Chapter 540
Michael warned through gritted teeth, “Andrew, Aunt Tiana is gracious enough to let this slide, but you’d better watch your mouth. The first time might be luck, but the second time? Even if she spares you, I certainly won’t.”
Andrew glanced at him with a faint smirk and said, “Michael, you’re no longer the CEO, so stop pretending to be someone important in front of me. Let’s face it, you’re just a washed-up vice CEO now, only capable of managing a few departments. As a board member, I answer to the company, not you.”
Michael’s face turned crimson with anger, but he could not find a rebuttal. Stripped of his CEO title, he no longer had the authority to give Andrew orders.
Ignoring Michael’s silent fury, Andrew turned his attention to Tiana and said firmly, “Troy made mistakes and deserves to be held accountable. But throwing him into prison at the drop of a hat makes the Rhodes family seem cold and ruthless. After years of loyalty, handling him this way feels unnecessarily harsh and vindictive.”
Tiana let out a cold chuckle and said, “Do you even realize the scale of the damage he caused by leaking three proprietary formulas from the Pharmaceutical Division?”
Andrew nodded calmly. “I understand the gravity of the loss perfectly, Mrs. Rhodes. However, what I am suggesting is that Troy’s actions should go through the proper channels of commercial crime procedures. Using your influence to send him straight to prison feels like an emotional vendetta rather than a measured response."
Tiana’s eyes narrowed, but after a moment, she replied, “Fine. Let’s assume you have a point. I can consider dealing with Troy with some leniency. But tell me this–what do you mean by accusing me of being unclear in my rewards and punishments?”
Andrew leaned back slightly and said, “It’s simple. Troy is one of Michael’s people, and now that he’s made such a colossal mistake, his career and reputation are in ruins. But I have to ask – when someone below makes a mistake, are we just going to let the person above him walk away unscathed, washing their hands of any responsibility?”
Michael’s face twisted in rage. “Andrew, what are you implying? Are you seriously suggesting that I should be held accountable for what Troy did?”
Andrew’s tone hardened as he continued, “Troy fell into Ruby’s trap because of poor judgment, but as his superior, you share the blame for enabling the collaboration. During the meeting, you fully endorsed Troy’s partnership with Ruby. Now that disaster has struck, all this proves is that your leadership is incompetent, brainless, and reckless!”
Michael clenched his fists, his teeth grinding as he barely contained his fury. “Alright, you’re great at running your mouth, I’ll give you that,” he spat. “But I’ve already been demoted to vice CEO. Isn’t that punishment enough for you?”
Some of the other executives chimed in to back him up. “That’s right–Mr. Rhodes has already been stripped of his CEO position. Surely, that’s a sufficient punishment.”
Another added, “Mrs. Rhodes has always been known for her fairness. If this is the judgment she’s made, it should be enough.”
The elder who Andrew had previously slapped glared at him and said furiously, “Mr. Lloyd, why do you keep harping on Mr. Rhodes? What are you trying to achieve?”
Andrew shook his head, his gaze filled with disdain. He said calmly, “You’re all nothing but accomplices, birds of a feather flocking together. That’s exactly why Rhodes Corporation is in today’s mess.”
Michael and his supporters immediately bristled, ready to hurl insults and accusations at Andrew, their anger boiling over.
However, Tiana’s icy voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Enough!” she commanded. “Let him continue. I want to hear everything he has to say. Let’s see if he can back up his bold claims with anything worthwhile.”