Trading My Ex for His Uncle

The shareholders continued to talk over each other, giving Brandon no chance to speak.

Only when they fell silent did he ask, "Are you finished?"

"Mr. Sumner, what kind of attitude is this? Your personal affairs caused this whole mess, yet you're acting as if it has nothing to do with you!" one shareholder demanded.

Facing their angry glares, Brandon set the document in his hand aside.

"You've all said quite a bit, but the main point is that you want me to resign, right?" he said. "I can step down, but tell me, who do you plan to put in my place?"

The shareholders exchanged uneasy glances.

After a long pause, the lead shareholder spoke. "There are several capable shareholders in the company. We can select one of them to temporarily take over as CEO of the Sumner Group until you resolve your personal matters. Once that's done, you can return to your position."

Brandon chuckled. "Mr. Dodgson, since you're speaking so confidently, I assume you've already decided on a replacement. Don't tell me you've chosen yourself?"

Wyatt Dodgson frowned. "Mr. Sumner, we can make the decision through an open vote. And for the record, I have no strong desire to replace you."

Brandon nodded. "Fine. Then let's hold a shareholder meeting. I also have a candidate in mind for the interim role."noveldrama

Since Brandon took over the Sumner Group, Wyatt had been sowing discord between him and the other shareholders. Even if Brandon stepped down, there was no way he'd let Wyatt take his place.

Wyatt narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. "Alright, then."

...

Less than an hour later, all the shareholders of the Sumner Group had gathered in the conference room.

Sitting at the head of the table,

Brandon addressed the group. "First, I want to apologize. Due to my

personal affairs, the companet?

public image has taken a hit. I've gathered you here today to make an important announcement."

He swept his gaze across the room, noting the different reactions. "To prevent my personal issues from further affecting the company, I've decided to temporarily step down as CEO of the Sumner Group. The purpose of today's meeting is to elect someone to take over in the interim."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room erupted in discussion.

"Mr. Sumner, this is a minor issue. There's no need for you to resign over it."

"Exactly. This situation hasn't spread widely. Plenty of other companies have had far bigger scandals and still managed just fine."

"I think you're making too big a deal out of this. If you step down now, you'll only be proving their accusations that you're ungrateful. This will blow over soon."

As the shareholders voiced their opinions, Wyatt's expression darkened.

Brandon raised a hand, signaling for silence. "I understand everyone's concerns, but I also want to take this opportunity to rest for a while."

"How long do you plan to be away?" one shareholder asked. "If it's too long, it could destabilize the company."

A company couldn't function properly without its leader.

Over the past few years, they had all witnessed Brandon's growth. He was no longer the reckless younge man who made frequent mistakes. He had become a dependable leader, fully capable of steering the Sumner Group forward.