128 That Pest Again 1

Different reactions arose after the man did say the real details behind his proposal. More than half either had a dark expression or disbelief on their faces. The others began to give the presenter and his backer dirty and judging looks. In short, almost everyone was giving them negative reactions, some actually whispering to themselves. Only two people looked amused at the sight — the man sitting beside the only dress-wearing individual in the room, and the man sitting next to the fatty shareholder seething in rage and making a scene.

"Mr. Miller said, once this is approved, half of the funds will go to faked listed expenditures which will, of course, end up in the company's vault. He will give me five percent of the amount as a bonus," concluded the hypnotized bespectacled man.

"He is lying! Don't listen to his lies! He's making up stories to ruin my image! I'm not even related to his company! I'll have my lawyers work on this! I'll sue you and make sure you're jailed for defamation!" objected by the fatty whose face was now redder than tomato, his fat forefinger pointing rudely at the presenter.

The one sitting at his left side laughed loudly which caused this shareholder to tremble in shame. After he looked around and saw the masked disgust and anger in everyone's face, he began panting heavily as though anytime soon, a fatal heart attack would take away his life.

While pressing a hand against his chest, this obese businessman glared ominously at the poor man standing in front. After pulling himself together, he pleadingly said to Gio. "Mr. Albarez. Please believe me! There's just no way I will involve myself in something that will endanger my position as Ever Victorious' shareholder. I suggest we investigate this man to see just who is plotting against me and Ever Victorious!"

'Aren't you the one who should be interrogated? How shameless can you get?'

'The man has already revealed your scheme. Even though he looks high in drugs, his words still make sense. His previous proposal just has so many inconsistencies even though it sounded quite nice and awesome. So it's actually your plan. Hehe.'

'I wonder how many days he did spend on training this stupid representative to act confident and convincing in front of so many higher-ups. Funny that he failed on making sure he doesn't mess up in the last minute. I'm sure this is why he's so incensed.'

The fat man, Mr. Miller, who was also Daniel Miller's uncle, ignored everyone's knowing and mocking gazes, his mind concentrated on making Gio believed that he was speaking the truth. The Millers couldn't afford to have a fallout with the Albarez, especially now that the Abensons, their other major backer, were taking hits after hits from numerous opponents. His family business was quite dependent on the support of Gio's investment firm. Also, although he was a shareholder, his measly 3.17% stakes were not enough to guarantee a foothold in Gio's corporation. Actually, his shares were only in this investment company. The Albarez' businesses and influences were way more than this.

"Mr. Albarez?"

The presenter finally recovered his senses. Confusion was all over his face when everyone's eyes turned to him with sarcasm, mockery, disapproval, and amusement. There were even hidden messages which he couldn't comprehend. Tempted and unnerved, he was about to check if there was something wrong in his face when a deathly glare from his backer made him stiffen in place.

Questions appeared in his mind then.

'What happened?'

'Why is everyone suddenly like this?'

'A while ago they're still throwing me admiring glances.'

'Just what the heck happened that even Mr. Miller looks to be dying to kill me?'

'... I remember only permitting the prettiest girl here to ask questions...'

A few seconds later, while still being frozen in place by everyone's mixed but mostly scorning glances, his hazy mind cleared, enabling him to remember what he just did. He looked around again, cold sweats running down his spine. When nothing changes from the expression of the seated board members and representatives inside the glass room, his face turned pale, jaw almost dropping to the ground, his whole body trembling.

Now, he knew why... He actually messed up, big time!

'...Why... Just why did I say all of those things to everyone here?' he asked himself, despair clouding his countenance.

As he waited and wished for the ground to swallow him whole, he never once related his weird situation a while ago to the innocent-looking green-dressed woman calmly scanning the folders and documents in her hands. The only one who acted totally unperturbed to everything the presenter spoke out.

While the two guilty individuals were having all sorts of thoughts in their mind, the one holding the highest authority in the place simply swept a casual glance at the fatty board member. It eventually fell to the person besides the huge lump of meat, his face darkening a bit when he noticed where this particular guy's eyes were glued at.

Fortunately, his brain still had not forgotten where they were. Business was business. He couldn't be distracted by an annoying dog-killer who only knew how to declare a one-sided rivalry.

With a pair of scrutinizing eyes that looked icily at the person pleading to him, Gio's mouth opened, bluntly telling everyone around, his tone not leaving any room for discussion.

"To those who plotted this stupid proposal with Mr. Miller, approach my main assistant after this meeting to review our terms of cooperation. The honest ones will still be able to continue with the partnership. The dishonest one? I'll leave what will happen to them to your imagination. Don't test my patience though. This is already the nicest I can be for today."

"M-Mr. Albarez..." called out the man named by Gio. "I, I believe we're having a misunderstanding here. I swear, Mr. Albarez. I've been in the business world for decades. I won't be so stupid to, to associate myself with a retarded representative like him! No! We should have him interrogated to---"

The obese shareholder was forced to stop and gulp by the CEO. The look he received was seemingly telling him that if he speaks another word, he would die! Gio Albarez would make him die gruesomely! He didn't like that feeling, but he also couldn't tell the demon not to look at him in that way. He didn't have the right.

Unlike in his company where it would be alright to make his employees bend down and act as his stepping stools, here, he was merely an insignificant CEO, one among the many. This was why he could only endure the humiliating and laughing gazes from everybody and withstand the freezing pressure.

It was very mortifying, especially because the loudest laughter was coming from right next to him...

The other one of the youngest members of the board, Marc Goldwin clicked his tongue, his eyes laughing so much at Mr. Miller. Everyone's attention got drawn to him because aside from being the other most eligible bachelor of Country F, he was one of the major shareholders of Gio's venture company. If he has something to say, it would not hurt to hear him out.

The man carefreely ignored everybody's stares, only meeting Sofony's which was as cold as Gio's. He shrugged, knowing the girl was hostile to him due to the incident at the shooting range.

The feeling was not mutual though. Marc didn't know how and when she did it, but he knew it was she who almost caused him to participate in a disgusting orgy. Despite this though, he only harbored an extreme interest in her. A little woman rumored to have completely enamored his rival.

Marc looked away from the girl in a green dress and eyed the middle-aged man looking down to the floor with a red face and clenched fists. Afterward, he laughed.

"Mr. Miller. You're being so ridiculously panic-stricken. Don't worry. You'll be fine. If you really want fairness, I'm sure our dear CEO will be more than happy to conduct an investigation --- with you and that gentleman over there as subjects."

For some reason, instead of looking relieved, the fat man's face looked paler, appearing like instead of getting helped out, Marc's well-meaning words only helped to make his death faster. On the other hand, those still hesitating about Gio's ultimatum earlier finally made a decision. They already decided to come clean after this. They were afraid that if an investigation was really carried out, their livelihoods would just suddenly become bankrupt due to the Albarez' attacks.

'It's this moron's fault!!!!'

While the middle-aged pudgy businessman was unwillingly expressing his gratefulness to Marc, the bespectacled presenter's face drained of color due to the many killing intents directed at him.

Three seconds later, Marc made a face as though he just remembered something. Laughing again, he turned to Gio's direction. He challenged the other with his eyes as he asked,

"By the way, Mr. CEO. I'm not sure if I am the only confused here. But why did you suddenly conclude that Mr. Miller is guilty without checking whether he's really related to this conman? It's just weird for me. This guy's statements are not enough proof that his boss is really someone from a different company. I'm mystified because you normally conduct a thorough investigation before concluding something..."