Chapter 683
At that moment, Eleanor’s phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen, then turned to Xavier. “I’ll head out first,” she said.
Xavier gave a small nod, watching as Eleanor climbed into her car and drove away. His mind was a tangled mess. Ever since lan had revealed Mansfield’s true identity, Xavier felt as if an invisible weight had settled on his chest, pressing down with every thought.
By nine-thirty, the Goodwin & Co. boardroom was thick with tension.
lan sat at the head of the long table, impeccably dressed, his expression cold and unreadable. When Eleanor entered, he barely spared her a glance before looking away.
Eleanor took her seat, flipping open the stack of documents in front of her. Among them was the latest report from the financial regulatory authority.
lan’s dark eyes swept over the board members, sharp and unreadable.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve called this meeting to make a few important announcements,” he said. His voice wasn’t loud, but in the silence of the room, it carried a weight that brooked no argument.
Gavin, seated beside him, took over, “Good morning, everyone. As of today, the three directors involved in the incident have been dismissed and referred to the authorities. Effective immediately, Goodwin & Co. will establish an independent oversight committee to ensure nothing like this ever happens again p>
He paused, then added, “Mr. Goodwin will also be investing additional personal funds to help stabilize the market’s confidence p>
A ripple of surprise ran through the board, though no one dared voice a complaint.
An older director hesitated, then finally spoke up. “Mr. Goodwin, about the funds from the recent options liquidation p>
lan’s gaze turned icy. “Is there a problem p>
The director shook his head quickly. “No real problem, just curious. Will this have any impact on the company’s cash flow p>
Gavin jumped in smoothly. “Those funds are from Mr. Goodwin’s personal portfolio. They don’t affect Goodwin & Co.’s finances in any way. You can rest assured p>
lan’s eyes lingered on Eleanor, but she barely glanced his way. She was only there to observe, completely indifferent to the man at the head of the table.
The meeting wrapped up with some brief discussion among the directors. It was clear lan used the opportunity to send a pointed message to everyone present.
As soon as it ended, Eleanor gathered her papers, ready to leave, when Gavin hurried over. “Ms. Sutton, Mr. Goodwin would like to see you in his office p>
She frowned. “What is this about p>
“Mr. Goodwin just asked that you come by p>
Eleanor pressed her lips together, then finally nodded and followed Gavin down the hall.
When she entered the office, lan was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows. At the sound of her footsteps, he turned, his gaze intense and unwavering. “Sit,” he gestured toward the sofa.
Eleanor remained standing. “If you have something to say, make it quick. I need to get back to the lab p>
lan’s expression darkened slightly. “Have you seen the latest research report from Smith Labs p>
She had-Smith’s team had made significant progress lately, and she’d been following their breakthroughs closely.
lan looked up, his tone measured. “I need to explain how I used the funds from my personal liquidation p>
Eleanor looked away. “What you do with your money is none of my business p>
He replied, calm and clear, “Every cent went to Smith Labs for research into rare blood disorders p>