Chapter 306: There must be another way out.

Her voice, soft yet intimidating and unyielding, filtered through the conference room like a haunting melody that wouldn’t be silenced.

It commanded attention, not by volume, but by sheer power. Every member seated at the long mahogany boardroom table turned their heads, eyes wide with a mixture of reverence and curiosity.

Vera took a deep breath to calm her nerves, but it was barely effective. Her hands trembled slightly under the table as her eyes flicked between Desmond and Jessica.

Aaron, seated beside his father, clenched his fists so tightly under the table that the veins on his knuckles bulged. He struggled to restrain the fiery storm of temper swirling inside him.

Desmond, for all his usual composure, could feel something was wrong. The confidence exuding from Jessica wasn’t the bravado of someone bluffing. It was a certainty.

He suddenly had a gnawing premonition that things might not go his way, especially if he allowed her to keep speaking.

"Whatever brought you here has to wait until this meeting is over," he said sharply, raising his voice to regain dominance. "We need to continue. There are decisions to be made for the sake of time."

He met Jessica’s eyes with a glare meant to intimidate, but her eyes didn’t waver. They met his squarely, filled with calm disdain.

"Uncle," she began, her voice light, almost amused. "You don’t have to fret over anything. Like I said, I’m here strictly for business."

She turned away from Desmond, her eyes scanning the faces of the board members.

"I am—" she started, only to be cut off.

"Can we talk outside?" Desmond asked coldly. The temperature of his voice dropped enough to send a chill through several people at the table.

But the temperature in the room dropped further when Jessica answered.

"Mr. Allen Desmond," she said smoothly, turning back to him, "were you never trained not to interrupt others when they speak?"

Her words sliced through the room like a dagger. Gasps echoed, and whispers followed immediately. The board members stared at Desmond, unsure what stunned them more: Jessica’s rebuke or the fact that she had the gall to say it.

Then she followed it up.

"Or do you have something you’re trying to hide from us?"

Desmond swallowed hard. He forced himself to take a deep breath, his chest rising and falling in slow movements as he tried to rein in the fury that threatened to boil over. Stay calm, he told himself. Let her finish. It’s not like I’m going down with the rest.

Jessica smiled wider. Her smile was not sweet but practiced "I am Jessica Allen," she said clearly. "Granddaughter-in-law to Elder Allen."

The room erupted in murmurs again.

"Granddaughter-in-law?"

"So she is married to Davis?"

"What is she doing here at the board meeting?"

just objected to

other, confusion mounting. Desmond remained stiff

raised her hand slightly

not submissive. "However, as the major shareholder of the Allen Group,

the room, thicker and heavier than

her voice shrill, almost

lips parted slightly, as if to speak, but no sound

her head

ordinary shares. No need to get

he was watching a comedy show. That irritated Vera more than anything. She glared

finally found his

impossible," he said. "You cannot possibly be the major shareholder. What about the old man? Are

a short

won’t believe anything unless you see it

lady stepped

it open and pulled out the shareholder certificate. She passed it

room buzzed as the members leaned in to look. Murmurs

"30%?"

"Is this real?"

sneered, latching onto the one straw

with that," he said, "you only have 30%. That’s not enough

nodded slowly, giving him

But Jessica wasn’t done.

leaned against the table slightly,

said, "you claim to hold 20% in shares, but only 5% is currently in your name. The rest have been ..."

All heads

one brow. A tiny smile touched his lips. She really came prepared,

His

Jessica wasn’t finished.

want to talk about votes and proxy rights?" she continued. "Let me help you with

pulled out another document. This one she

a third-party acquisition," she said casually. "That brings my total to

Now the

stared at

could you let this happen?"

a beat before speaking

her voice as soft as silk and sharp as a sword, "25% inherited

name ’Nora Santiago’ echoed

he’d just

"You..." he stammered.

Jessica smirked.

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