Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 151: Seizing Power

Nina Thorne quickly arrived at headquarters.

Jay Jacobs was waiting for her by the elevators. As soon as he saw her, he stepped forward respectfully.

Nina Thorne stepped out of the elevator. "Where are they?"

"They’re all in the conference room."

Nina Thorne nodded and strode toward the conference room.

She pushed open the conference room door.

The first thing she saw was Leighton Thorne, sitting in the chairman’s seat.

On the surface, he looked calm and gentle, but his eyes were filled with arrogance. He looked both surprised and scornful when he saw her.

"Nina, what are you doing here? What brings you to the company?"

The other directors all turned to look at her.

Nina Thorne walked briskly up to him. "What do you think you’re doing?"

Her features were cool and delicate, not at all threatening, but her gaze was not to be trifled with.

Leighton Thorne was surprised for a moment, but he didn’t take her seriously.

"Master Thorne has been hospitalized with health problems. A corporation this large can’t be left unattended, so I was worried."

Leighton Thorne let out a laugh and glanced at the others. "But it’s good that you’re here. The board has just agreed to appoint me as acting chairman..."

"Grandfather is sick in the hospital. It’s not your place to manage the group."

Nina Thorne cut him off and looked at the numerous directors. "While Grandfather is undergoing treatment, I will manage the company until he has recovered."

The directors were all stunned.

For years, Nina Thorne hadn’t just not managed the company.

As the Thorne Family’s heiress, she had never shown any interest in its affairs.

After her father passed away, Master Thorne’s health declined day by day, and he even hired a professional manager at a high salary.

For Nina Thorne to now say she was taking over was, without a doubt, a joke.

Leighton Thorne snorted with laughter. He stood up, towering over Nina Thorne.

"You don’t know the first thing about business. Why put yourself through such hardship?"

Leighton Thorne’s smile was hypocritical. "Why don’t you let your older cousin manage things for Master Thorne until he recovers?"

Nina Thorne had never had much contact with his side of the family.

Years ago, his branch of the family had a terrible falling out with her grandfather over control of the group. They eventually split off, and the two sides had not associated since.

So many years had passed.

For him to show up now, at such a critical moment... his intentions were as clear as day.

"I am The Thorne Group’s sole legal heir. With Grandfather gravely ill, it is my duty to take charge. We don’t need an outsider’s help."

Nina Thorne raised her hand, and Jay Jacobs handed her the file he had prepared.

She opened it and held it up for everyone to see.

"This is the breakdown of the group’s shareholding structure. I am the largest shareholder, so it is my right to manage the group. Does anyone have a problem with that?"

Leighton Thorne froze.

’I can’t believe the old bastard transferred the shares to her so quickly.’

Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

"But right now, the group is facing a financial crisis. Can you solve that, Miss Thorne?"

"There’s suddenly a problem with the new energy project. The other party is demanding double compensation according to the contract. That’s no small sum."

"The chairman was just hospitalized, and who knows who leaked the news, but many of our partners are clamoring to end their collaborations. If this continues, the group won’t last much longer."

Leighton Thorne smiled at Nina Thorne. "Nina, you heard them. This isn’t a game."

"It’s a rare opportunity that the directors trust me. Why don’t you let me handle these problems? Otherwise, they’ll just get bigger. When Master Thorne wakes up, he’ll only be able to watch as the foundation of The Thorne Group is destroyed."

Leighton Thorne was the type of person who always hid a knife behind his smile.

On the surface, he was acting for the good of the group and the Thorne Family, but in reality, he wanted to swallow The Thorne Group whole.

This was exactly what the directors were afraid of.

Master Thorne was the backbone of The Thorne Group. Once news of his condition got out, the stock market would be affected.

Nina Thorne had to find a way to prevent these problems.

But she was caught between a rock and a hard place.

The most urgent task was to stabilize morale.

Nina Thorne promised, "I will solve all of these problems within one week."

"One week? Nina, aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself? This is a company. The world of business isn’t as simple as chasing after a boyfriend." Leighton Thorne’s words were dripping with sarcasm.

