Chapter 65: Could Anyone Be That Greedy And Devious?

Mike chuckled as he turned to Todd. “Oh,” he said, “you thought this was all about you. How charmingly embarrassing for you.”

Todd’s face turned red from anger and embarrassment, but he said nothing. He had no plan to argue with Mike this time.

Mike turned back to Crystal and continued: “On behalf of the President of Brilliant Group, I am here to present you with your Birthday present: 30% of the shares of Brilliant Group. This file contains the relevant paperwork. I have highlighted the places where you need to sign. I will give you enough time to read the document, Miss Smith,”

Crystal looked like she had been struck by lightning. She looked at the yellow manila envelope and said, “There must be a mix-up. I don’t know the president of Brilliant Group, so why would he give me shares in his company?”

Mike laughed and said, “Miss Smith, I am surprised that you didn’t know that Nathan Davis is the president of Brilliant Group.”

Crystal gasped and raised her hands to her mouth. She was so surprised that she took a half step back and took a deep breath. How could this be? - she wondered.

Todd glared at Mike and said, “Do you expect us to believe that the president of Brilliant Group gave 30% of his company’s shares to Crystal?”

Mike: “That is correct, Mr. Henry. And it doesn’t matter if you believe it. Additionally, Miss Smith will have a significant say in all business matters. These matters include, but are definitely not limited to, acquisition plans for companies like the Henry Group.”

Todd looked excited for a moment. “Does that mean that the Brilliant Group will acquire the Henry Group?” he asked.

“Potentially,” Mike replied. “The final decision is still up to Miss Smith. If she wants to acquire the Henry Group, well then, it will be processed immediately,”

When Todd heard this, his smile turned to a frown, and Joyce’s face went pale. How is this possible? - Joyce wondered - How could Crystal be so lucky? How many assets does the president of the Brilliant Group have anyway? I thought that Mr. Davis was nothing but a gigolo! “This is impossible!” she exclaimed. “How can a gigolo be the president of anything, let alone a company the size of Brilliant Group?”

Todd turned to Joyce in dismay and said, “Shut up and go upstairs. The adults are talking now.” Todd knew that he’d spoiled his daughter too much as a child. Now she was nothing but a selfish, thoughtless brat.

“I don’t want to,” Joyce pouted. She stomped her foot petulantly, and when she refused to leave, her mother had to drag her out of the room.

Todd: “Crystal, why don’t you and Mr. Carter sit down.”

“I’d rather not,” Crystal smirked and said,

“There is nothing to discuss. I will sign the papers, and I will ensure that your deal does not go through.”

“You!” Todd seethed.

“Crystal, you are my daughter. Why would you do that?”

“Oh, that’s rich,” Crystal laughed. vindictively. “Suddenly, I’m your daughter again? You certainly didn’t think of me as your daughter when you tricked me into signing away my inheritance! Karma’s a bitch. You see that now, don’t you, Daddy?”

Crystal took a deep breath, and then she continued: “When I was two years old, you divorced my mother. Since then, you stopped thinking of me as your daughter. That’s always been obvious. You traded my mother for Jessica and me for Joyce. Informally, you were not my father anymore when you left us. When you had me sign over my shares, you made it formal! That is why I will oppose the acquisition. Not only that, but I will make you regret everything you did since the day you walked away from your family. God is watching you from the sky, and I believe that my mother is watching too. If so, surely she will be happy!”

Crystal signed the contract right there and then for all to see, gloating as she put pen to paper. She was not greedy for the shares, but she did want a bit of comeuppance. Once she was done, she handed the papers back to Mike, and he said, “Miss Davis if you need a ride somewhere, I can take you.”

“That would be nice,” Crystal said. “I would like to go to the Brilliant Group to thank Mr. Davis in person.”

Mike nodded, and without saying goodbye to anyone, he led Crystal to his car.

Once the Henry’s Mansion was behind them, Crystal turned to Mike and asked, “How would I go about returning the shares if I didn’t want them?”

Mike was surprised when he heard this, and after some thought, he said, “You should talk to Mr. Davis about it when you see him.”

Crystal nodded and said nothing.

It was a sunny day, and the air in the car was hot, so Mike turned on the air conditioning. After a minute, he sighed and said, “Crystal, is this because I called you Mrs. Davis? I forgot that you don’t like people to know that you’re married. Please forgive me.”

“It isn’t about that,” Crystal said. “We’re cool. In fact, I should thank you. If it weren’t for you arriving when you did, my birthday would have been ruined.”

Mike: “You should thank Mr. Davis.”

Crystal didn’t reply because she knew that Mike was right. She should thank Nathan even if she gave up the shares, the look on her father and stepsister’s face when Mike had given her the gift had been priceless. Brilliant Group - she thoughtfully and playfully repeated the name of the company in her mind - Brilliant Group. Brilliant Group. Wherefore art thou, Brilliant Group. Crystal chuckled. She had been completely taken aback to learn that Nathan was the president of Brilliant Group - If he is so rich, then why did he want my inheritance? Could anyone be that greedy and devious? And did my mother know how rich he is?