Chapter 452 Can't Accept It?
As Janna's words resonated through the room, there was an uproar.
"Madame, I don't mean any disrespect to the Rhoads family. I voted for Ken because he is your son, who might be better suited to run such a large company than the younger Miss Rhoads. My decision was made thinking of the family's future growth!" A board member immediately stood up convincingly.
Janna fixed her gaze on him.
"Ken and I severed our mother-son ties long ago. Who in the Rhoads family doesn't know that? James, are you acting for the family's future, or have you been in cahoots with Ken for the past year? Don't you know what you're doing?"
The man was taken aback on the spot. He hastily got up, trying to approach Janna and beg for forgiveness. He didn't get far.
Janna's bodyguard quickly stepped forward and pressed him back into his seat. "Sit down, sir. Not just anyone can approach the chairperson."
"Madame, I can explain; I swear I can!" The man's voice was shaking violently.
Janna, however, paid him no further attention.
"You all here know when I woke up, don't you?" Janna leaned back in her plush executive chair, her voice heavy with sarcasm. "Why do you think I took two days off before calling this shareholder meeting?"
The meeting room was dead silent.
Janna paused momentarily and then answered, "Obviously, to figure out the agenda of those who, knowing full well who my heir is, still chose to cast their votes for someone else."
Eyes in the room turned towards Fiona, the young and beautiful heiress of the family business, who maintained a serene appearance.
"So, for those planning to put on a desperate plead like James, save it. Some of you have been with me for over two decades. You know what kind of person I am. If I want those shares, believe me, you won't be able to keep them."
That was when those who voted for Ken truly began to panic.
"Now, we're moving on to an important internal meeting of the Rhoads family. Those who are not involved, please leave immediately," Janna commanded, not giving them any chance to respond or plead their cases.
Under the deathly glare of Janna's bodyguard, they had no choice but to accept defeat. One by one, the defeated individuals begrudgingly rose from their seats, their faces covered with the metaphorical dust of failure, and began shuffling towards the exit.
However, just as they reached the door, Janna's voice pierced the air again, a clear warning laced with certainty, "Don't count on luck. You can either walk away with the money from selling your shares and live comfortably or risk it all and end up with a tragic ending. Think carefully about your next move."
With everyone ushered out, faint cries could be heard in the distance. The voices of those who had sided with Ken echoed; they were in the majority among the shareholders. Janna's purging of their ranks could lead to a tumultuous upheaval within the Rhoads family—whether for better or worse was uncertain.
Fiona glanced at Janna briefly. No, deep down, she knew that Janna's actions were calculated. She precisely measured every move so it couldn't lead to ruin.
The shareholders' meeting had spanned from morning until noon. Janna had prepared a lavish luncheon for the remaining shareholders when it concluded. But after everyone had dispersed, Mr. Oberlin, the old patriarch, slowly made his way to Janna's side.
Janna shot him a glance. The fierce energy she had exhibited earlier seemed to deflate at his approach. "What are you staring at, old man?" she snapped.
Mr. Oberlin chuckled. "I knew it. With Ken and his spouse moving against you, you'd be lucky to escape without severe damage. I couldn't believe you'd walk away unscathed."
"Grandma..." Fiona noticed Janna's lips were a pale shade and expressed her concern.
Janna waved it off. "Too much talking has left me breathless, that's all. I'll skip the luncheon. You and Darwin can take my place and entertain our guests."
After a brief pause, she turned to Fiona and said, "Even knowing they faced certain defeat, they stood by my will and recognized you as my successor. These individuals are our most loyal supporters—your future wings..."
"Grandma, I understand," said Fiona as she handed Janna a cup of warm water.
Janna took a few sips, visibly recovering a bit, and then waved for Darwin and Fiona to leave. "Go on, I'm still here," Mr. Oberlin said, a reassuring smile spreading across his face.
With a resigned nod, Fiona left the conference room, trailed closely by Darwin.
Mr. Oberlin, watching their retreating figures, let out an amused chuckle. "Look at them; don't they remind you of us when we were young?"
Janna clicked her tongue in response. "Don't flatter yourself."
Still, Mr. Oberlin asked with genuine concern, "You haven't been seriously drained, have you?"
Janna shook her head. "I've found a good kid. There is no real suffering on my part, and my health is fine. But... time catches up to us all, I suppose."
"Then retire and let Serena take over," Mr. Oberlin said decisively.
Janna took a deep breath and then nodded, "Soon. Once the new appointments are in place, I'll step down."
The Rhoads family had flourished for decades, but deep-rooted issues had begun to rot within.
The boardroom was particularly troubled—with these unresolved issues, she couldn't trust handing the conglomerate over to her beloved granddaughter.
It wasn't that she doubted her darling's ability to cope.
But she hated the thought of her babe entangled in such pettiness. Ken's insubordinate actions provided the perfect opportunity to excise the rot legitimately.
Inadvertently, Ken had done his child a favor.
*
"I bet it won't be long before Grandma hands over the company to you," Darwin murmured as he walked beside Fiona.
Fiona considered this briefly before responding with a non-committal grunt.
Before Darwin could continue, someone shouted Chelsea's name and rushed toward them.
These days, there were too many incidents, too many bodyguards hovering around Chelsea.
The man didn't even get close before he was pinned to the ground. "What are you doing?!"
"Miss Chelsea, I swear I had no idea about Ken's scheming; I mean you no harm, please, don't throw me out of the company!" he pleaded through tears and sobs, face pressed against the floor.
He inherited his shares from his late mother. He had a cushy job at Rhoads—less work, but with dividends.
He could afford a modest two-bedroom in the city—a mark of the posh community.
He had thrown his support behind Ken as it seemed apparent he had more votes than Chelsea, especially since Fiona didn't appear to have Janna's will.
Everything indicated a sure loss for Chelsea.
His vote for Ken was a bet on maintaining his lush life.
He couldn't have anticipated Chelsea's triumph, much less Janna's return to power at the firm.
However, he had heard Chelsea was kind-hearted.
Hoping for mercy, he had come to plead his case before her.
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