Pierre said. “Jessica, I think you should call your father. You are hosting a meeting with us? That’s hrious.”

A few of the board members joined in to chuckle with Pierre, as if Jessica had just told a joke.

Jessica stared at them with icy gazes. She didn’t bsay /bba /bword until they stoppedughing. She then gave a faint smile and said, “Why don’t you keepughing? Are you done now?”

She swept her eyes around the room and then pulled several folders from her stack. “I have some gifts for you guys. I guess this will make youugh even harder.”

She passed the first folder to the side, where Herbert, Dereck’s former assistant, took it and handed it to the few who hadughed along with Pierre.

Those board members took the folders with an air of disdain. But when they opened them, they suddenly widened their eyes and frowned.

One of them muttered, “No, this can’t be.”

Another added, “Ms. Grant, this must be a misunderstanding.”

Someone else said, “I… These documentsb…/b”

They looked at Jessica in fear. Under her gaze, their faces grew pale, and within moments, a fineyer of sweat appeared on their foreheads.

“I appreciate the contributions you have made to thepany. However…” Jessica deliberately paused.

Though she looked the most delicate in therge meeting room, her presence at that moment made it hard for anyone to meet her eyes.

She continued, “Herbert will contact you regarding follow–up matters. As for now, please proceed to HR and submit your resignations.”

Her wordsnded like a thunderp. The few board members who had received the folders looked bitter. One of them nced at Pierre, clearly seeking help. But just then, Herbert handed Pierre a folder as well.

It was clear that Pierre was in no position to protect anyone. He had trouble protecting himself.

Someone muttered angrily, “Very well. We will leave. But Ms. Grant, we hope you will keep your word. Considering our years of service, we trust we will not walk away with nothing.”

The board members exchanged nces and closed their folders. They shot Jessica a sharp nce before walking out.

The meeting room fellpletely silent. The rest of the people present looked at Jessica withplex expressions.

All of them thought the same thing, ‘What exactly was in those folders that made them submit so quickly? After all, board resignations are not like ordinary quitting. They involve shares.

Pierre narrowed his eyes. His round face carried a dark expression. He had not yet opened his folder. His instincts told him Jessica had likely found something on him and was ready to use it to threaten him.

He stayed motionless, and Jessica did not push him. She just watched him with a faint smile.

Since Jessica said nothing, no one else dared make a sound.

The clock on the wall ticked audibly. Jessica’s presence filled the room sopletely that the others barely dared to breathe.

“It’s been years, Jessica. Let’s have lunch to wee you properly. My treat, okay?” Pierre finally said. His expression softened as he reced his grim look with a friendly smile.

As one of the founders who built thepany alongside Dereck, Pierre had known Jessica since she was a child.

Jessica smiled. “Mr. Davidson, I prepared that folder especially for you. Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Oh, did you? That was thoughtful of you,” Pierre said, brushing the folder aside. “But I don’t need anything. I appreciate that, anyway.”

He pushed the folder away and added, “You’re new to thepany, and you probably aren’t familiar with all the projects yet. My department has the mostplete records. I’ll ask my assistant to send them over.”

“Oh, thank you. That’s so sweet,” Jessica replied. She didn’t make things difficult for Pierre again. She nced at him and made no further mention of the folder. Instead, she moved on to discuss other matters.

0198

By the time the meeting ended. Pierre bstill /bhad not opened the folder.

Jessaca gathered her bthings /band returned to her office. She opened the folder she had handed to Pierre. Inside were only records of his performance over the years. There was no actual evidence or leverage in it.