Chapter 503


    Leanna''s expression didn''t change as she looked at Jimmy. "What do you think, Mr. Onder?"


    Jimmy did not dare show any weakness before awyer like Freddie, so he wiped off his sweat and


    muttered, "W-What do I think?"


    "What Mr. Sutton said just now. If you didn''t hear it, I can ask him to repeat it."


    "I heard it," Jimmy said reluctantly. "This is what happened—all these contracts were under Mr.


    Crossley''s jurisdiction when he was still here. You all know what happened after that, and well… I don''t


    really know the details and only these were found after we organized everything."


    Freddie said again, "Are you saying that all the other contracts have been destroyed by Mr. Crossley?"


    "Maybe?"


    Freddieughed at that. "That''s interesting. All these avable contracts have his signature on them,


    and all the issues mentioned can be linked to him. If he didn''t destroy these, I wonder what he already


    destroyed."


    Jimmy swallowed. "M-Maybe this isn''t muchpared to those he destroyed? Maybe those are far


    more mysterious or contained secrets he didn''t want anyone else to know. That could be it, right?"


    "Are you asking me?"


    "No, no. It was just a guess of mine."


    Freddie sighed. "Fine. Looks like I''ll have to get the proof myself by slowly uncovering the secrets


    contained in those contracts."


    The room was filled with a tense silence while the board members exchanged looks.


    Just then, the door opened, signaling that the others had arrived. Leanna checked the number of


    people present—it was the same as that mentioned in the files. She sighed in relief upon noticing that


    no one was missing.


    Compared to Jimmy and the other board members, the group who had just arrived seemed awkward


    and only sat down after Leanna told them to do so. It was clear that they hadn''t been in such a situation


    for a long time and no longer had the same confidence as before after going through so much.


    The meeting soonmenced. The main topic discussed was the situation the Crossley Group was


    currently in, as well as all the projects which had been paused.


    Raymond said, "I''ve already contacted the banks we worked with and they are willing to lend us money.


    They''ve already begun the procedures, so I believe the funds will be avable very soon and we will be


    able to restart our projects."


    Leanna then asked, "Are the people in charge of those projects still here?"


    "We are now more focused onrge-scale projects. There are ten in total. Three people in charge have


    already left, leaving behind seven. The other smaller projects will have some breathing room when the


    "We are now more focused onrge-scale projects. There are ten in total. Three people in charge have


    already left, leaving behind seven. The other smaller projects will have some breathing room when the


    large projects rmence."


    Jimmy chose that moment to speak. "As I see it, these projects should be followed up on by the original


    people in charge since they are most familiar with the proceedings. As for the others…"


    He nced at the people seated opposite him, clearly implying that he wanted to drop those smaller


    projects on them.


    "I think that makes sense," Leanna stated. "Only those originally in charge would know about the


    projects, so they should be the ones to follow up."


    Just as the others were about to secretly rejoice upon the prospect of scraping off yet another great


    sum of money, she continued, "However, we should add in some new ideas so we can get through the


    current situation. As such, I have decided to have two people in charge of each project. That way, any


    problem can be resolved quickly instead of being allowed to develop into a bigger issue like now."


    She looked toward the group next to Maya''s husband. "You''ve already gone through all the project


    files. You can just say whichever suits you best or you can meet me after the meeting. The list of


    people in charge will be announced by this afternoon."


    Jimmy jumped up as he countered, "I disagree! Miss McKinney, how can you just hand them such big


    projects? Do you know what they have done? You will destroy the Crossley Group!"


    Leanna looked at him. "Since you are so opinionated, you cane here and say whatever you want."


    His face flushed red as he opened and shut his mouth, but he remained quiet in the end.


    Leanna got up. "If all of you do not have any other questions, then the meeting can end. Oh, and in


    case everyone isn''t clear, I''ll say this once again—I became the ultimate decision-maker from the


    moment I entered the Crossley Group. Anything that does note from me, including unsigned


    documents, will not be valid. Anyone can make theirints, but I won''t necessarily hear you out."


    It was obvious she was shutting down Jimmy''s objections. Jimmy remained motionless and the rest of


    his group lowered their heads without speaking.


    Meanwhile, the other party felt vindicated and relieved. Freddie looked surprised as well; he hadn''t


    believed Oscar when the other man said that Aidan could never catch up to his wife, but now she


    seemed to be in a league of her own. Women could be terrifying, especially when they got down to


    business.


