Chapter 168: READING (4)
Chapter 168: READING (4)
The reading of the will could be said to have run very smoothly and did not encounter any significant obstacles because Aileen did not have the right to demand more than what was given to her.
Tatum Jewelry's shares owned by Hailee's parents amount to sixty- seven percent, of which Hailee got fifty- five percent and Aileen got twelve percent.
The total inherited shares under Hailee's name automatically made her the biggest shareholder in the company and have full authority to remove Aileen and George from the chair they have occupied without prior negotiation.
Needless to say that the two of them didn't have any right to be there in the first place, if it was not because of Hailee went missing for some time and there were no one occupied that position.
This was not surprising at all and Ramon had anticipated it well. It was only a matter of time until Ramon could take control of the company, replacing Hailee and overhaul all management in it.
This made George worry and made him feel very uncomfortable, because he knew that he had taken a wrong move during his first encounter with Ramon the first time they met and it was proved to be a very fatal step.
Perhaps Ramon never brought this up, but George more than understood that this was not going to go unpunished and easily forgotten, especially for someone like Ramon, whose status alone, demanded every respect from other people.
This time George had completely taken a misstep and put himself in an extremely dangerous situation for his future at the company.
The only way to save himself was Aileen's marriage to Theodore, because after all Aileen was his real child and there was no way she were to betray him, right? At least, that was what in his mind right now.
However, George seemed to overestimate the control he held over Aileen and this was a huge miscalculation because Aileen had made other plans behind his back.
Meanwhile, apart from company shares, there were five houses which were in the names of Hailee's parents. One of which was the main house where Hailee grew up and was now occupied by Aileen alone.
Four of the five houses were transferred under Hailee's name and one house, which was a house in the same residential area as the Tatum family's main house, was handed over to Aileen.
Even though it was a house in the same area, it was rarely occupied and much smaller than the main house.
However, of course Aileen could not protest about it and could only show her understanding smile while holding back the jealousy and desire to scratch the face of Hailee who was smiling and whispering affectionately to Ramon Tordoff.
Actually, she didn't need those houses, since she lived in Tordoff residence with Ramon.
How could Hailee get everything while Aileen only got the little things that were insignificant when compared to what Hailee had?
It didn't stop there, there were some jewelry and small shares in three other companies, all of which fell into Hailee's hands, while Aileen got a land with an area of ??fifty hectares, which was planted with coffee beans and plantations that were still active and producing annually.
Meanwhile, Hailee inherited two diamond mines, one of which was overseas and was still very productive until today.
And after a few more statements and the attorney's concluding words, silence engulfed the room until George spoke up.
"Hailee really doesn't understand how to manage a company, what if I volunteer to help her," George suggested.
If he couldn't stand up to fight Hailee, then he'd better stand up to help her, but on the other hand this help was like a knife with two sharp edges, ready to scratch anyone, or take George's first chance to get Hailee in his grasp.
But, just like his previous calculations, that often went wrong, he simply did not think that Ramon had done that long before the day this would happen because the man had such a strong vision.
"No need," Ramon interrupted it calmly before George could say any further. "I myself will help my wife."
It went without saying that Ramon and his team of professionals were more than capable of assisting Hailee in dealing with management issues at Tatum Jewelry, so it could be said that George's help was completely useless and out of place.
How ridiculous George's offer when Ramon was more than capable to help Hailee in this case.
Of course, this was realized by George and Aileen. Hailee would not take the reins of leadership alone, she needed Ramon behind her, which also meant that Ramon was the actual person who would run the company.
They were both like two very efficient twin swords, on the pretext that Hailee was the true heir, the shareholders would definitely support her, especially knowing Ramon Tordoff's involvement in it.
Who would miss a chance of partnership with the Tordoffs?
George's case of canceling the purchase of Ramon's ring the other day got him heavily criticized, not to mention that his reputation was damaged after he bought the ring.
Logically thinking, no one would support him. And, it was over for George if Ramon managed to get into this big mess and kick him out of the company, which George knew very well that this man could do just that.
"Yes, thank you uncle, but my husband is more than enough to help me deal with problems at the company." Hailee then looked at Ramon with a look full of love and admiration, which made Diego smile happily, but it didn't seem to be felt by some of the other people in the room.
"Very well, because I have conveyed the important things that must be said in accordance with the will that has been left by Mr and Mrs. Tatum, I will resign myself now." The lawyer then stood up and smiled at every person in the room, shaking hands one by one. "To sign other important papers, Mrs. Tordoff can come to my office."
The lawyer informed Hailee and the girl smiled happily at how her name was mentioned.
Mrs. Tordoff.
Hmm… sounds really nice to carry that name.
Afterward, Zia escorted the lawyer out of the room, leaving them to discuss further, but Zia's thoughts from the start of the reading of the will to its completion, were still divided.
Zia's mind wasn't here at all. She didn't even really listen to what percentage she got, which was nothing significant anyway, since it was only five percent from a small company.
Yes, Zia got a share, even though it's very small, but it showed how much Hailee's parents love her too.
However, Zia wasn't focused on that at all, as two things were echoing in her mind.
First was the fact that Aidan had slept with Aileen.
Zia did not understand how the two of them happened to meet and Aileen took advantage of the situation by trapping Aidan in such a way. It was too weird to be a coincidence, but Aileen shouldn't be aiming for Aidan, right? She was going to marry Theodore.
And the other thing, that Aileen was pregnant with Theodore's child really left Zia flabbergasted and she couldn't stop thinking, how could Aileen do that?
Then the second thought was; Aidan's words which said that he would get a divorce from Giana.
That statement gave Zia all kinds of complicated feelings. She wasn't sure what to feel when she heard the news.
Should she be happy? What happened exactly? Wasn't Aidan so against the idea of divorce because the consequences were too great?
So what made Aidan finally decide to divorce Giana?
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After reading the will, the whole Tatum family had a small talk about various things until it was late afternoon and Hailee and Ramon had to say goodbye because they both planned to visit the resting place of Hailee's parents.
This had been planned for a long time, but for one reason or another, this was the first time they could make it happen.
"Hailee, can we talk for a moment?" Theodore suddenly walked up to Hailee and grabbed her arm so they could talk secretly in the corridor, while Ramon and the others were still in the room.
Hailee immediately brushed off Theodore's hand because she felt uncomfortable being too close to this man.
It's really annoying to have to be forced by someone you don't like.
"Stop bothering me," Hailee hissed sarcastically. She then tried to get back into the room again, but Theodore pulled her farther away and looked so hasty. "If you keep doing this, then I will scream!" Hailee threatened.
Either because of her successful threat, or Theodore thought it was better to keep a safe distance for him to be able to talk to Hailee freely, but finally he stopped and looked at the woman who a few months ago was his fiancé.
"I have been investigating about Aileen." Theodore finally said, breathing heavily, as if a lump of emotions was trying to block his throat.
Hearing Theodore's statement, Hailee pushed the man away from her, but she didn't go away from there.
Theodore's words were just intriguing enough for Hailee to hear more about what he had to say next.
"Then?" Hailee raised an eyebrow in a very sarcastic fashion. "What are you telling me this for?"
Theodore then looked away awkwardly. "I thought you wanted to know about this ..." he said in a low voice.
"Why do you think I want to know?" Hailee snorted in annoyance.