Ch. 1631..1640
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1631
After a brief pause, Charlotte continued, “However, considering Nancy's current state, the wedding will have to be delayed. This is a good chance for us.”
“I see.” Lupine heaved a sigh of relief. “Well, Nancy only has her father and Chris to blame for her accident. How can she blame you? You don't have to feel guilty.”
“I do feel guilty, but I've done my best,” said Charlotte with a frown. She glanced at her watch and urged, “Drive faster! We're running out of time.”
“Understood.” Lupine slammed her foot on the accelerator.
At five past three, their car finally arrived at Divine Corporation.
As expected, a group of unfamiliar bodyguards quickly blocked Charlotte's way.
Johann wanted to welcome her personally. However, as he was under the control of the Gold family, he could not leave the conference room.
Charlotte was about to barge in forcefully when Raina, Marino, Spencer, and the rest rushed over. Eight bodyguards, who used to be Zachary's elite bodyguards, followed them intimidatingly.
The security guards from Divine Corporation did not dare to stop them anymore.
Charlotte and Bruce were escorted into the building by the huge group. When she entered the elevator, she asked hurriedly, “How did you come out, Mr. Spencer?”
“Bruce sent someone to infiltrate Garden Villa and sneak me out. Then, Raina and her subordinates picked me up.”
Spencer continued agitatedly, “That b*stard pretended to be Mr. Zachary! He chased you out of the Nacht residence, kidnapped the kids, and even joined forces with outsiders to usurp Nacht Group! He created utter chaos! What a madman!”
“It's pointless to insult him now,” said Charlotte, frowning. “Chris has already brought Jesse to the board of directors meeting. We must stop them, or trouble awaits us.”
“The important thing is to prove that the man is Chris, not Mr. Zachary,” urged Spencer. “As long as we prove that, he'll have no decision-making power.”
“That's tough.” Charlotte smiled bitterly. “Now that Henry's gone, there are no other direct family members in the Nacht family. Distant relatives cannot prove anything. Even if we have a DNA test, it'll be useless if everyone thinks that the child is not actually his.”
“Can we prove his identity using other instances?” reminded Raina. “He was completely clueless about Mr. Zachary's previous projects and knowledge.”
“Zachary was severely ill before that accident. He could've excused himself by saying that the illness made him forget everything...”
Charlotte rejected that suggestion again.
“Then...” Everyone was panicking.
“There's only one solution left.” Charlotte frowned. “Although it's not a good method, we can recoup some losses and delay for time.”
“What is it?” asked Spencer anxiously.
At that moment, the elevator doors opened. Charlotte walked out directly without saying anything.
“Ms. Lindberg...”
Rodney had been waiting outside all this while. As he was just a nobody to Chris, no one really noticed him.
Hence, no one stopped him from entering.
“Mr. Williams!” Charlotte rushed forward. “Where's the statement?”
“Here.” Rodney passed an envelope to her.
Charlotte opened it and took a look. It was a statement that had been personally written by Zachary. The message was brief yet concise.
As he owed too much to Charlotte, he had signed a debt repayment contract with her two years ago. With effect from that date, fifty percent of his income would be given to her.
His identity card and a notarized document were attached to the contract.
Charlotte's eyes turned red when she saw the contract. A turmoil of emotions washed over her.
She had never thought that this contract, which was initially meant as a joke, would become a lifesaver.
Everything that Zachary had said to her, including this harmless joke, had been fulfilled.
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1632
Charlotte and Zachary had gone through all sorts of things over the past few years. They had their own share of suspicion, arguments, hatred, and misunderstandings.
However, Zachary would protect her like a guardian angel whenever something happened to her.
Even at the last moment of his life, he still strived to pave the future for her, going to all means possible to protect her.
Although he was not with her, his love still shielded her from every danger and crisis like a pair of strong wings.
“Before Mr. Nacht got into an accident, he entrusted this to me. He told me to take this out if you came to me on your own accord,” explained Rodney. “Actually, I wanted to remind you about this when I saw how anxious you were. However, since I was scared that outsiders would deliberately sabotage you if they found out, I kept everything to myself.”
“It's alright. This is the best timing.”
Holding the two envelopes, Charlotte strode into the conference room with her back straight.
Rodney and Lupine walked beside her while Raina pushed Spencer in closely behind.
Meanwhile, Marino and the other bodyguards escorted them from the back.
