CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 171: GROUP CRISIS

Eastminster Group. In the brightly lit conference room, the atmosphere was tense and solemn.

Sienna Johnson sat alone in the foremost position, the seat usually occupied by Father Johnson. Unlike other commercial groups, the Johnson family’s enterprise had originated as a family business, gradually developing into the large conglomerate it was today. Thus, having Sienna temporarily take Father Johnson’s position didn’t seem inappropriate to the others, despite her youth and lack of experience.

Five managers from the direct subsidiary companies were seated, each with a heavy expression.

"Regarding the pharmaceutical license, follow the method Manager Dewey just suggested to reapply. If the higher-ups don’t approve, then consider using personal connections with top executives," Sienna said calmly. Her deep dark circles showed her exhaustion, but she couldn’t afford to collapse now.

"Understood," Manager Dewey agreed.

"Does anyone have anything to add?" Sienna glanced at the dozen or so people present, all older and more experienced than her. Some had even started their careers before she was born. "If not, then let’s adjourn the meeting."

"Wait, President Johnson. Our pharmaceutical company is facing a severe shortage of funds. The factory has already urged us four or five times for the payment on a large batch of Orienta herbal medicine we previously ordered. What should we do about this?"

The mention of money always troubled Sienna. For the first time in her life, she was facing such a dire financial shortage—and not for a small sum, but for amounts reaching tens of millions.

Sienna had funneled all the allowance Adrian Desmond had given her into the company, but it was a mere drop in the bucket, completely inadequate.

"Tell them to wait another week."

"But..." Manager Smith looked concerned. Seeing Sienna’s displeased expression, he had to force himself to agree, "Alright, I will communicate with them again."

Suddenly taking over unfamiliar affairs was challenging for Sienna. She had to study a large number of plans and proposals to understand what each department of the group was doing.

By the time Sienna left the company, the moon was high in the sky. The night was cool and still, mirroring her solitude. She felt utterly exhausted, as if she could collapse at any moment.

"Miss Johnson, are you alright?" Lucas Robertson asked with concern, noticing her staring silently at the dark blue night sky.

"Don’t worry about me for the next few days. Go find George Lewis. I don’t believe he could have just vanished into thin air."

George Lewis was originally secretary to Father Johnson, Dexter Johnson. Neither Dexter Johnson nor Sienna could have imagined that this very man would cause the company such trouble. George Lewis had not only taken all the money from the company’s account but had also absconded with its bills, contracts, and various government approvals and qualifications.

This wasn’t merely a theft of assets; it was an attempt to completely destroy the Johnson family.

"We’re still looking!" Lucas replied in a steady voice.

"...Keep an eye on Yvette Harris. My intuition tells me that her relationship with Sabrina Johnson isn’t simple."

Lucas used to work for the Westorian CIA. Sienna now kept him around specifically to investigate the information she wanted, which was indeed an underutilization of his capabilities.

"Understood."

Sienna was too tired to speak.

In the past few days, Sienna had gained a rough understanding and control over the group’s main affairs. Various loopholes had been temporarily addressed, and new contracts and bills were being processed. However, the stolen funds had not yet been recovered.

It was a massive sum, nearly 150 million. This amount was the working capital for Eastminster Group’s daily operations. Without this liquid capital, Eastminster Group’s daily operations faced severe problems.

Lucas answered a phone call, exchanged a few brief words, then said to Sienna, "Miss, we have news."

"Have you found George Lewis?" Sienna’s fatigue vanished instantly, and she asked with excitement.

"Although we haven’t found George Lewis, we’ve found his cousin, Matthew Harris. I discovered that George entrusted that sum of money to Matthew."

"Where is Matthew?"

...

Cité Cafe, situated in the Sileria City CBD Area, was arguably the most elegant coffee shop there. Due to its location in a dense cluster of office buildings, it was mostly frequented by corporate white-collar workers.

A middle-aged man with small eyes and a beer belly, clutching a tan leather wallet, walked in and immediately began looking around.

Sienna spotted the man at once and gave Lucas an instruction. Lucas nodded and walked towards the man.

"Mr. Harris, this way, please." Lucas led Matthew Harris to the table where Sienna was sitting.

Matthew Harris, George Lewis’s cousin, was now in possession of the 150 million that George Lewis had stolen from the Johnson family.

As Matthew Harris looked at Sienna, his eyes lit up. What a young and beautiful stunner!

"Are you Miss Johnson?" Matthew had never been able to resist the allure of beautiful women, especially one of Sienna’s caliber. His eyes practically devoured her.

Sienna was disgusted by the greed and lust in his eyes. She barely twitched her lips, denying him even the courtesy of a smile.

"My surname is Johnson. I’m the President of Eastminster Group. You can call me President Johnson." She was not some "Miss" for him to address so casually.

"President Johnson, so young and so capable!"

"Capable or not, I can’t say. My father passed away too early, and I don’t have a brother, so I had no choice but to step up and take charge."

Matthew was somewhat surprised that Sienna had found him, though, in a way, he had been expecting it.

When George Lewis transferred the funds to him, he had anticipated that the Johnson family would come looking. Consequently, he hadn’t touched a single cent of the money. He had long suspected he wouldn’t be able to keep it. There was no such thing as easy money in this world; stories of those who had the guts to steal but not the fate to spend it were all too common.

"President Johnson, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Matthew guessed Sienna was there to reclaim the money but didn’t mention it. Although he had no intention of spending that money, as long as it was in his hands, she would naturally have to pay a certain ’price’... For instance...

This woman is truly beautiful. To spend one night with her would be worth dying for.

Human nature is often greedy and shameless. Sienna didn’t try to appeal to his emotions or reason to get him to hand over the huge sum. Instead, she laid her cards on the table directly.

"Nothing of great importance. I’m just here to discuss a potential collaboration with Mr. Harris."

"You want to collaborate with me? Heh heh..." Matthew’s eyes roamed lewdly over Sienna as he leaned back expansively on the sofa. His gaze had already mentally stripped her bare.

"Eastminster Group is currently facing both internal and external crises. President Johnson is so young; the Group might go bankrupt before the year is out! What ’capital’ could she possibly have to negotiate a collaboration with me?"

Sienna sneered. "Mr. Harris, before you worry about Eastminster Group potentially going bankrupt, perhaps you should worry about yourself first."

"I’m doing just fine!"

"Mr. Harris, your stare is making me uncomfortable. I suggest you retract that lewd gaze of yours while we speak. Otherwise, you’d best be careful of a fire in your own backyard."

Matthew was lecherous, but his wife at home was a tigress. Matthew was afraid of his wife.