Chapter 295


    Upon seeing the ridiculousments that popped up in support of Tina’s false sob story as well as


    the wretched girl’s triumphant smirk, Sonia clenched her fist and mmed it on the desk in tant


    fury. The loud bang that followed echoed around the room, sending ripples across the stifling


    silence.


    Toby instantly reached for her wrist and lifted her hand for inspection.


    “What are you doing?” Sonia pulled away and shot him a wary look.


    When he saw how defensive she was of him, he was a little hurt. As he lowered his gaze, he


    answered quietly, “I only wanted to see whether you bruised your hand or something.”


    She turned away from him and muttered,


    “Please, it’s not as if I was jackhammering the desk. There’s no bruise at all.”


    He hummed in response. “d you’re okay and all, but the next time you’re angry, try not to beat up


    sturdy inanimate objects. You’ll only end up hurting yourself.”


    “I know. There’s no need to nag,” she grumbled after briefly pursing her lips.


    Toby drew his hand back and he was about to say something when the office door swung open from


    the outside.


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    The next second, Asher stormed into the room like an angry bull as he thundered, “What is this


    news about you delisting, Sonia?”


    He was staring daggers at Sonia whilepletely ignoring Toby, who stood mutely next to her as


    he watched the exchange.


    Sonia, on the other hand, switched off Tina’s blood-boiling livestream. Since Tina had already told—


    or more urately, lied to—the viewers about how and why Sonia had caused her such misfortune,


    there was no need to watch the rest of the livestream anymore. It wasn’t like the content would


    favor Sonia anyway.


    Sonia released her mouse and coldly looked up at Asher. “That’s right. I’m sure Miss Daphne has


    already given you all the details.”


    Asher was furious as he struck the desk. “How dare you pull something off like this without any


    ? ? I )) permission!


    “Oh, I dare to do so and I have done it!” She rose from her seat and glowered at the man while


    being unaffected by his tantrum. “Because lest you forget, I am the biggest shareholder in Paradigm


    Co.!”


    As things escted, Toby stood quietly next to Sonia and admiration shed in his dark orbs when


    he saw how witty and sharp she could be.


    “You—” Asher choked on his words, his rage suddenly turning into a lump in his throat. After what


    seemed like a long pause, he regained hisposure and snapped, “Yes, you may be the biggest


    shareholder in Paradigm Co., but don’t forget that I’m the one in charge around here. You are


    nothing but the vice president!”


    “So what?” Sonia crossed her arms, looking high and mighty as she countered, “You know,


    President Dafoe, you should be grateful that you’re a senior in Paradigm Co., which is why half the


    company is in favor of you. Otherwise, I’d have taken back whatever authority you have right now


    by calling a shareholders’ meeting. I am, after all, the biggest shareholder and it’s well within my


    rights to do so. In other words, I can easily be thepany’s president.”


    Logically speaking, her position as the biggest shareholder afforded her a voice in thepany, but


    she could not rally support among the other directors and she dared not speak out against Asher


    either. She feared that he might storm out of Paradigm Co. and take all his supporters with him,


    which would be more than enough to crumble thepany.


    That was because thepany could not get any new blood to rece his supporters. After having


    considered this, she would much rather swallow her pride as the biggest shareholder and take on


    the role of vice president instead.


    It went without saying that Asher knew of her concerns, which was why he had little to no regard for


    her even when she was thepany’s major shareholder.


    “Oh? You’re going to hold a shareholders’ meeting, are you? And you’ll just take away my authority


    with such ease, is that right?” He guffawed like he had just heard the world’s biggest joke. “Sonia,


    are you sure that’s the wise thing to do? If I walk, who is to say that half of thepany won’t walk


    with me? You know as well as I do that those in favor of me are the backbone of Paradigm Co., and


    the rest of you are done for the moment they leave! Go ahead and call the meeting if you dare to do


    so!”


    Sonia dug her nails into her palms and she was about to retort when a man’s cold voice asked


    intimidatingly, “Why wouldn’t she?”


    She immediately turned and gaped at Toby in surprise.


    Asher was also displeased as he turned to snap, “This is between me and Vice President Reed.


    Why don’t you keep quiet as an assistant and President Fuller?” His voice raised by an octave


    when he finally registered Toby’s presence and disbelief colored his face as he stared at Toby.


    Although Asher had seen a figure next to Sonia when he barged in earlier, he was in such a rush to


    confront her that he didn’t pay any attention to the saidpanion and merely thought of the man


    as some lowly assistant.


