Chapter 46: The Boardroom Showdown

Jackson's attack on Jett in the hallway had the entire company buzzing with whispers and shock. "Wow, Jackson has really lost it this time!" "Wasn't HR looking into the earlier incident? He should be keeping a low profile! Instead, he's beating up Manager Jett in front of everyone!" "Can't you see? This is a blatant challenge! Bold and deliberate!" "HR was acting so high and mighty earlier, saying they'd fire Jackson immediately if they found proof he hit someone. But look at this—he attacked someone in full view of the entire company, and then walked off as if daring HR to do something about it!" "Even HR staff were there, and none of them said a word!" The employees were abuzz with rumors, their voices laced with disbelief. HR's reputation in the company was already less than stellar. As the department in charge of rewards and punishments, they were usually feared, not liked. They were infamous for denying bonuses over vague reasons while eagerly imposing harsh penalties for the smallest infractions. Even when someone like Jackson brought in $7.5 million in business, HR found an excuse not to award him his bonus, citing his lack of seniority. This kind of behavior only deepened the resentment employees had toward the department. What fueled the anger even more was HR's tendency to hand out fines for trivial issues—being late, smoking in the hallway, or even showing up a minute early at the elevator could result in a hefty penalty. Every employee had been fined by HR at some point, and the bitterness ran deep. Chairman Apollo had long been aware of HR's excessive control. He had been quietly looking for ways to reduce their power and restore balance within the company, but HR had the backing of the board. Every time Apollo proposed reforms to limit HR's power, the Major shareholders would veto his efforts. For the board members, HR wasn't just a department—they used it as a tool to keep Apollo's influence in check. They weren't going to surrender that leverage easily. Now, with Jackson disrupting the status quo, employees were eager to see how the board would respond. Early the next morning, the board convened an emergency meeting. "Jackson's behavior is outrageous! How dare he blatantly defy company rules like this?" "He needs to be fired immediately! We can't allow this kind of behavior!" The shareholders were quick to voice their opinions. But Apollo had his own supporters. "Jackson brought in $7.5 million in business just last week. Firing him might not be the smartest decision." "That's right. He's young and hot-headed. Let him apologize, and we'll monitor his actions moving forward." As was typical, the shareholders were split into two factions, arguing back and forth. But throughout the debate, two figures remained calm: Chairman Apollo, who leisurely sipped his tea, and Fitz, the board's second-largest shareholder, who sat quietly, occasionally locking eyes with Apollo. "Fitz, you've been quiet. What's your stance? If we keep debating like this, we'll be here all day," one of the shareholders finally asked. Fitz, tapping his fingers on the table, spoke gravely. "I've listened to everyone's views. My stance is clear—Jackson should be fired. If we don't take action, we'll lose control over company discipline." Fitz's supporters nodded in agreement, while the room turned to Apollo, who finished his tea, adjusted his glasses, and smiled. "My position is that Jackson should not be fired." "Oh? And why is that?" Fitz asked with a faint smile. Apollo paused, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "It's simple. Jackson didn't attack a superior; he hit an ordinary employee. The investigation has shown that Jett set Jackson up with false accusations. Jett repeatedly framed Jackson, so Jackson had every right to defend himself. However, hitting someone is still wrong, so I'll deduct his base salary as punishment." "An ordinary employee?" Fitz's voice grew sharp. "Jett is HR's Deputy Manager, Jackson's superior! By attacking him, Jackson undermined the company's hierarchy. If we let this go unpunished, what's to stop other employees from doing the same? The company will fall into chaos!" Apollo remained unfazed. "Actually, Jett is just an ordinary person now, because he no longer works here." The room fell silent, and even Fitz looked surprised. Apollo snapped his fingers, and his assistant Ezequiel handed out a termination letter. "This is Jett's dismissal notice, dated three days ago. He was fired after it was discovered he falsely accused Jackson of theft. Due to some delays, we hadn't delivered the notice yet." Fitz's face hardened, but Apollo continued, "So, as of yesterday, Jett was no longer employed by the company. Jackson didn't attack a superior—he defended himself against someone who framed him." Apollo smiled as he looked around the room. "Young people—they lose their temper from time to time, don't they?" "Well said!" "No wonder you're the chairman!" Apollo's supporters were quick to chime in with praise, while Fitz's faction exchanged uneasy glances. No one had expected Apollo to have already dismissed Jett. "I believe Jett is your distant cousin, isn't he, Chairman? Such remarkable integrity," Fitz said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. After the meeting, Apollo returned to his office and called for Jackson. "Uncle Apollo," Jackson greeted him as he entered. Apollo sighed, rubbing his temples. "The situation is under control for now, but next time, give me a little warning before you pull a stunt like that. I'm getting too old to keep up with your antics." Jackson shook his head. "Uncle Apollo, this isn't over yet." "Oh? And why do you think that?" Apollo asked, his eyes narrowing. Jackson explained, "The internal conflict within the board is starting to surface. This is just the beginning. It's going to be a long fight, and if we win, you'll have full control over the company. But if we lose, things won't end well for you—or for Violet." Apollo pondered this for a moment. "Jackson, I need you to look into Fitz. See if you can find anything on him." "Fitz?" Jackson raised an eyebrow, already familiar with the name. Apollo's expression darkened. "In the past two years, Fitz has gone from being a minor shareholder to nearly rivaling my stake in the company. He didn't get there alone—someone's backing him." Jackson nodded. "I'll look into it." As Jackson left Apollo's office and returned to the sales department, he noticed how employees who saw him quickly stepped aside, avoiding him like he was radioactive. The change in their behavior amused him. Just a few days ago, these same people had been eager to cozy up to him. Now, after a bit of trouble, they were treating him like he was untouchable. The surprise on his colleagues' faces was evident when Jackson re-entered the sales department. "Jackson, you're back?" Wade rushed over, visibly relieved. "Yeah, everything's fine," Jackson replied casually, greeting a few close colleagues before settling back at his desk and resuming his game. His return left many in the department baffled. The sales team had been the most affected by the drama surrounding Jackson, and most of them had expected him to be fired. Instead, Jett had been dismissed, and Jackson had gotten off with a minor salary deduction. But Jackson didn't care about losing his base salary. In the sales department, commissions were where the real money came from. With his recent $7.5 million deal, Jackson's commission would easily be six figures. Losing his base salary was a pocket change in comparison. As the day wound down, an unexpected group entered the sales department. "Police!" "They're here to arrest Jackson for assault?" "Wow, check out that female officer. She's stunning!" The employees began whispering again as a striking woman in uniform approached Jackson's desk. Adaline, the female officer, stood over Jackson, who was still engrossed in his game. "Mr. Jackson, you're under investigation for assault. Please come with us." Jackson looked up, smirking. "Are you going to handcuff me?" Adaline didn't respond, simply turning to leave. Jackson shrugged and followed her out of the office with a confident grin on his face.