The notary finished tallying the votes.


    Sanderson, sure of his impending victory, finally sat up straight, casting a cold re at Jacob.


    "Let''s begin the vote count," the notary announced, and began calling out names.


    Each shareholder''s name was a vote for the candidate they supported.


    At first, it was a string of votes for Sanderson.


    The irritation Sanderson had felt from his earlier encounter with Jacob evaporated as he regained his usual air ofposure, sitting back like a king confident of his dominion.d2 But then, things took a subtle turn.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Jacob''s numbers began to rise, though the shares they represented were small, leaving a significant gap between him and Sanderson. Sanderson''s chances still looked rock solid. Rosalynn, who hadn''t discussed Jacob''s ns in detail before arriving, nced at him instinctively.


    Jacob seemed distracted, as if his mind was elsewhere, not on the vote at all.


    The shareholders'' list was dwindling, and Jacob was still trailing Sanderson by seven or eight percentage points. Thankfully, a session of three supporters narrowed the gap to just 3%. And then, there was only one vote left unannounced.


    It belonged to a man sitting on Sanderson''s side-Matthew, a stalwart of the Strand Group.


    Sanderson felt certain of victory, counting on Matthew''s three percent share. But his confidence was premature.


    The notary called Matthew''s name, but Sanderson''s tally remained unchanged. Instead, Jacob''s numbers inched up, pulling even with Sanderson''s.


    "How is this possible?" Sanderson and his ally Lawler eximed in unison.


    Lawler even stood up, "This vote''s been counted wrong. Matthew''s one of us. That vote should be for Mr. Sanderson!"


    "That''s incorrect," the notary replied calmly, "he confirmed his vote for Jacob three times."


    To avoid idental votes, the system required three presses to register a vote sessfully.


    "Matthew?" Sanderson turned to him, incredulous.


    Matthew shrugged, a smile on his face, "Mr. Sanderson, it''s all for the Strand Group. You should never have entertained the thought of selling ourpany, and especially not to foreigners. My family has been with the Strand Group since my grandfather''s time. It''s not just apany; it''s our legacy. To think I''d let you sell it, and to outsiders at that no way."


    His words resonated through the room.


    Sanderson fought the urge to charge at Matthew andnd a punch. Whatever, he''d have time to deal with the traitorter! For now, the priority was to deal with Jacob.


    "It''s a tie," Rosalynn''s voice rose, sinister as a whisper from the shadows.


    Sanderson had always found it odd that the Rosalynn family, despite their shares, were barred from voting on major decisions at the Strand Group''s headquarters.


    Her intervention set off rm bells in his mind.