Chapter 49: Twenty Percent of the Shares
James picked up the teacup from the table, took a small sip, and said coldly.
"A lesson? Just hanging them at the entrance for a bit counts as a lesson?"
Landon quickly said.
"Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Anderson is right. The lesson was too light. When they come back, I'll definitely teach them a proper lesson and break their legs!"
"No need."
James put down the teacup and glanced at Landon and the other two.
"I don't want their apology. I want them to pay the price for what they did."
Landon felt uneasy and quickly asked,
"Mr. Anderson, just tell us what you want. As long as we can do it, we'll do it. We just ask that you let Gilbert and Daryl go."
Bronte quickly chimed in.
"Right, right, Mr. Anderson, we'll do whatever you say. Even if you want us to apologize to you, we're willing."
James glanced at Caroline, and seeing she had no objection, he slowly spoke.
"Simple. Transfer twenty percent of the Collins Group shares to Caroline's name."
As soon as he said this, Landon, Doyle, and Bronte froze.
The smiles on their faces disappeared instantly, their eyes full of shock and disbelief.
Landon came to his senses, his face turning bright red. He never expected James to be so greedy, and his tone became urgent.
"Mr. Anderson, that won't work! Twenty percent is too much! Caroline already has fifty percent of the shares."
"If we add this twenty percent, she'll have seventy percent. She'll be the largest shareholder of the Collins Group. Won't the entire Collins Group become hers alone?"
"What? Not acceptable?"
James looked up, his eyes frighteningly cold, his presence instantly making Landon gasp for air.
"Gilbert and Daryl bullied Caroline, slandered Caroline, and even wanted Allan to assault Caroline."
"Just for these things, forget twenty percent of the shares—even if we asked you to give the entire Collins Group to Caroline, it wouldn't be too much!"
Landon was scared by James's presence and trembled all over, taking a step back. He almost dropped his cane.
He felt angry and frustrated, but he didn't dare resist. He had witnessed James's methods firsthand.
"Mr. Anderson, it's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that the shares are too much. I really can't make this decision."
Landon tried to plead, his tone carrying a hint of begging.
"Can't make the decision?"
James sneered, his tone full of mockery.
"You're the head of the Collins family. Everything in the Collins family is up to you. What? At the critical moment, you say you can't make the decision?"
"Or are you saying that in your eyes, the Collins family shares are more important than Gilbert and Daryl's lives? More important than the Collins family's reputation?"
Landon was left speechless, his face showing embarrassment, the frustration in his heart growing stronger.
He knew James was deliberately making things difficult for him, but he had no choice but to compromise.
"Fine, Mr. Anderson, I agree."
Landon gritted his teeth, his eyes full of unwillingness.
"I'll have someone handle the paperwork right now and transfer twenty percent of the shares to Caroline's name.
I just ask that you keep your word and release Gilbert and Daryl."
James nodded with satisfaction, took out his phone, and called Kevin.
"Kevin, let Gilbert and Daryl go."
Kevin on the other end was stunned for a moment, then responded,
"Okay, Mr. Anderson, I'll do it right away."
After hanging up, James looked at Landon.
"Don't worry. As soon as the shares are transferred to Caroline's name, they'll be able to go back soon."
Landon nodded quickly, not daring to slack off. He immediately took out his phone and called the company's lawyer.
He told him to hurry and handle the share transfer procedures, his tone full of urgency, afraid James would change his mind.
Bronte and Doyle stood to the side, not daring to speak. Although they felt bad about it,
they knew this was the only way and had to accept it.
Caroline sat beside James, watching everything unfold. She felt no joy in her heart, only exhaustion.
She knew James was standing up for her, but she also understood that from now on, her ties with the Collins family might truly be severed.
James noticed her low spirits and quietly held her hand.
Caroline looked up at him and showed a faint smile, feeling much less tired.
On the other side, at the entrance of the Collins Group, Kevin stood with several Specter Syndicate members in front of Gilbert and Daryl.
The two had been hanging for most of the day and were already shivering from the cold, their faces covered in dust and humiliation. Seeing Kevin, their eyes were full of fear and hatred.
"Kevin, can we come down now? Did Mr. Anderson agree to let us go?"
Daryl asked shakily, his voice full of pleading.
He didn't want to be hung here and humiliated anymore. Even if it meant kneeling to James, he would do it.
Kevin sneered, his eyes full of mockery.
"What's the rush? Mr. Anderson said he'd let you go, but there's a condition."
Gilbert felt uneasy and quickly asked,
"What condition? As long as you let us down, we'll agree to anything."
"Simple."
Kevin waved his hand, having his men let the two down.
"Except for your underwear, you can't wear anything. Walk back to the office on your own."
"What?"
Gilbert and Daryl exploded instantly, their faces pale.
"Kevin, that won't work! If we go back like that, how can we show our faces at the company? How can we face anyone?"
"It has to work whether you like it or not."
Kevin's tone was icy, his eyes showing no room for negotiation.
"If you don't do it, you'll just keep hanging here."
Gilbert and Daryl looked at each other and saw despair in each other's eyes.
They knew Kevin meant what he said, and if they didn't comply, it would only be more humiliating.
With no choice, the two gritted their teeth, took off all their clothes except their underwear, and walked miserably toward the office.
It was working hours, and there were many employees coming and going at the company entrance. Seeing them like this, people couldn't help but stop and point, laughing mockingly.
"Look, isn't that Gilbert and Daryl? Why are they only wearing underwear?"
"They must have offended Mr. Anderson and got punished. How embarrassing!"
"Who told them to bully people at the company and mistreat Caroline? They got what they deserved!"
Those mocking words pierced Gilbert and Daryl's hearts like needles. Their faces turned bright red, heads hanging low, wishing they could escape immediately.
The hatred in their hearts grew deeper—they hated not only James but also Caroline.
They felt all of this was Caroline's fault. If it weren't for Caroline, they wouldn't have ended up like this.
Finally making it back to the office, they quickly found clothes to put on and sat in their chairs, still trembling, their faces pale as paper.
Gilbert slammed his fist on the desk, his tone full of anger and unwillingness.