Chapter 173 The New Chairman
The air in FutureTech's conference room was thick with anticipation, tension clinging to the expensive suits and carefully composed expressions of the assembled executives.
Dozens of eyes were trained on the young man seated at the head of the table; curious and apprehensive, with barely concealed skepticism.
One short hour ago, their world had been turned upside down. The shareholders were gone, ousted by a name that had been nothing more than a whisper in the corridors of power; Elbert.
Rumors had spread like wildfire through the company grapevine. A staggering sum—$260 billion—had been thrown around to acquire a controlling stake in FutureTech. This move was so audacious and unexpected that it left even the most seasoned executives reeling.
Only a select few, those privy to Lori's frantic strategizing the previous night, knew the truth. Elbert, this new master of their fate, was none other than Paul Three; the enigmatic genius behind Creator.
Despite that, Lori had issued a strict order; Paul Three's true identity was to remain confidential. Thus, they played their parts, maintaining the charade as their blank faces hid their turmoil.
The weight of uncertainty pressed down on them.
'Was this the dawn of a new era for FutureTech, a period of radical transformation? Or were we staring into the abyss of corporate chaos, our careers hanging precariously in the balance?' they speculated.
The empty chairs, once occupied by the now-deposed shareholders, served as a stark reminder of the power this young man wielded. He had single-handedly dismantled the old order, and now, they awaited his next move with bated breath.
Downstairs, in the expansive lobby of FutureTech headquarters, Elbert stepped out of the elevator and looked around the familiar surroundings. Nostalgia washed over him, tinged with bittersweet awareness of how much had changed.
He didn't seek this burden of leadership, but fate had other plans. He couldn't stand idly by while Mr. Brown's life's work crumbled, a casualty of greed and betrayal.
He looked at a familiar figure standing near the conference room door. Carol, the company's resident heartbreaker, was wearing a form-fitting black skirt and a silk blouse that did little to conceal her ample assets.
As if sensing his gaze, Carol turned, smiling seductively. Swaying her hips, she closed the distance between them, her perfume a heady mix of jasmine and something altogether more intoxicating.
"Well, well, well," she purred, her voice a husky murmur. "Look who the cat dragged in. Where have you been hiding, darling? I've missed you."
She pressed closer, her body curvy with soft angles; her intentions were clear. Elbert, however, was in no mood for her games.
"Carol," he said, his voice gentle but firm, "Now's not really the time. I have a meeting to attend."
"Oh?" she replied, her eyes widening innocently. "Going to see Miss Brown, are we? Such a shame. I'm afraid she's a bit… preoccupied at the moment."
Elbert chuckled, sidestepping her with an agility that belied his lean frame. "I think I'll manage," he said, sounding amused.
"But Elbert," she persisted, her voice taking on a frantic edge, "You can't just barge in there. There's a very important meeting going on. The new chairman…"
Her words were cut short as Elbert reached the conference room door and pushed it open, revealing the expectant faces of FutureTech's top brass.
"The new chairman is here," he announced, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable air of authority.
Carol stared after him, her jaw slack with disbelief. The penny finally dropped, realization hitting her hard.
Elbert, the unassuming chauffeur and supposed gold-digger, was the mysterious billionaire who had just acquired FutureTech. The man she had dismissed, belittled, even attempted to seduce, now held her career and future in his hands.
Heat crept up her neck, her cheeks blushing red. She had made a colossal miscalculation, one that could have disastrous consequences.
"Carol! Close the door!" a sharp voice snapped, jerking her out of her mortified reverie.
"Right, of course," she stammered, scrambling to obey.
Inside the conference room, Elbert took his place at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over the assembled executives. Lori stood by his side, looking relieved and apprehensive as her silence spoke volumes.
The silence stretched, broken only by papers rustling and the air conditioning's humming. Finally, Elbert reached for the stack of documents in front of him, his fingers brushing against Lori's as he took them from her grasp.
It was the restructuring plan, the result of countless hours of brainstorming and debate. The fate of FutureTech, at least in their minds, rested on these pages.
Elbert began to flip through the document, his expression unreadable. The executives held their breath, their hearts pounding.
Then, he began to tear the pages without warning; methodically, deliberately, until the once-pristine document was nothing more than a pile of confetti.
"This," he said calmly, "is garbage."
Gasps rippled through the room. Lori's face flushed with anger and humiliation, rising from her seat.
"Elbert, how dare you!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Do you have any idea how much work went into this? You haven't even read it properly!"
"I've read enough," Elbert replied, his gaze unwavering. "And frankly, Lori, it doesn't matter what you put in front of me. It's all… inadequate."
"Oh, is that so?" she retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Well, if you're so much smarter than all of us, why don't you enlighten us? What kind of plan would meet your incredibly high standards?"
Elbert leaned back in his chair, smiling. The room held its breath, the silence crackling with anticipation. The game had just begun.
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