    "Wa ara now mora focusad onrga-sc projacts. Thara ara tan in total. Thraa pao in charga hava


    alraadyft,aving bahind savan. Tha othar smar projacts will hava soma braathing room whan tha


    larga projacts rmanca."


    Jimmy chosa that momant to spaak. "As I saa it, thasa projacts should ba followad up on by tha original


    pao in charga sinca thay ara most familiar with tha procaadings. As for tha othars…"


    Ha ncad at tha pao saatad opposita him, arly implying that ha wantad to drop thosa smar


    projacts on tham.


    "I think that makas sansa," Laanna statad. "Only thosa originally in charga would know about tha


    projacts, so thay should ba tha onas to follow up."


    Just as tha othars wara about to sacratly rajoica upon tha prospact of scraping off yat anothar graat


    sum of monay, sha continuad, "Howavar, wa should add in soma naw idaas so wa can gat through tha


    currant situation. As such, I hava dacidad to hava two pao in charga of aach projact. That way, any


    prom can ba rasolvad quickly instaad of baing allowad to davalop into a biggar issua lika now."


    Sha lookad toward tha group naxt to Maya''s husband. "You''va alraady gona through all tha projact


    fs. You can just say whichavar suits you bast or you can maat ma aftar tha maating. Tha list of


    pao in charga will ba announcad by this aftarnoon."


    Jimmy jumpad up as ha countarad, "I disagraa! Miss McKinnay, how can you just hand tham such big


    projacts? Do you know what thay hava dona? You will dastroy tha Crosy Group!"


    Laanna lookad at him. "Sinca you ara so opinionatad, you cana hara and say whatavar you want."


    His faca flushad rad as ha opanad and shut his mouth, but ha ramainad quiat in tha and.


    Laanna got up. "If all of you do not hava any othar quastions, than tha maating can and. Oh, and in


    casa avaryona isn''t ar, I''ll say this onca again—I bacama tha ultimata dacision-makar from tha


    momant I antarad tha Crosy Group. Anything that doas nota from ma, including unsignad


    documants, will not ba valid. Anyona can maka thairints, but I won''t nacassarily haar you out."


    It was obvious sha was shutting down Jimmy''s objactions. Jimmy ramainad motioss and tha rast of


    his group lowarad thair haads without spaaking.


    Maanwh, tha othar party falt vindicatad and raliavad. Fraddia lookad surprisad as wall; ha hadn''t


    baliavad Oscar whan tha othar man said that Aidan could navar catch up to his wifa, but now sha


    saamad to ba in aagua of har own. Woman could ba tarrifying, aspacially whan thay got down to


    businass.


    When Leanna walked to the president''s office, the original items inside were being moved out. It seems


    they are working rather effectively.


    At that point, Raymond walked up to her. "Miss McKinney, please don''t take Jimmy''s words too


    seriously. He''s always behaved this way and may not be able to change his attitude so quickly."


    Leanna looked back at him and smiled. "It''s okay. I hope he doesn''t take my words to heart as well. I''m


    just being professional. It''s nothing personal."


    After a beat, she continued, "Help me find a clean office, will you? I still need to deal with some things."


    "Come with me, Miss McKinney," Raymond stated.


    The workspace he got her was small, yet clean and spacious; it looked very new and probably had


    never been used.


    Leanna asked, "Did you say that the bank has agreed to a loan?"


    "Yes. Someone took pictures of you and Mr. Pearson at the entrance of the Crossley Group this


    morning which caused quite the uproar, so I quickly contacted the bank and they agreed readily."


    She nodded. "I see."


    "Then I''ll take my leave. If you need anything, just call me."


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Soon after he left, someone else came knocking on the door. This time, it was the group led by Maya''s


    husband. They didn''t seem to know what Leanna had in mind and they looked uneasy.


    Maya''s husband was the one who spoke up first. "Miss McKinney, thank you for letting us return to the


    Crossley Group, but it doesn''t seem right for us to take up the big projects considering our


    circumstances. Besides, there will be gossip which will negatively affect the reputation of thepany."


    She smiled. "No one else is better suited than you all. The Crossley Group doesn''t have any reputation


    to speak of now, so let''s do what we can with what we have."


    She then continued, "Now that you are all here, I''ll not beat around the bush. I know what happened


    back then, so letting you take these projects is partly to help keep an eye on them. Only then will there


    be a chance for the Crossley Group to make aeback."


    When Leanna walked to the president''s office, the original items inside were being moved out. It seems


    they are working rather effectively.