Chapter 192 Taking Responsibility
Xavier had been watching the show unfold. He was waiting for Erik to lose his temper, but Erik remained calm and continued adjusting the equipment, denying Xavier the drama he'd hoped for. Under the table, Xavier rubbed his hands together anxiously.
"Mr. Borgia, see that? Mr. Rivera sure can keep his cool." Xavier started joking about Erik. Atlas sneered and said, "A graduate from an ordinary university—does he dare challenge the board? Give up his high-paying job? Even beggars have to bow their heads when asking for food, let alone him. Without that awareness, he'd never have climbed to the position of chairman's secretary."
Xavier put on an admiring expression. "Mr. Borgia really sees things clearly, gets straight to the point. Impressive, impressive!"
Atlas shook his head with a knowing look. "When you reach my age, you'll see through everything too."
Xavier sighed, his face full of admiration for the senior. "Mr. Borgia, honestly speaking, others might truly gain enlightenment at your age, but I don't have your vision and awareness. Even if I live to your age, I still won't figure some things out. I'm just too slow."
Atlas said, "You've known Mr. Preston Wipere the longest. At critical moments, can't you help keep things under control? If someone had stepped in, we wouldn't have had the stock price crisis, and there's the overseas hotel—what kind of management allows a young person to ruin the hotel's reputation? If things hadn't been running reasonably well these years, the three of us wouldn't have bothered to step in. But now, if we don't, this company's headed for big trouble."
Wilder sat down and snorted coldly. "If we hadn't come, we'd probably be waiting for a bankruptcy notice."
Sterling curled his lip contemptuously. "The company isn't his alone to decide. I've been sick, not dead."
As they spoke, Victor and Idris entered from outside. Xavier quickly signaled the others, "Mr. Diaz and Mr. Richardson are here."
They weren't in the same camp, so some things needed to be said behind their backs.
Xavier took the initiative to greet them. "Mr. Diaz, Mr. Richardson, perfect timing. The meeting's about to start."
Everyone caught Xavier's implication and instinctively checked their watches.
Erik glanced at the time on the screen, thinking to himself—where's Preston? These board members were already restless, and now they would be even more relentless over small matters.
Just as Erik grew anxious, the conference room door opened from outside. Preston walked in, followed by Gemma and Indigo. But the appearance of the last person left everyone present stunned and bewildered.
Leopold strode confidently to the conference table, pulled out a chair, and sat across from Preston.
Xavier looked at Gemma in confusion, his eyes clearly asking what had happened.
After receiving Xavier's signal, Gemma looked away, obviously unwilling to continue communicating with him.
Xavier sensed trouble, feeling that something must have happened between them.
Xavier quickly grabbed his phone under the table, opened Gemma's WhatsApp, and typed: [What's going on over there?]
Gemma lowered her eyes, clearly seeing the message notification pop up on her screen. The next second, she placed her phone face-down on the table and ignored it.
Xavier was certain something major had happened. Unable to judge the situation, he could only be more careful. Today's meeting definitely wouldn't be simple.
Preston looked around, his expression stern. "All the board members are quite punctual."
Wilder said meaningfully, "Mr. Preston Wipere said that all company employees must strictly follow the rules and regulations. Who would dare break the rules? Whatever time you say, we'll be here right on time."
Preston's deep gaze fell on Wilder. "Mr. Gonzaga has learned his lesson."
After speaking, he gave him no face, also warning others who might be getting ideas.
Preston once again coldly surveyed the room, his brows and eyes revealing a noble dignity and authority that inspired fear. He asked in a deep voice, "Does anyone else have something to say?"
The conference room fell silent.
Preston tightened his jawline and nodded with satisfaction, his presence like that of a commanding king, making people afraid to easily defy him.
He said coldly, "I've gathered everyone today to report on the handling of the overseas hotel incident and the emergency plan for the stock price crash."
Preston glanced at Indigo, who consciously stood up and said, "Board members, the incident at Eldoria Hotel occurred due to my personal incompetence. I wasn't sensitive enough to guests' concerns and didn't identify problems in time, which meant I didn't handle them promptly. This led to a hotel guest posting a video that was exposed in overseas media, causing tremendous negative impact on the company's reputation and huge financial losses. This whole thing started because of me, and I'll take responsibility. Half an hour ago, I went to Mr. Preston Wipere's office and submitted my resignation to the group. I'm willing to accept any other punishment the group gives me."
Xavier furrowed his brow, eyes wide, looking at the unruffled Gemma in astonishment. She wasn't surprised at all, clearly knew everything already. Had she actually compromised with Preston behind his back?
Apart from Leopold, no one present had expected Preston to decisively push his own person out to take responsibility.
Just as Xavier could barely hold back his questions, Atlas beside him signaled, "I'd like to say something."
Preston looked over. "Mr. Borgia, please speak."
Atlas angrily asked Indigo, "Mr. Talbot, you're practically a veteran at the company. You've been through all kinds of storms. Making this kind of mistake is unbelievable and incomprehensible to me. If you have any grievances, you can speak up. The board members present will give you justice."
Everyone understood what he meant—he was implying that Preston had instructed Indigo to take the blame for Leopold.
Indigo said seriously, "Mr. Borgia, this whole thing really was my negligence, my personal fault. During the handover with Mr. Leopold Wipere, I was personally overconfident, thinking I could reform the overseas hotels based on experience alone. I didn't fully follow the plans he proposed in the documents he handed over to me. I looked at the reform report Mr. Leopold Wipere drafted later—he had visited and stayed at the hotels one by one, documenting the problems he found, but I overlooked it. I didn't take the time to read through it carefully. That's why problems that could have been avoided at the Eldoria Hotel still occurred. I don't need anyone to give me justice. I really wasn't competent enough. The problem is mine, and I don't want to avoid responsibility. Mr. Borgia, thank you for your trust in me, but this time I've let you down."
After speaking, Indigo sat back down, hands clasped on his knees, eyes staring at the emptiness ahead.
Preston asked Atlas, "Mr. Borgia, are you satisfied?"
Atlas was at a loss for words. When the person involved said there was no injustice and no grievance, what could he be dissatisfied about?
Preston raised his hand. "Next is the appointment regarding Mr. Leopold Wipere."