Everyone in their social circle knew that Nina Thorne used to follow Cole Kane around like his little shadow.

The entire board had thought that if Nina Thorne had actually married into the Kane Family, the company’s future development would have been as solid as a mountain.

But not long ago, she had not only suddenly broken off the engagement.

But a scandal had also broken out two days ago about her seducing Justin Kane, which supposedly angered Master Thorne so much he ended up in the hospital, where he now lay unconscious.

Of course the directors didn’t believe in Nina Thorne.

Someone questioned, "Miss Thorne, managing a company is no small matter. What happens if you can’t solve these problems in a week?"

"We can’t just follow you in your reckless games and watch the company’s interests go down the drain, can we?"

"If I can’t solve them, I will personally bear all the losses."

Nina Thorne lifted her chin slightly, her gaze firm.

She wasn’t as... useless as the rumors claimed.

Seeing the board members hesitate, Leighton Thorne said agitatedly, "Are you really going to believe the words of a little girl?"

Jay Jacobs said, "Miss Thorne is the company’s largest shareholder. Based on that fact alone, no one can object."

"Anyone who objects is free to leave the board," Nina Thorne said, her face cold and her aura intimidating.

The directors all fell silent.

Leighton Thorne was furious.

The directors who had been backing him didn’t dare say another word now.

Leighton Thorne didn’t have enough shares, so he had no choice but to concede. He snorted coldly, "Fine. I also hope my ’dear’ cousin can resolve these crises."

"If you can’t, I’ll be back in a week."

He didn’t have enough shares in his hands, so for now, he could only leave.

He had planned to incite a few directors to support him, which would have smoothly paved the way for him to become acting chairman.

He never expected Nina Thorne to come out of nowhere and thwart him.

He had completely underestimated this little girl.

Once Leighton Thorne left, the other directors also stood up one by one.

"Miss Thorne, we hope you do what you say you will. Don’t disappoint us."

Only after they had all gone did Nina Thorne’s taut nerves finally relax.

She didn’t dare let her guard down. She went to her grandfather’s office and had Jay Jacobs explain the company’s current situation in detail.

Not only was the new energy vehicle factory having problems and falling behind schedule, but other planned projects were also unable to be completed on time.

On top of that, there were many other similar incidents.

All of these problems came with the threat of contract termination and compensation payments.

’How could there be so many coincidences in the world?’

Nina Thorne was lost in thought.

Seeing her like this, Jay Jacobs said with difficulty, "Miss Thorne, it’s truly impossible to solve so many problems in one week."

"For years, those other members of the Thorne Family have been eyeing The Thorne Group like tigers stalking their prey. They were just waiting for something to happen to the chairman. Now, they’ll surely do everything they can to deal with you and snatch away the group."

Nina Thorne rubbed her temples.

She had a headache from drinking too much the previous night.

"I know. So for now, the plan is to solve these problems first."

Nina Thorne’s expression was calm as she instructed him, "Help me schedule a meeting with the person in charge of the other company."

Jay Jacobs had guessed she would do this and sighed. "Mr. Foster tried to meet with them over the past two days, but he was rejected every time. And just this morning, Leighton Thorne took matters into his own hands and instigated the board to dismiss Mr. Foster from his position as president."

Mr. Foster was Simon Foster, the executive president her grandfather had hired at a high salary.

He was young, promising, and decisive in his work.

He and Justin Kane had previously been named among the Ten Outstanding Young People.

Nina Thorne just then remembered. She said to Jay Jacobs, "Reinstate him and call him back. This afternoon, come with me to the car factory."

"Also, thoroughly investigate the people in charge of those projects. See what benefits Leighton Thorne offered them."

She gave her orders methodically, her composure unshaken.

This surprised Jay Jacobs. ’Is this still the same young miss I know?’

Jay Jacobs snapped back to reality and immediately went to carry out her orders.

Nina Thorne sat in her grandfather’s office chair, gazing at the vast office, a wave of melancholy washing over her.

’I’ve been running away for five years.’

’I can’t run away anymore.’

...

