Shadow Empire

Chapter 484: Doubt, Transaction, and Curiosity
Logically, changes in the company's equity situation should be notified to the board of directors in advance, but it is also possible not to notify them, and this involves some terms and conditions.

The president was stunned for a moment, and his expression gradually turned cold. "I understand."

He said and hung up the phone.

Two percent is not a small amount. If calculated based on normal stock prices, two percent is approximately twenty-five million.

The vice president doesn't have that much money to buy these shares.

Even if the stock price has been cut in half now, it is still more than 10 million.

Basically all shareholders will not sell their shares, at least not when the stock price is obviously undervalued now.

Based on his understanding of the vice president, the other party did not have the courage and ability to buy these stocks at the original price at this time.

And there are only a handful of shareholders who can transfer 2% of their shares at one time.

The total number of shareholders of the entire Liji Group is approximately thousands.

Not to mention 2%, even 0.02% is not a small amount for many people.

There were only a handful of people who could afford these shares, including the chairman of the board who had just passed away.

He sat there in a daze for a while, then called the chairman of the board, Zhuang Yuan, but no one answered.

He could only call the vice president and want to talk to him, but no one answered.

This gave him a bad feeling in his heart, and he rubbed his face to calm himself down.

Sometimes people are not stupid, but their habits and past experiences prevent them from thinking in a certain direction.

In the eyes of the president, the vice presidents work wholeheartedly for the company. A small group within the board of directors has already discussed and reached a conclusion, which is to allow the vice presidents to continue to increase their holdings of stocks.

On the one hand, increasing stock holdings will leave the vice president with a shortage of funds, so he will value his current job more.

After signing a share purchase agreement with the company, he will be required not to reduce his holdings or transfer his shares within three or five years, and he must abide by the agreement on no outflow of shares.

This means that as long as he increases his holdings, he must do his utmost to safeguard the interests of the company regardless of whether he does so sincerely or not.

The company was running well, his stock appreciated, he made money, and his job also brought him good returns.

If he doesn't work hard, the company's efficiency will decrease, the dividends will become less, his salary will become less, and he may face the problem of not being able to pay many bills.

Even if he is not really loyal to the company, as long as he is loyal to the money in his hands, he must dedicate himself to the company.

As for the unwillingness to increase holdings in the company's stock?
That's too easy, just let him go. If you don't want to stand with us, why do we need you to continue to occupy this high position?
The vice president has been increasing his holdings of stocks. He also heard that the vice president had mortgaged his stocks to the bank in exchange for some funds to purchase real estate, luxury cars, yachts and the like. Therefore, the president and even the board of directors are particularly confident in him.

If the company is good, then everyone will be good.

If the company is bad, then everyone will be in trouble, and they have no reason not to trust the vice president.

This kind of trust, and even a hint of disdain and contempt hidden in his arrogance, made him never think that there would be any problems with the vice president.

But now, he calmed down and thought seriously, and he found something wrong.

But it doesn't make sense to say that something is completely wrong, because he must have spent money to increase his stake outside the agreement, which shows that he still values ​​the company very much, but why...

He needs to have a face-to-face talk with the vice president.

He picked up the phone and dialed the company's front desk number. "If the vice president comes to the company, ask him to come directly to my office."

He sat in a chair with unfocused eyes, as if he was staring at something that people could not see, and fell into deep thought.

At this time, the vice president was attending a small party.

“This is our chairman of the board…”

"This is the company's chief legal counsel..."

"This is……"

Mr. Berman was introducing the top management of the Baili Company to the vice president.

In fact, the vice president can basically recognize all these people without his introduction.

They have met these people at annual agricultural conferences or read their profiles.

As the industry leader, Liji Group will not underestimate its former parts - Biolead and Roundup.

They also need to study the management of these companies and even their social networks so that they can respond in a timely manner when necessary.

Just as he knew these people, the people introduced by Mr. Berman also knew him.

"This is the first time we have met in an informal setting, Mr. Vice President!"

The chairman of the board of directors of Baili is also an old man. He has a hooked nose and high cheekbones, and looks very mean and old-fashioned.

When he smiled, the wrinkles on his face were as stiff and deep as if they were chopped by an axe, making it difficult to associate this old man with kindness.

But now he is smiling, and his smile is very gentle, because this will be the first huge development opportunity for Baili after it becomes independent from the Liji Group.

The vice president seemed a little embarrassed, but he kept it all inside himself and continued to socialize with them.

"I called you here this time because Mr. Lance made a suggestion when I was communicating with him."

