Chapter 124 Debt Collection
The transfer went off without a hitch. Thomas had his secretary draft the contract, while Larry logged into online banking and transferred twenty million dollars to Thomas's personal account.
Meanwhile, Larry sent another twenty million dollars to the company's account for working capital.
Once the transfer was confirmed and the agreement signed, Thomas looked noticeably more haggard. He turned to Chloe, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "Chloe, the Everlasting Group belongs to you now. It thrived under my leadership, and I hope you can take it even further."
Chloe confidently replied, "Grandpa Thomas, don't worry. I'll lead the Everlasting Group to new heights."
"By the way," Drake chimed in, looking at Chloe, "The employees are causing trouble at the factory. They've brought in over a dozen trucks. If we don't pay them today, they're going to take the equipment and sell it."
"What?" Chloe's face fell. She had invested twenty million dollars because she believed in the factory, its equipment, and its employees. If the equipment were taken away, her investment would be for nothing.
"Let's go check it out." Chloe and Drake immediately left the office and headed to the factory.
At the Everlasting Group's processing plant, over a dozen large trucks and more than a hundred employees were gathered at the gate.
Leading them was a slightly overweight man in his forties named Eric Price.
Eric was yelling at a young man in his twenties, "Tommy Lewis, you'd better not stop me. Open the factory gate now."
"Open it up. If there's no money for wages, we'll sell the equipment."
"Yeah, what's the point in keeping this stuff? Do you really think we can bounce back?"
"We can't even take orders. There's no point in staying here."
Many employees joined in the shouting.
"Eric, you've been with the factory for a long time. Now that we're in trouble, instead of helping, you're making things worse. Do you know what taking the equipment means? It means the Everlasting Group will never recover."
At the gate, Tommy tried to reason with them.
Tommy was Drake's son and worked as the warehouse supervisor.
"Everyone, believe me, the Everlasting Group will get through this. Mr. Thomas Lewis will secure the funds soon."
"Impossible. Everyone knows the Everlasting Group owes over two million dollars. If we don't take the equipment now, it'll be mortgaged to someone else. When the company goes bankrupt, no one will pay us."
Deputy Factory Manager Eric kept riling up the employees.
"I'm not staying here anymore. I've found a better factory where I'm also a deputy manager, and the pay is much higher. I'll lead everyone to a better place."
"Yeah, there's no point in staying at this broken factory."
"If Tommy tries to stop us, we'll beat him up."
A group of people rushed forward, quickly snatched Tommy's keys, and forced open the factory gate.
A few people approached from a distance: Thomas, Chloe, Larry, and others.
Seeing the commotion, Thomas quickly walked over and shouted, "You are too arrogant."
Seeing Thomas arrive, the rioting employees calmed down a bit.
Eric walked over and said sarcastically, "Mr. Thomas Lewis, it's not our fault. We have no choice. We haven't been paid for months. We need to make a living too."
"Yeah, the company account is empty, and it owes over two million dollars. If we don't take the equipment now, it'll be mortgaged to someone else. When that happens, no one will pay us."
"Mr. Thomas Lewis, my wife is about to give birth. I have no choice."
"Mr. Thomas Lewis, I've worked at the Everlasting Group for five years. My mother is seriously ill, and the factory hasn't paid me for three months."
Many employees spoke up.
Thomas sighed deeply, understanding the employees' struggles.
He pointed to Chloe beside him and said, "This is Ms. Chloe Lewis, the new chairperson of the company. From now on, she’s in charge of the Everlasting Group. Don’t worry, folks. The company now has money, and you’ll be paid immediately."
"Ms. Chloe Lewis?"
"Ms. Chloe Lewis from Everjoy Company? Why did she join the group?"
"Mr. Thomas Lewis, is this true?"
The employees looked at Chloe, puzzled.
Chloe stepped forward and said loudly, "Yes, it’s true. You’ll all get paid today. For the three months of back pay, I’ve decided to give you an extra half month’s salary as compensation. Once the company is back on track, I promise everyone will have work every day, with opportunities for overtime, and salaries will at least double."
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
Eric immediately ran over, bending at the waist. "Ms. Lewis, hello, I’m Eric, the deputy factory manager."
Chloe glanced at Eric, recognizing him as the troublemaker.
She had also heard Eric boasting about finding a better company and planning to take the employees there.
"Ms. Lewis, I’ve worked at the Everlasting Group for eight years, very diligently, treating it as my own home."
"You’re fired," Chloe said, looking directly at Eric.
"Excuse me?" Eric’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Ms. Lewis, you’re firing me?"
"Go to the finance department, get your salary, then pack your things and leave."
Chloe had managed Everjoy Company and knew how to handle these situations. Given the current crisis at the Everlasting Group, if she kept Eric, the ringleader, he’d cause more trouble in the future. The other employees were forced by circumstances, and the company needed them, so they couldn’t all be fired.
Eric immediately got emotional and shouted, "I’ve worked here for eight years, diligently. You want to fire me as soon as you take over? Why don’t you fire everyone?"
He then looked at the employees. "Everyone, this must be Mr. Thomas Lewis’s tactic to delay us. I’ve heard Everjoy Company is expanding and can’t possibly have the money to acquire the Everlasting Group. And everyone knows about Mr. Thomas Lewis’s relationship with Mr. Victor Lewis, who wouldn’t give money to save the Everlasting Group."
"Everyone, listen to me. Let’s all resign together. I’ve already found a better company, and I’ll take you all there to work."
Many employees wavered because what Eric said made sense.
"Eric, I’ll go with you."
"I’ll go with you, too."
Once one person spoke up, many others followed suit.
Eric looked smug. He was the deputy factory manager. These people were his subordinates, and they would listen to him.
He looked smugly at Chloe. "Ms. Lewis, I’ve worked here for eight years and am now the deputy factory manager. Firing me is like firing most of the people in the factory."
Chloe wasn’t intimidated and said coldly, "Anyone who wants to leave just go, I won’t stop you. Go to the finance department to settle your salary now."
Eric laughed loudly. "Settle the salary? There’s no way the Everlasting Group has money in its account. This is hilarious. Ms. Lewis, if you promise to double my salary now, I won’t leave. If I don’t leave, no one will leave."
Chloe pointed outside. "If you want to leave, go ahead."
Eric panicked. He couldn’t scare Chloe.
He shouted, "Everyone, let’s go and settle our salaries. I want to see if the Everlasting Group can come up with the money today."
Eric looked very confident, thinking, 'Fire me? If I leave, the Everlasting Group’s factory will come to a standstill.'
More than half of the hundred-plus people at the factory gate followed Eric, while only about twenty stayed behind, watching.
Chloe looked at the remaining people and said, "Very well. From now on, your salaries will increase by 20%."
"Thank you, Ms. Lewis." The people who stayed behind had smiles on their faces.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