Meanwhile, Assistant Cheney entered the president’s office with a grave expression, hesitating over whether to tell Justin Kane about the Thorne Family’s situation.

Justin Kane was buried in his paperwork. Noticing the assistant’s unusual behavior, he glanced up at him. "What’s wrong?"

Assistant Cheney was still hesitant.

"If you’re not going to say it, then don’t ever say it," Justin Kane said, his tone impatient.

Assistant Cheney noticed his boss had been in a foul mood for the past two days and quickly said, "It’s about Madam. Something’s happened at The Thorne Group. Leighton Thorne is trying to seize control."

Justin Kane’s stern face darkened instantly.

The hand holding the pen froze. After a few seconds, he ordered in a low voice, "Investigate it."

"Yes, sir." Before leaving, Assistant Cheney gave him a long look and sighed.

「At three in the afternoon, Nina Thorne went to the supplier’s factory.」

She waited in the reception room for forty minutes before the person in charge of the factory, President Langley, finally showed up.

"My apologies, there’s just too much going on at the factory, I’m swamped..."

President Langley was a thin man in his forties with a shrewd face.

He looked down on Nina Thorne, seeing her as nothing more than a greenhorn.

Nina Thorne watched him coolly and said with sarcasm, "It’s fine. If you can be this late for a small matter like meeting me, it’s no wonder you can’t deliver the goods on time."

President Langley’s expression soured. "What did you say?"

"What? Not only do you lack planning, but you’ve also gone deaf?"

President Langley’s face grew even uglier.

Jay Jacobs stood to the side, trying to suppress a laugh.

Nina Thorne gestured with her fingers.

Jay Jacobs immediately took out a file and handed it to President Langley.

"If the cars aren’t delivered on schedule within three days, I will sue you in accordance with the law. When that time comes, you can wait to pay the compensation." Nina Thorne stated her purpose crisply. Her voice was mild, but her attitude was unyielding.

This left President Langley a bit stunned.

"Compensation? Why should we pay compensation? It was your system that had a problem before, which caused the delay..."

Nina Thorne had no desire to waste words with him and cut him off coldly. "The system malfunctioned and caused a one-week delay. We already extended your delivery deadline by two weeks. What, you really think The Thorne Group has no one left? That we’re easy to bully?"

"I’m telling you, either you drop whatever scheme you’re plotting and complete this transaction properly, or you pay the compensation, and I sue."

"Do you really think you can hide the little things you’ve been doing behind our backs?"

President Langley looked astonished.

’How does she know?’

"I’ll give you one night to think it over."

Nina Thorne turned and walked out without giving him a second glance.

Seeing how decisive she was, Jay Jacobs silently gave her retreating back a thumbs-up before hurrying after her.

Just as Nina Thorne stepped outside the factory building, Jay Jacobs caught up to her. "Young Miss, you were so cool just now! That Keith Langley was scared stiff."

The pale sunlight fell upon Nina Thorne. Her face was serene, her eyes clear, revealing no trace of emotion.

The aura around her was completely transformed, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

Recently, she had gone through a series of rude awakenings.

In the past, she had thrown herself headfirst into love, compromising for it, changing her very personality. She had been emotionally manipulated for years, becoming timid and losing her self-confidence.

Later, after meeting Justin Kane, she had been carefully guided by him and was no longer constantly plagued by self-doubt like before.

She was grateful to Justin Kane, but she had also been disappointed by him time and time again.

Looking back on everything, she understood one truth.

Rely on a mountain, and it will collapse; rely on a person, and they will run.

It was better to become strong and rely only on herself.

"Let’s go back."

Nina Thorne collected her thoughts. What she needed to do now was protect the group and not let anyone take it from her.

Otherwise, in one week...

She didn’t dare to think about the consequences of losing the group.

Nina Thorne steadied herself and was just about to leave.

Suddenly, several cars pulled in one after another.

Several people got out of the cars. When she saw one particular figure, Nina Thorne’s pupils constricted slightly.

The person’s gaze fell upon her. Seeming to have noticed her, he started walking straight toward her.