    However, he certainly didn’t expect the assistant to actually be Toby—otherwise known as the


    president of Fuller Group!


    A stunned Asher blinked at Toby and stammered, “P-President Fuller, what brings you here?” Then,


    he gesturedmely between Toby and Sonia as he added, “A-Are you and Sonia—”


    “I’m here because I have a couple of things to discuss with Sonia. Have you forgotten that we are


    coborating on the project for alternative energy technology?” Toby demanded, his eyes shing


    insidiously.


    He couldn’t very well say that he was here because he was worried about Sonia, who would


    undoubtedly be unhappy with him if he did so.


    Meanwhile, she raised a brow and although she was surprised that he lied, she did not expose him.


    He can do whatever he wants.


    “I see,” Asher said, clearly convinced.


    After all, there was no reason why he would be here other than for business. Everyone in the


    business world knew that he did not love her, which was why he had divorced her in the first ce.


    Of course he wouldn’te here just to see her on purpose, Asher berated himself. “President


    Fuller, did you hear what Sonia and I were talking—” “I heard everything!” Toby lowered his gaze


    like he was eyeing an annoying pest and continued coldly, “If you want to walk out of Paradigm Co.


    and take half thepany with you, then why don’t you do so immediately?”


    “What?” Asher nched when he heard this, his eyes wide with disbelief. “President Fuller, it’s not


    very proper of you to interfere with ourpany affairs, is it?” I won’t actually leave Paradigm Co.—


    I was only trying to scare Sonia! I didn’t think Toby would take it seriously


    Toby eyed the other man steadily like a top predator. “I can put my foot in if I want. After all, it was


    only after they had coborated with Fuller Group that half of your enterprises were revived.


    Besides, Vice President Reed happens to be working with me on the alternative energy project, and


    as thergest business partner, surely I have the privilege to partake in yourpany’s internal


    conflicts, yes?”


    Asher opened and closed his mouth like a fish. “I —you’re not wrong, but—"


    "Then, we''vee to a consensus, haven''t we?" Toby interrupted the stammering man once more.


    "It was Vice President Reed who made all these agreements with me, so I will naturally be on her


    side, seeing as your departure—along with your subordinates''—will invariably affect the partnership


    between ourpanies."


    As he said this, he nced over at Sonia with a solemn expression. "And don''t worry, Vice


    President Reed; I''ll send over a professional team to help you fill those vacancies left behind by


    President Dafoe''s subordinates, should he walk out on thepany. Paradigm Co. will be fine at


    the end of the day."


    "What?" Asher was so shocked by Toby’s promise that his mind turned nk.


    Sonia was equally astonished as she stared at


    Toby. "Are you serious about this?"


    Toby gave her a firm nod. "Of course I am and I will keep my word. As for President Dafoe..." He


    paused pensively and turned his attention back to the stumped man. "If you''re going to have all


    those talented subordinates of yours support you, then it would be a waste for you to join another


    enterprise. I suggest you start your ownpany and with such a strong team under you, I''m sure


    the new business will flourish in no time. I''ll spread the word around the business circle so that no


    one coborates with you, which would then ruin your pathway to entrepreneurship. What do you


    say, President Dafoe?"


    As she was unable to contain herughter anymore, she barely had time to sp her hand over her


    mouth before she sputtered aloud. She was so amused by Toby’s words that she had to turn away,


    her shoulders trembling as she tried to suppress herugh.


    Asher, on the other hand, was quaking with rage, but he did not dare to bellow at Toby. All he could


    do was clench his fists and try to keep the smoke froming out of his ears. What do I say? I say


    this is a load of bullcrap! He''s just telling otherpanies not to take us on, which is Just as good


    as banishing us from the industry altogether! Start apany? At my age and with the small


    fortune I have, I''d end up looking like a downright fool! He''s humiliating me and he wants me to


    suffer!


    He was fuming, but he forced out a tight smile as he responded, "You''reical, President Fuller.


    Entrepreneurship is hardly on my agenda at such an old age."


    "Is that so? Does that mean you never had the intention to leave Paradigm Co. with your capable


    subordinates?" Toby cast Asher an imperious sideways nce.


    Asher coughed twice, clearly upset by how things had turned out. "Well, of course. I was only joking


    with Vice President Reed since I won’t actually do something as drastic as that."


    Indeed, he wondered whether he could ever summon enough courage to carry out his threat after


    this.