Playtime's Over, CEO: She's Really Done With You-Chapter 378: Valuation Halved
Below the news, all sorts of information were breaking out.
There were photos of Serena Sterling and Jasper Ford hurrying away from Aether Industries.
News about Aether Industries’ core technical staff boarding a plane to leave the country was coming from the airport.
And so on.
Even though Brandon Huxley had already come forward with a statement, saying that the core technical staff had not defected but were merely traveling abroad for business, no one believed it.
Because the timing was too coincidental.
It seemed like Brandon Huxley was just making excuses.
Moreover, those companies that had been very interested in Aether Industries’ project were now all relieved and grateful.
"Thankfully, someone told us early this morning about the Aether Industries core technical staff leaving; otherwise, our company would have really fallen into this trap today."
"Yeah, we came to work hours early, asked around for news, and finally confirmed it. It’s a relief."
And those who had just been in the meeting room also came out to speak.
"Our company boss was already there; luckily someone informed him of this news, or else we might have been really duped."
Everyone was buzzing with conversation.
Someone pieced together the sequence of events.
"Aether Industries suddenly emerged as a dark horse simply because it was a lost cause; Brandon Huxley was just trying to scoop up some money before making a run for it!"
"Aether Industries has been behaving oddly these past few days. In just three days, it’s been so crowded that there’s no time to closely observe. Whenever we asked critical questions, Brandon Huxley would just leave, saying he was busy."
"Especially that overseas order; the timing was also very sensitive, meant to distract people. Now it looks like a sham!"
Ultimately, the issue fell back on Serena Sterling.
"So, only Serena Sterling and Jasper Ford got screwed?"
"It seems so, and it was Serena Sterling who called Jasper Ford to come along."
This explosive headline drew everyone’s attention, especially since not long ago, Serena Sterling’s company, Aeon, had just opened for business.
Moreover, the grand opening banquet for Aeon was open to all guests.
There were lots of paparazzi and journalists present.
It was also announced that same day that she would soon marry Silas Hawthorne.
The moment this news broke, someone immediately juxtaposed it with Serena Sterling’s ambitious words at the grand opening banquet.
"Today, with the opening of Aeon, I want to announce to everyone that I, Serena Sterling, have returned!"
"I will carry on my father’s legacy and restore the Sheridan Family’s glory!"
...
"Words can be deemed as excuses, but real results and real abilities cannot be debated."
"Give me time, and I’ll show everyone..."
"I, Serena Sterling, will revive the Sheridan Family!"
...
Now all of this had become a joke.
"Hahaha, revive the Sheridan Family? The first project, and she dragged herself and Jasper Ford into the mess; that’s 150 million!"
"A pretty face is just a pretty face; don’t think you can use your skills with men in the real investment world, it’s embarrassing!"
...
In the car.
Both Serena Sterling’s and Jasper Ford’s phones were buzzing nonstop.
Serena Sterling and Jasper Ford exchanged glances.
Then Jasper Ford answered his phone first.
It was Old Master Ford on the line.
"Yes, Grandpa, don’t worry, everything’s under control," Jasper Ford said, "Oh, I’m not just boasting. You’ll see soon enough."
Serena Sterling’s call was from Thea Lloyd.
"Thea?" Serena Sterling answered.
"How are you now? Did you take action?" Thea Lloyd asked, "Lucas Quentin is here with me; should we try to recover something from Brandon Huxley, figure out if there was deception, maybe find a way to salvage things."
Serena Sterling shook her head, "No problem, really, trust me."
...
Then there were a few more calls.
The two of them responded one by one.
The Lawson Corporation.
Isla Lawson returned joyfully; it was she who leaked all this information.
She was the one who released the news in the early morning about the Aether Industries’ core technical staff leaving, intending for Serena Sterling to get scammed big time.
She had been planning this for a while.
Her people had been waiting outside, waiting for Serena Sterling to sign, then she didn’t have to sign, and everything unfolded as she had anticipated.
In fact, it far exceeded her expectations.
Serena Sterling, that bold woman, dared to use overseas assets and Evan Sheridan’s inoperable resources as collateral loans to make this happen.
She even dragged Jasper Ford down with her.
This move could take them both down.
"Today is a good day..." Isla Lawson hummed a tune as she walked to her office.
As soon as she opened her office door, she saw someone waiting for her inside.
It was Julian Lawson.
"Brother..."
Isla Lawson instantly put away her joyful expression and looked towards Julian Lawson in the wheelchair.
Julian Lawson didn’t speak immediately, he just looked at Isla Lawson.
Jude Chaucer left first and closed the door, leaving only Julian Lawson and Isla Lawson in the office.
"What have you done?" Julian Lawson asked, "Speak!"
Isla Lawson glanced at Julian Lawson, and seeing his expression, she couldn’t hold back.
"Isn’t it obvious? There were issues with the Aether Industries project, I just got involved a bit, and I didn’t let the company incur any losses," Isla Lawson said.
"And then?" Julian Lawson continued, "Was it really just getting involved a bit? Was it not you who informed everyone, telling them the news so they wouldn’t proceed, giving you the chance to control the situation?"
"Wasn’t it you and Virgil Ford who pressured Serena Sterling to invest?"
Julian Lawson directly exposed everything Isla Lawson had done.
Isla Lawson pouted.
"So what if it was?" Isla Lawson said, "But isn’t that how the investment world is? Serena Sterling herself lacked risk awareness, invested without understanding, is that my fault?"
"Besides, at Aether Industries today, I asked her to invest more; she could have chosen not to. If she didn’t invest, I wouldn’t have stopped her from leaving, right?"
"We’re all adults," Isla Lawson said, "We’re responsible for our own actions. Is it my fault she invested as much as I asked her to?"
The office fell silent, with a large floor-to-ceiling window, the blue sky visible outside.
Julian Lawson quietly looked at Isla Lawson.
"We’re responsible for our own actions," Julian Lawson repeated.
"Exactly!" Isla Lawson said defiantly, "Brother, you can’t blame me for this!"
Julian Lawson let out a wry laugh.
"Alright," he said.
Julian Lawson said no more and left with his wheelchair.
...
Hawthorne Group.
A large screen displayed.
#Aether Industries’ core technical staff departure, valuation halved#
Although it’s just a valuation, it already says a lot.
It’s equivalent to the 150 million that Serena Sterling and Jasper Ford had just invested, potentially losing half if they wanted to sell it now.
Whether anyone would take over is still uncertain.
Everyone in the conference room was buzzing with discussion.
"See? Serena Sterling is just a pretty face. It was fine to mess around on a small scale, but now she’s making a big deal out of it, and yet again, the Young Master has to clean up her mess."
