Chapter 52 - Chapter 52. Money woes

When Kevin got to his office at Williams Media, he found out that the company's shares were about to tank. He suspected that the Williams family was behind the manipulation of stocks in the largest companies in Chicago. He called his uncle Thomas to find out if he was behind it. The family wanted him to come back to New York to talk it out with his grandfather.Kevin didn't answer him, he just hung up the phone. Then he tapped on his desk while he thought about what to do. He couldn't understand how the Williams family had suddenly found enough money to do this. Their situation was desperate.After thinking for a while, Kevin decided to call Mitchell Cook, Adriana Wright, Gilbert Rhodes and the others to come to an emergency meeting at his office.Within an hour, they'd all arrived."Mr. Williams, what's going on? Why did the Williams family suddenly launch this financial attack on Chicago?" Adriana was the first to ask."With their influence, they'll have no trouble taking over all the major industries in the city. But the way they're doing it, they'll destroy the entire economy," Cook said bitterly.As the most prominent business leaders in Chicago, they naturally found who was behind this madness, but they didn't understand the reason behind it.Gilbert Rhodes suddenly stood up, looked directly at Kevin and asked, "Mr. Williams, are they doing this to get even with you?"It's useless to dwell on that now. The important thing is that the Williams family has already made their move," Kevin said stoically.Hearing this, Cook and the others were unsure how to respond to the threat. They were considered to be the most influential business leaders in all of Chicago, with enormous financial resources. But they still didn't have enough clout to stand up to the colossal financial power of the Williams family.They simply weren't a match for them."Let's not get pessimistic. The reason I called you here today is to discuss countermeasures," Kevin said confidently."Mr. Williams, just tell me what to do. We'll support you with all we've got, no matter what," Emo Squire said very frankly."That's right. Without you, we wouldn't be where we are today," Adriana said optimistically.Mitchell Cook and Gilbert Rhodes didn't say anything, but they nodded in agreement.Kevin thought for a moment and said, "Although the situation looks critical, it doesn't mean that the Williams family will definitely succeed. The first step we need to take is to stabilize the stock market."Kevin slammed his fist on his desk and said firmly, "Let's use our money to push back at them!"Kevin is right. We definitely can't avoid it. They're playing rough, so we will too. Even if it kills us, we'll make sure they don't get out of this unhurt!" Mitchell Cook said forcefully.Within an hour of the meeting, everyone in the stock exchange was shocked. As everyone watched, the Williams Group stepped up and invested three billion dollars.After that, Mitchell Cook, Adriana and the others followed suit. Each of them took billions of dollars and poured everything they could into the stock market.The enormous transfers of funds attracted everyone's attention. When the stock market closed in the afternoon, they had managed to stabilize Chicago's financial position.Cook and the others promised that they would follow Williams Media's lead and match Kevin's actions. They vowed to protect Chicago's financial base even if it cost them their lives and their fortunes.*That night, the Jones family held a meeting in their mansion."How much of our stock fell today?" Grandma Jones asked with a gloomy expression."Grandma, our shares dropped by 60 percent," one of her nephews said with a depressed look on his face.There was silence in the room while they tried to figure out how to respond."What can we do? If this keeps up, we may lose everything!" Grandma Jones said with some frustration.This kind of economic war wasn't something that a small family company could afford to be in."Grandma, I have a suggestion, but I don't know if everyone will agree," Jason said slowly."Oh? What do you suggest?" Grandma Jones asked in surprise."Didn't Williams Media lead the way today? Why don't we take half of our shares and buy into their company?" Jason explained carefully, "That way, however this turns out, we'll at least be able to maintain half of our wealth."That's right. We can ask Williams Media for help," one of his uncles replied.But they still weren't sure if Williams Media would go along with this. They also weren't sure they'd be able to work together.Kevin, who was standing next to Lily, frowned slightly when he heard this. He