Chapter 110 Shareholder I

Chapter 110 Shareholder I
\-Celeste-

The boardroom had never felt so divided since Grandmother's death.

I sat at the head of the table and listened as the financial adviser explained the latest changes in Ashford Group's shareholder structure.

“Vaughn Capital has continued acquiring shares,” he said. “Their position is now large enough to give them significant voting influence.”

Looking at the figures in front of me, I asked. “How much?”

He gave me the number.

My brows knitted. “That is too much.”

“Unfortunately, they are operating within the law,” he told me. Then he turned to the board chairman and exchanged looks.

I frowned at him. “What is it?” I asked.

He straightened and let out a small sigh. “There's another contender in the mix.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What do mean another contender?”

“A holding company called Piva,” he explained. “They appeared as quickly as they started buying… And unlike Vaughn, they're acquiring shares aggressively. As of now, they've increased their position as well.”

The room went still.

My mind reeled with questions, but I could barely make out any.

“Who owns it?” I finally asked.

“We still haven't been able to establish the beneficial owner.”

I stared at nothing in particular, my heart racing. “So we have two separate entities competing for control of Ashford Group, and we don't know who is behind one of them.”

“That is the situation.”

I looked around the table. “And what happens if either of them reaches the required voting threshold?”

“The board could be forced to consider a change in leadership.”

I already knew what that meant. My position as president could be challenged.

“We need to stop the sales,” I firmly said.

A director shook his head. “We cannot prevent shareholders from selling simply because the buyer is a competitor.”

“What about our right of first refusal?”

“It applies to certain private transfers, but it does not give the company unlimited authority to block open-market purchases.”

I leaned back. “So shareholders can sell their shares to whoever offers the most money.”

“Yes.” The director nodded.

I hated the answer, but there was nothing I could argue with. “Then we need to make sure the shareholders understand what they are giving away,” I said.

Another director leaned forward. “That is precisely why we need to discuss leadership.”

I turned toward him. “Leadership?”

He nodded. “Patricia's death changed the circumstances under which you became president. The group is facing pressure from investors, and the market has responded poorly to the uncertainty surrounding Ashford Group—”

“I have been running this company—”

“And you have been doing so for a short period—”

“I have also spent that time restructuring departments, removing corrupt executives, and addressing financial irregularities that had been ignored for years.”

“And those decisions have created enemies,” he said pointedly.

Silence followed. My jaw ticked.

“Then perhaps those enemies should have thought about that before they stole from the company.”

Nobody responded.

The chairman cleared his throat.

“The issue is not whether your decisions were justified. The issue is whether the company can survive the instability surrounding your leadership.”

I stared at him. What was he insinuating?

“Are you proposing that I resign?”

“No,” the director beside him answered. “We are proposing a vote.”

The room seemed to tighten around me.

“A vote to determine whether you should remain president.”

I looked from one face to another. Some avoided my eyes. Others watched me carefully, but not everyone was against me.

“I support Celeste,” one shareholder said.

“So do I,” another added.

A third shook his head.

“She inherited a company that was already unstable. Removing her now would create even more uncertainty.”

“Unless the new ownership structure provides a stronger alternative,” another director said.

There it was. They were not only questioning me. They were waiting for whoever was buying the shares to make their move.

I folded her hands on the table. “When is the vote?”

“Once the acquisition reaches the required threshold.”

“And how close are they?”

The chairman didn't hesitate. “Close.”

Before anyone could continue, a secretary entered the room with a file.

“I'm sorry to interrupt.” She placed the file on the table. “There has been another major transfer.”

I opened it and my heart skipped a beat.

Vanessa. She has transferred her entire shareholding to Vaughn Capital.

For a moment, I simply stared at the page.

When I lifted my eyes, Vanessa looked at me like she knew the exact implications of what she'd done.

“You sold your shares to Vaughn.”

Her lips curved into a smirk. “I did.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to.”

I stared at her. “You understand what you've done. You've given Vaughn a powerful voting block while they are trying to gain control of Ashford.”

“Is that what you're worried about?” She laughed as if there was anything funny about the situation.

“You're deliberately putting this company at risk—”

“No, Celeste. I am exercising my rights as a shareholder—”

“You know exactly what Vaughn wants.”

“Of course I do.” She leaned forward. “Patricia gave you control. She gave you the presidency. She did not give you ownership of every decision this family makes.”

My jaw tightened. “This isn't about my presidency.”

Her brows arched. “Isn’t it?”

“I think you know that answer.” My eyes held hers in a defiant gaze.

This was personal. And we both knew that fact.

“Why Vaughn?” I caught myself asking. “Why would you help them?”

She looked at me for several seconds.

“Perhaps I simply decided that I was tired of watching other people decide my future.”

\---

Third pov

Two days earlier, Vanessa had sat across from the executives at Vaughn Capital with her shares documents on the table.

“You're offering your entire position?”

“As part of a partnership.” She smiled.

“What do you want?”

“Vaughn gets my voting block. I get a say in Ashford's future.”

“And Celeste?”

“She won't remain president.”

The executive studied her. “Another company is buying faster than we are.”

“Then you need my shares.”

He considered the offer before nodding. “We'll have our lawyers draw up the agreement.”

She stood, and offered a handshake. “Then we understand each other.”

At the door, he stopped her.
“Once you transfer those shares, there is no taking them back.”

A smile curved on her lips.

“I know.”