Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Nathan knocked on the door and rushed into David’s office. He took out his phone and handed it to David, saying, "Mr. Charrington, a negative post
about our company is trending."
David glanced at it. It had been a week since the incident had occurred. However, news of it only appeared on the Internet when he returned to the
country.
Nathan reported, "Also, your father informed the shareholders to gather for a meeting in ten minutes."
David mocked, "It seems like he’s really eager to remove me as the CEO."
David asked, "Is the lady in the video the one who asked for 6.5 million dollars compensation?"
Nathan nodded and replied, "It’s her. Patrick dealt with the incident the moment it occurred. However, this woman was greedy and asked for 6.5
million dollars. The other workers’ families imitated her example. They were completely unreasonable.
"Moreover, the injuries of this woman’s husband were not as serious as she claimed. The doctor had been wanting to transfer the husband from the
ICU to the general ward, but this woman did not agree to it. She even threw a tantrum in the doctor’s office."
David instructed, "Inform the legal department to sue the person who spread the rumors online. Also, get the legal department to discuss the
compensation with the victims’ families. Give them as much compensation as we can within a reasonable range."
"Mr. Charrington, should I get someone to remove the post on the Internet now?" Nathan asked.
David replied, "Let it be."
The shareholders of the Charrington Group were all gathered in the conference room. Geoffrey said, "Recently, there was an accident at the
construction site of Hillside Resort. Many people were injured, and two of them are in the intensive care unit now. The families of the injured workers
are also making a scene and demanding an explanation from us.
"I recall David is the person in charge of this project. It has been a week since this occurred. David, you have never visited the victims at the hospital.
Do you have anything to say about this?"
Geoffrey stared at David sitting in the chairman seat with a serious expression.
Geoffrey was only in his fifties now. However, Logan skipped him and let David become the CEO of the Charrington Group.
Because of this, Geoffrey had to report to David and couldn’t do as he pleased for the last few years. Geoffrey felt like he was the son instead. Now,
he finally caught the seemingly mighty David committing a mistake.
David was wearing a tailored suit. His expression was cold as he looked Geoffrey straight in the eye.
David said, "What do you want to hear from me?"
Geoffrey accused, "Because of this incident, the company’s stocks are falling. All the netizens are condemning our group. As the CEO of the
"When this happened, you were nowhere to be seen. Are you planning to run away from your responsibilities? Are you disregarding the interests of
the company and the shareholders?"
The expressions of the shareholders turned sullen. Indeed, the company stocks falling meant that they were all losing money.
Geoffrey was determined to get the shareholders to side with him.
When the incident happened, David was at the border. He immediately got his subordinates to deal with it. However, some workers’ families were
greedy and asked for exorbitant compensation.
They were blinded by greed.
Although the Charrington Group could afford to pay the compensation amount the families asked for, the group could not just give in to unreasonable
requests. If they did, they would be inviting more people to scam the Charrington Group in the future.
Moreover, someone was clearly instigating this and blowing things out of proportion.
"What do you suggest I do?" asked David with a grim face.
Geoffrey sat up straight and said matter-of-factly, "You should, of course, compensate the families according to their requests and issue an apology
online."
David’s eyes were deadpan. With a cold voice, he asked, "Do all the shareholders agree to the suggestion of Mr. Charrington, the general manager?"
When Geoffrey heard David mention his title, his facial expression turned ugly instantly. He was the general manager of the Charrington Group.
However, he hated others mentioning his title because it was his mark of shame.
A small shareholder spoke up. "Mr. Charrington, I think your father’s suggestion is feasible. Now that the stock price is dropping, we have to quickly
stop the public from discussing this issue."
A few major shareholders seconded this opinion.
Dexter Randall, one of the major shareholders, argued, "We can’t resolve the issue like that. If we apologize, won’t it prove that the Charrington
Group is a black company just like what the netizens say? We should let the legal department settle it.
We’ll compensate accordingly."
Someone retorted, "Mr. Randall, you’re a major shareholder of the company. Of course, you’re not afraid. You’re rich, but small shareholders like us
aren’t as wealthy as you. The stock price is dropping now." Dexter replied angrily, "Your suggestions will only negatively affect the company in the
long run. The workers’ families are obviously being greedy."
Edward Price, another shareholder, voiced his opinion. "I agree with Mr. Randall. If we pay the lady whatever she wants, the others will follow suit and
ask for more."
Johan Quaid said, "I think a public apology is feasible. We have to resolve this matter immediately and bring the stock price up. We’re wasting money
and resources by not resuming the Hillside Resort project as soon as possible. We will risk delaying its completion too."
Johan was one of Polly’s distant relatives. He had always been a firm supporter of Geoffrey.
David sat at the head of the table with a cold expression. He listened to who these shareholders sided. He planned to use this opportunity to get rid of
Geoffrey’s men.
The shareholders had different opinions on this matter and kept arguing. David interrupted their argument and said, "Are you done arguing?"
and forgot about David.
David ordered, "Nathan, inform Patrick and the legal team to deal with the injured workers. Also, get the legal team to issue a letter to those who
spread rumors."
David figured it was time for their group’s legal department to get busy. The Charrington Group’s legal team was renowned for being powerful. They
had never lost a lawsuit before. People who could make it into the legal team were all top-notch lawyers.
David scanned the faces of all the shareholders who spoke up for Geoffrey just now. He then said, "This is the last time you will appear in the
Charrington Group’s meeting room."
"The meeting is over." With that, David strode out of the room.
Nathan followed closely behind David.
The Charrington Group quickly issued an official statement.
The statement read:
[Responding to the accident at the construction site of Hillside Resort:
[1. The Charrington Group will bear all the medical costs of the injured workers until they are discharged from the hospital. The company will
compensate each worker 300 thousand dollars.
[2. The Charrington Group will take legal action against people and websites that spread false rumors online and have caused major economic losses
to our company.
[3. What the lady said in the video was defamation. The details of the event are as follows:
[After the accident, the Charrington Group sent a representative to discuss compensation plans with the families of the injured workers. However, this
lady asked for 6.5 million dollars in compensation. The other families followed suit. Our company refused to pay out the amount requested since it
was unreasonable.
[In addition, the doctors suggested transferring the two workers in the intensive care unit to a normal ward. However, the patients’ family members
refused the suggestion and wreaked havoc in the hospital. They even insulted the doctor and our company’s representative.]
Along with the official statement, the Charrington Group also posted a video of the families throwing a fit in the hospital, a video of the lady requesting
for 6.5 million dollars, medical reports of the two workers, and body checkup reports of all the workers involved.
On top of that, the Charrington Group’s PR department urged the netizens to be rational and think before posting since the Internet was not a lawless
place. As soon as the Charrington Group’s official account released the statement and the evidence, it became a trending topic on Twitter.
A netizen commented: [I knew it. The Charrington Group is a well-established company. They will surely compensate the victims under normal
circumstances.]
Another netizen lamented: [I really didn’t expect the wife of that injured worker to deceive us. She doesn’t deserve any sympathy.]
Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David)
Chapter 49
Yet another netizen commented: [Am I the only one paying attention to the compensation? 300 thousand dollars! It’s the annual salary for so many
people! How I wish I’m one of the injured workers.]
Someone mocked: [Well, big companies are usually quite generous in terms of compensation. Those who slandered the Charrington Group must be
crying now. I heard that the group has some really powerful lawyers who have never lost a lawsuit.]
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