Chapter 323 - Team of six (12)

JoAnna and Sarah entered Edward's study room and looked at him with apprehension.

He was sitting behind his computer desk, observing them without a word. Sarah and JoAnna could not read his mood.

"Dad, what did Sam want?" JoAnna asked fearing to hear the answer.

"Money." Edward said and observed that both Sarah and JoAnna tensed up. "It seems that his company got into a financial difficulty and he came to ask for money."

Sarah and JoAnna glanced at each other and then turned to Edward expecting him to say that he gave Sam what he wanted.

Edward took a deep breath. "Come, sit..." he gestured to two chairs opposite from him.

Two of them sat and waited for Edward to speak.

He scrutinized them for a minute. "Will you two tell me what is going on?"

"Did you give him the money?" Sarah was not able to hold back.

"No." He saw that both of his daughters relaxed hearing this.

"I told him that he is asking for a large amount, and I need time to get it. He expects that I will look into it and get back to him later." Edward paused before continuing. "I don't know exactly what is going on, but I know that Sam is not a sincere man. That is why I'm refusing to work with him all these years. I have no intention of giving him any money. Now your turn... What is going on?"

JoAnna gave a look to Sarah and nodded giving her a signal to speak.

"Do you remember that recently I was in the hospital two times?" Sarah waited for Edward to nod. "Ed ordered an attack on me which led to that."

Edward's eyes widened. "Continue."

"Ed is romantically interested in me for several years. During our Christmas party he found out that I'm dating Aiden and then he ordered his henchmen in Fairfield to attack me." Sarah didn't want to go into too many details. She already saw that Edward is furious, it was enough information for him related to why they are doing this. Now she needs to say what they are doing. "We found information of their illegal and immoral activity, they are stealing designs from smaller companies, and are involved with drugs. Device that Ed used on me was stolen from Felix Martin. We published information what we found, using various media in order to get their stocks go down. That is why Sam is in predicament now."

"Who is this WE that you are talking about?" Edward noticed Sarah's choice of words,

Sarah glanced at JoAnna and answered his question. "Two of us, Sophia, Aiden, Felix, and Jeffrey."

"Team of six..." Edward thought for some time before asking. "And now that his company lost value, will you leave them like this?"

Sarah shook her head. "We are going for annihilation. Jeff and Sophia will buy the stocks and destroy them."

Edward nodded, approving what he heard. "I want in."

"What?" JoAnna was shocked and had to ask.

"I want in." Edward confirmed. "Instead of giving money to Sam to keep his company, I will use my money to destroy his company. No one can hurt my daughters and go unscathed."

"Talk to Sophia." JoAnna said, happy to see their father like this.

Edward was always a person who looked busy with his projects and was not interested in anything else. Both Sarah and JoAnna are surprised that he saw through Sam and didn't want to work with him. Edward always seemed to be eager to spend time with Sam. He tricked all of them.

While Sarah and JoAnna were in their own thoughts, rethinking their opinion of their father, he already called Sophia and put her on the speaker.

"Yes, dad..." Sophia responded.

"I have Sarah and JoAnna here. They told me what you are doing. I want in."

Sophia hesitated for some time, processing what she just heard. "Uhm... We are about to start buying stocks. Once market closes, I will give executive rights for my stocks to Jeffrey White. In this way he will have power to do what we planned. If you buy stocks, are you ready to hand them to him on the basis of good faith?"

Edward looked at JoAnna. "Yes. If I entrusted him my daughter, giving him some money is not much, is it?" Edward's eyes were warm and full of sincerity.

JoAnna felt her eyes swell and her vision was blurry from the tears that pooled. "Thank you, dad." She said under her breath.

Sarah was smiling widely. "Sophia, not being here in person, you are missing quite a scene!"

Edward looked back at the phone. "How do we do this?"

Sophia didn't hesitate. She looked at the time. "It's late for you to transfer money to my account so that I handle everything. You will need to buy the stocks yourself. Call your financial advisor and give him information that I'm sending you right now... check your email. I will give you a 'go' when we are ready to buy."

"OK. I will let you know if I need more information." Edward hanged up and called his financial advisor.

...

Jeff was pleased to hear that Edward is also participating.

By the time stock market closed, Jeff, Sophia and Edward owned jointly 76% of company owned by Simmons family and 87% of company owned by Petersons. Shortly after, Jeff received signed documents that both Sophia and Edward are handing him over their stocks. The operation of taking over companies was successful. Now it was up to Jeff to make it worth their investment.

JoAnna didn't stay home a minute longer than needed. As soon as she saw that Edward is onboard and ready to buy stocks, JoAnna headed to meet with Felix and talk about the syringe gun. Felix promised that he will look into that as his first priority.

After she finished talking to Felix, JoAnna headed to the airport. She was eager to reach home as soon as possible and see Jeff's face when he realizes that she came back earlier than planned.

~Los Angeles~

Jeff is in the penthouse, going from kitchen to living room to study room, and then back to the kitchen. He is not staying longer than few minutes in one place. The whole penthouse looks very empty without JoAnna. He imagined that she is sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

Jeff was not sure what to do. He could not sleep... and it seems that he forgot what he did in the evening before he met JoAnna. 'Ah, yes. I was working.'

He went to the study room and started going through his emails, but he could not focus. He looked at his desk and vivid image of JoAnna giving herself to him right there popped in his mind. Jeff went to the kitchen to find something to eat, or maybe make a coffee, and ended up watching a drama serial on TV while eating chips. It was JoAnna's favorite flavor. He turned up the TV volume, noise helped to keep his mind off from thinking about JoAnna. He told himself many times, 'She will be back tomorrow.'

Suddenly, the bag of chips from his hand flew up. He followed it with his gaze and his eyes landed on JoAnna. She was smiling at him and he was sure that he is hallucinating again.

JoAnna saw that he is not moving. She reached over sofa for the remote and lowered the TV volume. "Hi, did you miss me?"

Jeff carefully reached with his arm and touched her fingers which were holding the remote controller. In next instant he leaped over the sofa, pulled JoAnna into embrace and started kissing her like crazy all over her face.

JoAnna laughed. "I will take this as you missed me." She laced her fingers into his black hair and kissed him on the lips. They kissed for a long time until their lips finally parted.

"Did you have dinner?" JoAnna asked him.

Jeff shook his head, "I was not hungry."

"I am hungry... let's eat and talk about the day. I have things to tell you." JoAnna grinned. She could not wait to tell him about Edward's reaction.