Everyone exuded a confident aura, all of them certain of their victory.
Chris' bodyguards rushed forward to stop them. However, not showing them any courtesy at all, Marino and the rest shoved them aside and confronted them head-on.
Both parties started arguing heatedly at the entrance of the conference room.
They were moments away from breaking out into a fight when Lucy opened the door from within.
When the board of directors saw Charlotte with the rest, they were stunned. Upon spotting Spencer, they quickly surrounded him.
“You're finally here, Mr. Spencer.”
“Mr. Spencer, Mr. Nacht wants that man from the Gold family to join the board of directors. Do something about it!”
“Mr. Spencer, you must take charge of this.”
Everyone placed their hopes on Spencer.
However, he did not say anything and merely looked at Charlotte, waiting for her to speak.
Everyone immediately understood that he was not in charge this time—it was Charlotte!
Someone chimed in, “Ms. Lindberg, please try to convince Mr. Nacht...”
“Yeah, Ms. Lindberg. How can that man from the Gold family join the Nacht Group's board of directors? Mr. Nacht is being foolish.”
Mixed feelings rushed through Charlotte when she heard that. When Zachary went missing and when she became the president, everyone was doubtful about her.
To dispel their suspicions, she made three promises and instructed Rodney to jot them down. These promises were written in a contract, which was witnessed by all of the shareholders.
She had followed those promises strictly. Now that this so-called Zachary was admitting an outsider to the board of directors, especially since the person was the problematic Jesse, they were naturally reluctant. However, due to his dominance, they did not dare to voice their objections.
Upon comparing the two, everyone realized how genuine and sincere Charlotte was.
“Mr. Spencer... Mr. Spencer!”
Kallum was the most dramatic. He was on the verge of tears as he pounced toward Spencer, complaining emotionally,
“Please get a hold of Mr. Nacht! I don't know how he managed to be brainwashed by the Gold family. Not only did he change the staff, but he is now planning to let Mr. Gold join the board of directors. This is ridiculous! Doesn't this mean that the Nacht Group will belong to the Gold family now? How can this be allowed?”
“Do you finally realize how serious this is?” Spencer glared at him furiously. “When Charlotte was trying her best to protect Nacht Group, you deliberately put her in a tough spot. You helped the outsiders bully her like a traitor!”
“I didn't...”
“This isn't the time to talk about this. What's more important is the matter at hand.” Charlotte glanced at the crowd and frowned. “Where's Johann?”
“Johann was so angry at Mr. Nacht that he was sent to the clinic to rest,” explained Lucy with reddened eyes. “Mr. Nacht, Mr. Gold, and their legal teams are still discussing in the lounge.”
Immediately after she spoke, the door of the lounge in the conference room opened. Chris and Jesse sauntered out arrogantly.
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1633
When Marino saw Chris, he widened his eyes in surprise and cursed nervously, “What the f*ck! They look the same!”
“That's how he managed to trick so many people.” Raina frowned.
When Chris and Jesse walked out, everyone retreated to the side. The board of directors stared at them uneasily.
However, both of them looked at Charlotte with a cold smirk as if they were going to emerge victoriously.
Chris asked directly, “Why are you here?”
Looking at how shameless he was, Charlotte felt exceptionally furious. However, she kept her cool and said, “Well, the board of directors reconvened today. I object to letting any outsiders join the board.”
“Hah!” Jesse scoffed as if he had just heard a hilarious joke.
“You object? Who are you to object?”
Christ gazed at her mockingly.
“I've already taken back your shares and assets. Now, you have absolutely no say in the Nacht Group and Divine Corporation. When it comes to private matters, we're already divorced, so you have no right to interfere in my life.”
Upon hearing that, the board of directors broke out into cold sweat on behalf of Charlotte.
Everyone stared at Charlotte intently, not knowing how she would retaliate.
“Really?” Charlotte smirked. Her gaze swept across the legal team behind Jesse as she instructed Rodney, “Summon our legal team over. Let's settle the score together.”
“Settle the score? What score?” Chris raised his eyebrow.
Even Jesse narrowed his eyes, not knowing what trick Charlotte had up her sleeve.
“Yes, Ms. Lindberg.” Rodney carried out her orders right away.
Although Rodney alone was enough to handle this clear contract, it was better for them to call for more back-up since the Gold family's legal team was present.
Everyone became excited when they saw that Charlotte had a plan. They waited eagerly, hoping to see her oppose Jesse.
