“You can give me your shares if you can pay up.” lan said, believing that he had quickly found the smartest solution. “The agreement before will also be amended, and now I’ll have 80%, and you 20%.”
That was exactly what James wanted to say, but he acted hurt and reluctant. “I can’t… Look, I can pay you back in the future, but you can’t keep cutting off my shares-”
“What do you have of value other than those shares?” lan asked.
As James stayed silent, lan continued. “Nothing. Right now, you can only say yes.”
“Eighty to twenty… I’m basically your wage slave, aren’t I? And considering my initial investment, I still paid the most here even after we lost that injection. You’re really squeezing me dry here…”
Ian had always wanted the component’s distribution rights for himself anyway, and so, he snapped. obstinately, “If you refuse, then pay me back the capital we lost!”
James appeared utterly desperate. “Alright, alright! I’ll sign the amended agreement, but there must be an additional clause: if I ever paid you back for your injections, we must revert to the previous fifty–fifty agreement.”
lan thought about it and said, “Fine, but for now, this project is basically mine.”
“Fine.” James breathed through clenched teeth.
Worried that he would renege, lan said, ‘I’ll have someone draft the agreement right now.”
With that, they signed a new agreement on the very same day, and lan left Eastdawn feeling just a little better.
Finally, something had gone his way
He was certainly smug now that he basically took control over Eastdawn–with 80% of the company’s shares, his will was law in Eastdawn, while James was no more than a figurehead CEO.
However, his joy lasted for just one night.
The very next day, Eastdawn announced their bankruptcy and defaulted on truckloads of debts. lan thought he was hearing things until he saw it on the news!
In fact, when he saw the news, lan told himself that it must be some company with the same name announcing its bankruptcy–and not the Eastdawn he invested in!
Certainly not after he just signed the new agreement with James last night!
He stood in front of his desk as he turned off the news, clutching his chest as he repeated to himself,” Calm down. Calm down. My investment is fine.”
After doing nothing but standing around for a long while, he finally picked up his phone to call James. No one answered.
Losing all composure just then, he headed out of his office to find out what the hell happened.
Just as he stepped out of the front door of the Light Group headquarters, he spotted Quincy nearby, rushing toward him.
“lan, is it true that Eastdawn is bankrupt?” she asked–she had come after hearing the news too. “I’m going there to find out,” lan said.
“I’m coming with you,” Quincy told him–this was too important.
If Eastdawn really was bankrupt, their investment would have been for nothing.
To make things worse, they might have to take responsibility for the defaults following the new agreement with James signed just yesterday!
“I’m fine on my own. You should settle the matter with Dad,” lan said, and headed to his own car.
Quincy was left staring from behind even as anxiety seized her.
Greg’s extramarital affair, and now Eastdawn’s bankruptcy… The timing of the events somehow made it look as if they were connected.
Still, she did not have time to think–her phone was ringing with a call from Moneypenny.
Henry had gotten Greg to return to Althoff Manor, and was telling her to go as well.
“Okay,” she said, and hung up.
Just as she was about to get in her car, she spotted Kathy in a nearby cafe, sitting opposite James.
They were acquaintances?
A foreboding feeling caught her just then.
James and Kathy…
Quincy’s eyes widened, noticing the connection in an instant.
Kathy was the one who had stolen a document for her, which she used to topple Diarmuid. However, it turned out that Light Group was a mess, and James suddenly showed up like a heaven–sent miracle. Soon after, she discovered Greg’s affair…
Was it possible that none of it was coincidence, but a mastermind’s machinations?
Meanwhile, Kathy sensed someone looking at her, and turned to see through the glass walls that Quincy was nearby.
She could not stop herself from smiling at the thought that she had utterly defeated Quincy.
Truly, one would only win when they followed the right person, and she had been right in betting on Diarmuid. However, she just did not know that she was a sacrificial pawn in Diarmuid’s scheme as well!
