Chapter 111: Boardroom Showdown (II)

Jenny stood with a smile of her own, moving to the space that Jasmine had just vacated.

One could see clearly that she was Clarisse’s daughter. She didn’t have the same inherent authority that Jasmine had but she had a confidence that couldn’t be ignored.

"Thank you, Mr. Hayes." She said before turning to her audience. Time to see if we made the right decision.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here today to present a different vision for Apex. A vision that balances innovation with impact and growth with responsibility."

She gestured like a queen and the screen behind her came to life, showing the logo of the new division created through the partnership with Ward Impact Ventures.

That had been something we’d discussed before. If she imitated her mother’s mannerism but in her own way, people would eventually begin linking them together.

It won’t be hard for them to begin to wonder why Clarisse had hosted this whole competition when Jasmine had been by her right hand for years. Wasn’t she qualified enough?

"This new division represents a bold step forward for Apex." Jenny continued with her presentation.

"By combining our financial expertise with Ward Impact Ventures’ philanthropic focus, we’re entering a space that’s ripe for disruption. Socially responsible investing."

She clicked to the next slide, which displayed a portfolio of companies the division had already begun to target. These were businesses that not only showed strong financial potential but also created tangible social and environmental benefits.

"Our mission with this division is twofold." She raised two fingers. "First, to deliver exceptional returns for our investors by identifying high-growth companies in emerging industries. And second, to create a lasting positive impact on society."

The boardroom was silent, all eyes fixed on Jenny as she outlined the division’s first initiatives. The impressive portfolio included investments in renewable energy startups, tech companies focusing on accessibility and innovative housing projects designed to combat urban homelessness.

"The numbers speak for themselves." Jenny said, clicking to a slide that showed impressive financial projections. "This division is projected to achieve a 15% annual return over the next five years, all while aligning Apex with the values of the next generation of investors."

"Millennials and Gen Z are demanding more from the companies they invest in and this division positions us to meet that demand."

She turned to face the board directly. "But this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about a single word. Legacy."

There it was! The L word.

"Apex has always been a leader and leaders set the standard." She smiled exactly like her mother and everybody unconsciously glanced at Clarisse who was wearing the exact same smile.

"With this division, we’re proving that profitability and responsibility aren’t mutually exclusive. They’re complimentary." Jenny nodded. "And as the leader of tomorrow, why start tomorrow when we can do it today?"

There was a moment of silence as Jenny finished, then, slowly, a ripple of nods began to spread around the table.

I also didn’t bother hiding the smile that had appeared on my face. Jenny had nailed it.

Even if the most boneheaded board member hadn’t seen it, we’d be able to hammer it in the coming months. The differences between Jenny and Jasmine’s visions.

Where Jasmine’s vision was aggressive and high-risk, making use of predictive investments, Jenny’s was balanced and forward thinking. She wasn’t just chasing profits but was also redefining what it meant to lead in the financial world.

She’d also aligned with Impact Ward Ventures, a company that nobody had yet to find any fault in.

Jenny returned to her seat and Hayes took the floor, thanking both candidates for their presentations.

Things moved fast and before there was any time to settle, the board members filed out one by one to cast their votes.

I leaned back in my chair with my arms crossed, watching the process with a neutral expression on my face. If only the cashback system came with superpowers of some kind, I’d have been able to know who they voted for before the results were announced.

But that would’ve made the system too OP and I’m sure the guys up in heaven wouldn’t have given me the system, universe assassin or not.

My eyes shifted to the most important person in the room. Clarisse remained seated, her smile still pasted on her face as she observed the board members. She looked like it didn’t matter to her who won, which had to be the image she was showing to the board members.

She was using her body language to tell them to vote for whoever they wanted.

My gaze moved to the two sisters. Jenny sat confidently with her back straight and her hands folded in her lap while Jasmine sat with another kind of confidence. The confidence of someone who already believed she’d won.

She occasionally glanced around the room, her practiced smile flickering briefly toward each board member who stepped out to vote. She wasn’t even trying to hide it.

The most surprising thing about this whole production was the fact that the entire process took longer than I expected.

The board members deliberated among themselves, a few even glancing towards Jenny and Jasmine as they whispered. I’d expected them to just vote for whoever had been on their mind before, instead of rethinking things now.

But I guess Jenny’s idea of socially responsible investing paired with Apex’s potential to lead in that space had clearly struck a chord with them or something.

When the final board member returned to their seat and every vote had been counted, Hayes stood.

"Ladies and gentlemen." He said with his showman voice. "The votes have been counted and we’re ready to announce the interim decision for leadership at Apex Investments."

A pin drop silence covered the room.

I glanced at Jenny. She sat confidently but her knuckles whitened slightly as she clasped her hands together.

Her nerves were invisible to everyone else but I’d spent enough time with her to catch the tiny tells.

Hayes glanced at a sheet of paper, adjusting his glasses. "Before I announce the results, let me thank both candidates for their thoughtful and visionary presentations. Your dedication to Apex Investments and its future is commendable."

Jasmine smiled radiantly as she inclining her head like a gracious Queen. On the other hand, Jenny gave a small, polite nod.

"And now," Hayes said, "the board has decided. The interim leader of Apex Investments is…"@@novelbin@@