Jesse shot a glance at Chris, who immediately insisted, “Charlotte, you're no longer part of Nacht Group, so you have no right to participate in the board of directors conference. Please leave!”
As he spoke, he made a gesture. “Send her out!”
“Understood.” The bodyguards hurried forward, wanting to chase Charlotte away.
However, Raina, Marino, and the other bodyguards quickly shielded her.
“What are you doing? How dare you?” bellowed Chris furiously, using his identity as Zachary.
The bodyguards could not help but feel intimidated. After all, Chris' face, voice, and domineering aura were identical to Zachary's.
“Is it because you feel guilty?”
Spencer finally spoke. He shot Chris an icy look and demanded furiously, “Since Charlotte said that she wants to settle the score, just let her do it in front of everyone else! Why are you panicking?”
“Mr. Spencer...” Chris frowned unhappily. “I already said that you should rest at home since you're sick. You're already so old. Why come all the way here and meddle in this?”
“Before Mr. Henry left, he entrusted the Nacht family to me so I could protect the family. I cannot just stand idly by,” roared Spencer agitatedly. “Nacht Group has been established with the hard work of the board of directors and Mr. Henry. Now that you want an outsider to join the board, have you asked if everyone agrees to it?”
“Exactly...” agreed Kallum softly.
When Chris shot him a sharp glare, he immediately lowered his head and stopped talking.
“I am the head of Nacht Group. Naturally, I have my own reasons for doing this.” Chris could not be bothered to talk to them. “Don't trouble yourself over this, Mr. Spencer.”
With that, he instructed, “Bring Mr. Spencer back to rest.”
“Yes, Mr. Nacht.” The bodyguards walked forward to push Spencer's wheelchair away.
“Who dares?” Charlotte suddenly spoke icily.
“Who are you to issue commands here?” yelled Chris with a frown. “Leave now!”
“Because I'm the second-largest shareholder of the Nacht Group,” declared Charlotte arrogantly. “Oh, wait. I might even have more shares than you!”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1634
After being briefly stunned, Chris laughed mockingly.
“Are you out of your mind, Charlotte? I've already taken back the shares and assets I transferred to you previously. What shares do you have left? What do you mean when you said that you're the second-largest shareholder and have more shares than me? I think that you're delusional.”
“I'm not delusional. We'll find out after the lawyers finish looking at the accounts.”
Ignoring him, Charlotte sat down on the president's seat.
“What are you doing?” snapped Chris unhappily. “Get up!”
“Why are you so anxious, Mr. Broid?” asked Charlotte with an icy smirk. “Are you afraid that I'll expose your true identity?”
“You're crazy! I don't know what you're talking about.” Since Chris had ample practice, he did not reveal any signs of guilt. “Leave now, or don't blame me for not showing you any courtesy.”
“What would you do, then?” Charlotte threw the question back to him.
“Somone, come here right now!” Chris could not be bothered to continue talking to Charlotte. Hence, he directly instructed someone to chase her out.
Now that Chris had changed the bodyguards in the company to his own subordinates, more than ten bodyguards surrounded them after he issued the command.
When Marino and the rest tried to stop them, they did not retreat.
Both parties were at a stalemate. Just moments before a fight broke out, Rodney and the legal team rushed over with Johann.
“Everyone, stop!” roared Johann as he smashed a cup on the floor.
The conference room fell silent in an instant.
“Since the legal team is present, why don't we let them explain everything clearly?” Johann glanced at Chris meaningfully and asked, “Or is it because you're feeling guilty?”
“What are you talking about, Johann?” Frowning, Chris asked unhappily, “Are you helping the outsiders now?”
“When you kicked Charlotte out of Nacht Group, I followed your instructions impartially,” asserted Johann matter-of-factly. “When you demanded to have a blood and DNA test, she cooperated. Yet, now that she's requesting for the lawyers to settle the score, why are you acting like a tyrant? Why are you resorting to violence and chasing her away? Why would you act so furiously if you're not guilty?”
“You...”
“Johann is right.” Spencer chimed in. “With so many people here, the accounts can't be faked. What are you scared of?”
“Both of you have become so foolish.”
Since Chris could not rebuke them, he could only grit his teeth in a fury.
The more he acted like this, the more the board of directors found him to be strange. Someone suddenly commented, “I feel like Mr. Nacht has changed. He's completely different from his past self. Could it be that the rumors are real?”
