Betrothed To An Alpha? I Don't Think So!
Chapter 33: The Benefits

Chapter 33: The Benefits

Everyone in the conference room stared at her. Preston had his hand balled against the table, clearly fuming with unresolved rage.

The woman Marcella, smiled, saying, "Of course, girl, we wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s—"

"Do you not know my name?" Evelyn asked, interrupting her.

Marcella blinked. "What?"

"Respectfully, Ms. Marcella, I run the company and I lead this board. Don’t disrespect me. Again," Evelyn said, face still painted with a dry smile. "I hope we’re clear."

Marcella fluttered her lashes, incredulous. Her lips were parted but she couldn’t even find the words to speak.

"You may go ahead," Evelyn gestured. "You had something to say."

"Of course... Ms. Darkwood." Marcella bit down her irritation. "I’ll get to the point."

Zayne lowered his head, smiling slightly to himself.

"The last time we held a board meeting, we’d all come to a decision that you had to hand over the corporation to Preston here as we deemed him more worthy of running TDG. Much more capable than you are, but you refused," she said. "You forgot that this is a decision majority of the shareholders of TDG had to come to. You cannot say no and give us the option to resign or sell our shares."

Evelyn stared at her. She steepled her fingers, smiling. "Lady Marcella, I’d hate to tell you, but you are absolutely wrong. For someone who’s been a businesswoman since your young age, I’d expect you to know better than this."

She crossed gazes with everyone within the boardroom.

"My father was not just the founder of TDG, but he owns seventy percent of this company’s shares. I am his successor, so naturally, I have more controlling power. And yes, I can override your objections."

She didn’t stop there, continuing, "Most of you within this board room have about what? Preston, five percent shares. The rest of you, roughly about two. Mr. Zayne Mancini on the other hand owns twenty percent which of course makes him the second largest shareholder of TDG. Do you still think your words hold as much power as you assume?"

Every single one of them peered at her, clearly feeling insulted by her statement.

Evelyn stood to her feet.

"I’d like to remind you that my words stand. I will not be handing the corporation to Preston. If you feel unsatisfied, go ahead and resign. Sell your shares if you will. The decision is all up to you. See you all in five minutes."

She tramped to the door, taking her leave. Zayne didn’t sit around, exiting the board room as well.

He walked next to her as they proceeded off to the upstairs cafe within the company.

"Do you want coffee?"

Evelyn nodded and while he made his way off to get two cups, she took out her phone, dialing Amber’s number.

"Amber? Where are you? You should be here already."

[Yeah, yeah, I’m almost at the company. I’m so sorry, there was just a little bit of delay with the papers. Don’t worry though, I’ve gotten it. I should be there in roughly five minutes]

"Good. Be careful."

[See you]

The line ended.

"Here you go."

She spun around to find Zayne offering her a cup of coffee.

"Who was that?" he inquired.

Evelyn was honest. "Amber."

She followed him as he made his way over to take a seat over at one of the empty tables.

"She’s coming here to the company."

"Why?"

She took a sip of her coffee. "You’ll have to wait and see."

...

Preston slapped his hands on the table.

"Are you kidding me?" he questioned.

The others were already beginning to feel ticked off, glowering and balling their fists in displeasure.

"Mr. Preston, this is not as easy as you make it seem. You can’t just ask us to—"

Preston glared at the middle-aged man, Roman. He angrily kicked one of the chairs. "As easy as I make it seem? I paid you. All of you! You agreed to stand behind me!"

"Yes, we did, but it has gotten to this!" Marcella chimed in, saying, "Mr. Preston, we understand your displeasure, but this is out of our hands. I’ll gladly pay back what you’ve given me, but I can’t withdraw. What I benefit from TDG, I don’t think I can find it anywhere else."

Preston was fuming, swallowing the bile that had risen in his throat.

"You need to calm down, Preston," Brandon said.

Lyra agreed, "Brandon is right. If you have any other ideas, all you have to do is fill us in. How about that?"

Preston pressed his palm against the table. He lowered his head, breathing and thinking hard for a few seconds.

He adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose before lifting his gaze. A small smile tugged at his lips and he asked, "What do you think of joining my company? It’s rising to TDG’s level and of course, with your help, it can do so much more. And I assure each of you will benefit just as much and if not better than you do here at TDG. What do you say?"

Everyone was confused, glancing at each other with a scowl.

"Mr. Preston...this is quite a huge leap," Mr. Roman said.

Preston nodded. "I know that. But this will benefit us. Evelyn is not going to last without any of you in this corporation. You have all seen it for yourself, the death of this cooperation. When it falls, she’ll have no other choice but to come to me. And what do you think will happen then?"

"The benefits will all go to you," Lyra muttered.

"Exactly." Preston grinned. "You sell your shares, join as shareholders of my company, and watch as she crumbles. She’s overconfident because my father has already set the part. She thinks it’s easy but she doesn’t realize that every single one of you is the pillar holding this corporation together."

He folded his arms. "You don’t just tame a wild animal. Sometimes you have to let it mess up and learn from the consequences." He held the cruelest smile if they’d ever seen one.

Everyone within that room peeked at each other with a conflicted expression.

"We’ll...have to think about this," Roman mumbled.

Marcella sat back in her chair. "I agree with him. I have to think more about this. It’s not a decision I can just make."

Lyra pinched between her brows. "Preston—"

The door pushed open and stepping in was Evelyn. Right behind her was Zayne.

"Let’s resume the meeting, please," she said.

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