Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 879 Extra Story 25 Of Aaron Under The Leadership Of A New CEO

Looking at the clock on the wall, she noticed that it was past seven.

It was already dark outside. However, Aaron still had not returned. Ximena felt quite bored after a long time waiting, so she turned on the TV. To while away the time, she skipped from channel to channel at random.

"The latest news on the Leng's Corporations, received from insiders familiar with the matter, is that the purpose of the ad hoc shareholders general meeting held today, is not to report on the group's project funding as was initially declared, but rather to select the group's new CEO." The headline also flashed as a caption at the bottom of the screen while the reporter continued speaking.

Ximena, still holding the remote-control in her hand, did not continue skipping past this channel. As she watched the flashing images of the Leng's Corporations building, and footage of the reporters flocking at the entrance of the building, she couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly.

"The stock share held by Leng Family, for the three sons together with Aldrich, their father, accounts for 41 percent of the Leng's Corporations' stock share. This means that the Leng Family has an absolute controlling stake of the group. Meanwhile, the group's senior members of the board of directors have clearly expressed that they will continue to support Aldrich. For the time being, there will be no more suspense for the Leng Family that they will continue to be the bellwether of QY Island!" the reporter finished speaking and images of the Leng Family flashed on the screen.

The "ticking" sound of the rain was growing louder. Ximena did not pay attention to the heavier rain that was now bombarding the glass, but just watched the continuing analysis on the financial channel about the sudden shareholders' meeting held by the Leng's Corporations

"I thought you had said you would be back for dinner..." Ximena murmured to herself in a discontented tone. She alternated between watching the clock from time to time, and then watching some more TV.

As the time slowly passed by, Ximena was growing hungrier. She could even hear the groaning sound of her own stomach. It was protesting her recent neglect of it. Yet, as the housekeeper had specifically notified her, she had no recourse but to wait...

Her mouth salivated at the faint aroma of food wafting from the kitchen. She rubbed her groaning stomach, swallowed sadly, and then resumed watching TV from the couch, where she listened absently to the so-called experts' analysis.

*

Inside the headquarters of the Leng's Corporations, the ad hoc shareholders' general meeting was still continuing.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was particularly dignified. Except for the real James, the second young master of Leng Family, and Aldrich, who was in a coma at the hospital, the other members of the Leng Family; Gale, the false James (who was actually Ted, the third younger master of the Leng Family), and even Helen were all presented at the meeting.

Helen was well-dressed, with her hair bound up in a high bun, meticulously fixed in the nape of her neck. Her eyes were streaked with angry flames, as if they were about to burn Aaron in one flash fire.

Gale, as the current CEO, presided over the interim shareholders general meeting. All the people present, including Helen, were fully aware that the interim board of shareholders would today determine who would be the new leader and CEO of the Leng's Corporations. "The 41% shares owned by the Leng Family, plus the shares of those senior members of the board who support us, will definitely exceed 50%," Helen stated arrogantly. She had been conferring with senior members of the board, who had grown with the Leng's Corporations since Aaron had begun to take actions. They had all promised her their continued support of the Leng Family.

'Hum, even if Aaron has somehow bought the remaining shares, it can't be more than 50%. Without more than 50% of the shares, he can never compete with us, 'Helen thought complacently.

The atmosphere had gradually become depressing under Helen's arrogant remarks. Everyone looked at each other across the large boardroom table, while the air in the room seemed to become more and more frigid...

Gale and the false James exchanged glances, and then looked across at Aaron, who had been wearing a cold face from the very beginning until now. It was as if what was happening today had nothing to do with him. He seemed quite disinterested. "Today's meeting of shareholders is a completely superfluous action," Helen snorted coldly, standing up and looking down at Aaron who was seated opposite her. "In the future, if you have no absolute certainty, then don't..."

"Are you sure? Does your Leng Family still have 41% of all shares now?!" Helen's words were suddenly interrupted by Aaron's bleak voice.

"What do you mean?" she questioned pointedly.

Aaron motioned slightly, and Ken, who was sitting behind him, opened his briefcase. He took out a stack of printed reports and handed them to Aaron. He glimpsed at it and then threw it on the table. "I believe that I have an absolute controlling stake of the group now," he said loudly and firmly.

Shocked, Helen looked at Aaron, searching for some clues on his face, but she would never see an expression other than apathy on his face. It was like an unbreakable mask which he wore in public. She then turned her attention to the pile of papers, inexplicably nervous, yet, she deliberately tried to ignore her nervous emotions.

Meanwhile, she nodded at her secretary, who then rushed over to bring her the documents.

Helen sat down and looked at the document. The doubtful audience in the room held their breaths while she read. After a quick scan of the document, her facial expression changed from an initial consternation, to a tremendously mixed feeling of anger and fear, and her face became extremely pallid.

Looking at Helen's instantly changing facial expression, Gale and the false James felt terribly guilty for what they had done, but they could not say anything to comfort her, as they knew that their mom would only listen to the words of the real James. They had reached the consensus that they would give their shares of Leng Family to Aaron, rather than to actively witness him take over the Leng's Corporation by wading through the blood of their family while slaughtering the interests of the group. After all, in his hands, Leng's Corporations would still be called Leng's Corporations!

"Snap!" Helen threw the document directly and quickly in Gale's face. She suddenly stood up, and pointed a finger at his nose while scolding, "Why did you do this to our Family? How are you going to explain it to your father?"

Gale's eyes were ashamed and his expression dimmed, although he didn't speak.

Helen was having a hard time breathing, and she then stared at the false James, with a face of disappointment and exclaimed, "Unfilial son!" Her fingers pointed at the false James and she began to tremble violently, as suddenly wrinkles cracked through her makeup powder. Then failing to draw her next breath, she rolled her eyes, and fell to the ground in a state of collapse. Chairs overturned as board members jumped up in concern.

"Mom..." Gale and the false James cried out immediately, rushing to her side.

The continuous wails of the ambulance sirens were particularly noisy as the night continued to drizzle. Reporters outside the entrance of the Leng's Corporations did not know what was going on, so they kept speculating what could possibly have happened, and their imaginations ran wild. The public relations manager of Leng's Corporations was trying to explain the situation.

A black Maybach quietly slid out of the parking lot's side entrance as reporters were blocking the front entrance. The sleek sedan sped off in the rain.

The rain fell in an irregular beat on the roof of the car as it sped along the black roads into the night. The sound was not unlike a wildly passionate heartbeat.

As Aaron studied the reporters through the back window. He saw them digging for clues on the news, harassing employees who tried to exit the building. In their haste for news, they had even thrown away their umbrellas and seemed oblivious to the rain. "Beep!" came the sound of his phone, indicating that he had received a text message.

He took it out and checked the flashing screen.

'I am so hungry...' The message was from Ximena.

As he read the message, and a smile played faintly on his lips. He then saw that the message had been delivered two hours ago.

"Back to the villa, now," Aaron ordered lightly.

Ken responded yes simply and looked at his master in the rear view mirror, thinking secretly, 'The temporary shareholders' meeting had already delayed an important meeting with the ruler of Dragon Island, who had been waiting for so long! And now His Highness tells me to return to the villa instead?!' He was really confused but he knew better than to voice his doubts.