“Is it really important?” Abigail asked.
From her perspective, no matter how important it was, it would never be more important than Diarmuid’s safety.
Stan quickly understood what she was insinuating, and he said solemnly, “We did misbehave in our effort to acquire Smartville.”
He was being vague, since they were playing against the unspoken rules in trade and commerce.
Smartville was definitely important to Remy and its subsidiaries, because the research and development of AI chips will soon decide market trends.
Diarmuid had his sights on Smartville back then—specifically, the prodigies who formed the core of the company.
While Remy already had many subsidiaries, Diarmuid had definitive goals for their future development.
Founding a company like Smartvillle would take too much time and money—acquisition was the best option.
Moreover, the company’s capital was dwindling from poor management, not to mention that they were not affluent in the first place.
Smartville had to start financing to keep themselves afloat, but they needed too much capital and had already accessed many channels. Even then, their options were limited—stocks and bonds were the only things that were earning them enough capital.
Hector Vaughn therefore had to resort to those, and Remy in turn funneled their money into Smartville’s subsidiaries. Remy started purchasing Smartville’s stocks and bonds, and they had a stranglehold on Smartville soon enough.
All Remy had to do was dump all Smartville’s stocks and bonds, and their market value sank to rock bottom!
At that point, Remy just had to direct their subsidiaries to press the issue on Hector, forcing him and his company into desperation. They had no choice but to agree to it!
With that, Remy claimed Smartville at a price way beneath its market value.
Abigail, however, did not understand any of that—to her, Diarmuid’s safety was the most important part.
Staring at Stan, she said, “Can I say yes?”
Stan was afraid of making the call and so suggested, “Why don’t we discuss this with James and Zachary?”
“Why are we discussing this at all? Diarmuid’s safety is far more important!” she snapped and returned inside her hotel room.
After a brief hesitation, she replied to the text: [Okay.]
Then, she quickly sent another: [But I must be allowed to see Diarmuid first.]
[No.]
The response was short and determined.
Abigail was going to argue when Stan stormed inside, staring seriously at Abigail. “We really should talk about this, Mrs. Althoff.”
Abigail flung her phone on the table.
She just could not understand.
Maybe she did not know how losing Smartville would affect Remy, but from her perspective, nothing was more important than Diarmuid’s safety.
“Fine! Let’s discuss it!” she snapped.
Fuming, she suddenly did not want to finish up on her makeup.
Stan called James right then and told James about the message Abigail received, the contents, and Abigail’s decision.
James hesitated for a while before saying, “Actually, she calls the shots in the absence of Diarmuid.”
If Abigail insisted on doing it, they had no way of stopping her, especially when it concerned Diarmuid’s safety.
Moreover, Hector had made such a big move because he was desperate while they let down their guard—not expecting that he would sabotage Diarmuid’s plane.
“Got it,” Stan replied. “We’ll head back once we’re done here.”
Putting down his phone, Stan said, “Let’s go to Twinrise now.”
“Yeah,” Abigail replied softly.
She dried her hair and tied it up.
And once she was done putting on her lipstick, she left her hotel with Stan.
Their car stopped outside the front entrance of Twinrise Enterprises.
Stan alighted, walking around the car to open the door for Abigail.
Arching her back as she got out, she then stood upright before the building.
Even if she was not used to this, she did her best to make herself look imposing.
After all, she understood that if she appeared too weak in Diarmuid’s absence, the company would fall to chaos.
She needed to look strong, even if she had to pretend!
Stan was actually concerned if Abigail could keep everyone in line, but she never seemed to be cowed.
It afforded him slight relief.
But this time, Abigail was not acting like before-she was solemn throughout, without a hint of a smile.
She had Stan gather the executives, but not in the conference room.
She wanted to speak to them in full view of everyone in the building.
Once everyone was there, Stan headed to Diarmuid’s office to inform Abigail.” Mrs. Althoff…’
He found her sitting behind Diarmuid’s desk, clicking on various pages about company management!
Stan was a little speechless… Was she doing some last-minute studying under these circumstances?
Abigail certainly was—she had no experience otherwise.
All she did so far was not faint from taking the stage, but she knew nothing else!
She had to consider enrolling herself in business school when Diarmuid returned, or she would never understand the nature of his work.
Closing the laptop, she rose to her feet. “Just checking out if there is anything I can use. It’s not like I can learn anything on the fly.”
“Of course,” Stan replied.
Staring at him for a second, Abigail then asked, “Do you think I won’t be able to master this?”
Stan shook his head. “No, but…”
“But what?” Abigail pressed.
“I think you should continue your career in medicine,” Stan said.
He was convinced that Abigail should not give up on her profession as doctor.
She was such a specialist that it was a waste she did not save more lives.
Abigail pursed her lips-she loved the profession she chose as well.
If she married an average Joe who was willing to be a househusband, she would not have to give up on her career.
But she married Diarmuid, and he would never give up the empire of commerce for her sake!
As Stan opened the office door, Abigail stepped outside-everyone was already there, waiting.
Even before she spoke, someone asked, “Word has it that Mr. Althoff’s plane crashed. Is he alright?”
After all, plane crashes were usually fatal.
She looked coolly at the person who asked that question and allowed her gaze to linger briefly on the other faces, observing all their reactions.
“I’m sure everyone found out about the plane crash in the news,’ she said.” There were two bodies found, but those were only the pilots. Stan Hill here was on the same plane too, but he’s unscathed after landing with a parachute. Unfortunately, Diarmuid wasn’t that lucky and was slightly hurt. He’s now admitted to a hospital, and that’s why I’m here-to tell you in his stead that there’s nothing to worry about, and to continue working as you will.”
She deliberately mentioned that she was there in Diarmuid’s stead to indicate that she was there representing Diarmuid.
And what she said was certainly true-the pilots were the only ones announced dead, while Stan appeared perfectly fine.
If Diarmuid was really dead, would she still be able to stand there with such composure?
“There’s been rumors spreading that Mr. Althoff was killed in the crash,” someone said just then. “I knew he’d be fine! Someone must be trying to stir chaos here!”
Abigail smiled faintly, appearing almost harmless just then.
But her words were far from that.
“I don’t want to hear further rumors that would jinx my husband. I’m sorry, but if I catch anyone saying such things, they will be dismissed.’
Everyone was immediately quiet, since they had all discussed that possibility.
Naturally, none of them want to be fired either, since this company’s benefits were the best.
That was when Stan’s phone rang.
It was a ruse he and James had planned beforehand, calling in the middle of the meeting after Stan changed James’s caller ID to ‘Diarmuid Althoff’ instead.
He deliberately angled his phone so that others could see it before he answered the call. “Yes, Mr. Althoff. She’s here with me. I’ll pass her the phone now.”
Abigail played along too, taking the phone and saying softly, “I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”
With that, everyone believed that Diarmuid was calling.
They used the same tactic at the meeting at other subsidiaries, and after a tour in every company in Zidonia, she returned to Franconia right away.
Zachary had also returned from Dunesia, and he met them in the conference room of the Remy headquarters.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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