Quincy crossed the road between her and the cafe, just as James and Kathy got up and were prepared to leave. Still, she caught them just as they stepped out, and snapped, “Everything has been your ploy, hasn’t it? Is Diarmuid Althoff the one behind this?”
Naturally, Quincy was certain that it was Diarmuid, because no one else would have such influence or would go through such lengths just to mess with her!
James gave Quincy a cool look of disdain. “Ian Althoff signed an agreement with me just yesterday. He now holds 80% of Eastdawn shares, so he’s now the main shareholder… and now, also the debtor of all the company’s defaults.”
Quincy wobbled, stumbling backward, and had to hold a handrail on the way to keep standing. “No, that’s impossible. He’s not that stupid–he wouldn’t sign such an agreement for no reason…”
“Oh, he’s not, but he just cares too much about making profits,” James said as he straightened his already straight tie. “He was also convinced that the first injection worth 80 million dollars was not enough, so he gave me another 200 million…”
“There’s no way he can do that. Light Group doesn’t have that much money.” Quincy was skeptical, since she was privy to the state of Light Group as well.
They were starved for money!
“He did anyway, after he sold two standing projects of Light Group for 300 million.” James smirked. “But with Eastdawn’s default that amounts up to a billion, the concerned departments would be confiscating and freezing all their projects and assets as we speak.”
While Quincy’s face turned pale, Kathy added insult to injury. “Also, your husband told me that he’s going to marry me, to start a family with me and our child.”
Quincy raised her hand to swipe at her.
Kathy could not react in time, but James caught Quincy’s hand and flung it away. “Payback’s a bitch, isn’t it? You’re getting your just deserts for all those monstrosities you’ve committed.”
Quincy was shaking from head to toe, and her legs felt feeble. “Don’t get so full of yourself. This isn’t over yet. You haven’t won…”
“No, but we are much better off.” Kathy butted in just then. “Oh, and I should tell you that my baby isn’t actually your husband’s… Yeah. He’s so obsessed with me that he wants to marry me, and he keeps wanting more every night! As for the baby, it’s a ‘gift‘ from you, but I guess I should thank you for that, since you’ve also given your husband to me as well to be my baby daddy…”
The sight of all color draining from Quincy’s face was certainly cathartic for Kathy, and she continued, ” You should hurry home, but either way, your husband will divorce you to marry me soon enough.”
“Do you really think you can marry into the Althoff family?! Dream on!” Quincy snarled and turned to leave, but she was wobbling unsteadily.
Then, her ankle suddenly caved, and she dropped to the ground!
Kathy snorted coldly, but James suddenly told her, “You should leave She’ll be coming for you.” Nonetheless, Kathy was feeling conceited just then, especially since Greg was siding with her.
“I’m not afraid,” she said, and walked over to Quincy, gloating in her face “Greg has been calling you a hag, but from where I’m standing, that’s being too kind, because you are a heinous bitch You used me to save your son, but I got nothing for it, and even lost my chastity because of that! This is what you deserve!
As she ranted, she kicked Quincy as hard as she could. “I’ll make sure you lose everything, just you wait! You’re the reason I can’t be with Diarmuid Althoff, so I make sure Greg dumps you and ensure that you’re penniless, so that you can wander the streets like a cockroach, trampled by everyone.”
On the other hand, James was well aware of Quincy’s savagery, and Kathy’s ramblings would not end well for Kathy herself.
Even so, he did not stop Kathy–he simply sighed as he watched Kathy do whatever he wanted, seemingly having predicted a gruesome end.
After all, there was no way Quincy would let her live now.
Meanwhile, Kathy was not about to pass on the chance to humiliate Quincy, and though she left after more rants and ramblings, she did not appear satisfied.
This was the first time Quincy had ever felt so humiliated and devastated.
It took her another hour to finally reach Althoff Manor.
Her tardiness had left Greg impatient, and he was ready to leave when she arrived.
Even Henry was upset as well. “Where have you been? What took you so long?”
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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