He Left Me For His Pregnant Ex, So I Took Everything Chapter 05

He Left Me For His Pregnant Ex, So I Took Everything Chapter 05

Garrett grabbed the document.

A second later, his head snapped up at me.

“Sixty-seven percent?”

Murmurs rippled through the room.

Ruby heard it from outside and pushed in. “Sixty-seven percent of what?”

Lawyer Davis said, “Crestview Ventures has increased its stake to sixty-seven percent of Garrison Group.”

Garrett stared at the representative. “Who’s the actual controller of Crestview Ventures?”

The representative stepped to my side.

“Chairwoman Stirling.”

Garrett’s hands pressed against the table.

Davis continued, “Meaning the new majority shareholder of Garrison Group is—”

“Me.”

I finished his sentence.

Everyone in the room turned.

I placed the authorization document on the table. “The actual controller of Crestview Ventures is me. Scarlett Stirling.”

Garrett stood frozen. Words seemed to fail him.

Ruby recovered first. “That’s impossible! Where did you get that kind of money?”

I looked at her. “Sold the properties.”

The color drained from her face.

I went on: “Plus my own earnings from the past few years, and pre-marital assets from my family.”

Mrs. Vance burst in. “What family? Don’t try to intimidate us!”

Miles Montgomery spoke up. “Mrs. Vance, Arthur Stirling. You’ve heard the name.”

Mrs. Vance’s mouth opened but nothing came out.

Garrett’s eyes locked on me. “Arthur Stirling is your father?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you never tell me?”

“You never asked. You only said I studied jewelry, so I couldn’t help you.”

Someone at the table whispered, “Arthur Stirling funded Garrison Group’s first round.”

I slid another document forward. “Not just funded—saved.”

“That first thirty million came from my mother’s trust. Garrett, your father signed a repurchase guarantee.”

Garrett clung to whatever dignity he had left. “So what? What are you planning to do now?”

“First, I am freezing all unauthorized loan applications involving my assets.”

“Second, you are suspended from the chairmanship, effective immediately, pending a forensic financial audit.”

“Third, restructure the board.”

His laugh was brittle. “Scarlett, you think you can run Garrison Group?”

“I can hire people who can.”

He had nothing.

Ruby suddenly burst into tears. “Scarlett, you’ve won. Are you happy now? Garrett’s already been through so much.”

I asked, “Are you a shareholder?”

She shook her head.

“Then get out.”

She stood there clutching the baby. “I’m his wife.”

I nodded. “Exactly why you should leave. Company meetings aren’t for personal affairs.”

A few shareholders stifled laughs.

Garrett pulled Ruby aside. “Go outside.”

Ruby stared at him in disbelief. “You’re asking me to leave?”

Garrett wouldn’t look at her.

She turned away, back stiff, but her steps were shaky.

I knew—this was only the beginning.

Predictably, Miles spoke up. “Chairwoman Stirling, if you want to take over, I have no objection. But Garrison Group isn’t a jewelry boutique. You need to show us something.”

I looked at him. “What exactly do you need to see?”

“That two hundred forty million dollar shortfall. How do you fix it in three days?”

I answered: “This afternoon, Crestview injects eighty million. Bank credit lines restore a hundred million. The remaining sixty million comes from cutting three money-losing projects signed off by Garrett in the last six months.”

Garrett jerked upright. “Those are my new initiatives!”

“And right now, they’re Garrison Group’s biggest cash drains.”

I turned to the last page. “If you want to keep them, fund them yourself.”

The room went quiet again.

I stood. “Ladies and gentlemen, Garrison Group survives by cutting losses first.”

“Anyone who disagrees—speak now.”

No one did.

Outside the door, Ruby’s crying had stopped.

I knew—she’d heard everything.

That day, the internal announcement went out.

Garrett Vance suspended from chairmanship. I would lead the board on an interim basis.

I’d barely left the conference room when he cornered me.

“Scarlett, you played this dirty.”

“Less dirty than you.”

He glared. “You were planning this all along?”

“Yes.”

“You hate me that much?”

“I don’t hate you. I just want you to give up the seat you owe me.”

He laughed. “You think those employees will accept you? They’ve been with me for years.”

I didn’t respond.

In the lobby, dozens of staff members stood watching.

I heard the whispers: “That’s her?”

“She’s the CEO’s ex-wife?”

“Ex-wife is now the boss? That’s…”

Garrett seized the moment. “Everyone, I know the company is going through changes today, but I’ll work with Chairwoman Stirling to ensure you’re all protected.”

I cut him off. “Garrett, you’re not authorized to speak for the company anymore.”