Rags to Riches: Becoming A Billionaire After Divorce

Chapter 7

Tommy, who had been taken aback, suddenly erupted into laughter. "You scared me to death! I thought you had changed your mind about something. But buy the company? With what money? You're flat broke after all those hospital bills. Do you not hear the bullshit coming out of your mouth?"

Outside the office, everyone was stunned. No one had stepped in earlier because Tommy was not exactly beloved among the staff. Watching Ethan give Tommy a beating was a cathartic experience for them. But then Ethan mentioned buying the company...

"Am I hearing this right? Mr. Thomas wants to buy Grande Company?"

"Is this some kind of joke? He must be desperate and just trying to provoke Tommy. How could he possibly afford to buy Grande Company? It might not be huge, but it would still cost 100 million dollars!"

"Ethan has indeed made quite a bit of money as the vice president. But I heard that all his earnings either goes towards his mom's hospital bills or gets transferred to his wife's parents at his wife's request. 100 million dollars? That seems like wishful thinking?"

While the employees murmured among themselves, Ethan took his seat with an impassive face, waiting quietly.

Meanwhile, Tommy, seeming to have forgotten the beating he just received, spat a mouthful of blood to the ground and scoffed, "Look, even the employees know what's up. What are you pretending for? Buying the company? You might as well save that money for your mother's coffin!"

Ethan gave Tommy a frosty look, which made him step back and shut his mouth.

Trembling, Tommy walked back to his executive chair.

Just as he was about to sit down, his phone rang. It was Lucas, who was scheduled to visit the company that afternoon. It was normal for him to call ahead.

After spitting another mouthful of blood, Tommy menacingly waved his phone at Ethan. "It's Lucas, my brother-in-law. You want to buy the company, huh? Want me to pass the phone so you can discuss it with him?" He then answered the call.

Ethan sat in his chair with a cold smirk playing on his lips. Buying a company was indeed no small task, especially since Grande Company had been thriving under his management for the past few years.

But with enough money, there was nothing he couldn't buy. And if that wasn't enough, he'd just keep upping the ante. His Redbud card held one billion dollars—more than enough to take over Grande Company.

However, getting Andrew to assist with the buyout would certainly expedite the process more than if he handled it himself.

Tommy answered the phone with a sycophantic grin. "Hey, Lucas, when are you coming to the office? Let me know so I can pick you up and fill you in on what's been happening. I just dealt with a big pest problem for the company."

Now that Ethan was fired, Tommy could easily blame him for the costly contract mishaps. After all, to Grande Company, Ethan was as good as dead. Could a dead man defend himself?

However, his smile quickly turned to shock. "What? The company's sold?" His scream reverberated through the office, deafening all those close by.

The employees at the door looked thunderstruck, their faces filled with horror.

Grande Company had been doing well for the past two years; it made no sense to sell such a golden goose! Then it clicked for everyone, recalling what Ethan had just mentioned. 'Could it be...?' Eyes wide with disbelief, all heads turned toward Ethan.

Tommy snapped back to reality, his eyes wide with fear as he stared at Ethan, his voice nearly hoarse as he asked, "How... how did you pull this off?"

"Now, the company belongs to me," Ethan declared, standing up slowly with a victorious smile. He was somewhat surprised by how fast Andrew had got it done, but it also highlighted just how influential Andrew was.

Ethan was well aware of the big boss behind Grande Company. Securing and completing the purchase of a 100-million-dollar company in just a few minutes wasn't something just anyone with money could manage.

"It's impossible. This can't be happening," Tommy stammered, his face flushed and voice desperate as he cried into the phone, "Lucas, why did you suddenly sell the company? Why didn't you discuss it with me? Our company has been continuously profitable; we were on the brink of going public, you..."

Click!

The phone went dead, obliterating Tommy's last sliver of hope.

Ethan smirked and said, "You're out of a job now, and not even God can save it for you!" His tone was scathing, flinging Tommy's earlier insults right back at him.

Tommy trembled, his eyes seething with anger. Ethan's words felt like a harsh slap across his face. He couldn't fathom how someone who had repeatedly been his scapegoat could suddenly afford to buy the company.

Feeling the employees' mocking stares, Tommy felt like he was on pins and needles.

A mix of shame, anger, and resentment nearly drove him mad. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of a contract on the office desk, and he burst out laughing. "A takeover, huh? Ethan, you're damn impressive! Almost too impressive to believe!"

Pointing at the contract on the desk, Tommy continued to laugh wildly, his eyes blazing with malice. "But you should've read this contract, Ethan. It's for the redevelopment of the Ghetto, and I signed for 30 million dollars, which is way over budget! Now that you've bought Grande Company, this albatross of a contract is yours. It's expensive enough to bankrupt your company!"

He had previously regretted signing the contract while drunk, but now, after Ethan had publicly humiliated him, the contract seemed like a blessing in disguise—it was his chance for revenge.

Ethan's purchase of Grande Company was like willingly stepping into a minefield, putting on a show without realizing he was playing with fire. Just this one redevelopment contract could financially destroy Ethan.

"30 million dollars?" Ethan's eyes narrowed, his face darkening considerably. "You really are an i***t!"

The employees at the office door turned ashen and began murmuring in shock. Grande Company was barely worth 100 million dollars; an overpriced contract worth 30 million dollars could spell doom. If the company folded, what would become of them? Was it time to start looking for new jobs?

Watching the crowd's silence and Ethan's reaction, Tommy laughed even louder, reveling in the feeling of turning the tables. "Didn't see that coming, did you? You've taken over Grande Company, and the worst I lose is my position as president. Lucas has plenty of companies—I can just run another one and still live the high life with money and women."

"But you? You're not only stuck cleaning up this mess, but you'll also be financially ruined. How does that make you feel?" He added.