Chapter 741 Natalie, Don't Provoke
Arthur smiled, "That's not the case. The Hastings family has publicly challenged my position as the chairman of the Windsor Group today. It would be disrespectful if I, in my capacity as the chairman, don't make a response."
The crowd thought, "Is it really appropriate for someone with such a refined and elegant face to say such outrageous things?"
Arthur hadn't finished speaking yet. "Furthermore, the Hastings family, represented by Susan, once plagiarized my daughter's mother's work. Mrs. Natalie, who is both my sister-in-law and my daughter's godmother, it doesn't seem right for me to continue working with the Hastings family."
The crowd thought, "This doesn't sound right at all."
Within a day, the entire domestic business circle was discussing this series of shocking news.
As for Oliver's specific reason for challenging the Hastings family, outsiders didn't know. But one thing was certain, Oliver was definitely doing it for Natalie. This incident made people in the industry realize Natalie's importance and influence in the eyes of the Windsor brothers.
In short, you can't mess with Natalie.
At least not for now.
The Hastings family is a family business.
When the company received various creative suggestions and held an emergency shareholders' meeting, only the heads of various branches of the Hastings family were present.
Samuel, as the chairman and president, sat in the first seat.
Members of the Hastings family were discussing the impact and losses of Oliver's actions on their own interests. More people were cursing Oliver and Natalie.
Samuel looked bored as he watched these people. He glanced at his wristwatch and realized that half an hour had passed. He was beginning to grow impatient.
With a loud "clap," he slammed the table.
Everyone turned to look at Samuel, seeming a bit puzzled.
"Have you come up with a solution from your discussion?" Samuel asked.
His gaze didn't pass over anyone, and that person who was being looked at pretended to look away.
"Oh, it seems not," useless talk, just as expected.
"Mr. Hastings, this issue is Natalie's problem. We shouldn't be held responsible," said a middle-aged man.
Samuel rested his elbow on the table, propping his cheek up with one hand, and said with a smile, "Uncle, you're already in your fifties, yet you still come here to tell me who's right and who's wrong? To put it nicely, it's staying true to oneself, but to put it bluntly, it's foolishness."
Mr. Hastings' face instantly turned ugly. "Samuel, how dare you speak like this?"
The tension between the Hastings family's second son and Samuel was simmering, but they managed to maintain a facade of harmony. It was the first time Samuel had ever spoken such harsh words to Mr. Hastings in front of so many people.
"Samuel, even though you are the chairman, we are all your elders!"
"That's right, Samuel, don't forget to respect your elders!"
Nearly everyone present was older than Samuel.
Samuel had taken over the position of Mr. Hastings Senior, which James was supposed to inherit. The Hastings family's children were dissatisfied, unhappy with a young man like Samuel being above them, and they wished they could pull him down from his position and take it for themselves.
However, Samuel had never given them any opportunity to catch him making mistakes, and under his leadership, the family's business had even taken several steps forward.
Samuel, the chairman and president, made people feel inadequate but couldn't be faulted.
"Respect?" Samuel remained unmoved. "This is the board of directors, not the Hastings family. If you have any dissatisfaction, perhaps you should step down from your positions before speaking to me as your elder?"
The meeting room fell into silence, with people looking at each other.
Who in their right mind would willingly give up their position? That would be close to madness!
"Since none of you seem to have a solution to this matter, let me offer one," Samuel finally started discussing the main point. "The reason we offended Oliver this time was because the Hastings family made Natalie look bad. I found out it was Ann's request to eat at Hastings diner. Ann was also the one instigating everything. If Ann has such abilities, then I'll appoint her to go to Africa and show what she's made of. The Hastings family's African business sector still doesn't have a person in charge."
Ann is the daughter of the Hastings family's second son.
Mr. Hastings immediately stood up and slammed his hand on the table. "Samuel, what did you say? Say it again!"
What nonsense to appoint his daughter as the person in charge of Africa. The person in charge of the African business sector had already been arranged by Samuel and was his trusted person. Sending his daughter there would be nothing but a figurehead with no real power.
Not to mention whether she would have any real power, can anyone even go to a place like Africa? Can his daughter go?
"Mr. Hastings didn't hear clearly? Ann, which is your daughter, got promoted," Samuel said calmly. "Haven't you always said that your daughter is talented and shouldn't settle for being a low-level employee? I gave her this opportunity."
"Samuel! Can you honestly say this is an opportunity?" Mr. Hastings stood up angrily, hands on hips. "Look at this person, he is the wielder of power in our family, our leader. Yet he treats his own family members like this!"
Several board members who aligned with the second son of the Hastings family echoed and said that Samuel's actions were unethical.
Samuel had long been accustomed to the hypocrisy and disgusting behavior of these people in front of others, but he knew exactly how to shut them up.
"Ethics?" Samuel said. "Yes, you can certainly talk to me about ethics, but who will talk to Oliver about ethics? Who will talk to Arthur about ethics?"
Because of Oliver's suppression of the Hastings family, two subsidiaries of the Hastings family were on the brink of bankruptcy, and several other subsidiary companies were facing financial difficulties.
Everyone looked at each other in silence, no longer speaking.
They didn't have the courage to talk to Oliver about ethics? That man seemed like he had morals?
With Samuel's words, they immediately remembered the losses they suffered due to Oliver's suppression and started to investigate. It seemed like the second son of the Hastings family did bear a great responsibility.
If it weren't for the proposal made by the second son of the Hastings family to go to Hastings diner, they wouldn't have encountered Natalie, and today's events might not have happened.
Although Mr. Hastings Senior and James were mainly responsible, but... who dared to blame Mr. Hastings Senior and James?
In this way, Ann and even the second son of the Hastings family became the natural scapegoats, a target for people to vent their anger on.
"Mr. Hastings, it's up to you, I have no objections. This matter indeed requires a response to Oliver, otherwise the Hastings family may be doomed," one person spoke, and the others followed suit.
Mr. Hastings' face turned pale. Several people who were on good terms with him lowered their heads and remained silent. Mr. Hastings had to speak up himself, "Samuel, as the leader of our family, shouldn't you speak up for us? My daughter is speaking up for your sister too!"
"I asked her to speak up for Susan?" Besides, she's not really my sister.
"Why are you so heartless!"
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