Chapter 954 954: I’ll Stand Beside Him

Leo interrupted him, "He will definitely not stand by Joseph for money. So, do not worry that you will get involved."

Fredrick gazed at him and asked after a while, "Do you have any plans I don't know?"

Leo laughed, "Fredrick, I'm afraid that we don't need to be totally straightforward with each other."

Fredrick gritted his teeth, "Leo, please remember that my target is only Roy. I don't care about anything else."

Leo's smile was light, "Do not be anxious. It is just like the domino effect. I have told you that if Joseph fails, Roy will do too. And then the Runestone Group will go bankrupt." 

***

It rained the whole day. Until the night, the rain didn't stop and became heavier.

It was in the Runestone Group. After the whole day's turmoil, Joseph gathered the Lakes over 10 p.m. at night. Shirley, Roy, Ruby, Cassie, Kelly, and Irish were present, except for William, who accompanied Lilith for the sake of her safety.

"Firstly, I am deeply sorry for the design drawing's stealing event, and I am willing to claim the whole responsibility." Joseph expressed his honesty after stating the whole process. And then he said, "Now, the board begins to intervene with my running power. The plan of suspending our new products they made has caused huge damage to the company. During the whole day, there are thousands of calls on complaints to the Client Services Department. Many are from old clients. If the board continues to intervene with it, then there will be much burden on the Runestone Group. In other words, they only want to protect their own interests, and they don't want to shoulder the responsibility. I can understand their feelings. However, they will be affected one day. They are not familiar with the market operation, especially for today's market rules."

Although Shirley didn't know anything about business, she was also amazed at the incident. She chose to be silent even if she was not satisfied with Joseph.

Kelly looked bad. It seemed that she had been upset by Lilith's behavior. She had no interest in what they were talking about.

Ruby looked cold and indifferent.

Cassie didn't know what to say since the others didn't speak either. She lowered her head and touched her stomach lightly.

Roy asked after a while, "Joseph, what's your idea?"

He didn't know how to run the Group, and the only things making him proud were that he was keen on airplanes and married his beloved one. But, crucially, Roy hoped that he could have been born into an average family, not just on the title of the son of the Lakes and the president of the Runestone Group.

The Lakes established the Runestone Group. He couldn't see it go bankrupt gradually.

"My idea is very simple. I just want you guys to sell 1% or 2% of your own shares to me. Of course, I will buy them at the price of more than ten times the market price, which will not cause a loss to you." Joseph said word by word.

"What? No!" Shirley couldn't help shouting, "You just want to buy our shares!"

Ruby also stared at Joseph with an air of vigilance.

Kelly looked at him with doubtful expressions too.

Roy didn't speak and just kept silent.

"I need to make sure that the shares in my hand are more than those old shareholders so that I can take total control of the situation and change their decision." Joseph spilled the truth, "Now, even if Roy has empowered me to take control of the company, they will veto all the time. My aim is very simple, which is to let them shut up."

Ruby sneered, "Joseph, do you make it too simple, or do you regard us as idiots? It's known that you have resentment toward the Lakes. You have made so many plans in order to swallow the Runestone Group. Wasn't it you who revealed the design drawing of the new arrivals? If not, why did someone else get the confidential information? Now you gather us just to cheat us! You have made such perfect plans one by one!"

"Ruby, do not be too mean!" Irish was so angry. She was on Joseph's side.

Seeing Irish speak, Ruby was annoyed, "Irish, which side are you on? Do not make mistakes. You are part of Lakes's family, even if you don't want to admit it. It's true that you have married Joseph, but even a father and his son will forget each other on the battlefield, let alone in the business field. Do you believe that he marries just because she loves you? Since the first day when he entered the Runestone Group, he has begun his revenge plan. He marries you simply for thinking that you will help him at a critical moment, just like now. If we don't agree with his plan, you will just give your own shares to him. Right?"

Ruby's words made sense. Some would agree with her opinion and begin to question Joseph's real aim. But the receiver was Irish, who had gotten through so many difficulties with Joseph. In addition, Irish was born to be stubborn, and once she believed someone, she would never doubt it. As a result, Ruby's words didn't work at all.

"Yes, you are right. If you guys don't support his proposal, it's okay. I will back him up all the time." Irish expressed her thoughts following Ruby's guessing firmly, "I have shares in my hand, and I will just give them all to Joseph. I am bored of being a shareholder, after all."

Ruby stared at her angrily, "Irish, do not regret it later on!"

"You will regret it!"

Joseph immediately helped to stop them since he was tired of their quarrel. 

Roy also frowned and said, "Well, can you stop quarreling now?"

Ruby clenched the glass angrily and didn't speak anymore.

Irish looked at Roy peacefully and looked around, "I am not lying. It's my decision. Joseph is my husband, of course, I'll stand beside him."

"Irish." Joseph was touched by her words. He knew that he couldn't let others criticize her, so he just said lightly, "I can't agree with that."

"Joseph!"

"I just can't," Joseph's consideration made sense. Once Irish did that, she would become Lakes's enemy and even be condemned by those shareholders. It would be unknown how the outside media commented on her. Although they were a couple, the holding of the shares couldn't be decided just by their relationship.

His aim of the proposal was very simple. If the Lakes just lent the shares, it would mean that the Lakes were putting pressure on the board, and the attitudes of the Lakes could be shown to them. But if only Irish lent her shares completely, it would cause greater misunderstanding that there would be more opportunities for Joseph to make unbeneficial decisions by combining or threatening the Lakes.