Chapter 44

These past few months, Lester had finally tasted what it felt like to stand above others. Now, being asked to step down from his position as acting CEO meant falling from that peak-and who could accept such a blow?
“Yves, the Quigley Group isn’t what it used to be. You can’t just kick me out because you feel like it,” Lester protested, his fists clenched so tight the veins bulged on the backs of his hands. “Let’s call a board meeting tomorrow and let everyone vote. That’s the only fair way.”
Yves gave a cold, low chuckle. “Lester, have you forgotten who really calls the shots here? I own thirty-five percent of the shares.”
The remaining sixty-five percent was scattered among Mr. Quigley Sr., the other three sons of the Quigley family, and a handful of other shareholders.
So, even if it came down to a board vote, the person with the largest stake would still be Yves.
Lester’s face darkened in an instant. He gritted his teeth. “Yves, you’re just abusing your power.”
Yves arched a brow and smiled. “And what if I am? When I took over the Quigley Group, you were still studying overseas. You want to talk to me about Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on.net
competence?”
He’d joined the company at twenty, and by twenty-two had become the heir apparent-back then, he held only fifteen percent of the shares. It was only before he officially took over that Mr. Quigley Sr. transferred his late wife’s twenty percent to Yves, making him the largest shareholder.
“Grandpa, aren’t you going to say something?” Lester turned desperately to Mr. Quigley Sr., pinning all his hopes on him.
The old man simply waved his hand. “Yves is right. You can’t keep sitting in someone else’s seat. Now that Yves is back, what’s his should be returned to him.”
Hearing this, Lester let out a cold laugh. He’d always known his grandfather favored Yves, but he couldn’t help asking, unwilling to give up hope.
But reality slapped him hard in the face. No matter how capable he was, in his grandfather’s eyes, he’d never measure up to even Yves’ little finger.
Lindsay caught every ounce of Lester’s frustration and humiliation. She felt as triumphant as if she’d just won the lottery-a victory sweeter than anything money could buy.
Althea, unable to stand seeing Lester wronged, stepped forward. “You’re all being completely unfair! Has anyone considered how Lester feels? God knows how many sleepless nights he’s had running the company. The Quigley Group owes its current success to him!”
Her outburst drew laughter from several people in the room. Helen, who’d never liked Althea’s family, seized the moment to deliver a jab.
“Althea, that’s not quite right. Are you saying Yves didn’t do as good a job as Lester? Yves took over the company eight years ago, when it was nothing like it is now. Are you really giving Lester all the credit, just for acting as CEO a few months? Does that erase everything Yves has done over the past eight years?”
Honestly, Lester losing the acting CEO role was the best possible outcome, as far as she was concerned. Her own son had never even gotten a shot-why should Lester get to keep it?
Bertha jumped in, following Helen’s lead. “Helen’s right, Althea. What you just said is way out of line. Eight years of building the company, and you think a few months of Lester’s work outweighs all that? Aren’t you worried people will laugh at you? Yves is right-tomorrow, everyone goes back to their own positions and does their own job.”
Bertha’s reasoning was the same as Helen’s: if their sons couldn’t have the role, then neither should Lester.
Letting Yves return as president of the Quigley Group-now, that was something they could live with.