instantly understood Jason's ultimate goal."Lily, what do you think about Jason's proposal?" Grandma Jones asked gently."It's up to you to decide, Grandma," Lily said with a sullen look on her face.The Jones corporation's shares were dropping in value and they were practically bleeding money. They didn't see any other way to stop it."Alright, since you said that the decision is up to grandma, then you'll have to contribute fifty percent of the company shares!" Jason said deviously.Kevin stood up before Lily could say anything, "Jason, what do you mean? What right do you have to make my wife turn over all her shares?"Sixty percent of the company's shares are now in Lily's hands. If she doesn't do this, then who will?" Jason said with a sour look on his face, "If she still considers herself to be a member of the Jones family, then she needs to do this right now."Everyone started arguing, claiming that the shares weren't really hers and that it was about time she did something for the family. The discussion got louder and louder."Quiet!" Grandma Jones said loudly, "Stop arguing!"Then Grandma Jones looked at Lily and forced a smile, "Lily, this concerns the survival of our family. Why don't you turn over your shares? In any case, don't you agree that it's not fair for them to be in your hands anyway?"I don't agree!" Kevin shouted."What did you say?" Grandma Jones snapped back.Before Kevin could say anything, Jason jumped on him too, "Kevin, don't think you're so special just because you know a few rich people. If you're so great, why don't you get them to bail us out?"They all started to criticize Kevin again, complaining that he wasn't a true member of the family and had no voice in their meetings.Then Jason continued to explain his plan, "Grandma, I recently met with a senior member of Williams Media. As long as Lily is willing to turn over her shares, I have a way to transfer them to Williams Media. After the crisis is over, we can sell them and buy back control of our company."And how do we allocate the shares after that?" Kevin asked loudly.Everyone stopped talking when he said this.Grandma Jones had an unhappy look on her face. Lily wanted to say something, but she just couldn't get herself to speak."Grandma is the head of the family. Of course the shares would go to her," Jason said very naturally."Jason, you have no shame!" Kevin said loudly."How dare you disagree with me!" Jason grumbled. "From what you're saying, it sounds like Lily isn't willing to go along with this plan anyway."Just as Kevin was about to say something else, Lily tugged on his sleeve."Lily, what do you think we should do?" Grandma Jones asked in a slow, calculating voice."Grandma, as long as you think it's appropriate, I have no objections," Lily said tensely.When she heard this, a smile immediately appeared on Grandma Jones's face.Jason's mouth also curled into a wicked smile, and a proud expression flashed in his eyes."No!" Kevin shouted."What did you say?" Grandma Jones said as she looked at Kevin angrily."If we must use our shares for this transfer, Grandma, you should contribute 20%, and my wife should give 30%. Moreover, after the crisis is resolved, the shares should revert to their respective owners," Kevin said matter-of-factly."How dare you!" Grandma Jones yelled as she banged her fist on her armrest. "Do you have the right to speak here? Get out!"Grandma Jones stared at Kevin menacingly.This was the second time Kevin had contradicted her in public. If she didn't teach him a lesson now, she wouldn't have any control over him in the future.Kevin suddenly sneered and said, "You people are really funny!"What are you laughing at?" Grandma Jones asked hesitantly."I'm laughing at the Jones family. You do consider yourselves to be a family, don't you. How could you be so desperate?" Kevin sneered and continued, "First, you wanted to use my wife and exchange her for Meriwether's shares. Now that the shares are in her hands, you want to trick her into giving them back to you? Can't you see how funny that is?"Everyone stared at him awkwardly, but none of them refuted him, because they knew he was telling the truth."You bastard! Someone, throw him out of here!" Grandma Jones screamed."Who's willing to take the first swing?" Kevin said calmly as he looked around the room.Kevin knew they wouldn't try anything. They'd all seen how he pulverized Meriwether in just a couple of minutes."Alright, Kevin!" Lily said as she suddenly stood up and took him by the hand. She turned to Grandma Jones and said, "Grandma, it's getting late. Let's talk about this again tomorrow."Then Lily led Kevin out the door.When Jason saw that Grandma Jones wasn't going to stop them, he didn't say anything. After all, Lily was currently holding the high cards and right now, there was nothing he could do about it."Lily, I'll let you and that useless husband of yours appreciate the moment. But when you lose your shares, I'll teach you a lesson," Jason thought to himself.As Kevin and Lily got into their car and drove away, no one said anything.