Chase, still seated confidently, smiled.
âYes.
If nothing had happened to Brian, we wouldnât be holding an emergency meeting to elect a new CEO.
â
The board members began whispering among themselves, discussing Brianâs accident and speculating about the next CEO.
âFrankie, are you planning to return to the company? Weâre in a state of crisis, after all,â asked a board member who was close to Frankie.
Frankie, looking despondent, opened his mouth but couldnât find the words.
Chase sneered.
âFrankie has just experienced a tragic loss.
Do you think he can take over the company now?â
The board murmured among themselves again.
âIf Frankie doesnât take over the company, who will?â another member inquired.
Chase leaned forward, a smirk on his face.
âLadies and gentlemen, have you forgotten that Frankie isnât the only Hughes? I am also a Hughes.
â
Hearing Chaseâs words, the room fell silent as the implication sank in.
Chase wanted to become the new CEO of Hughes Group.
âYou mean to say youâll be the new CEO? But youâve already been expelled from the group,â someone questioned, skepticism heavy in his tone.
âTrue,â another voice chimed in.
âThe CEO should hold the highest shares.
Without any shares, how can you take over?â
Chase remained composed, letting the boardâs questions hang in the air.
Then he explained, âWhen my mother learned about Brianâs situation, she knew the group needed stable leadership.
She transferred all her shares to me.
Therefore, I am qualified to take over.
â
He laid a share transfer agreement on the table.
The directors passed it around, examining it closely.
Debora owned fifteen percent of the shares, and with her transfer, Chase would become the second-largest shareholder.
This indeed qualified him to assume the presidency.
Surprised murmurs filled the room as the directors processed this turn of events.
Deboraâs transfer of all her shares to Chase was unexpected, but as a family matter, they had little to say.
âEven so, I believe Frankie should take over the group now.
Before Brian, it was Frankie who managed everything,â a director asserted.
âThatâs right.
Despite his dejected state after losing his son, Frankie will bounce back and be prepared to lead again,â another director agreed.
Others nodded in agreement, clearly favoring Frankie over Chase.
They didnât like Chase.
After all, the time when Aldrich almost took the company toward the wrong direction was still fresh in their minds.
Chase had anticipated this reaction.
He turned to Frankie.
âFrankie, do you want to take over the group?â