Chapter 127
127 Unanimous Agreement
127 Unanimous Agreement
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“So, even Irene disapproves of Mr. Ashford’s conduct, but chose to hold back her thoughts out of courtesy?”
Irene nearly choked on her fury.
“Alice, you’re being utterly unreasonable! This is a board meeting!”
“I’m aware, which is exactly why we should stick to the facts.”
Alice shifted her gaze to Victor.
After a deliberate pause, she added, “Corruption must be rooted out entirely.”
Victor’s expression twisted in rage. He hurled the document in his hand across the table.
It was a financial report on the Nolan Group.
Alice caught them effortlessly mid–air, flipping through the pages with an air of detached amusement.
Suddenly, she let out a derisive chuckle.
“This is your work, Mr. Ashford?”
Victor sneered. “What, now you’re trying to pin mistakes on me? How impressive!”
The shareholders seated around the table started murmuring, growing uneasy.
“Mrs. Nolan, perhaps we should focus on the fashion department issue first,” one person interjected.
“The rest can be discussed in the subsequent meetings.”
“Exactly. Levi has come in person to negotiate. We need to give him an answer.”
“The media’s waiting too.”
“And not just the financial press. Entertainment reporters are on this like bloodhounds. If we don’t address it properly, we’ll be a laughingstock.”
“Nolan Group’s reputation might be strong, but you know how crazy those entertainment gossip blogs can be. If they start twisting the narrative, then…
Alice scanned the room.
”
“Such urgency. Does that mean you already know this financial report is problematic?”
For a moment, all parties fell silent.
On the surface, the report appeared flawless, with no discrepancies in sight.
Alice Spencer was just a country girl, a bumpkin. What could she possibly understand about a corporate financial report?
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One of the shareholders scoffed, “I must say, Ms. Spencer, you’re quite the character–throwing around. wild accusations without any regard for the consequences, just so you can cling to power.”
Alice glanced at the man. His neck was rigid with defiance, clearly not intimidated in the slightest..
She flipped open the documents, unfazed by his words.
The financials themselves are flawless,” she said smoothly. “But have any of you considered that the IT Department recently upgraded its systems? I hold the encryption keys. Accessing the company’s confidential data is as easy as breathing.”
Everyone’s faces paled.
Victor’s breath stuttered as realization dawned on him. His body lurched forward in an unconscious effort to snatch the file back.
But Alice made no move to stop him. Instead, she offered a chilling reminder.
“This report may look pristine on the outside, Mr. Ashford, but you’re the one accountable for it. If anything in it turns out to be false … ”
Her tone was light and pleasant, almost gentle.
“… you’ll be spending your golden years wasting away behind bars.”
Daniel couldn’t help it–he burst out laughing.
The other shareholders quickly began flipping through the report, their expressions shifting from shock to dread.
The same men who had been clamoring in outrage moments ago now sat frozen, like quails with their necks wrung–stiff and awkward.
Not a single word of protest left their lips.
In fact, they looked downright exposed, as if they’d been caught running naked through the streets.
But Alice, mercifully, didn’t let the tension drag on for too long.
“Well then, Mr. Ashford, shall we proceed with the handover?”
This time, no one dared speak up in Victor’s defense.
They had been willing to band together to challenge Eric Nolan directly.
But now Alice Spencer held their secrets in the palm of her hand.
One wrong move, and she could ruin them all.
So, Victor would have to take the fall.
He can only seethe in silence.
His face had darkened to a stormy shade, his entire being radiating a suffocating pressure.
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But the words had already been spoken–there was no taking them back now.
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Clenching his jaw, Victor forced out, “This matter was my oversight. Whether the shareholders choose to withdraw will require further discussion. There’s no need to rush, Ms. Spencer.”
Then, as if seizing on a lifeline, he abruptly shifted gears.
“Why don’t we redirect our focus to the fashion department for now?”
His urgency left no room for interruption.
“Since Mr. Levi favors Mr. Eric to take the lead, I propose handing over management of the fashion department to him. Any objections?”
At that, several shareholders shot him looks of undisguised disdain.
What happened to their earlier agreement?
They had sworn to stand by Irene no matter what, but then use the opportunity to force Eric to relinquish control of the design department.
After all, that department had produced several standout pieces that were later recognized by the National Academy of Art.
With celebrity endorsements, sales were guaranteed to break records.
And now?
Before the plan could even begin, Victor had already betrayed them!
Some were so disgusted by his spinelessness that they nearly cursed aloud, until they remembered their own embezzlement schemes within the company.
Instantly, their mouths clamped shut.
In that silence, they gave Victor their tacit approval.
Alice bit back a smirk.
“So, you all are in agreement with Mr. Ashford?”
No one uttered a word.
Irene’s face frosted over.
Alice let out a slow sigh.
“No? Then I’ll consider it unanimous agreement.”
Irene’s voice dripped with scom. “Now you presume to make decisions on my behalf as chairwoman?”
Alice didn’t flinch. “Would you prefer to exercise your authority as chair? Fine. Let’s settle this with a vote.”
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