“What rumors?”
“Didn't you hear? People are speculating that Mr. Nacht is not the actual Mr. Nacht. Instead, he's actually impersonated by Chris, who went to get plastic surgery.”
“Oh my God! Is that true?”
“That's actually possible. The current Mr. Nacht doesn't know how to do anything except to throw his weight around...”
“Yeah! No wonder his personality changed so much after the accident. I never expected it to be because...”
“His personality is really like Mr. Broid's.”
As the board of directors discussed amongst themselves, the situation changed.
Everyone was starting to side with Charlotte. Since Chris had not experienced this before, he started to panic and sought Jesse's help.
Frowning, Jesse shot a look at him. Chris immediately changed his attitude. “I just remembered how Charlotte tricked me. Furthermore, I was furious at how she insisted on barging in and kicking up a fuss, even though she is an outsider.”
When he said that, the board of directors was starting to be convinced again.
“Since Johann and Mr. Spencer wish to see Charlotte settle the score, let's let her do it.” Smiling coldly, Chris remarked, “I want to see what she can get out of it.”
Everyone turned their gazes toward Charlotte.
She took out the contract and statement. Placing it on the table, she announced, “Mr. Rodney, please check with the Divine Corporation's legal team if these two contracts are legitimate.”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1635
“Agreement?” Chris leaned over at once. “What agreement?”
Marino and the others quickly stepped forward to shield Charlotte, stopping Chris' approach.
After Rodney and the legal team from Divine Corporation examined the two agreements, they declared excitedly, “These two agreements were indeed left behind by Mr. Nacht. Not only is his signature on it, but his thumbprint also. Based on the agreement, Mr. Nacht has to unconditionally give half of his income to Charlotte Windt, also known as Charlotte Lindberg, from this particular date—”
“What?”
Before Rodney could finish, Chris sprang up from his chair and snapped, “Have you made a mistake? These documents must have been forged, as I never wrote them before.”
“Of course you didn't. You're not Zachary at all.” Charlotte stared coldly at him. “You're Chris Broid!”
“You're nuts!” Chris exploded. “If you continue hurling wild accusations, I'll sue you for defamation.”
“Does the company have old copies of Zachary's signature and thumbprint? All of you can verify it.” Charlotte declared loudly, “Also, I remember Zachary would go for a medical check-up every year. Thus, the company likely has a copy of his bloodwork.”
Charlotte pointed at the debt repayment agreement signed by Zachary. “As for the thumbprint, it was sealed with his own blood. Hence, you can use it for comparison.”
Raina was delighted to hear the news. “That's right. There's a sample of Mr. Nacht's blood in the hospital. I can make a medical comparison right away.”
“You have collaborated with Charlotte to betray me. How can we trust you after this?” Chris retorted. “Everyone, Charlotte has bribed my subordinates and even convinced Johann and Mr. Spencer to go against me. Therefore, you shouldn't believe her at all.”
At that moment, the board of directors were having heated discussions among themselves and didn't know who to trust.
Logically speaking, Charlotte was right. However, their sentimentality held them back from concluding that Zachary had betrayed the company's interest. After all, the person in front of them was clearly Zachary, and the idea of an impostor who went through plastic surgery was simply too outlandish for them to believe.
Consequently, they were at a loss as to what to do next.
“I didn't expect Nacht Group to act so carelessly despite being a large conglomerate.”
At that moment, Jesse commented skeptically, “Given the massive assets involved, how can two pieces of paper justify taking half of them away? If that's possible, wouldn't I be able to do the same by forging another copy?”
“You...” Charlotte seethed.
“Nowadays, even humans can be cloned, let alone signatures or thumbprints,” Jesse sneered. “Consequently, demanding to have half the assets with just two pieces of paper is just ludicrous.”
“He does have a point.” Some of the directors began to waver.
Meanwhile, Kallum looked around, unsure of whose side to take.
“When I intended to invest in the company, you barred me from joining the board with the excuse that I'm an outsider. But what about her? Isn't she an outsider too?”
Jesse pointed at Charlotte. “Her children aren't Zachary's, while the Lindbergs are the Nachts' arch-enemies. What good does it do all of you if she takes away half the assets and plunders Nacht Group?”
“Well...”
Stunned, all of them had a sudden realization.
“Her words do make sense. In contrast to Charlotte trying to take a portion of the assets away, Jesse is trying to join the board by investing in the company. Comparatively, Charlotte is the more ruthless of the two.”
