Chapter 434 - Cox Industries (5)

~ Reno, White family villa ~

Jeff is dressing up in the walk-in closet, getting ready to leave with his father for board meeting at Cox Industries.

JoAnna is excitingly adjusting his necktie. "Are you sure I will be able to watch?"

"Yes." Jeff didn't mind confirming for the fifth, or maybe sixth time.

"Oh! I look forward to it!" She exclaimed. "And they don't know that the person who is coming as the new owner is you?"

"No." He enjoyed seeing her in such a good mood.

Her hands stopped. "Will I be able to see you?"

Jeff frowned slightly. "I don't think so." The answer was 'no' but he wanted it to sound less harsh.

"But I want to see you!" JoAnna protested. She understood that his answer was a 'no'. And he was being nice. After few seconds she got an idea. "I will talk to Sarah!"

"That might not be…" Jeff watched JoAnna disappear before he finished his warning not to go into Aiden's room that early. Well, eight thirty in the morning is not early for most of the people, but he knows that Aiden likes to sleep in, and Sarah seems to have the same habit. Jeff exhaled. "Well, she will learn this lesson the hard way."

About two minutes later, JoAnna returned to the room and found Jeff where she left him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed.

Jeff tilted his head to see her expression. She was not happy. "How did it go?"

"Well…They are awake…" She said in a faint voice and took a deep breath. "I wish that they put some clothes on… or at least lock the door."

Jeff laughed seeing her sulk like that. "Did you knock?"

"I did… but no one answered… so I let myself in. Big mistake!" She rubbed her face in his chest, as if she is trying to cleanse her eyes.

"Mhm." He agreed, not bothering with the fact that she is wrinkling his shirt.

…

Few minutes later Sarah and Aiden got into Jeff's room.

"Why did you wake us up and leave? What do you want?" Sarah was grumbling at JoAnna.

"Oh…" JoAnna felt ashamed that she just let herself into Aiden's room. "Sorry about earlier. I assumed that if door is unlocked, you will be… decent."

Sarah grimaced at JoAnna and looked at Aiden. "Maybe we should bring Eve here, so she can lock the doors automatically when needed."

Jeff perked up. "Eve? Here?"

Sarah frowned at him. "You still didn't give up?"

Jeff awkwardly cleared his throat and looked at JoAnna. "Why did you go to my brother's room?"

"Ah, yes!" JoAnna got back on topic. "Jeff will have a camera so we can watch the board meeting. But it will be on him, so I can't see him. And I would like to see him…"

Sarah didn't think more than a second before speaking. "We can add another camera… Oscar is coming, right?" When Jeff nodded in confirmation, Sarah continued. "I will go and get one ready for him to wear. As long as Oscar is facing Jeff, you can see him. I need less than a minute." Sarah headed out of the room, unhappy that JoAnna woke her up and saw them like that. Well the private parts were covered, but it was obvious that they don't have clothes on, and only a bedsheet was covering them up.

Aiden watched Sarah leave to get the camera and sighed. Why did they wake him up? And Sarah even made him dress up… 'I could stay in bed longer!' He complained internally.

…

Later that day, JoAnna was in media room with Sarah and Aiden who got the projector set up to show on the large screen two video feeds. One from camera Jeff is wearing on the left, and another that Oscar is wearing, on the right.

JoAnna sat with her feet up on a large one-seater recliner sofa and cradled a large container full of popcorn.

Sarah laughed when she saw JoAnna. "You think this is a movie?"

"It's better than a movie. I will get to see my man taking over the world!" JoAnna said confidently with a straight face.

Sarah could not find words to respond. She can only admire this public declaration which shows how much JoAnna loves and trusts Jeff.

Sarah was pulled out of her thoughts by Aiden voice. "Did you confirm that Sophia has the feed?"

"Yes. She just texted me." Sarah responded absentmindedly.

"Shhh!" JoAnna waved her hand impatiently. "It starts!"

~ Reno, Cox Industries, 17th floor conference room~

Jeff and Oscar entered conference room, filled with about three dozen people. Mostly males. They all have grim expressions. As they watched Jeff and Oscar walk toward the head of the table, few faces lit up. They recognized them as Whites.

In a completely silent space, whispers were unusually loud.

"Who are these two?"

"Are they new shareholders?"

"That is Jeffrey White!"

"Are you pulling my leg?!"

"I know him! Definitely Jeffrey White!"

"Does that mean that we are part of White corp.?!!"

"I don't see any other explanation… and that older man in his father!"

"We are definitely merging with White corp.!"

"Wait… don't celebrate just yet."

"Agreed. Even if companies merge, we don't know what they will do with us."

While whispers filled up the room, most of the people turned to observe Timothy Cox who was not at the head of the table, as usual, but somewhere in the middle. He didn't have the right to sit at the head anymore. Timothy was shrinking into his chair, as if he tried to conceal his presence. It was obvious that he didn't want to be there. Timothy's eyes were locked on Jeff and his anxiety was noticeable. He was sweating profusely, and his complexion was not good.

Oscar was standing few feet away from the head of the table, his body facing Jeff. That is how Sarah and JoAnna instructed him to position himself, so that JoAnna can have a good view of Jeff. Oscar would rather stand behind Jeff. That would give him a good view of the people present, but his daughter-in-laws made a request, and he found it difficult to refuse.

Jeff stood at the head of the table and observed people as the murmurs died under his cold gaze and people turned to face him. Jeff's gaze was moving over people present slowly, observing various emotions that each of them projected. Fear, hope, anxiety… greed. With every passing moment the oppression they felt was increasing, and the silence was suffocating. No one was able to maintain eye contact with Jeff for longer than a second. As if they proclaimed their submission, as soon as his gaze landed on a person, that person's head would be lowered.

"Good morning, everyone." Jeff's voice was unusually loud in a silent space. "Thank you for joining me at this meeting on such a short notice." No one felt any warmth that usually accompanies these words.

"I am Jeffrey White, and that is my father, Oscar White." Jeff paused and enjoyed the awe in people who just now found out who he is. "Today I called for this meeting as a majority shareholder of Cox Industries."

People shifted in their seats. They all wondered how much is that majority he is talking about. Is it more than 51%? If it is, then he can singlehandedly make decisions for the whole company!

One woman could not hold back her curiosity. "Mr White, can you confirm the percentage you are holding?"

Jeff looked at the woman, as if he is condemning her for speaking.

She regretted that she even opened her mouth, while shivering under Jeff's penetrating gaze.

"I can confirm that I hold more than 51%." Jeff vaguely responded.

Everyone in the room was in shock hearing his words. Most of the people were blank, just staring at Jeff. Few of them were overanalyzing and trying to guess what is coming next. He has the right to decide for the whole company. Even if everyone objects his decision, they can't outvote him. What will he do with the company now that he has it? Knowing who he is, some of them smiled. He will merge Cox Industries with White corp. Right? That means more benefits for them, probably larger salaries. They only heard stories of money and power of people in upper management of White corp. This is their chance to get there!

Jeff allowed them to absorb the information that he can do whatever he pleases before speaking again. "I acquired Cox Industries with intention to merge it with White corp."

Everyone's eyes opened wide. Some gasped, few even cheered while jumping out of their chairs.