Jason White: The Consortium's Dominant

Chapter Eleven: You can't do this!

Jason didn't have any intention of going up on stage, but as he looked at Lisa, he realized what she was trying to do by giving him the platform.

She was trying to help him out.

With a slight nod to her, Jason rose from his seat.

The room fell into a hush as eyes tracked his every move. He walked calmly towards the podium and made his way toward Eloise and Lloyd, who stood near the stage. Lisa stepped aside with a small smile, making way for him.

The crowd’s reaction was instant and varied.

Whispers echoed through the guests, many of whom had previously written Jason off as insignificant. But now, understanding who he truly was, they watched in shock and disbelief.

Robin Richmond who was sitting behind Jason, kept his expression neutral, but his mind was racing.

If Jason was really who the manager of Winston Group said he was, his family must have made a grave mistake. Robin couldn't help but think about the consequences and what it meant to provoke someone with Jason’s influence.

The realization settled heavily in his mind. His usual confidence wavered as he quietly reconsidered his earlier assumptions and actions.

Lloyd, on the other hand, felt a wave of panic rise in his chest.

His face paled as Jason approached.

So many thoughts ran through his head, leaving him more confused. Jason? The boss of the Winston Group? How was that possible?

The reality of Jason’s power struck him like a hammer to the chest.

His mind raced to the investment the Winston Group had made in Richardson Group, and them buying shares in the company. He couldn't help but feel a strong wave of insecurity welling up in him

As he thought about everything, he swallowed hard, adjusting his tie so he would feel less suffocating. Sweat broke at his temple as he thought of how things could go very wrong and very quickly.

Eloise’s reaction was equally that of someone who was frightened.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as Jason walked toward her. The confident arrogance she had displayed earlier crumbled in an instant.

She had humiliated Jason in front of everyone, and now, the truth of who Jason was left her scared. Her hands trembled slightly, as she realized that she had messed up.

As Jason reached the stage, the room was silent. Every guest froze in their seats, unsure of what was about to happen.

The power dynamics in the room had shifted completely.

Eloise stood frozen, her mind in disarray as her fingers found her lips. She started chewing on her fingernails—something she did when she was scared. It was a habit she had long buried.

She had never imagined that the man she had dismissed so easily, the husband she’d once thought of as useless, was the true President of the Winston Group.

A wave of regret washed over her, sharp and stinging.

'How could I have been so blind?' she thought. The decision to divorce him now seemed utterly foolish.

Worse still, if Jason wanted to take revenge on her, it would be effortless, like an elephant crushing an ant.

Fear crept into her expression as she glanced at Lloyd.

Around them, the murmurs of their guests filled the room.

"Jason? The head of the Winston Group?" they whispered in disbelief. What had just been a regular wedding had transformed into a spectacle, and Jason, Eloise’s once-dismissed ex-husband was now the center of attention.

Jason reached the stage and turned to Eloise and Lloyd, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Congratulations to both of you,” he said smoothly, his voice calm and collected. “I truly wish you happiness.”

His words, though polite, carried an undertone that sent a shiver down Eloise and Lloyd's spine.

He nodded once and then returned to his seat as if nothing had happened, leaving a trail of stunned silence behind him.

Lloyd, still processing the bombshell, stood dumbfounded. His mind raced, struggling to make sense of it all.

Eloise’s expression mirrored his shock. Her once-confident posture crumbled.

Jason’s calm demeanor and departure from the stage had left them both rattled.

Just as they were trying to collect themselves, Lisa stepped up to the microphone again, her voice clear and authoritative.

“Also, on my way here,” she began, drawing everyone’s attention back to her, “I received an important update."

She stopped, glancing at the curious faces of the guests.

"The Richardson Group is currently under investigation for tax evasion—" she added before pausing and tilting her head to Lloyd. "—and the new board has voted to remove Lloyd Richardson from his position as CEO, effective immediately.”

The color on Lloyd's face drained completely as the words settled, like a hard punch to the gut.

That was when he realized what was going on. This was a trap.

All along he had just been a p**n in Lisa and Jason's game.

He rushed toward Lisa, his expression wild with anger and desperation. “You! You’re conspiring against me!” he shouted, his voice filled with panic. “This is all a setup! You planned it with him!” He yelled out, pointing towards Jason.

Eloise, still shaken, turned to Lisa, her voice wavering. “How can you just fire Lloyd like that? This is unfair!”

The corners of Lisa's lips arched into a smirk as she took a step towards Eloise.