“I'm not trying to take away any of the funds,” Charlotte clarified at once. “I will use the money Zachary gives me to reinvest in the company's stock. That way, I'll become one of Nacht Group's shareholders.”
“Do you see it now?” Jesse sneered. “That's her true ambition on display. At the end of the day, she wants to usurp the Nacht family's assets and take over Nacht Group.”
“You...” Given how cunning and persuasive Jesse was, Charlotte couldn't stop him from controlling the narrative.
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1636
“Exactly,” Chris added. “Don't fall into her trap, everyone. She is holding a grudge against me for kicking her out of the company. After all, her children aren't mine. And now, she has even caused my subordinates to turn on me so that she can seize the Nacht family's assets.”
“Chris, you really are a shameless b*stard!” Lupine couldn't help but curse.
“Shut up!” Chris snapped back arrogantly.
“Since everyone finds the agreement suspicious, let's just get it verified.” Charlotte was already prepared. “If you don't trust Raina, we'll get doctors from Serene Hospital to conduct the verification.”
“The staff at Serene Hospital are, obviously, in your pocket too,” Chris countered at once. “After all, Spencer is now on your side after being bought by you.”
“Shut up.” Jesse glared at him.
He really is an idiot. How can he doubt Spencer at a time like this?
Given that more than half of the board members were groomed by Spencer, they naturally trusted him unconditionally.
Unaware of that fact, Chris was puzzled as to what he did wrong.
“The agreement is genuine.” Holding the document up, Rodney showed it to everyone. “This debt repayment agreement was written two years ago by Mr. Nacht for Ms. Lindberg. As for the supplementary agreement, Mr. Nacht himself handed it to me before his accident.”
He continued, “At that point in time, the eight lawyers from Divine Corporation and I were present. All of us watched Mr. Nacht draft the supplementary agreement in person. In fact, he even engaged a public notary to bear witness to it. Consequently, the authenticity of the agreement has been put beyond doubt.”
Finally, Rodney added, “The four public notaries present that day are right outside. If you need further evidence, we can get them to come in here.”
Chris was shocked by the revelation. Even though he wasn't familiar with commercial hostilities, he was cognizant that eight lawyers and four public notaries were more than enough to attest to the authenticity of the agreements.
Suddenly, Jesse's expression drastically changed. After glaring at Charlotte with murderous intent, he turned and left.
“Mr. Gold? Mr. Gold...” Panicking, Chris ran after him and asked softly, “You're leaving? What am I going to do?”
“Zachary sure is a shrewd man indeed,” Jesse murmured under his breath with gritted teeth. “I didn't expect him to leave a trump card behind in his absence!”
“Does this mean there's nothing we can do to change it?” Chris grew anxious. “In that case, I—”
“The boat has sailed,” Jesse seethed through his teeth. “Now, you should just shut up!”
“In that case—” Just before Chris could say anything, Jesse had left in a huff.
Furrowing his brows, Chris didn't know what to do. After pondering Jesse's intentions, he figured that the law was on Charlotte's side. Hence, he had no choice but to allow Charlotte her stated share of Zachary's assets.
Nevertheless, considering that Nacht Group had been established for more than a century, he figured that it would not be a big deal to give her just two and a half years' worth of profits.
Feeling a sense of relief, he returned to the conference room and held his forehead with his hand. With a grimacing expression, he lamented, “Well, after that terrible bout of sickness, I can barely remember anything anymore.”
Now that the agreement had been proven to be genuine, he had no choice but to blame it on his poor memory.
“Perhaps, I was blinded back then to have made such a stupid decision,” Chris fumed.
“Do you mean that you're no longer doubting the authenticity of the agreement?” Rodney probed.
“To be safe, let's get the public notaries to come in here and verify it,” Spencer suggested. “Given the gravity of the situation, I wish for everyone's patience as we clear the accounts.”
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“Of course, that goes without saying,” said the board as they expressed their support.
Considering that their future was tied to the fate of Nacht Group, they too wanted the matter to be quickly resolved.
Now that Jesse had left in anger, they were curious as to how much Charlotte would get based on the agreement.
Moreover, they continued to wonder if her intentions were selfish or if she was truly working for the sake of the Nacht family.
“Lucy, get the guys from the accounting department here,” Johann instructed.
“Right away.” Then, Lucy called for Divine Corporation's accounting team at once.
