Chapter 128: At Worst, We'll Die Together
I waved my hand and said, "Alright, you go ahead. I'll get ready and come over."
After she left, I looked at the financial report she brought, my brow furrowed deeply.
The report was full of red negative numbers. I could already imagine what those people would say at the meeting later.
I let out a heavy sigh and headed to the conference room with the report.
The meeting lasted nearly two hours, with over an hour of arguing.
Apart from asking for money, the rest was just people shifting blame onto each other. Some even clamored about cashing out their shares. The noise gave me a splitting headache.
"Enough, stop arguing. Let's hear what Knox has to say."
After that voice spoke up, everyone in the conference room turned their eyes toward me.
"Knox, what's the plan for the company's future? Say something."
Faced with everyone's stares, I had no choice but to bite the bullet.
"I'm sure everyone knows the company's current situation. I understand how you all feel, but what you may not know is that my dad is out there looking for suitable investors."
"I'm also trying to figure out solutions. Please be patient and help the company get through this rough patch."
"That's easier said than done. The company's funding gap is huge right now. It can't be solved with just a few words. Knox, you say you're working on it, but have you actually come up with anything?"
The speaker was Cecil Marshall, who started the business with Xavier.
He was the company's second-largest shareholder and had always looked down on me.
I knew he was just trying to put me on the spot, but I stayed calm and said unhurriedly, "I already have a plan, but I haven't started implementing it yet. If I say it out loud, it might jinx it. But please rest assured, the company belongs to all of you and to the Pemberton family. We won't just stand by and watch the company go under."
"We will save the company, but how to save it and what to do is still under discussion. Please give us some time."
After I said this, the conference room immediately erupted with discussion.
"Figure out a solution? Who knows what kind of solution they can come up with."
"Exactly. People demanding payment for projects are about to block the door. Just 'figuring out solutions' isn't going to cut it."
"Tell me about it. How did things get to this point?"
Among these voices, Cecil's was the loudest.
"If it weren't for Knox's scandal at the wedding, the company wouldn't be in this state. I propose we sell shares and bring in new shareholders."
As soon as he finished speaking, many people chimed in.
"I agree, I agree too."
"So, Knox, what do you think?"
Looking at Cecil's smug expression, I forcefully suppressed my anger.
If Xavier and I sold our shares, Cecil would definitely buy them up, making him the company's largest shareholder.
Even if he didn't take the opportunity to swallow everything up, after the shares were diluted, Xavier's and my combined shares might not even match his.
If we went down this path, no matter what, Cecil would become the largest shareholder.
By then, the company would probably have a new owner.
This is outrageous!
He clearly wanted to push our family out and take control of the entire company.
Thinking of this, I said coldly, "A solution is already in progress. We'll handle the debt ourselves. I advise everyone to stay calm. We're all in the same boat. Otherwise, if the ship sinks, no one will be better off."
At worst, we'll all go down together, and no one will get anything out of it.
Perhaps my gaze was too fierce, as it actually intimidated everyone in the room.
Seeing the silence, I said coldly, "Meeting adjourned!"
Everyone got up to leave. Cecil, walking out last, patted my shoulder and said meaningfully, "It's good for young people to have drive and ability, but don't be too aggressive. Being too aggressive will only hurt yourself and others!"
I said nothing and let him leave before violently throwing what I was holding onto the floor.
Fine, everyone's pushing me. Alright then, at worst we'll all die together!
Thinking of death, the first person who came to mind was Helena.
She was the instigator of all this. If not for her, I wouldn't be in this situation!
Helena, you just wait!
With a cold face, I called Natasha. "Natasha, how did it go? Did you talk to your father?"
"Knox, I was just about to call you. Of course I did. Dad said if you're free, he'll be waiting at home tomorrow."
Hearing the voice on the other end, I nodded. "Good, let's meet downstairs at the company tomorrow. I'll take you shopping."
"Great!"
Natasha hung up cheerfully, and a smile appeared on my face.
I had no intention of paying back a single penny to the Lockwood family. Not only would I not pay it back, but I was also going to take over Lockwood Group!
Helena, you just wait!
Early the next morning, I arrived at the company and saw Natasha from afar.
"Here early?"
I smiled and opened the car door, and Natasha got in.
She complained, "Knox, why are you so late?"
I yawned. "Don't even mention it. There's a pile of stuff at the company. I worked until midnight last night."
Actually, after the meeting, I was so angry that I took Lucy out to a hotel, where we stayed tangled up until morning. My legs were still weak.
I glanced at the long stretch of sexy legs showing under her short skirt and could only sigh. Today wasn't going to work.
"What does your father usually like?"
Natasha thought for a moment. "I haven't really seen Dad particularly like anything. We can go to the mall and look around, just buy something random."
"Okay."
I drove to a nearby mall and picked out several items for each member of Natasha's family before returning to the car.
On the way, Natasha kept nagging incessantly, "I told you not to buy a gift for Serenity. Why didn't you listen to me?"
"That bitch doesn't deserve such nice things. She doesn't deserve it."
Her constant griping annoyed me. It was only a matter of a few thousand dollars. The gift wasn't about respecting Serenity, it was about respecting John.
I was getting more and more fed up with Natasha. Over such a small amount of money, she acted like some brainless country woman so short-sighted.
If it were Helena, she definitely wouldn't be so petty.
Why was I thinking about Helena again?
I shook my head hard, trying to shake Helena out of my mind.
Patiently, I explained, "She's your sister after all. Even for your father's sake, we can't make it too obvious."
"Besides, it's just a little money. Stop fussing about it."