The vice president looked at Lance beside him with some confusion, as he had never heard the other party say that.

But he still nodded politely and said, "Please go ahead."

"We intend to allow you to own 5 thousandths of the company."

The vice president was stunned for a moment. He was a little confused. "I... I don't know. It's too sudden."

“Will this pose a risk of unfair competition?”

He didn't quite understand this, but the legal advisor did. He shook his head and said, "You don't hold the shares personally, but you hold them in other ways."

“So it won’t trigger any risks!”

Mr. Berman said with a smile, “After this matter is over, Bailidi will definitely usher in a period of rapid development and growth.”

“It may only be worth three million now, but after a while, it may be worth six or seven million, or even more!”

Once the Liji Group suffers a heavy blow again, Bailide will be able to take advantage of the opportunity of "foresight" to gain more benefits and advantages from business competition.

As market share increases and company profits rise, the stock price will naturally increase accordingly.

In fact, Mr. Berman and his team also began to hold shares of the Liji Group through some indirect means.

After the death of the former chairman of the board, he also left behind 3.7% of the shares. Now 2% is in the hands of the vice president. Of the remaining 1.7%, the old lady left 0.1% and her children each left 0.3%.

For the extra one percent, the transfer agreement has been signed, but it has not yet been reported to the company.

It's obvious that they want to tie the vice president to the chariot as well.

Seeing that he was still hesitating, Mr. Berman said with a smile, "This is crucial for us to deepen our friendship!"

In the end, the vice president was unable to refuse Mr. Berman’s request. He knew very well that this 0.5% of the shares was actually a “ticket” and also a “handle”.

If he wants to enter this circle, he must pay more.

The obedience brought by fear will fade as the fear fades. Only the binding of interests can keep him loyal!
The next morning, when the vice president just arrived at the company, the front desk told him that the president asked him to come over.

The vice president came back to the office, put his briefcase and other things away, and then opened the door of the president's office.

He appeared to be full of energy, with his emotions and expressions being just right.

In fact, there are many unspoken rules in large companies that no one will tell you. For example, if someone wants to get promoted and be valued, they must show that they are full of energy.

On one side is a lazy guy who is so lifeless that he can't even lift his eyelids, as if his body is attached to the chair.

On one side is full of energy and enthusiasm, as if the body is filled with a small motor full of energy.

When an opportunity arises to be promoted, all leaders will choose the one who shines.

This is the workplace, work, and society.

No one will take care of your little temper, but will ask you to take care of other people's emotions and thoughts.

The lower the position, the more people you need to take care of.

If you feel that fate is unfair to you, it is only because your position is too low and has nothing to do with fate.

"I heard them say you were looking for me?"

The vice president closed the door after entering, walked to the desk and sat opposite the president. The president nodded and asked directly, "When did it start?"

The vice president didn't react for a moment. This question was very abrupt and out of context. He shook his head and asked curiously, "When did something start?"

"I mean, when did you start selling out the interests of the company?"

The smile on the vice president's face gradually froze, revealing a look of doubt and confusion, "Why do you think so?"

The president picked up a cigarette and put it between his lips.

Holding a lighter in one hand and blocking the wind that shouldn't exist in the room with the other, "The light can illuminate a very far distance, but it can't illuminate the things under the base."

"You just hide under the pedestal."

In fact, the president now really hopes that the vice president can defend himself. Defending himself means that things are not as bad as he thinks to be irreparable.

But the vice president did not make any excuses and just remained silent, which made the president's heart sink.

The calmer the vice president appears now, the deeper his involvement is, to the point where it is meaningless to make excuses.

"Did you take away his wife's shares?" the president asked.

The vice president nodded and said, "I took 2 percent."

“Where does your money come from?”

"I didn't know you had so much money!"

The president asked this question to guard against speculation that the vice president might have misappropriated company funds. However, this possibility is unlikely because such a large amount of funds could not be transferred through the finance department without his signature.

The vice president looked a little strange, "I borrowed money."

The president still found it hard to believe. "She transferred the shares to you so easily?"

He had met the wife of the old gentleman who was the chairman of the board of directors, and knew that beneath this woman's outstanding appearance was an independent personality and soul!
She has her own circle and energy, as well as her own ideas. She is not just a family woman.

If the vice president did not use some means, he would not have been able to get these shares so easily.

The vice president stared at him, "You want to know?"

Mr. President nodded, "If you are willing to say it."

In his eyes, the expression and eyes of this person who had cooperated with him for several years were constantly changing, struggling, hesitating, wavering, a little uneasy, some regretful, and some fierce.

In the end, it became dull.

