show; I had some important stuff to handle. Taking over my mom's position made me realize I had to grow up and think beyond my own feelings. Nearly a thousand people in the group were counting on me.
I picked out a dark blue business suit and paired it with high heels to give off a strong vibe.
I pushed open the conference room door, and the shareholders were already there. Keeping a calm face, I walked straight to the head of the table. "Thanks for waiting, everyone."
I greeted the shareholders with the right amount of politeness and respect. I knew some of them had been eyeing the president's position for a while, but I couldn't go against them now, so I had to be careful.
"Ms. Cooper, it's our pleasure. The Cooper Group is yours, and we're all your subordinates. In the company, we address each other by our positions, and I'll follow your lead," one guy said formally. Others chimed in, "Yes, yes."
I smiled, "Mr. Bake, you've been a long-time shareholder of the group. When my dad was alive, you made significant contributions to the Cooper Group. Now that I'm in charge, I hope you can guide me."
I said this because I knew Zachary Bake was one of my dad's old subordinates. I remembered he had a good relationship with Mason and often invited our family over for dinner. But after Mason passed away, he showed his true colors, making things tough for Mia and even stirring up trouble against her. Now that I was in the president's seat, it seemed he wanted to play nice. Fine by me, I wouldn't be polite either.
Seeing my humility, everyone quieted down, and I continued, "I know many of you have made significant contributions to the company. You might have some doubts about a young, inexperienced girl like me taking over. Even I feel unworthy. So today, I'm here to bring you a gift."
I signaled to Theo. He placed a briefcase on the table and unlocked it, revealing a thick stack of documents. Hearing they were having a gift, many had craned their necks, but seeing it was just documents, they looked disappointed.
Theo handed out the documents to everyone. "Ms. Cooper has indeed prepared a great gift for you. You'll see once you look at it."
As they read the documents, their expressions changed. The room filled with murmurs as they tried to figure out my intentions. I stayed quiet, watching their reactions.
After a few minutes, I finally spoke up, "Look, I know I don't have much experience running a company. I get why some of you aren't thrilled with me in this position. So today, I'm announcing that I'm stepping down from the Cooper Group and handing it back to you. You guys are the veterans here, and I trust you'll take good care of it. My parents would be at peace with this decision."
I glanced around the room, catching the surprise on everyone's faces. Some were already nodding in approval. Zachary was the first to speak up, "You've worked hard to become president. How can you just give it up like that?"
"I've seen how my mom ran the Cooper Group. After my dad passed, the group's performance didn't drop; it actually got better, thanks to her hard work. But I don't have her drive or skills. It's better if I transfer my shares to you and let you keep building the Cooper Group." I was just being honest.
I never had a knack for business and had even suggested to my mom that she sell the Cooper Group shares. But Mia was determined to keep Mason's legacy alive and kept pushing forward. She dedicated her life to the Cooper Group, and sometimes it felt like she loved her work more than me. It wasn't until after she died that I realized how much she loved me.
My plan was to exit the Cooper Group by transferring my shares. This way, I could keep some influence and funds while avoiding future clashes with Edward. Once I got stronger, I could think about buying back the Cooper Group. It was a long-term strategy, and I had to play it smart.
"You want us to buy your shares? That's doable. Even though you inherited your mom's shares, you haven't been in charge for long, and you haven't caused any losses to the company. We can consider a discounted transfer," Zachary said after some discussion.
Theo, who had seen Zachary give my mom a hard time in the past, was already biased against this "old member." He coldly defended me, "Gentlemen, Ms. Cooper's tenure may be short, but in these few months, everyone's dividends have increased several times. Is that just not causing losses? Or are you too old to do the math?" Hearing this, some exchanged glances and changed their tune, "Alright, we agree to a full-price transfer."
Hearing this, I couldn't help but smile. I stood up, placed my hands on the table, and looked down at everyone. "I have other matters to attend to, so today is just a heads-up. As you know, I may lack experience, but that doesn't mean I don't understand business. Or, you might consider how I became president. And think about the changes in our group's net asset value and valuation during financing since I took over."
I picked up my purse. "Just a reminder, my shares will be sold at a premium. I hope you consider this carefully and offer a satisfactory price within a week. Otherwise, I don't mind managing the group myself." I subtly hinted at the Howard Group's influence, knowing these seasoned businesspeople would get the message.
As I said this, my heart was pounding, but I kept a calm facade. I knew that any sign of weakness would make these old foxes pounce like vultures.
Leaving the conference room, I let out a long sigh of relief. Theo remarked, "Ms. Cooper, I was really worried for you. If Mrs. Taylor had been this decisive, she wouldn't have had such a hard time!"
Thinking of Mia brought my mood down, and I barely remembered leaving the company.
The sunshine outside lifted some of the gloom in my heart. My phone vibrated. Seeing it was Edward calling, I answered, "Hey, honey." I softened my voice, gently calling out to him.
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