Ryan spoke up before Frieda could get a word out.
"We cannot say how often it occurs, but to my knowledge, the CEO has never fought against a decision made by Mr. Sinclair unless it was directly related to your family or the well-being of the company."
Frieda turned to Ryan with a glare, and Ryan did his best not to look at her! Ryan was just a normal human, so he knew that Frieda could easily overpower and beat the shit out of him if she wanted to, so he didn't bother glancing at her or knowing how angry she was! Even if she wanted to protect Hugo, there was a limit!
They couldn't keep overlooking Hugo's faults even though it was directly affecting the company!
Ryan knew that he owed a lot to Hugo for all that he had done for him, but that was exactly why Ryan felt like he had to do this. He couldn't allow Hugo to let those bastards walk over him all the time like this.
Ryan stepped forward as he completely ignored Frieda.
"Mr. Vanitas, if I may be so bold, I would like to tell you about the shortcomings I have noticed in Mr. Hugo recently –"
"Ryan!"
Frieda shouted Ryan's name angrily, and Ryan's entire body locked up in fear as he felt her glare increase. Frieda dared Ryan to continue talking! Is he a fool!? Is this really how he was going to repay Hugo's kindness all this time!? Hugo has paid them well and taken care of them if they ever need anything; how dare he do this to their benefactor!
Ryan could hear the anger in Frieda's voice, but he refused to turn and look at her! There was nothing that would stop him from talking now that he had the chance to do so, and he was not going to allow her anger to scare him!
"Mr. Hugo loves this company too much, and his love for this company and your family has prevented him from making decisions that would be seen as risky or forward-thinking in the fear that he would damage something unretrievable in the company. Every company requires a critical thinker as its leader.
Someone who is not scared to make difficult or dangerous decisions that may seem destructive in the short run in order to improve the company in the long run. That person is not Mr. Hugo. He does not lack vision; in fact, I have never seen a more capable man in terms of forward-thinking and decision-making than Mr.
Hugo, but he lacks the courage to implement his plans because he fears that it would eventually affect your family negatively. Mr. Hugo loves your family, but that love itself is a shackle that has prevented him from doing what is necessary."
Ryan finally went silent as he finished giving his talk to Mark, and Mark was left in a contemplative mood as he considered what Ryan just said. So, this is the real face of Hugo. Mark was greatly appreciative of what Hugo had done as the CEO of his company.
Mark knew that the Vanitas company was still as strong as it was when his father died, and that was something that was very difficult for most people to accomplish.
But that was also an issue. It has already been four years since Mark's father died, and the company was still in the same place that it was for those four years.
This was something that confused Mark when he was reading through the document that Jane gave him when they were together in the limousine earlier. One of the documents held the data from the company's expenses and revenue, as well as their gross and profit margins over the recent years.
Mark learned everything that he needed to learn from his father at a young age, and he was able to deduce that when he accounts for inflation in the profit margins, there really has been no significant growth in the company. The company was simply in the same state that it had been when his father died four years ago.
So, Hugo was the reason for this. Mark hummed, and he finally noticed the intense glare that Frieda was giving Ryan from behind. Frieda was seething as she glared at Ryan, and Mark could see Ryan sweating bullets as he tried his best to maintain his composure. Mark finally spoke to Frieda in an attempt to dispel the tension.
"If you have something to say to me, then say it. Ryan spoke his mind, and I respect that; do not just hold your contempt inside you; speak up and prove why you think your point is more valid."
"!"