Chasing The Vengeful Villainous Heiress-Chapter 148: ’Unexpected variable’

"If there are no objections, let us begin." Valerie said, her red eyes sharply fixed on every one of them.

They darted their eyes aside subtly and looked rather anxious. From what they had been hearing, Valerie was no different from a puppet chairlady, and Stewart was the actual one running the company.

They probably thought she was a pushover simply because she wasn’t taking charge of matters and simply enjoying her blissful married life.

"I believe," Valerie spoke up once more, this time piercing into their desires more sharply. "...I said we could commence this meeting. Or does anyone have a complaint?"

Silence followed and she closed her eyes, signing softly.

Yeah, she was no pushover. She acted the Villainess once; of course, she could act it again.

They finally commenced the meeting, starting with the risk and falling of the company’s stocks, the problem with subsidiary companies, and how to handle them.

To their surprise, Valerie handed it well, as if she had been in the company the whole time and knew the situation more than anyone.

"If that is settled," she closed the file in front of her. "Let us move to the next agenda."

’The next agenda. What is the next agenda?’

Those were probably their thoughts and Valerie did well by answering their unspoken questions.

"I heard shareholders are selling off their sticks because they’re scared of the company crashing." She said, dropping the bomb on them. "Some of you gamble with your shares as well."

The atmosphere became stiff. They had been caught and those found guilty had sweat dripping down their collars.

"Honestly, I don’t have a problem with who owns the company shares, as long as they can afford it, but... I would very much like to know those who hold the shares and can have a say in my company."

The members started murmuring amongst themselves and Valerie beacon Mariam to come closer. She whispered something in her ear and then glanced at the board members.

Mariam nodded and walked away for a moment.

"I have a list of shareholders, those holding less than 10 percent and those holding above 10 percent." She said and Mariam returned with a file. "Don’t worry, I have your names but there are some who use fake alias and some who stay anonymous." She accepted the file from Mariam. "I’d like to believe all shareholders are present?"

Everyone started looking around, wondering if anyone was missing.

"On that note, is there anyone willing to sell their shares right now?" She asked and they started murmuring out loud. "Who knows? The company may fall, as you suspect." She crossed her legs once again. "So, make the right choice and sell it now, before it’s too late." She grinned.

Murmuring and then silence. The meeting hall became a graveyard, and only those who had guts could speak up.

But just then, someone raised their hand and said,

"I would like to sell." He said, and the board members looked at him, shocked. Was he out of his mind?

"Mr, Robert, I presume? Who is your buyer?" Valerie asked, and just then, the door opened, and Steven walked in with a smile on his lip.

"I believe, that would be me." He said, and Valerie frowned.

He snapped his fingers, and his assistant went to Robbert with the contract that stated he would transfer his Shares to ’Steven Stewart’.

Robert signed right away and excused himself.

Steven sat on Robert’s former seat, and crossed his legs, smiling cheekily at his victory.

But Valerie couldn’t stay quiet about what just unfolded before her and she asked,

"What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing." Robert said. "I’m just sitting here as the ’biggest’ shareholder, owning over 39 percent shares of Ross." He smirked. "So, I have every right to be here, don’t you think?"

Mariam silently gritted her teeth.

’Jeez, what are those guards doing? They’re not supposed to let any suspicious person enter the meeting room? What part of Steven doesn’t ring suspicion? He’s so sly. Oh, I’m so angry.’ she thought and liked down at Valerie, wondering how she was taking this ’unexpected variable’.

Of course, she was shocked.

Valerie looked shocked, indeed. What did he say? How could he own so many shares? First of all, his name wasn’t even on the shares list. He... Her eyes widened and she looked at the file in front of her.

The ’Anonymous’ share holder owned over 37 percent shares and Robert had 2 percent. Adding them together, there was 39 percent.

She looked up in realization and frowned.

"You’re ’Anonymous’." She said, and Steven nodded.

"It’s so glad that you finally recognized me, sister-in-law." He said. "So, can I make the big decisions now? Being the biggest shareholder, all major decisions need to pass through me first, right?"

Valerie tried to stay calm.

He had over five shares more than hers.

She had over 34 and the person below her had 30 percent. The rest of the shares were shared among the board members.

"Does anyone else wish to sell their shares?" Mariam suddenly asked but Valerie saw no use for it.

Now that Steven Stewart had bought so many shares, there was hope for the company striving. If they gave up their shares, it would be a huge loss, so they would all hold their ground.

She closed her eyes, trying to think. Mariam didn’t have any shares, if not they would’ve combined their shares but... Where did it go wrong?

Why did Steven have to be involved?

’I need to do something but my head is blank. I can’t leave the meeting like this. I can’t.’

"Come to think of it," Steven spoke up. "Does this also mean I have a chance at running for the position of chairman?" He asked and Valerie’s eyes widened.

Then, they furrowed as she frowned, staring at the smile on Steven’s face. So, that was his plan all along.

To make sure Max did not win the chairman position of Stewart with the help of Ross, he just needed to acquire Ross on his own.

’That bastard.’ she thought, gritting her teeth. ’Like I’d let that happen. Ross belongs to Max and no one can take it from him.’

"So," Steven grinned, loving the sight of Valerie’s defeated glare. "Is that possible?"

"It’ll only be possible over my dead body." Valerie looked up towards the door and saw Max walking through.

"Max?"