After clarifying the details of the agreement, the accountants began to calculate how much profit was due to Zachary over the period of two years and nine months.
Thus, more than ten of them began going through the accounts inside the conference room.
Meanwhile, the members of the board waited anxiously for the results.
Sitting by the side, Chris felt unsettled and kept checking his watch with his brows furrowed.
As the hours passed by, the accountants continued churning the numbers.
Soon, sweat began to bead down Chris' forehead. Given that they had yet to arrive at how much Zachary had made over the last two years, it was obviously going to be a sum so colossal that it would exceed all expectations.
Simultaneously, the other shareholders grew anxious when they too began to sense the same.
Kallum couldn't help but ask, “Mr. Spencer, would Nacht Group experience liquidity problems after giving her the money?”
Spencer simply rolled his eyes in response.
Based on the agreement, Charlotte was entitled to leave with the money. Moreover, given the situation, Nacht Group would likely experience cash flow problems if she chose to do that.
After all, the amount was so massive that a team of more than ten accountants together with eight lawyers weren't able to determine it after two hours.
“Although we managed to chase away a circling vulture, we still have to contend with a preying wolf here,” one of the directors lamented with a sigh.
At that moment, many of them were concerned that Charlotte would leave with the assets and destabilize the foundations of Nacht Group.
“Do you now realize how bad this is?” Chris sneered. “Letting Mr. Gold join the board would have been great for everyone's interest, but none of you would listen. Instead, you insisted on letting Charlotte take her share. So, who's to blame now?”
“Weren't you the one who signed the agreement?” Johann rebutted. “Also, do we need to remind you that she's your ex-wife? If not for you, we wouldn't even be having this problem.”
Chris was stumped.
Given that he was masquerading as Zachary, he had no choice but to accept the blame. In the end, he ended up humiliating himself with his own complaints.
Feeling disgruntled, Chris no longer said another word. At that moment, he realized that Jesse's instruction for him to shut up was the correct one.
After all, whatever he said would only make things worse.
Lost in thought, he received a call from Jesse. After walking to a corner, he answered, “Hello?”
“Any updates? Have they come up with the amount? How much is it?” Jesse anxiously wanted to know the answer.
“They're still tabulating it.”
Looking at the accountants, Chris knitted his brows tightly.
Each of them had a computer and two phones to call the banks. Although two and a half hours had passed, they still weren't close to being done.
“They're still going at it?” Jesse grew nervous. “I got someone to investigate just now and discovered that most of Divine Corporation's profits were concentrated in the last two years. As for Nacht Group, they too experienced record profits during the same period. Therefore...”
“Are you saying—”
“Based on the calculations in the agreement, Charlotte may get a massive sum of money. If the company is unable to fork out so much cash, it has to convert them into shares instead. In other words, she may end up becoming Nacht Group's second-largest shareholder, maybe even surpassing you!”
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“What?” Chris exclaimed in shock.
When Charlotte had told him the same earlier, he assumed that she was only trying to scare him. Since Jesse had repeated the claim, he realized that she might have been telling the truth.
Unable to take the blow, he regretted divorcing her.
If we hadn't divorced, the money wouldn't be included in the matrimonial assets. At the very least, I'd still have a share in it. But given the current situation, Charlotte will be given a huge sum of money. In fact, she will own a large chunk of the company too. Therefore, not only would my scheme have failed, but everything I had invested in it would have been for naught.
“Stay calm and bear with it,” Jesse consoled Chris. “Don't forget that we still have a trump card in our hand. I heard that he is the smartest of all Zachary's kids and will be the heir to the family fortune. As long as we have him, Charlotte wouldn't dare do anything reckless.”
“Yes, that's right.”
Realizing that they still had a trump card, Chris heaved a sigh of relief.
Although he viewed Jesse's actions with disdain, he had no choice but to obey the latter still. After all, there was no way he could control the situation without Jesse's help.
“Hang in there and send me the figure once it's out.”
“All right.”
After ending the call, Chris turned around and saw that the accountants were still working on it even though the three-hour mark had passed.
At the same time, some of the elderly shareholders were so exhausted that they leaned on the sofa to rest.
As for Kallum and the others, they stared at the accountants and waited anxiously for the result.
Meanwhile, Charlotte calmly monitored her phone for any calls. If Gordon and Bruce were able to rescue Robbie before the figure was tabulated, her counterattack would be complete.
