Chapter 1479 Lost Everything
Aaron shoved Michael's hands away and slipped out.
Michael stood there, alone in the empty conference room.
Just yesterday, he got divorced. Today, he got booted from the Jude Group.
Even his family ties took a hit.
He was in a daze.
A month ago, Michael had been on top of the world, feeling like the happiest guy alive.
He had had a family, a wife, a kid, a career, and a bright future. He had even thought he'd soon crack the top 100 on the global rich list.
But now, Michael had lost it all.
He couldn't accept it. He smashed a cup, his eyes burning with anger.
Up in the chairman's office on the top floor.
Julia knocked and walked in. James stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, hands behind his back, looking stone-faced.
"Dad, sorry to keep you waiting. I was just talking to Michael in the conference room, so I'm a bit delayed." Her cold voice echoed in the office.
James turned around, stared at Julia for a moment, then walked up and slapped her.
"You teamed up with the board behind my back to go against Michael. I just found out today that ninety percent of the board is on your side, and the rest are scared of you. Are you planning to take my position too?"
James pointed at her, fuming.
He couldn't lose his cool in the conference room earlier.
He'd been running the company with an iron fist for decades. Only today did he realize Julia, the one he trained, was now capable of stepping over him.
Julia was impressive, and James was proud, but that didn't mean she could defy him.
Pain spread across Julia's face. She blinked hard and met James's gaze. "Dad, you're right. Your position can only be mine."
"Bullshit!" James's forefinger shook as he pointed at her. "Dream on. I think you're blinded by power."
"Why can't I?" Julia had always known she wasn't supposed to inherit, but hearing it from James still hurt. "I've been with the company for ten years. In these ten years, I've given everything to the Jude Family and the Jude Group. No one is more qualified than me to take your position."
"Stop dreaming," James snapped, "You're a woman. We told you a long time ago that you could only get shares of the Jude Group. No matter which of your brothers takes over, your position won't change, and you'll never lack money. Have you forgotten what you once told me and your grandfather? You said you were the elder sister and would take good care of and protect your brothers."
"When I take your position, I will still take good care of and protect them."
Julia's face stayed calm, her eyes sharp as a knife. "All these years, I've been careful. Among your three kids, I'm the one who listens to you the most. So what if I'm a woman? Am I not your child? Back when the company was struggling, I sacrificed my happiness, losing my husband at a young age. When Carl wanted to be president, I supported him. When you were sick and had surgery, I held up the company alone, even sleeping in the office for a month without going home. I'm a person, not a tool for the Jude Group."
James felt uneasy and a bit guilty, but there were some things he just couldn't budge on. "I admit you've sacrificed a lot for the Jude Group. I'll talk to your grandfather and get you more shares."
"Are you talking about bumping my shares from fifteen percent to twenty percent?" Julia scoffed. "Both of my brothers have thirty percent each, and even their future kids will get shares. And what about me?"
James's face darkened. This was a private deal Eric had made, and no one else was supposed to know. "How did you find out?"
"I know more than you think."
Julia closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the sadness was gone, replaced by cold determination.
"Julia, this isn't something I can decide."
James finally said, sounding defeated, "Your grandfather is usually pretty open-minded, but there are some things he won't change. If you keep pushing, you might end up with nothing. Listen to me, drop this idea. I won't cover up what happened today."
"No need to cover it up. Let me be clear," Julia said, her eyes sharp, "I want fifty percent of the company's shares transferred to me within a week. If not, I'll take all the company's resources and connections and start a new company. I'll even take EchoReach with me."
"Are you kidding me?" James's face contorted, like he'd just heard the punchline of a bad joke.
"I'm dead serious. Mr. Powell from EchoReach is my guy. He's already taken control of all the key personnel there. I have all the dirt on the entire Jude Family."
Julia had no more patience. "So why do you think I know about Grandpa's secret deal, even the password to his safe? And why do you think all the board members listened to me today? Because I have EchoReach. They have no secrets from me."
"Grandpa is old-fashioned, but he's smart. He has to accept that he's old and needs to retire. Some things in the Jude Family are no longer his to control."
Julia's beautiful face was ice-cold. "In the past, I let Grandpa manage things because I wanted him to. But now, I don't want him to manage anymore. Dad, don't let the entire Jude Group go down on your watch."
James's eyes widened, his breathing quickened.
Maybe it was too much to take in.
So many of them had no clue.
James had always thought EchoReach was in Michael's hands.
"Julia, when did you start thinking like this? Have you always wanted to take over the Jude Group?"
James looked at Julia with a complicated expression. He realized he had never really understood her, or maybe Julia had hidden her true self too well.
"Julia, some things aren't as simple as you think. The Jude Family has come this far, and the Jude Group has thrived partly because Carl has been helping out in politics," James said.
The office door suddenly opened, and Derek, wearing a black jacket, walked in with an impressive demeanor. "Julia, how's the talk with Uncle James going?"
"We're still talking," Julia said calmly.
James looked at Derek in surprise. "Derek, you..."
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