*When Kevin got to the office the next day, Ms. Wilson had already been waiting for him for half an hour."What is it?" Kevin asked worriedly.He couldn't let Williams Media fail, not when he knew that it would be so useful for him in the future."Sir, many of our senior executives want to have a meeting with you!" Ms. Wilson didn't answer Kevin's question directly, but he could tell from her serious expression that the news wasn't good."Okay, have them wait for me in the meeting room in half an hour," Kevin said thoughtfully.Next, Kevin checked the company's stock situation on his computer. As the markets opened, their share prices fell by 10%. By now, they had already lost hundreds of millions.Kevin sighed slightly and took out the bracelet that he'd bought from Ruben at Phoebe's antique store."What's the use?" Kevin said with a slight frown.While he was turning the bracelet over and over in his hand, he started to feel more relaxed and confident."That's odd," he thought to himself. Then he took a closer look at the stone that was set in the bracelet. It wasn't a green emerald at all. It was actually a green tourmaline. How could he have made such a rookie mistake? But it did explain why he was drawn to it in the first place.Kevin slowly put the bracelet on the table. After thinking for a moment, he decided to call Officer Emmett to ask her opinion. After all, she had set him on the path to making herbal remedies. Maybe she knew something about this, too."Hello, Kevin? What do you want?" Officer Emmett answered in a surprised tone."I'm wondering what you might know about green tourmaline," Kevin asked hesitantly."I was wondering when you might ask me something like that," she said frankly. "A lot of people believe that certain stones can help you to focus your energy to relax or work on your health. Things like that.""Interesting," Kevin smiled and said, "I felt drawn to a tourmaline bracelet the other day at the antique store. What do you think?"Why should I tell you?" Officer Emmett said jokingly."I'm serious," Kevin insisted."I'll tell you, but you need to say 'please.''" Officer Emmett replied mischievously."Come on, I'm serious," Kevin was starting to get frustrated.He knew she was just teasing, but he didn't have a lot of time for this today."Come on. Just once. What's the magic word?" Officer Emmett tried again."Okay. Please," Kevin said in a very low voice."I'm sorry I can't hear you. Could you speak up?" Officer Emmett said in a satisfied tone.Kevin took a deep breath and said very clearly, "Please!"That's better," Officer Emmett said. "Come to the downtown Luxbank office in an hour. Don't forget to bring the bracelet. I'll explain everything to you then. See you later." She hung up before Kevin could say good-bye.Ms. Wilson came into Kevin's office as soon as he put his phone in his pocket. "Mr. Williams, all the senior executives are waiting for you in the conference room."Kevin nodded and left the office.This was the first high-level meeting that Kevin had held since he took over Williams Media, so a lot of them didn't have a great impression of his leadership abilities.As soon as he walked into the conference room, one of the vice presidents stood up and said, "Mr. Williams, we can't fight this anymore. Even if we win, we'll suffer heavy losses." The executives were all panicked about what the Williams family was doing to their company. They were willing to give up and let them buy them out if that was what it took to save Williams Media.Kevin sat patiently and listened to them.Finally, Kevin's eyes swept across the room before he slowly said, "Are you all done?"Sir, I strongly recommend that we give in," one of the older, more experienced executives said firmly."How much money did the Williams family offer you to make you react like this?" Kevin asked calmly.When he said this, the entire meeting room grew quiet.Kevin leaned forward in his chair and looked everyone in the eye, one by one, before he said, "I came to this meeting today to tell you something. If anyone feels that fighting the Williams family is a mistake, please leave now."Then Kevin sat back in his chair feeling very confident and relaxed. He knew that they would get through this, but he just wasn't sure how.