Chapter 32: The Aston Haven
The next Monday, Kieran did attend the stockholder’s meeting. As expected, the woman was as composed as ever with her fake liveliness. Not as though she had just ruined the life of someone else. But Kieran didn’t show any hard feelings either. He just did what Gregory had told him to do over the call after they left Aria’s funeral.
The man talked about the issue of the sudden rise in the empire’s market capitalisation. And laid emphasis on the same effect as Amanda did at the previous meeting. So, he advised Kieran not to hold back in doing what was necessary.
Most of the shareholders were on Mrs Jackson’s side; that was undeniable, but still, Kieran remains the leader of them all. So, whatever favouritism they might contain in their hearts, his voice was final.
So, on the meeting day, he walked confidently inside and without even heading over to his seat, he made the announcement. With Jaxon’s ever-efficient live camera rolling on one side, and Amanda shifting slides on the lit walls to match what he was saying, he proclaimed that part of Mrs Jackson’s shares would be frozen.
The percentage to be liquefied was yet uncertain, but whichever amount is left for her to remain a shareholder in the empire, it would be such that it won’t make the consumers think too highly of them.
People tried to argue with him, but instead of just commanding the process like a typical monopolistic CEO, he gave them a choice...
"Some of you who have respect left for Mrs Jackson can keep on doing that. So, to prevent part of her 20% shares from being watered down into the empire’s shares reserve, you can give up your own stocks instead.
Thus, she gets to keep all of hers and yours are frozen. Besides, neutralising the shares in the first place wasn’t for hate of the owner, but just because it destabilises the system over the quantity of it. So, step forward if you want to go down in her stead..."
Every one of them knew he was right in a sense, that they were freezing the stocks because of the overwhelming quantity, but... who wants to go bankrupt?
The moment their active shares are removed, they either stop making profits from the empire or the amount reduces. And such things are the quickest way to bankruptcy.
No one stepped forward, and so, 11% of Mrs Jackson’s shares were held in reserve.