Chapter 11
<Chapter> Chapter 11: A Welcome Rain </Chapter>
"I..." Aidan found himself increasingly frustrated. Over the past few years, he had focused solely on staffing the company and delegating the actual work to other shareholders. Now, he struggled to comprehend how he could account for the activities of those years.
Facing Gianna's unwavering stare, Aidan felt a blush of embarrassment rise to his cheeks, his head dropping reflexively in shame.
"Is Aidan unable to answer or unwilling to?" she asked.
Either choice seemed to lead straight into the trap Gianna had laid for him. Annoyance flitted across Aidan's features.
"Gianna, you know full well I'm not cut out for corporate management. Why grill me with questions if not to put me on the spot?" he challenged, his frustration evident.
A cold glint flashed in Gianna's eyes as she responded with indifference, "Since Aidan himself admits his shortcomings in management, it's hardly his place to critique my decisions."
Aidan stood there, dumbfounded.
As Faith neared the door, documents in hand for Gianna's signature, she noticed Aidan storming out of the office with a scowl on his face, without even offering a greeting.
She entered and saw Gianna, calm and focused on the paperwork. "What did you say to Aidan? He looked pretty upset when he left," Faith asked, unable to conceal her curiosity.
Gianna replied without looking up. "He's unhappy about me letting go of some of his relatives. What do you need?"
Handing over the contract, Faith said, "Here's the paperwork that needs signing today. Please review and sign so I can take it with me."
Gianna accepted the documents, her expression unchanging. "Inform HR to hire two secretaries for me, one male, one female."
"Consider it done," Faith replied, making a mental note to call HR right away.
After reviewing and signing the contract, Gianna asked Faith, "By the way, how big is the company's funding shortfall?"
There was a brief silence before Faith, with a pained look, answered, "At least fifty million."
Gianna's brow furrowed. "All right, I've got it. You can go now."
After Faith departed, Gianna checked her available funds, finding she had a little over fifty million to her name.
She called for the finance manager and instructed them to transfer the fifty million to the company accounts. "This money is a personal loan to the company. We'll settle it with the year-end bonus distribution," she stated coolly.
"Understood, Gianna," the finance manager acknowledged before departing.
Gianna then turned back to her documents.
Meanwhile, Aidan, still angry in his office, battled with swallowing his pride. After much hesitation, he finally made a call to Hayden.
"Hayden, are you free for lunch today? Let's grab a bite."
At noon, Hayden walked into the private dining room and saw Aidan standing up eagerly to welcome him. "Hayden, take a seat!"
Hayden smiled and settled in. "Aidan, you wouldn't call me all the way out here unless it was for something important, right?"
Aidan grinned with embarrassment and gave a nod. "You know me too well. You've heard about Gianna using me as a sacrificial lamb this morning, haven't you?"
Hayden sipped his tea, his expression unchanged, "Aidan, it's just Gianna strategizing for the company's future growth. It's normal to trim some fat."
Moreover, those who were let go happened to be Aidan's relatives who didn't contribute much, merely lounging around on the payroll. Hayden didn't perceive any issue with it.
Aidan chuckled, "You have a point, Hayden. But you don't really believe Gianna will only stop with my people, do you?"
Hayden's grip on his teacup tightened, yet he remained silent.
Aidan continued, "Hayden, between us shareholders, I've always thought you were the most capable. Even though Gianna holds the largest share, her youth and impulsive nature are evident. I'd much rather have you at the helm of MY FASHION."
"What are you getting at?"
"I've heard you've been trying to close a deal with Wayne from Faith without success. If Gianna's so capable, surely she can secure a partnership with Faith for MY FASHION. Don't you think?"
Hayden paused before replying, "Let me think about it."
...
That evening, upon Gianna's return to her villa in North Town from work, she found Felix blocking her path.
He looked down at her, fury in his eyes, "Gianna, there's a limit to causing a stir! Staying over at some other man's place, where does it leave the pride of the Redstone and the Clinton families?"
Gianna scoffed, "Do you really have the nerve to say that? What about the pride of our families when you had your little secret meetings with Bella in our marital home?"
Impatience flashed in Felix's eyes. "I told you, nothing substantial ever happened between me and Bella!"
"That's irrelevant to me. We're getting divorced either way."
"I tore up the divorce papers; we'll chalk it up to just a spur-of-the-moment thing on your part. Come back with me now, and we can pretend this never happened."
Gianna frowned, "Felix, why are you so against the divorce? Have you fallen for me?"
Felix regarded her with a cold, mocking gaze.
"Do you really think that's possible?"
"If it's not, then stop dragging this out. Let me go while I'm still young so I can find someone else."
A cold look took over his face as he watched her eager demeanor, his brows furrowing involuntarily.
"You're already thinking of finding someone else?!"
"So what, Felix?" Gianna looked at him with detached indifference. ”What's the point in staying by your side when it's like living the life of a widow? I'm off to find my own happiness."
Felix stayed silent, feeling a deep and unidentifiable anger rising inside him, one that he couldn't suppress.
Even though he was aware that he didn't love Gianna, her words still had a way of stirring his emotions effortlessly.
His handsome face darkened, and he gritted out the words, "You want a divorce? Fine, but you're compensating me for the years of my life you've wasted!"
Gianna's face registered disbelief.
Observing her incredulous expression, Felix spoke icily, "Fifty million. You pay me that, and I'll agree to the divorce."
Gianna took a moment, her expression serious as she gazed. "You're saying if I give you fifty million, you'll divorce me?"
"Yep, but you can't use a dime of the money I've given you."
Over the years, Gianna had relied on the wealth of the Clinton family. When they married, he had provided her with a no-limit black card, which she never utilized.
Even for his birthdays, she consistently gifted him something handmade, so Felix was confident she couldn't come up with such a sum of money.
After another brief pause, Gianna nodded. "All right, I accept your terms."
"One week, Gianna. If you don't have the money in a week, forget about the divorce!"
Gianna frowned. "Don't you think that's a bit harsh, Felix?"
Felix scoffed. "You were the one desperate for a divorce. Now I'm giving you a chance, and you're not happy about it. I'm starting to wonder if you're just playing hard to get."
Gianna rolled her eyes, "One week it is. Can you leave now?!"
Seeing the impatience in her eyes, Felix pressed on, "Until we're divorced, you're moving back in."
"Felix, don't push it!"
