CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 135

At that moment, upon hearing what the board member had just said, James’ head snapped toward him, eyes narrowing in disbelief. For a split second, his mouth hung open before twisting into a disgusted sneer.

"What are you talking about?" James barked, his voice cutting sharply through the tense silence of the room. "Why would you stand there and say something so ridiculous? Everyone here knows I hold thirty percent!"

Then he turned, sweeping his hand toward the rest of the board members as if demanding their silent agreement. "Thirty percent. Not ten."

James’ tone sharpened, anger creeping into every word. "The rest of my shares are being transferred as we speak. They must have arrived by now. So why are you standing here trying to make me look like a fool? Are you trying to blackmail me?"

At that moment his eyes narrowed even further, suspicion flaring in his glare. "Or is this Cora’s doing?" He pointed toward her suddenly, the accusation dripping with venom. "Because the way this is playing out, it seems you’ve already been paid off. Isn’t that right?"

James words made gasps rippled quietly through the room as James’ voice rose louder, more heated. "Check the numbers!" he demanded, slamming his palm against the table. "All of you check them! That extra twenty percent must already be under my name by now. You’re acting as if you don’t know what’s going on, don’t you know your job!"

Without wasting any more time, Emily stepped forward, her voice rising with the kind of fury that made everyone in the room look at her. She didn’t even bother to hide the contempt twisting her face. Her eyes swept across the board members, her lips curling into a bitter sneer.

"Just look at this," she spat, pointing toward them one by one. "Look at what you’re doing right now all because you think Cora has successfully taken over this company. The moment you believe she’s in charge, you suddenly start acting like you don’t know who your real boss is? Who put this place on the map? Who carried you all when this company was falling apart?"

At that moment the board members shifted uncomfortably in their seats, some glancing away, others glaring back but saying nothing.

Emily stepped closer to the table, her tone growing harsher, every word dripping with venom. "Don’t think I don’t see through this little act. You’re pretending. Every single one of you. Pretending you don’t know where your loyalty should lie. And for what? For what, huh? For the peanuts Cora must have promised you? For scraps of change?"

At that moment she shook her head, disgust plain on her face. "You’re willing to turn your backs on the very hand that fed you, the same man who gave this company a name. It’s pathetic."

Turning to James, Emily’s voice softened only slightly, though still loud enough for everyone to hear. "James, don’t you dare take this lightly with them. The moment you get everything back under your control, clear them all out. Every single one of them. They’ve shown you exactly who they are today, incompetent, spineless, useless."

At that moment silence followed her words. The tension was thick enough to suffocate the room. The board members sat rigid, some visibly seething, others trying to mask their discomfort.

James slowly turned his gaze across the room, meeting each pair of eyes with a cold, deliberate stare. Then, almost unexpectedly, a smirk crept onto his face, slow and sharp, it was a dangerous kind of smile.

"That’s exactly what I’m going to do," he said quietly, the weight of his tone slicing through the silence. He leaned forward slightly, his voice hardening as he spoke to no one in particular yet everyone at once. "This just proves to me that I never had a good board in the first place."

At that moment, James turned his full attention toward Cora. His voice dropped low, cold enough to send ripples through the already tense room.

"So this is what you’ve been banking on, huh?" James said, a mocking smile curling across his lips. "You really think this little shenanigan of yours this pathetic manipulation is going to change what’s about to happen here today?"

However Cora remained still in her seat, her calm gaze fixed on him, refusing to rise to his bait. Her silence only fueled his anger.

"I’m sorry to disappoint you, Cora," James continued, stepping closer until he was towering right beside her chair. "But it’s not going to work. Today... you meet your end. Every ounce of humiliation you’ve earned every single thing you deserve you’re going to get it today." His words came out sharp, each one spat with venom. "Just sit there and wait. You’ll see."

The tension in the room thickened, board members exchanging uneasy glances, whispering to one another in low tones. But before James could say anything more, the same board member who had spoken earlier continued.

"With all due respect, Mr. Wooden," the man began, his voice calm but steady, "I have no idea what you’re talking about. These accusations this idea that we’ve manipulated anything I don’t understand it. I’m in charge of monitoring every share movement in this company. I know exactly when shares are sold, bought, or transferred."

He looked James straight in the eye, unflinching. "And up until this moment, nothing like that has happened. No new transfers. No sudden acquisitions. No such thing at all... except—"

"Except what?"

James interrupted him, his voice thundered through the boardroom, his face twisted with pure fury. He pointed straight at the board member, his words coming out in rapid bursts.

"What other explanation do you even have to give?" James barked. "What are you standing there accepting about this? Are you seriously going to tell me you haven’t seen the transfer of shares by now? What are you talking about? Do you think I came here to play games with you or what?"

He stepped forward, his shadow falling across the table, every word laced with venom. "I’ve marked your face. I know you now. You you’ll be the first person I sack the moment I take full control. Start packing your things. Clear your desk. By the time this meeting is over, you’re done. Finished. Out of my company!"