Chapter 148

Joanna suspected Bruce was behind her current troubles. "If he wants me dead, he has plenty of despicable methods," she mused. She called Luna: "How much stock do we have?"

"Only enough for this quarter. We need a new supplier for next quarter!" Luna replied urgently.

"Okay, I understand," Joanna said, ending the call.

Jaydon, concerned, asked, "Joanna, what happened?"

Joanna sighed. "The Stark Group cut off our supply!"

"What's your plan?" Jaydon asked.

"Find a new supplier immediately," Joanna said. Pausing, she added, "If that fails, I'll contact CI Technologies again."

Jaydon frowned. "CI Technologies isn't a good partner. David isn't a good person." He suspected Bruce's involvement, remembering an incident where Bruce had beaten David.

Joanna said, "I'll try. If all else fails, I'll handle R&D myself, even if it means risking bankruptcy."

Jaydon smiled, patting her shoulder. "It's okay. Even if you go bankrupt, you have me. I can help with fundraising." While he lacked business connections, the Grimm family's wealth was considerable.

The next day, Joanna's fourth in Porash, her phone vibrated. It was Luna: "Miss Haynes, return to Greyport immediately!"

"What happened?" Joanna asked.

"Mr. Roger and Mr. Paul are threatening to fire your R&D staff from Melta," Luna reported.

Joanna was shocked. "Why?"

Luna explained that Roger and Paul claimed the staff's salaries were too high and they hadn't generated profit in their four to five months at Haynes Group.

Joanna responded, "I understand. I'll return this afternoon and call a board meeting tomorrow morning."

She'd barely hung up when the finance director called, reporting that funding for the Porash factory had been cut, leaving a $2 million payment for new equipment due immediately.

Joanna felt besieged.

The next day, she rushed back to Greyport and arrived at the company by 8:20 a.m., just as Roger, Paul, and others entered the conference room.

Joanna's expression hardened. "I hear you want to fire my R&D engineers, Mr. Roger and Mr. Paul?"

"Yes! Anyone not pulling their weight must go," they demanded.

Joanna's anger flared. "I recruited them from Melta. We can't fire them."

Paul scoffed, "Easy for you to say! They're paid but unproductive, just lazing around."

Roger agreed, "This is reckless! The company can't afford it. Their salaries could hire three or four equally skilled people!"

Joanna tried to reason with them, explaining that R&D's benefits aren't immediate; it takes time, potentially years, to see results.

Paul sneered, "What development? Are they your cronies? Are you using company funds to subsidize them?"

Joanna insisted they were top-notch engineers and that project development takes time—a year, two years, even ten.

Paul retorted sarcastically, "So we hire someone, train them for eight to ten years before they're profitable?"

Joanna insisted that wasn't her point. Roger and Paul, acting on Bruce's instructions, were trying to oust Joanna from the board.

Unable to convince them, Joanna compromised. "Fine. Let them work at the Porash factory. That's outside your purview."

Roger shrugged. "No objection. You can pay them whatever you want."

"Meeting adjourned," Joanna declared.

Immediately, Roger and Paul raised the issue of the Stark Group cutting off supplies, questioning how they would manage next quarter's sales.

Joanna sighed, "I'll figure something out."

They challenged her, and Joanna retorted, "Then let's all brainstorm a solution. You're directors too! You can't expect me to bear this burden alone!"

They countered that as CEO, largest shareholder, and executive director, she was ultimately responsible. Joanna was speechless; they enjoyed the company's benefits but were unwilling to weather the storm. They'd been fawning over her during prosperous times but now only blamed her.

Joanna wished to leave but lacked the funds to buy out their shares. Bruce was manipulating the situation to her detriment.

Mid-meeting, Cora announced Bruce Everett's arrival. Upon seeing him, Roger and Paul immediately became deferential.

Bruce entered, his gaze settling on Joanna. "Miss Haynes, you're busy. Hard to get a meeting," he remarked suggestively, placing a hand on her chair.

Joanna responded formally, "Mr. Everett, this is a board meeting. Behave appropriately."

Bruce's demeanor shifted to something darker. Joanna requested he sit down.

Bruce instead ordered everyone else to leave. Joanna countered, but Bruce overruled her, and everyone except Joanna and Bruce left the room.

"Satisfied now, Bruce?" Joanna asked.

Bruce replied coldly, "Only when you're completely defeated."

Joanna demanded to know his motive, but he simply said there was no enmity between them, adding that he did it for his own amusement. Joanna's fury was unrestrained.