However, if they didn't, she still had to proceed cautiously.
As time ticked by, her phone remained silent, causing her to be tormented by anxiety.
Even though everyone present had an agenda of their own, the waiting process simply felt tortuous.
Half an hour later, the accountants were almost done and were close to coming up with the final figure.
Hence, everyone surrounded them in anticipation of the results.
When Charlotte saw that there weren't any updates on her phone, she gave Lupine a look.
As a result, Lupine went out at once to make a call.
“The result is out!”
One of the accountants handed the report to Johann.
The moment he saw it, his expression drastically changed even though he was mentally prepared for a huge figure. Unexpectedly, the final sum had blown past all his expectations.
“How much is it?” Kallum couldn't resist leaning over and asking.
“Be patient!” Spencer shoved him aside with his cane.
“How much is it?” Chris was equally desperate to know. “Give me the report.”
Without saying a word, Johann handed it over.
When Chris finally saw the figure, he felt his knees buckle, and he slumped into a chair. “Is there some sort of mistake? How can Zachary's income in two years eight months and three days be so much?”
In his desperation, he referred to Zachary in the third person instead of himself.
“Mr. Nacht owns most of the shares in Divine Corporation and some of that of Nacht Group. After taking everything into consideration, this is how much his profit is for the entire period and has nothing to do with the company's public finances,” Rodney explained earnestly.
“Also, all the data and details are stored on the computer, and we have verified them with the banks involved. Given that the public notaries have monitored the entire process, they can directly investigate any disputes that are arises.”
The accountant's reply rendered Chris speechless.
“I'm sorry, Mr. Nacht. Didn't you sign the agreement yourself? Why do you keep bringing Zachary up? Aren't you him?” Kallum questioned when he sensed that something was amiss.
“Shut up,” Chris thundered. “Since when is it your turn to speak?”
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“You...” Kallum's face turned red in anger.
Just when Chris was about to flare his temper after seeing the figure on the report, he suddenly received a message from Jesse on his phone.
Jesse: Stay calm, and go along with the procedure. I have a plan to make Charlotte return everything that she took.
After reading the message, Chris' concerns were eased.
Throwing the report toward Charlotte, he feigned generosity and declared, “Since I have personally signed it, I will then honor my word and give you what you deserve. After taking the money, please leave at once.”
“Mr. Nacht,” Johann interrupted. “I'm afraid the company can't afford to take out such a huge sum of cash.”
“What? Why—”
Chris held his tongue right when he was about to ask a question.
He quickly recalled that most of the company's cash was tied up in sustaining its liquidity and investments. Therefore, withdrawing such a huge sum on such short notice would sever the company's cash flow cycle.
“Based on the agreement, the funds need to be paid on time,” Charlotte asserted coldly. “If I'm not paid in cash in three days' time, I will take its value in the stock. Or else, I'll see you in court!”
“You...” Chris seethed. As an impostor, he obviously didn't dare go to court.
If Charlotte were to initiate a lawsuit and get the police and courts involved, it would spell trouble for him.
“Given the current situation, she will have to be paid in stock,” Spencer concluded. “Can you please calculate how much of the company's shares she will receive?”
The accountant started tabulating again.
Despite the disgruntled voices from the board, no one dared to go against Spencer and Johann as they protected Charlotte.
“Mr. Nacht, if the company's cash flow is disrupted, both Divine Corporation and even Nacht Group would fail to function. As a result, we will have to pay Ms. Lindberg in stock unless you can reimburse her with cash from your personal accounts,” Johann made his stance clear.
“There's no way I can afford that amount from my account,” Chris rejected the idea right away. “Fine, we'll pay her in stock instead. How much will it be?”
Arriving at an answer, the accountant concluded, “Mr. Nacht, based on my calculations, you will have to hand over twenty percent of your stake in Nacht Group to Ms. Lindberg.”
“What?” Chris' face lost all color. “I have a forty percent stake in Nacht Group. If I hand twenty over to her, wouldn't that make her equal to me?”
“You should be counting your blessings instead, as it could've been worse.” Charlotte stared icily at him.
“There's one other thing.” Rodney brought out a will and declared, “This is Old Mr. Nacht's will.”
“Old Mr. Nacht's will?”
When they heard Rodney, the entire board crowded over excitedly.
