Chapter 33 Send Him to Bed
The bald shareholder was stunned by the slap. He covered his face, staring at her in disbelief. "You... you dare to hit me?"
"I'm sitting here because of the shares I legally obtained, not because of anyone's charity."
Caroline's eyes were firm, without a trace of fear.
"Allan got beaten because he sexually harassed me - he deserved it. You're telling me to tolerate it because you think women should be bullied, or because you're all disgusting yourselves?"
Landon slammed the table and scolded sharply,
"Caroline! You're too arrogant! How dare you use violence against an elder - apologize now!"
Caroline turned to look at Landon, not backing down one bit.
"I won't apologize. He insulted me, insulted all women, and disgraced the Collins Group. If I tolerate this today, tomorrow others will dare to walk all over the Collins family."
"I earned these shares. Within three days, I'll sign a bigger client than the Laurent Group and make up for all the losses."
"If I can't do it, I'll resign voluntarily. But if I do it, anyone who says I rely on men again should get out of the company."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word rang out forcefully, leaving everyone present speechless.
The shareholders exchanged glances, all afraid of angering Caroline and having James come after them.
The shareholders' meeting ended on bad terms.
At the same time, James also learned about Caroline's outburst at the meeting and couldn't help but smile.
"It seems Ms. Collins is different from before. Mr. Anderson, I believe in the future, Ms. Collins will definitely take full control of the Collins family."
Kevin spoke from the side.
James looked relieved, the coldness in his eyes completely replaced by warmth.
"She's grown up."
As if thinking of something, his expression instantly turned cold, and he said lightly, "Tie up that shareholder who targeted Caroline and send him to Bobby's bed at Azure Bay."
Kevin was startled, then understood.
Bobby was notoriously lustful, targeting men regardless of age.
"Understood, I'll arrange it right away and make sure it's done cleanly."
James nodded slightly, picked up his car keys, and stood up.
"Prepare the car, I'm going to pick her up."
Evening, downstairs at the Collins Group.
Caroline had just walked out the door when she saw James's car parked by the roadside.
She paused, and the nerves that had been tense all day instantly relaxed. James opened the car door and reached out his hand to her.
"Tired?"
Caroline nodded and placed her hand in his palm, her fingertips slightly cold.
"A little tired, but I didn't embarrass you."
She looked up, her eyes carrying a hint of small expectation.
James smiled, gripped her hand tightly, and pulled her into the car.
"I know."
He didn't say that the person who bullied her had already paid the price.
At that moment, in a villa at Azure Bay, the bald shareholder was tied to a bed. Seeing Bobby walk in, he was scared out of his wits, his shrill screams echoing throughout the house.
The next day, Caroline had just finished organizing the files on her desk when the office phone suddenly rang shrilly.
Her hand shook, and the pen tip drew a thick black mark on the paper. She paused, then reached for the receiver.
"Ms. Collins, people from Stellar Industries Group are downstairs, saying they want to discuss a major collaboration."
The receptionist's voice carried uncontainable excitement.
"They specifically asked for you to handle it personally, no one else will do."
Caroline sat up straight, her heart pounding.
Stellar Industries Group, one of the top companies in Silvermoon City - the Collins family couldn't even get close to them normally.
Why would they suddenly come looking, and specifically ask to work with her?
Her fingers gripped the receiver tightly, her emotions stirring.
This was the first opportunity she'd earned on her own. She had to seize it.
"Okay, I'll come down right away."
She hung up the phone, quickly straightened her shirt hem, and headed out.
Just as she reached the conference room door, Landon blocked her path with a stern face.
Landon stood with his hands behind his back, his brow furrowed, his gaze sweeping over her like a knife.
"Where are you rushing off to in such a panic?"
Caroline steadied her breathing and spoke honestly.
"Stellar Industries Group sent someone to discuss a collaboration, specifically requesting me to handle it."
Landon snorted, his face full of disdain.
"You? You've been at the company for just a few days, haven't even figured out the business yet, and you dare to take on such a big deal. If you offend them, who in the Collins family can afford the consequences?"
Caroline's heart tightened, her fingers digging into her palm.
"Grandpa, they specifically asked to work with me."
"Doesn't matter if they did."
Landon cut her off sharply, his tone allowing no argument.
"This matter will be handed to Daryl. You just stay out of it and stop embarrassing the Collins family."
Caroline's head snapped up, her eyes instantly reddening.
Her throat felt blocked, unable to make a sound.
Why? It was clearly her collaboration, clearly her opportunity.
Just because she was a woman, just because she lacked experience, she deserved to have it taken away.
Grievance and unwillingness clogged her chest, swelling painfully.
She bit her lip, tears swirling in her eyes, but she held them back stubbornly.
She didn't dare talk back to Landon, could only lower her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Daryl came around the corner from the side corridor. Hearing this, his eyes lit up instantly.
He hurried over, his face breaking into a smile,
"Grandpa still loves me best! This kind of important collaboration should be handled by me!"
He glanced sideways at Caroline, his eyes full of undisguised smugness and mockery.
"Some people occupy the deputy manager position but are completely useless. They still need us men to hold things up."
Caroline clenched her teeth, unable to say a word.
She watched Daryl's excited figure running downstairs, watched Landon's cold departing figure, her heart aching like it was being pricked by needles.
She slowly turned and walked back to her office. The moment she closed the door, tears finally fell onto the back of her hand.
She slid down against the door, hugging her knees, her shoulders shaking.
However, not long after, Daryl rushed back to the company with a bruised and swollen face, his shirt pulled askew, his hair a mess. As soon as he entered the office, he smashed a cup. The sharp crash made employees duck their heads.
"This is too much! Simply too much!"
He was panting heavily, his face swollen, the corner of his mouth split.
"As soon as I gave my name and said I was in charge, they started hitting me! And they said, they said unless it's Caroline, it doesn't matter who comes!"
The more Daryl spoke, the angrier he got. He kicked a table leg, making the table shake for a while.
He stared at Caroline's office, his eyes frighteningly sinister. Something was wrong, very wrong.
Why would a big company like Stellar Industries Group insist on Caroline specifically?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, a wicked fire rising within him.
Could Caroline have already hooked up with the CEO of Stellar Industries Group or something?
Otherwise, why would they specifically ask for her? Once this thought formed, he was so angry his teeth itched. He turned and rushed to Gilbert's office.
Gilbert was drinking coffee in his office. Seeing Daryl in this state, he was so startled he spit out his coffee.
"What happened to you? Did you get in a fight?"