Chapter 9

"Joann, did I hear correctly? You're going to kick me, your own father, out?"

Joanna looked at Shaun coolly. "I'm not kicking you out. You're unfit to be in the Haynes Group."

The Haynes Group was overrun with Ingrid's relatives, all slacking off. Joanna knew the company would fail if she didn't remove them.

"Good, very good! A dutiful daughter! What a misfortune for my family! I raised you for nothing. How could I have given birth to such an ungrateful person?" Shaun pounded the desk, his anger evident.

"Dad, you never raised me. I never spent a penny of your money. So please, don't say you raised me again!" Shaun's anger rendered him speechless for a moment. He had never loved or cared for Joanna. Initially, she was an independent child requiring no attention, and he'd completely ignored her.

"Also, I'm fulfilling my grandfather's dying wish: to make the Haynes Group a top 500 global company. I have no intention of kicking anyone out!"

Bruce chuckled, sneering. "Quite ambitious, Ms. Haynes! Confidence is one thing, arrogance another. Are you sure you can turn the Haynes Group into a Fortune 500 company? What if you can't?" He propped his arms on the desk, scorn etched on his handsome face. The combination of his good looks and his current expression was infuriating.

Joanna sighed, suppressing her anger. "Together, we will succeed. I believe the Haynes Group can flourish quickly."

Bruce said, "Since you're so confident, let's make a bet! Within three years, if you turn the Haynes Group into a Fortune 500 company, my shares will be distributed as benefits to everyone. If you can't, you quit unconditionally."

Indignant, Joanna gritted her teeth. Bruce's offer was vicious. The Haynes Group had languished for years. Reaching the top 500 was her ultimate goal, but it would likely take a decade or more. Three years was impossible.

Shaun, thrilled, exclaimed, "Mr. Everett is right! Running a large company isn't easy! If you sign this agreement, you can replace me. But if you fail in three years, you hand over all your shares!"

Bruce looked at Joanna with a faint smile. "So? Do you have the guts to sign it?"

"Three years aren't enough to…"

"If you lack confidence, just say so. Don't make excuses!"

Irritated, Joanna resisted striking Bruce. "Bruce, why should I sign? You own 15% of the Haynes Group, and I own 51%. Betting your 15% against my 51% is unfair."

"Unfair? You said you'd increase profits by over 20% in three years or quit. Let's make it more interesting. If you succeed, I'll invest an additional $200 million in the Haynes Group, in addition to my shares!"

Mr. Roger and Mr. Paul were ecstatic. These terms were highly beneficial.

"I'll think about it," Joanna said.

Bruce smiled, standing. "All right, you have ten minutes. My time is valuable."

Bruce's smug grin clenched Joanna's fists. Her face was pale with anger. The angrier she got, the happier he seemed. Since Joanna had slept with him, Bruce had planned to control her life.

"I'm going for a smoke. Take your time!" Bruce swaggered out of the conference room.

He opened the door to find Jaydon, a charming man in a well-tailored suit.

"Sorry, did I interrupt your meeting?" Jaydon smiled, extending his hand. Bruce glared, his smile vanishing. Jaydon awkwardly withdrew his hand.

"I'm here to pick up Joann. The children miss her."

Bruce, without a word, strode past Jaydon.

"What are you doing here?" Joanna asked, surprised to see Jaydon. She hurried out of the conference room.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you. Davian and Irvin missed you, so I brought them."

"Mommy…" Davian and Irvin ran to her.

"Oh, you shouldn't have come."

"Mommy, we missed you! What's taking you so long?" Irvin grabbed Joanna's leg.