"This is actually quite complicated, and I can't explain it all at once. Can we find a place to have a drink tonight?"

"Drink and talk."

The president looked through his schedule and nodded, "Okay, do you want to go to your place or mine?"

This kind of private content should definitely not be discussed in bars or clubs, as there are so many people and it might be spread by someone. You have to go to a more private place.

The president and vice president both have additional residences in the city, and sometimes when they work late and don't want to go home, they stay in an apartment near the company.

Apartments in the city center of Xinjin City are not cheap. Whether you rent or buy them, they are very expensive, costing tens of thousands per apartment, and larger ones costing hundreds of thousands.

The vice president's eyes flickered slightly, "I'll go to your place. I'll bring a friend over."

The president agreed.

After the vice president left, both of them threw themselves into their work, working so intently that when the president leaned back in his chair to relax, the setting sun was already shining through the window.

The bright red light carries some of the tragedy of the sun’s impending setting. It is like a hero who has been fighting in the sky all day, and finally is getting old and falling.

Full of sadness.

He looked at the sunlight, which was no longer dazzling and was like a red fireball, and sighed softly.

At 6:45 in the evening, he packed himself and came to the parking lot with his briefcase. The vice president was already there.

"I'm going to pick up a friend first and I'll be there soon."

The president nodded and stepped on the accelerator to leave the parking lot. He needed to go back and prepare first.

The vice president picked up Lance on the road and they arrived outside the president's apartment together.

"He already suspected me... No, to say he suspected me is an understatement. He was already certain that I was betraying them."

The car had stopped, and he kept adjusting his hands on the steering wheel, looking a little restless.

"Someone has to go first, as long as that person isn't you!"

"Come on, let's go up."

When Lance got out of the car, many people got out of the cars in front and behind him. They quickly dispersed, and only Lance and the vice president were seen going upstairs.

When the door opened, the president was still wearing an apron with a carrot pattern. "I made some food. We can have some drinks later."

The vice president nodded and came in with Lance. He did not introduce Lance directly, and the president did not ask proactively. He thought he would know who this person was later.

This was one of the few times that the vice president came into contact with the president outside of work, and it also made him realize that the president was completely different outside of work and at work.

He introduced his cooking method while serving the food on the table. There were four dishes in total.

The largest portion of the dish is the fried beef cubes. The pink veal cubes look very tender and are obviously cooked through, yet they melt in your mouth.

He took off his apron, opened a bottle of whiskey, and the three of them sat down at the dining table.

"Let's have a drink before the sumptuous dinner."

The three of them raised their glasses and took a sip.

After drinking a little bit of wine, even though Lance hadn't felt the alcohol taking effect yet, the vice president seemed to have already gotten into the mood.

"Where do I begin?"

"Let's start with...Steven's death..."

He said a lot, telling everything he knew and everything that had happened so far in detail, which made the president fall into a shocked silence!

He was holding the glass and forgot to drink. It was a long time before he remembered to take a sip.

"I...I don't know how to say it. It's so shocking. It seems I was wrong."

He thought that the vice president might have stood against them a long time ago, but he didn't expect that he was only "bribed" recently.

It's not even considered bribery. Under the threat of death, anyone would probably make the same choice as him, and the president himself might do the same.

He took a big sip of wine, and the alcohol stimulated his desire to talk more.

"You are telling me this now. Aren't you afraid that I will ruin your plan after I know the truth?"

The vice president stood up without saying anything and said, "I'm going to the bathroom."

Lance was the only one left in the restaurant.

While eating dinner, Lance said, "It's a delicious dinner, even better than what the chefs of famous restaurants make."

The president laughed when he heard this, "I know you are flattering me, but I like your flattery."

He paused, "What are you going to do next?"

Lance swallowed the food in his mouth slowly. He picked up the napkin and wiped the oil stains on his lips. "You will lose the bet agreement with those independent investors."

"This will immediately undermine the confidence of all shareholders and investors and completely drain the company's liquidity."

The president nodded his head when he heard this, and added his own opinion, "It is indeed a good idea. Without working capital, all the problems of the company will emerge at once. Apart from bankruptcy, the only thing left is to lie on the chopping block and let you cut it."

"Whether to dismember it or do something else, it's up to you."

"But, sir, there is one thing I don't understand."

"That is, the shares of Liji Group have begun to rise, and we are expected to complete this bet agreement on January 15th."

"Even if we fail to complete it, we will need to pay more money to redeem this part of the shares, but our losses are still within our tolerance range!"

"Wasn't your plan foiled?"

(End of this chapter)