Babel Novel
Chapter 2127
"Alright, everyone's here; let's start." Sanderson had the reins now and his patience for playing nice with the Strands had worn thin. Jacob's passive-aggressive banter did little to improve his mood, and he wasn't in the mood to play along.
"Mr. Sanderson seems a bit on edge today, doesn't he? But look, we're still missing someone."
A melodious voice filtered in from the entrance. Sanderson was caught off guard; he couldn't place the voice. As the newcomer entered the boardroom, his face shifted to a look of surprise. "Isn't that the Jared family heiress, Wayne's wife?"ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
"Jacob's Wayne's friend. How could he miss backing him up at a gathering like this?"
"You're living in the past, man. Years ago, Jacob got booted from Bane Corporation for crossing swords with Wayne over a woman..."d2
The boardroom erupted in whispers and murmurs as everyone began to gossip.
Rose followed behind Rosalynn, surveying the expansive boardroom. She knew why she was here today.
The Strand Group, a local empire with shareholders that included... several women...
"Mrs. Silverman, your presence graces us. Forgive me for not greeting you sooner!" Sanderson quickly recovered, stepping forward to shake Rosalynn's hand.
But Rosalynn breezed right past him. She reached out to Jacob instead, "Jacob, you seem to have changed quite a lot for the past few months."
Sanderson's hand hung awkwardly in the air, his facial muscles twitched involuntarily.
"This gentleman..." After shaking Jacob's hand, Rosalynn turned to Sanderson, "You must be Mr. Sanderson, right? You seem like a nice fellow. I heard your voice from outside and thought I'd be meeting a fierce-looking old man."
Sanderson was the type to judge a book by its cover.
Even without considering Bane Corporation, Rosalynn was someone Sanderson couldn't afford to provoke.
He had no choice. Graham had run the Strand Group into the ground, and for years they had been living at the mercy of the financial giants, barely scraping by.
Once upon a time, the Strand Group used to overshadow the Silverman Group!
But then, the Strand Group fell into Graham's incompetent hands, while the Silverman Group thrived under Natalie's leadership.
Now here he was, forced to bow his head to a woman who'd just trampled all over his pride.
Rose stood behind Rosalynn, watching her brazenness, she felt more and more that Rosalynn was arrogant and rude.
But little did she know that Rosalynn was being deliberately discourteous.
In this arena, whoever could dominate the atmosphere had the upper hand.
Rosalynn had to make it crystal clear to these Strand Group shareholders who she supported, who she looked down on, so that when it came time to vote, even her presence would make them weigh their options more carefully. They had to consider what making the wrong choice could cost them, and whether that cost was something they could bear.
This was the essence of what Hilaria used to say, "A few words can change the course of destiny."
"Perhaps I raised my voice a bit too much earlier, and for that, I apologize, Mrs. Silverman," Sanderson said with a chuckle. But before he could finish, Rosalynn turned and took a seat to his left, dealing Sanderson another blow.
"Mr. Sanderson, I'm here representing both Bane Corporation and the Jared Group today, so let's skip the formalities. You can call me Ms. Tesdal or Ms. Jared, whichever you prefer," Rosalynn said as she settled into her seat, finally offering Sanderson a smile. Yet it was a smile that slapped him in the face.
The air in the boardroom was thick with tension.
"Mr. Sanderson, you're usually such a personable guy. How could you make such a faux pas?" Jacob teased, grinning at Sanderson. "Ms. Tesdal has made a name for herself in the banking world these past few years, and in the last six months, she's propelled Bane Corporation, already at the pinnacle, even higher. To address her as Mrs. Silverman is quite disrespectful. It's as if you're suggesting that this formidable woman is just an appendage to her husband. You have to apologize to her."