"Enough, Barnett. Don't even think about winning people over here!"
"To every member of the board, I want you to understand this. The major financial mistake that happened just last week cost our company nearly ten billion. This is no joke!"
"A loss this serious happened because Barnett has grown senile. With his current ability, he can no longer help the company operate the way he once did."
"That is why I am willing to shoulder this responsibility here and now, and become president of the agency!"
The vice president looked down on everyone from above. He had even taken the president's seat outright, forcing Barnett to the side.
Delores was supporting Barnett. Barnett's loyalists were fewer in number, all seated on the left side of the long table, their faces full of anger.
They knew exactly what this well-dressed animal, Vice President Dean, was after. At that moment, Finance Minister Simbo also brought out his forged evidence to prove that the mistake was Barnett's fault.
To stand against the two of them, Barnett had already been sitting there for more than four hours. For a man nearly seventy years old, this was an enormous ordeal.
Barnett was exhausted in both body and mind. He was worn out, but he had to hold on. He absolutely could not let everything he had built be destroyed here.
"Whether this was my mistake or the two of you scheming in the shadows, you know the truth better than anyone."
"I'm warning you, this is no small amount of money. It's not too late to turn back now. Don't wait until I expose you completely. By then, both your lives will be ruined."
Finance Minister Simbo had been brought up personally by Barnett. When the company was first founded, Dean had also been one of Barnett's capable protégés.
But now, for wealth, honor, and status, the two of them had turned against Barnett.
Barnett had wanted to give them a chance to turn back and start over, but clearly, these two poisonous fangs showed no remorse at all.
Delores was furious. After staying by Barnett's side for so many years, she knew how much Barnett had trusted the two men before him. She also knew that in recent years, especially as Barnett had grown older, the two of them had been secretly making moves behind his back.
Barnett had turned a blind eye to those actions. He had simply pretended not to know, because they were minor matters that would not cause serious financial harm to the company or to himself.
Barnett had already been merciful enough. But as their ambitions grew, the things they did became more frequent and increasingly impossible for Barnett to accept.
Barnett had been laying the groundwork and making his plans all along. He had designed this trap long ago. If the two of them had not been greedy, they never would have fallen into it.
But they had clearly stepped into Barnett's cage. Seeing that even at the final moment, his two beloved protégés still showed no sign of turning back, Barnett sighed. He knew Leo Lin should be arriving soon.
"I'm sorry, you can't go in."
"This is a confidential senior board meeting. No one except board members is allowed inside!"
Leo Lin was outside the conference room door, blocked by two security guards in black suits. This was clearly another of Dean's arrangements. He did not want anyone interrupting his takeover procedure.
"I am the Honorary Director of the Supervisory Department. In rank, I am second only to Barnett. If you two dare stop me, then you'll bear all legal responsibility for what happens next!"
Leo Lin's presence was overwhelming. Even standing before two professional security guards, his powerful frame did not lose out in the slightest. The muscles beneath his suit strained against the fabric, and his terrifying pressure forced the two guards back.
"I won't say it again!"
"Move!"
Leo Lin's roar carried through the heavy doors and into the conference room. The worry on Delores's face finally eased.
Just like when Gitana had come to their home to cause trouble before, the one who had come to save Barnett this time was Leo Lin again.
Hearing Leo Lin's voice, the vice president and Finance Minister Simbo exchanged a glance, suddenly looking a little panicked.
Barnett's weary expression gradually steadied, and smiles began to appear on the faces of his loyalists. The next second, the conference room doors were slammed open by Leo Lin.
The two security guards were completely helpless. They could not stop him.
After storming into the conference room, Leo Lin turned and saw exactly what he had imagined. A long black table, with boardroom heavyweights seated on both sides.
And at the head of the table, in the seat that should have belonged to the president, Barnett had been shoved aside, while the vice president sat there pretending he belonged, a smug, petty smile on his face.
The smile froze the moment he saw Leo Lin.
Leo Lin straightened his suit and walked toward Dean step by step.
Simbo stood up, still trying to block him halfway, but Leo Lin shoved him aside with one sweep of his hand.
Dean looked at Leo Lin with a twitching smile and backed away little by little.
"What are you doing? Everyone's watching. You can't touch me!"
Leo Lin smiled. He was not going to hit him. He simply grabbed Dean and, chair and all, threw him straight to the side of the table, sending him back to the seat where the vice president belonged.
Of course, this would be the last time Dean ever sat in that seat.
"You don't even know who outranks who?"
"Who do you think you are, daring to sit there?"
Most of the neutral board members had already been fooled by Dean and were preparing to vote in favor of the takeover procedure that was about to begin.
But when Leo Lin presented all the evidence prepared by the Supervisory Department, and screenshot after screenshot, along with transfer records, was made public, Barnett remained calm. The look he gave Dean carried only regret.
Dean and Simbo knew it was over. There was no way left to save themselves.
The police and court officers Lucia had called had all arrived. Barnett formally sued the two of them and stripped them of their positions as vice president and Finance Minister.
"I kept giving you both chances, but you've disappointed me too much. We went through so much together."
Watching the two men being taken away, Barnett looked at Dean's back and sighed helplessly.
Clearly, even though the matter had been resolved, he felt no joy at all. This was never the result he had wanted.
When Dean heard his teacher Barnett's voice, he lowered his head in regret. But he had no words left with which to face his teacher. No matter how much remorse he felt now, it could not make up for what he had done.
After the board meeting ended, Barnett used the opportunity to remove several board members who had originally followed Dean and waited for chances to cause trouble.
Those who deserved demotion were demoted. Those who deserved dismissal were dismissed. Then, on the spot, he appointed six new important members. Barnett had finally taken back full control of his entire economic empire.
When the meeting was over, all the board members left, leaving only Barnett, Delores, and Leo Lin seated before the magnificent long table.
Barnett patted Leo Lin, thanking him for saving him once again.
"See? This is another world."
"A world I never should have entered, and never wanted to enter."
Delores leaned against Barnett's left side, while Barnett leaned against Leo Lin's left side.
Leo Lin helped the haggard Barnett tidy his hair and straighten his suit and tie. Then he patted Barnett on the back and said, "It's all right. You still have me."
"You still have me."
...
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