“In it, he has declared that all his assets will be left to the three children upon his death. If anything were to happen to the children, the assets would then be transferred to GJ Foundation. No one will get a single penny, including their parents or relatives. Before they are of legal age, Mr. Nacht will take custody of the assets. By the time they reach twenty years of age, they will require both Mr. Nacht and Mr. Spencer's consent before the assets can be transferred to their name. However, until that happens, no one, including Mr. Nacht and Mr. Spencer, is allowed to touch the assets.”
After a brief pause, Rodney handed a copy of the will to Johann.
Having gone through it, Johann handed it to Chris. “Do you want to have a look?”
“What's the meaning of this?” Chris took a while to regain his senses. “He left everything to the three children and nothing for me?”
When he said that, Chris meant himself and not Zachary.
He found it incredulous that his grandpa didn't leave anything to him at all.
“Even if the children are not Nachts or mine, do the assets still go to them?” Chris pressed on, not wanting to give in.
“Yes.” Rodney nodded with conviction.
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1640
Stunned, Chris stared blankly at the will and was lost for words.
Racking his brains desperately, he realized that he would only have a twenty percent stake in Nacht Group after giving away twenty to Charlotte and not receiving anything from Henry as his inheritance.
Furthermore, he would be relegated to the same position as Charlotte in the company at twenty percent.
Consequently, all his decisions would require Charlotte's consent.
For example, his plan to get Jesse onto the board would now need her permission.
Therefore, he felt as if he had lost the advantage his identity gave him.
Just when he had run out of ideas, his secretary, Jean, reminded him from behind, “Mr. Nacht, for this exchange, you don't necessarily have to use the shares of Nacht Group. Instead, you can replace some of it with Divine Corporation.”
Chris' eyes lit up the moment he heard her. He replied excitedly, “That's right! I only owe her about a few hundred billion, right? I'll just give her a ten percent stake in Nacht Group and pay off the rest with shares in Divine Corporation.”
“Mr. Nacht, we have already done the math.” The accounted showed him a table. “Divine Corporation's market capitalization is only one-tenth of Nacht Group. In other words, even if you hand over your entire stake in Divine Corporation, you still have to give Ms. Lindberg a ten percent stake in Nacht Group.”
Unable to comprehend the situation, Chris was bewildered. “Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? It's only two years' worth of profits. How can it be equal to an entire stake in Divine Corporation?”
“There's no mistake,” the accountant replied with certainty. “Ever since its establishment, Divine Corporation has always been investing. It wasn't until the last three years that they began to turn a profit. As for the agreement you signed with Ms. Lindberg, it relates exactly to these three years.”
After a brief pause, the accountant added, “As for your share in the profits from Nacht Group over the last three years, this is how much it is.”
Almost choking on himself, Chris was so infuriated that he was utterly stumped.
“So, which proposal do you prefer?” Rodney carefully inquired. “Do you want to give Ms. Lindberg the whole of Divine Corporation and ten percent of Nacht Group, or do you want to give her twenty percent of Nacht Group instead?”
“Let me think about it.”
Feeling as if he had his mind blown, Chris didn't know what he should do.
“Mr. Nacht, given the magnitude of the matter, you will need more time to consider it. Why don't you give your answer later?” Jean reminded softly.
“Right.” Chris quickly regained his senses. “I'll think about it and decide later.”
Subsequently, Rodney and the rest turned to Charlotte and waited for her response.
“How long more do you need?” Charlotte demanded. “The board of directors has been stuck here for many hours. Are you expecting them to spend the night in the conference room?”
“Given that everyone is here, you had better make the decision,” Johann urged.
“That's right. Everyone is waiting for you,” Spencer reiterated.
“Half an hour,” Chris fumed. “I'll need to use the washroom first. We'll talk again when I'm back.”
With that, he turned and left with Jean and a few bodyguards following behind him.
“The washroom is nothing but an excuse. He is obviously trying to discuss the situation with Mr. Gold,” Lucy ranted. “What's wrong with Mr. Nacht now? Why does he need to seek Mr. Gold's permission for everything he does?”
“I noticed it too. During the meeting, he seemed to be directed by Mr. Gold.”
A few of the younger members of senior management remarked with concern, “Mr. Nacht seems to be behaving strangely ever since he returned.”
“Even his habits have changed,” another secretary commented. “He isn't focused on work and doesn't go through his documents properly. Instead, he delegates them to that new secretary, Jean, and signs them upon her instructions. Other than that, he plays games in his office all day long.”