Chapter 332 - "I Need You, Jack"
After 24 hours of search without success, the search operation for Jack was finally stopped. All rescue teams were disbanded due to the increasingly hostile weather. Meanwhile, everyone believed that Jack was dead and the news of the death of Jackson Patrick Muller immediately made Muller Finance International's shares plummet to their lowest point and made Erick very busy, because he was currently receiving calls from many colleagues who suddenly wanted to cancel their cooperation with Muller Finance International in Switzerland and in London. And this suddenly made Muller Finance International shook. Many shareholders wanted to break away from Muller Finance International. They reasoned that they did not want to be destroyed along with the company that did not have a leader. Even though the British police had not officially provided information about Jack's fate, but these people had drawn their own conclusions. The shareholders who were initially very afraid of Jack had left Muller Finance International in droves. They had already claimed that Jackson Patrick Muller must have died, because no human would be able to survive the harsh weather in the English Channel, especially in cold weather like today.
"What do we do, Erick? If this continues, the company will be destroyed," said Alice in panic when she saw that almost 30% of Muller Finance International's shares had disappeared, after the shareholders left the company.
"Calm down, Alice, let me think first," replied Erick trying to calm down.
"How can I calm down, Erick? Look at this! Everyone decided to step down, Erick," added Alice again while showing Erick the current stock situation of Muller Finance International on her smart tablet.
Erick, who didn't expect this to happen, was so confused. He really didn't know what to do at this point. Because this had never crossed his mind at all, just like what had happened to Jack. He had never imagined that Jack would experience such a pathetic thing.
When Erick and Alice were confused, suddenly Mr. Kevin Cormier came. The man approached Erick and gently patted his shoulder.
"Go back to Switzerland Erick, take care of everything there. You take it easy. You don't have to worry about the problem of the resigning shareholders. I will replace them to strengthen Muller Finance International until Jack returns," said Mr. Kevin seriously.
"Are you serious, sir?" Erick stammered.
"Yes. How is the condition of Muller Finance International shares at the moment?" asked Mr. Kevin back.
"It is destroyed, sir, currently there are only 40% of Mr. Muller's shares and only 15% of Mr. Schneider's shares after the other shareholders have resigned, sir. And if Mr. Schneider also resigns, the company will be destroyed, sir," Erick answered honestly.
"Okay, it's fine. You don't have to worry. I'll go into Muller Finance International in place of all those people. And if Schneider wants to leave too, then I'll invest 60% of my stake in Muller Finance International. You don't have to worry. Now you better go back to Switzerland and take care of everything. I'm afraid there are some people who will take advantage of this situation by trying to take over Jack's position as CEO. After you leave, I will ask my men to come to you to provide evidence that I have joined you, so if someone tries to overthrow Jack's power, you just have to show proof that I'm in. Trust me, Erick, at times like this, there will definitely be bad people who will take advantage of the situation, so we have to act fast. I'll be here to see developments, until the cops really gave up, I'm not going," said Mr. Kevin Cormier at length.
Erick's tears rolled down his face when he heard Mr. Kevin's words. He really couldn't think straight at the moment and almost ruined Muller Finance International if Mr. Kevin Cormier didn't remind him. Erick suddenly hugged Mr. Kevin tightly.
"I'm going back to Switzerland right now sir, but please give me any news. No matter how small the progress is, please let me know, sir," Erick asked quietly without letting go of his arms from Mr. Kevin Cormier's body.
Mr. Kevin Cormier moved his hand and gently patted Erick's back. "Calm down, Erick, I'll definitely update you. Obviously, you have to go now. Go, Erick, you're in a race against time. Save Jack's company now."
Erick immediately let go of his embrace from the body of Mr. Kevin Cormier, he then wiped his tears and grabbed his cell phone which was on the table and suddenly grabbed Alice's arm tightly.
"Eric, it hurts!!!"
"Follow me, don't ask too many questions. The company is in danger, I'll explain it later on the road." Erick immediately cut off Alice's words as he continued to pull Alice's hand towards his car, leaving Mr, Kevin Cormier and Anne still in the waiting room.
Mr. Kevin took a deep breath as he watched Erick and Alice leave. Even though it had been almost 24 hours with Anne, he was completely unaware of Anne's presence. It was only when he was about to leave that he realized when he saw that Anne was about to stand up.
"Miss, may I know who you are?" asked Mr. Kevin Cormier to Anne curiously.
Anne lifted her lowered face slowly. "I'm nobody, sir, I'm just one of Jack's friends."
"Really? Which company are you from?" asked Mr. Kevin Cormier again. He thought that Anne was one of Jack's business partners.
"I don't have a company, sir, I'm just an ordinary person." Anne answered softly in a barely audible voice, she was now aware of the great class difference between herself and Jack. "Now if you'll excuse me, sir."
After saying goodbye, Anne then left Mr. Kevin Cormier towards the door. While passing a group of police who participated in the search for Jack who was getting treatment because of exhaustion, Anne stopped her footsteps because James, the young police officer who was very tired, was blocking Anne's way.
"Excuse me, I..."
"Who are you to that Jackson? Since yesterday I saw you among the people?"James cut Anne's words quickly.
"I'm nobody, I'm just Mr. Muller's staff," replied Anne lying.
"Oh you're just her employee. I thought you were her mistress. Too bad a woman as beautiful as you are only an employee, even though if you were her mistress you could get a lot of money from him after his death, Miss, and you can enjoy the money with..."
Slap!
Anne slapped her hand firmly on James' face, making a fairly loud sound.
"It's disgusting for a policeman like you to talk like that, how inappropriate!" Anne shrieked with emotion.
"You don't deserve to be a policeman!!" Anne added again. After saying that, Anne then ran away from James in humiliation.
James, who didn't expect to receive a slap from Anne, looked very surprised. He looked at Anne without speaking with a hand holding his hot cheek. As a police officer who had a fairly high position, he had never been treated badly. Let alone being beaten by a woman like he was today. That was why he was so upset right now, but he couldn't do anything about it because the woman who had slapped him had just taken a taxi off the pier.
Anne chose to go back to Jack's house by taxi because she didn't bring any money, didn't sleep for almost 24 hours making things very messy. And although the distance from the port of Portsmouth to London was quite far, but Anne did not sleep at all, her tears continued to roll down her pale face. Luckily, when Anne arrived at Jack's house, there were several bodyguards on guard. They immediately paid for the taxi when Anne ordered the taxi driver to wait for her to get the money.
The servants and bodyguards, who were now aware of the news about Jack, didn't say anything when they saw Anne returned home. They didn't dare to disturb Anne, who was still crying silently. The atmosphere at Jack's house really changed 360 degrees. There were no smiles and laughter from everyone in the house. The flowers that Jack had previously prepared in the room looked wilted and made the atmosphere even gloomier.
"Come home, Jack, I miss you ... I need you, Jack," said Anne softly without realizing it when she was about to close her eyes on the bed that still smelled Jack's scent.
Continued