“Everyone, speak your minds right here in front of him, so no one can say I’m a heartless person.”
Right after she spoke, every shareholder responded together, “Of course, we support President Rodriguez!”
Those words felt like many knives stabbing into me. These shareholders had been with me for years, helping grow the small company into a listed one. We weren’t just business partners and subordinates; we were like brothers.
I had only been away for a little over a year, yet they had all been bribed by Natalie and turned their backs on me. This anger was hard to control.
“I want to know, why are you doing this? Why?”
Even though I was angry, the shareholders ignored me and answered coldly, “President Rodriguez gives us more benefits than you. We’re practical people, so we follow whoever offers the most.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at their words.
Were the benefits I gave them not enough? Whenever we signed big deals, I always shared the profits equally among everyone. I never thought about myself, only about helping my brothers earn more.
I had always put them first, yet they went behind my back and sided with Natalie.
After hearing the shareholders’ clear support, Aiden became even more arrogant and full of himself.
“Did you hear that, Mason? Your fate is sealed. Now, even your employees don’t obey you and your shareholders don’t respect you. You’re a failure.”
“You worked so hard to build this empire and now we’re the ones enjoying it.”
“What are you still sitting there for? Get out.”
“You don’t deserve that position anymore. It’s mine now.”
I completely ignored that shameless man and looked coldly at Natalie and the shareholders. No one stood by me; they were all turning against me.
“Hey, if you had just promoted Aiden like I said, would you be in this mess now?”
“Do you understand now? I can make you a CEO, or I can make you nothing.”
My control over the situation slipped through my fingers. Aiden, eager to replace me, called for the security guards.
“Mason, I’m giving you two choices: walk out on your own, or be thrown out like a dog. Choose one.”
But I was Mason and naturally, I chose neither. “Foolish! Without the equity transfer contract signed by me, what can you even do, no matter how much they betray me?”
“Oh, then let me show you this!”
Natalie tossed a company transfer contract in front of me. "You did, in fact, sign it."
“Last month, I used a little beauty trap and a bit of self-pity to fly abroad and find you. I told you how much I missed you and tricked you into meeting me. That’s when I brought a business plan and had you sign it, only the important parts.”
“So, Mason, I’ve been with you for so long. Am I better than you?”
Seeing me quiet, with veins bulging on my forehead, Aiden made things worse on purpose. “I went there that night, too. I came in after you left!”
“I never thought my gun was stronger than yours. It even got Natalie pregnant with my child.”
I couldn’t hold back anymore and lifted his fist, hitting this disgusting man.
“Damn it! You dare hit me? Come on! I’ll strip him naked and drag him out onto the street. I want everyone to see how the once-proud Mason has turned into a pathetic man.”
“Come on, come on!”
However, none of the security guards moved, which upset Natalie.
“What are you doing? Are you deaf?”
“I told you to take Mason…”
I slapped her across the face. “You got it wrong. I’m the one who helped you get to where you are and I can also send you back to being a poor waitress.”
