Chapter 655
Chapter 655 Safeguarding His Assets
All of a sudden, Kendrick bowed to Avery.
Avery was startled by his sudden action. “Kendrick, what are you doing?”
“Avery...” Kendrick''s voice was filled with exhaustion. “Cayden hasn''t shown up at thepany for
several days now and the board of directors is starting to voice their concerns. I''ve been doing
everything I can with Mr. Dartsley to keep everyone in the dark, saying that Cayden is just on a
business trip abroad and will be back soon, but it''s bing increasingly difficult to keep this a secret.
In Cayden''s will, he appointed you as the acting CEO of Trident Group. Could you temporarily take
over at thepany?”
He nced at Avery''srge belly and let out a sigh. “I know right now is not the best time to bother you,
but thepany is really in a mess. I''m feeling truly overwhelmed.”
Kendrick felt profoundly powerless and overwhelmed by guilt and self-reproach.
My intelligence and emotional quotient are no match for Cayden, nor do I have thetter''s talent in
business. I already feel overwhelmed from being a manager. How can I possibly handle running an
entirepany?
Even though Avery appeared delicate, Kendrick strongly believed that the woman his older brother
chose must have exceptional and intelligent qualities. She would surely be able to shoulder
responsibilities and be the mainstay for the development of Trident Group.
Avery quietly stared at him. She did not say a word, but tears welled in her eyes.
That''s right. Cayden''s not here anymore. Hispany has lost its backbone. It must be inplete
chaos now, huh?
Kendrick gritted his teeth and said, “I don''t know who the hell spread the rumor that Cayden has been
killed, causing the stocks of Trident Group to plummet to their lowest point recently. Many shareholders
were selling their stocks aggressively. Even the board of directors forced us to hold a shareholders''
meeting to elect a new CEO.”
He added, “However, Cayden holds fifty-six percent of thepany''s shares, which makes him the
largest shareholder. He has designated you as his sessor for these shares. Tomorrow at noon, the
board of directors will hold a shareholders'' meeting. Avery, I hope you cane to thepany and
attend it.”
Kendrick could never have imagined that his elder brother, whom he revered as a godlike existence
and the man who stood at the top of the world, would disappear like that with no trace of his
whereabouts.
The Moore residence had been gloomy for the past few days.
Jeffrey was hospitalized due to the sudden piece of devastating news. He had just escaped death after
being transferred out of the ICU.
After being in thepany for such a long time, Kendrick only now understood that Cayden had been
the one to allow him to live his carefree life, giving him a chance to spend money recklessly and y
around.
If I''m honest with myself, Cayden has been good to me, and I''ve learned a lot under his guidance.
During these few days when Cayden wasn''t around, Mr. Dartsley and I had to shoulder many
responsibilities. He holds excellent prestige within thepany but is not the decision-maker. He has
no right to intervene in the CEO''s affairs. It''s okay for a short while, but such an arrangement won''t
work in the long run. Thepany has be chaotic since the announcement of Cayden''s passing.
Many who had been harboring intentions started moring for the election of a new CEO. Some even
wanted to sell their shares outright and leave Trident Group.
Avery nced at Kendrick. Her gaze then shifted to her and Cayden''s wedding photo on the wall.
In the wedding photo, Cayden was holding her waist. He leaned in and lovingly pressed his forehead
against hers.
The two of them shared a kiss and wereughing happily.
That warm and beautiful scene seemed as though it had happened yesterday.
Avery closed her eyes as she felt a sense of loneliness wash over her. She no longer looked at the
sweet photo. She was determined as she said, “I''ll go to thepany tomorrow. No matter what, I
won''t let his hard work be wasted.”
Cayden single-handedly built Trident Group up from a smallpany on the brink of bankruptcy to the
multinational corporation it is now across Aploth. The amount of effort and dedication he had poured
into it was immeasurable.
Now that he''s gone, as his wife and lover, I must protect his assets no matter what.
The next day, Avery wore exquisite makeup, striving to look as professional and stern as possible,
before heading to Trident Group.
She rode the private elevator to the CEO''s office. It was nine o''clock when she arrived.
Xavier was taken aback momentarily when he saw Avery. Surprise shed across his eyes. “Mrs.
Moore, you''vee to work?”
Everyone in the secretarial department greeted Avery in unison.
Everyone had different expressions when they noticed her pregnant belly, but most stared at her
sympathetically.
“Mrs. Moore, shall I make you a ss of hot milk?” A stunningly beautiful secretary, Tina, rose from her
seat, ready to head toward the pantry.
Making a hot drink for Avery every morning was a daily task assigned by Cayden.
Even though Cayden was no longer around, Tina had already gotten used to the habit.
“No thanks, Tina. I don''t feel like having a hot drink right now.” Avery waved at Tina, signaling her to sit
down. “Everyone, don''t mind me and carry on with your work. Mr. Dartsley,e with me.”
In the CEO''s office, Avery sat on the swivel chair. She stared at the stacks of documents on the desk
and gently massaged her slightly aching temples.
Xavier stood before the office desk and reported thepany''s situation to her. He said, “Since Mr.
Moore left, everyone has been very upset. Some even find it hard to ept this reality and cried their
hearts out. I can understand how you feel. However, even though Mr. Moore has left us, his legacy
remains. You should pull yourself together for the sake of Mr. Zachary and Ms. Rory...”
Avery held her hand up to stop him from speaking further as she muttered, “Cayden isn''t dead. He
must still be alive and living somewhere in this world. He will definitely return.”
Xavier was rendered speechless.
A grown man like him couldn''t help but feel a lump in his throat when he saw how Avery was
comforting herself. His eyes gradually turned red as they brimmed with tears.
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Avery fell silent as she shifted her focus onto the documents spread out on the table. They were all
carefully selected by Xavier—urgent papers that required immediate attention.
Xavier himself had promptly handled other matters.
Avery sat in the swivel chair that Cayden often used and read through the documents before her. Most
of them were contracts and bidding documents that required her signature. There were also annual
reports and various statements to be submitted to the board of directors, as well as business ns,
profit distribution, and losspensation ns, among other things.
Xavier temporarily handled all the ns and schemes that followed. However, the signing of the
contracts and bidding documents had to be done by her.
Although her eyes were focused on the contract, Avery''s thoughts were consumed with Cayden.
Her gaze fell upon the door not far from her.
That was the CEO''s private lounge, where they, more than once, have shared moments of affection
and intimacy.
Rubbing her slightly stinging eyes, Avery collected herself and shifted her focus back to processing the
documents.
Even though she had never handled any business, she had absorbed a lot through her time with
Cayden. The basics were not a big deal to her.
Avery signed many contracts, but it wasn''t until a particrnd bidding document that it caused her to
pause momentarily.
The bidding document was written in great detail, but at the end of the paper, there was a sticky note
stating that Xenos Group was thepany''spetitor.