Chapter10 Refusing to Join the New Project
She spoke those two words dismissively, not even bothering to spare Ariana another glance. She clicked open the presentation, her voice cold and crisp, filled with undeniable authority.
"Project Starlight will officially launch on the first of next month. Starting today, I'm taking complete control. Report directly to me."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ariana's voice rang out eagerly.
"Cousin, this is such an important project. I want to contribute to the company too. I'm joining!"
"I refuse."
Miranda glanced at her and continued. "I'll be reassessing and adjusting the project team members."
Ariana's expression froze. Her eyes instantly reddened.
"Cousin, how can you do this? We're both company shareholders now. We're both working for the company's good. This is personal vendetta. This is workplace bullying!"
"Workplace bullying?" Miranda laughed coldly, crossing her arms and looking at her leisurely. "Ariana, as the company's second largest shareholder with twenty percent, I have absolute authority to decide personnel assignments for a new project."
She paused, her gaze suddenly turning sharp, dissecting Ariana like a scalpel.
"Besides, before we talk about workplace bullying, let's talk about your work abilities."
"You used connections to get into the marketing department and worked there for three years. Our market share for similar products didn't increase. It dropped by two percentage points."
With each sentence Miranda spoke, Ariana's face grew paler.
The shareholders' gazes shifted from watching a show to scrutiny and disdain.
"Project Starlight is key to whether Lancaster can turn things around in the next three years. I don't have the time or energy to drag along someone who only holds us back and creates problems." Miranda's voice wasn't loud, but every word cut deep. "Is that reason enough?"
"You!" Ariana was struck speechless, her face turning the color of liver.
Drew, who'd been sarcastic earlier, now looked at Miranda with some gravity. He cleared his throat and raised a critical question.
"Miranda, we all acknowledge your professional abilities. But the main reason Project Starlight was shelved is funding. The company doesn't have enough liquid assets right now, and the bank's pressing for loan repayments. How can we launch the project next month?"
With that question, the conference room fell silent again.
All eyes focused on Miranda.
But Miranda's face showed no sign of panic. She calmly closed the presentation and spoke lightly.
"I'll handle the funding."
"If there's nothing else, that's settled. Meeting adjourned."
Her carefree attitude made Ariana seethe with jealousy. Why could she dismiss her participation with just one sentence?
She stood up, voicing her doubt. "You'll handle it? Miranda, how exactly? Everyone in our circle knows Lancaster Corporation has cash flow problems! If you can't come up with the money and the project fails, can you take responsibility for that?"
Miranda finally looked at her directly, her lips curving into an icy sneer.
"My dear cousin, did you forget? My father, Lancaster's chairman, didn't blink twice about spending six million to buy you a villa, and you're just an outsider."
She walked up to Ariana step by step, looking down at her, her voice carrying lethal playfulness.
"Do you really think he'd stand by and watch his own son and daughter and the company fall apart, letting it go bankrupt?"
Drew and a few others' expressions changed drastically. They exchanged uncertain glances.
They'd all been taking orders from Dominic to obstruct Christian and make things difficult for him. Could it be that the chairman never intended to push Christian out? Was all of this just to test his own son?
Miranda caught every subtle change in their expressions and knew the moment was right.
She swept her gaze calmly across everyone, her voice not loud but reaching every ear clearly.
"Christian is Father's only son. I'm his only daughter."
"Just recently, Father kept saying we siblings had been wronged. So he bought us each a villa worth over ten million as compensation. So regarding funding, you directors really don't need to worry."
Villas worth over ten million. One for each of them!
With those words, the last traces of doubt in those shareholders' eyes completely vanished, instantly transforming into sudden understanding and certainty.
So that's what's happening! What a brilliant move by the chairman!
Their gazes toward Christian and Miranda instantly filled with awe and flattery.
After hearing Miranda's speech, Ariana trembled with rage, her face turning ugly.
Miranda had always been so aloof, never bringing family matters to the company! Now she was using Ariana as a stepping stone in front of all these directors, trampling her to elevate herself and Christian!
That six million villa became a joke compared to "over ten million"!
Jealousy burned wildly in her heart. She clenched her fists tightly, nails digging deep into her palms.
Miranda, just you wait! Once I get all your shares, let's see what you'll be so proud of then!
Miranda completely ignored her glare, looked at everyone's reactions with satisfaction, and announced the meeting adjourned.
She understood perfectly that her father Dominic was extremely face conscious. In the eyes of high society and the media, he was always the devoted husband and loving father.
Once her words today got out, he'd never publicly contradict himself to save face.
And these opportunistic old foxes in the company naturally wouldn't continue making things difficult for her brother. After all, who'd be stupid enough to offend a future heir being tested by his father?
The meeting ended. Miranda paused as she pushed open her office door.
Inside, a man sat prominently on her leather guest sofa.
Dressed in an impeccably tailored bespoke suit, legs crossed casually, long fingers holding a document, he flipped through it with a lazy posture.
Sunlight fell on Harrison, giving him an air of peaceful contentment.
Miranda narrowed her eyes. She'd really been deceived by this image of his back then, thinking he'd be a good husband after marriage.
"Mr. Whitmore shows up uninvited. What do you want?"