CHAPTER 19

Jaden Thompson sat in his study, enjoying a rare moment of solitude with his morning coffee; however, the peace was disrupted by the sharp sound of the doorbell. Startled, he set his cup down and listened as one of his servants answered the door. Moments later, he heard the murmurs of conversation and footsteps approaching.

The study door opened, and the servant ushered in five men. Jaden recognized them immediately. Two were members of the JFlier Group's board of trustees, and the other three were top executives within the company. Their presence was unexpected and ominous.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Thompson,” one of the trustees, Mr. Harris, began. His tone was formal, but there was an urgency underlying his words. “We apologize for arriving unannounced, but we have pressing matters to discuss.”

Jaden nodded, a sense of foreboding settling in his chest. “Please, sit down,” he said, motioning to the chairs around his desk.

The men took their seats, exchanging uneasy glances. Mr. Harris cleared his throat. “Mr. Thompson, we have come to you today with grave concerns regarding your son, Ralph, and his management of JFlier Group.”

Jaden's heart skipped a beat. “What concerns?” he asked, his voice steady but with an edge of worry.

Another board member, Mrs. Collins, spoke up. “Over the past few months, we have uncovered significant evidence suggesting that Ralph has been embezzling money from the company.”

Jaden's eyes widened in shock. “Embezzling? That’s a serious accusation. What kind of evidence do you have?”

The three executives, Mr. Blake, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Carson, began presenting documents and files they had brought with them. Each piece of evidence was meticulously organized, showing a trail of financial discrepancies, unauthorized transactions, and accounts linked to Ralph.

“We have bank statements, internal audits, and even email correspondences,” Mr. Blake explained, spreading the documents across Jaden’s desk. “Ralph has been diverting company funds into offshore accounts. The sums are substantial, and they have put the company at risk of bankruptcy.”

Mr. Hughes chimed in, “Not only that, but we have reason to believe that Ralph plans to sell the company. We’ve intercepted communications with potential buyers.”

Jaden felt the room spinning. He had trusted Ralph implicitly, believing in his integrity and capability. To hear that his son was involved in such deceitful activities was a crushing blow. He picked up one of the documents, his hands trembling. The evidence was overwhelming and undeniable.

“How... how could this happen?” Jaden stammered, his voice breaking. “Why would Ralph do this?”

The executives and board members shared somber looks. “We don’t know his motivations,” Mrs. Collins said gently. “But what we do know is that if we don’t act swiftly, JFlier Group will be ruined. We can’t let that happen.”

Mr. Harris leaned forward, his expression serious. “According to the company’s constitution, in the event of gross misconduct or the incapacity of the current CEO, the leadership must be transferred to another member of the Thompson family.”

Jaden’s mind was reeling. “Another member of the family?”

“Yes,” Mr. Blake confirmed. “Charlie is the logical choice.”

Jaden sank back in his chair, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had always considered Ralph the responsible one, the one to carry on the family legacy. Charlie had been the wild card, the one prone to reckless behavior. But now, the roles seemed reversed.

“Do we have any other options?” Jaden asked, grasping at straws.

“We’ve reviewed all possible alternatives,” Mrs. Collins said. “Given the urgency of the situation and the need for a smooth transition, Charlie is our best option. If we delay, we risk irreparable damage to the company.”

Jaden Thompson stared at the five men seated before him, his heart heavy with disbelief and sorrow. The damning evidence against Ralph lay spread out on his desk, each document a cruel testament to his son’s betrayal. He had always believed Ralph was the responsible one, the guardian of their family legacy. Now, that trust lay in ruins.

Mr. Harris, one of the board members, broke the heavy silence. “Mr. Thompson, we understand this is a shock, but we must act quickly to prevent further damage to the company.”

Jaden clenched his fists, fighting to keep his emotions in check. “I understand the urgency,” he said, his voice strained. “But Charlie? You expect Charlie to take over the leadership of JFlier Group? Have you lost your mind?”

Mrs. Collins, another board member, leaned forward, her expression earnest. “Mr. Thompson, we know this is difficult, but Charlie is the only option we have left. According to the company’s constitution, in the absence of the current CEO due to misconduct, leadership must pass to another family member.”

“Charlie is worse!” Jaden exploded, his anger finally breaking through. “He’s reckless, irresponsible, and lacks the qualifications to manage a company of this size. How can you expect him to succeed where Ralph failed?”

Mr. Blake, one of the top executives, spoke up. “Mr. Thompson, we are aware of Charlie’s past. But we believe that with the right guidance and training, he can rise to the occasion. The company needs a Thompson at the helm, and right now, Charlie is the only one left.”

Jaden sank back into his chair, his mind reeling. The idea of Charlie running JFlier Group was almost too much to bear. He had always seen Charlie as the wild card, the one who shirked responsibility and lived life on his own terms. But now, faced with Ralph’s betrayal, there seemed to be no other choice.

“Training,” Jaden muttered, more to himself than to the others. “You think Charlie can be trained to handle this?”

“Yes,” Mr. Hughes said firmly. “We believe he can. He will have the support of the board and the executives. We’ll guide him through the transition and ensure he has the resources he needs to succeed.”

Jaden shook his head, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him. “If Ralph, who was supposedly responsible, could do this... how can I trust that Charlie won’t bring the company to ruin?”

Mrs. Collins reached out, placing a hand on Jaden’s arm. “Jaden, we’re not asking you to trust blindly. We’re asking you to give Charlie a chance.”