Live-Streamed Lies, I Ruined Her Scheme

Chapter 2

With the second accusation, netizens typed furiously on their keyboards once again, leaving mean comments against me.

A: [This woman only got with Mr. Clarkson for his money!]

B: [He spent his whole life to build the business, and she just took it over like that. Absolutely ridiculous!]

C: [Charlotte is Mr. Clarkson's daughter, and Lana had the nerve to rename the whole group after her own name!]

Seeing that the public was all on Charlotte's side, her expression turned smug. She charged forward, yanked me roughly out of the CEO's seat, and shoved me hard into the edge of the nearby desk.

An unbearable pain shot through my lower back, and my whole body jolted.

And that was the first time she had ever been physically violent with me.

Charlotte plopped down into the chair and propped her feet up on my desk.

"Lana, this group belongs to me. I'm the real CEO here—get out, now!"

Staring at the hatred and coldness in her eyes, I suddenly felt like a complete fool.

For the sake of a promise, I had doted on her hand and foot, and I had treated her as if she was my own, even though we were not blood-related.

But now, she would never get another thing from me. I gave her what she had, and I could certainly take it back.

With one hand on my hip, I spoke with a mocking tone. "Ask yourself, are you really worthy to be the CEO of Johnson Group!"

My attitude infuriated Charlotte, and she slammed her palm down on the desk. "Folks, this harlot has ridden right over our heads! Are we, the Johnson family, really going to swallow this humiliation and do nothing?"

More than a dozen older men rushed in through the door, their jowls shaking as they spat furiously.

"This is the Clarkson Group that Henry built! Hand it back to us peacefully, or we'll kick you off the board of directors!"

I swept my gaze across the greedy faces before me, committing each of their ugliness to memory.

For over twenty years, I had shown them mercy and allowed them to remain in the company out of respect for their ties to Charlotte.

But I had to remind them of a cold, hard truth. "Even with all the shares you hold together, they still don't add up to half of mine, and you want me out?"

My defiant attitude had clearly struck their nerves.

"We didn't stay here and do nothing all these years! The employees have long been sick of a money-grubbing slut like you!"

"Starting today, every department under our management is going on strike! When the whole group grinds to a halt, you will surely fall!"

What a bunch of morons.

They had gotten a little power in their hands, and they seemed to have forgotten their own place.

Well, perfect timing for me to purge the parasites.

Like an executioner calling the roll, I pointed one by one at their bald heads from across the room.

"You're fired."

"You're fired."

That went on for quite a while...

"You're fired too."

"Assistant Lynch, issue their dismissal notices."

For those who called for a strike, you can pack your things and leave on your own. The company won't force you to stay.

They could not believe what they had just heard, their wrinkled faces crumpled into tight, angry knots.

"You want to fire me?"

"If I walk out, the entire department goes down with me. And when that happens, the whole company will collapse in your hands! You'll be known as the one who destroys Henry's life's work!"

Netizens could not stomach this either, convinced that I was out to exterminate every last one of the Clarksons from the group.

People across the country launched a massive boycott of Johnson Group.

A: [Anyone who uses Johnson Group products is a traitor!]

B: [I'm putting Johnson Group on my blacklist forever!]

With such an extreme reaction, the group's share price plummeted.

Watching this, Charlotte broke into a smug and triumphant smile.

"See? Only I am fit to be the CEO of this group. If you don't step down, you'll go bankrupt. Then you and your daughter will be homeless, forced to fend for yourselves on the streets!"

Unfortunately, I did not care about the dip at all. I'd rather see the company go under than let it fall into the Clarksons' hands.

What's more, I could bring the group back from the brink with just a snap of my fingers.

Charlotte grabbed my collar and spoke with a threatening tone. "Do you want me to expose your third crime to the world? The price you'll pay will be worse than losing the entire group!"