Chapter 173: The Boardroom Before the Fall

The boardroom that had once represented Ristowan at its highest level now looked somewhat empty.

At Ristowan’s peak, even when there were no extra chairs, shareholders had been willing to stand here during meetings, listening to Neo and the other boardroom members deliver their opinions at the general assembly.

Even if those people could not speak during the meeting and could not move about freely, they had still been more than willing.

But now, many chairs in this room remained empty. Combined with the rumors spreading outside, a hard-to-define emotion was beginning to spread among a small portion of the people in the boardroom.

Gape pushed up his glasses and sat near the end of the table. As an important employee who had become a corporate group associate, he had also received an invitation from President Neo to attend this closed-door, nonpublic meeting.

Moreover, the meeting would produce no minutes. In other words, this meeting would not spread through any official or unofficial channel. Even if someone did spread word of it, no one would admit it.

This was a meeting that would never appear in Ristowan’s history. Naturally, that also meant it was bound to be different.

President Neo looked at his watch. Downstairs, the security guard also looked at the watch on his wrist.

A watch worth more than two hundred thousand dollars and a watch worth a little over twenty dollars pointed to the same time. The security guard closed the main doors, while a smile appeared on President Neo’s face.

He looked at the employees seated around the conference table. These employees were all very “important” to Ristowan. Each of them held some secret concerning a particular aspect of the company.

For instance ... his gaze stopped on Gape, who sat at the far end. The reason he selected Gape at first glance was partly because Gape did not turn his head to look left or right, and partly because it was a subconscious act.

Choosing to look at someone from either side of the table could make people feel targeted. Looking directly ahead would not.

After Gape felt His Excellency the president’s gaze, he wore a modest smile and lowered his head slightly to show submission.

Neo nodded noncommittally and began the meeting’s agenda. “You all know that recently, certain claims have been circulating outside. Those claims are in fact true.”

“I have already submitted the corporate group’s approved relocation request to the governor. We will receive the reply in about a month at the latest. Before the first half of next year, roughly speaking, we will complete all relocation work.”

His words were clear, and his confidence was full. He had a strong presence that allowed people to see his composure and ease. “Regarding everything that has happened during this period, I know many people feel lost. Now I am telling you that all of it was planned by me.”