Li Du was just about to speak when the situation turned awkward .
He looked at the smiling Carlston and the grinning Cole . Then he sat back down in his
place .
He could sit back and enjoy the show now – it was time for Cole and Carlston to fight .
Li Du remembered Aubrey Tilden . He was originally British, around forty to fifty years
old . He often spoke with his eyes squinted and he was an investor . Harry Winston Inc .
was one of his largest portfolios .
Li Du remembered him so clearly because when Li Du and Carlston had a conflict
previously, many shareholders had supported Carlston .
Out of them, Aubrey Tilden had been most enthusiastic . He was a central figure in
Carlston's camp .
Now that his main supporter had switched camps at such an important moment,
Carlston felt it like a stab in the back .
Li Du could tell that Aubrey Tilden was a key figure that Cole had implanted in
Carlston's camp . Obviously, the power struggle between the two had been of long
standing .
It felt like a spy drama or a palace intrigue was unfolding, Li Du thought as he watched,
enjoying the show .
Upon hearing Aubrey Tilden's words, some of the shareholders who had been forced to
stand by Carlston shut up . They looked on, intrigued .
The shareholders had always backed Carlston up . That was because they felt that
Carlston was stronger, wielded more power, and that his words weighed more in the
Harry Winston Group .
Now that they realized Carlston's situation was precarious, they were no longer in a
hurry to back him up .
Just like Li Du, they chose to remain as bystanders .
Cole did hold the majority of the company shares . However, the shareholders felt that
he lacked foresight and was too soft for a leader .
Although Carlston looked like a mild gentleman with his pair of frameless glasses and
constant smile, he was much firmer when it came to business . He was just like the
leader of a flock of sheep .
Most importantly, Cole had more shares in the company, but he only had the Harry
Winston group, which was struggling .
The Fritz family, which Carlston came from, had much more power . They were a large
clan spread on the East Coast . They had always been in the mining and gem industry .
Naturally, they had a wider network and more channels to do business with the upper
class .
His background had helped Carlston a lot . However, that was only a bonus for him . The
foundation of his power was still the shares that he held .
If he did not have the shares of the Harry Winston group, the shareholders would not
have backed him .
At the end of it all, they were gathered here because they were all shareholders of the
Harry Winston group, and their interests were linked to those of the company .
Now it seemed like Carlston would be forced to give up the shares he held .
It was written very clearly in the contract that if Li Du found a diamond mine worth
millions of carats, Carlston would have to sell his fourteen units of shares at a market
price of twelve million US dollars per unit .
The diamond mine Li Du had discovered had abundant diamonds, which were
estimated at no less than two million carats . That was considered a moderate or even
low amount for South Africa's diamond mines .
However, it was still quite enough to meet the criteria stated in the contract .
Carlston lost his smile as he realized that he had no allies and that Cole had suddenly
gained a supporter .
This scene made Li Du vigilant . It seemed like Cole was not so mediocre after all . On
the contrary, in the jewelry industry, Cole's business instincts were nothing
extraordinary . However, he seemed to be a master at scheming and office politics .
Cole continued to force Carlston into fulfilling the agreement in the contract . Carlston
had no choice but to use the tactic of delay .
He said, "The deadline of the contract is at the end of the year . It is only effective from
then . I will have to continue observing Li's diamond mine . This is a reasonable request,
right, everyone?"
The other eight shareholders exchanged a look . In the end, they had to take a stand .
Someone tried to give a vague answer and said, "According to the contract, that should
be fine . "
"Yes, after all, it's a contract that involves a huge sum of one to two hundred million .
That's a huge amount . This shouldn't be rushed . It's better to consult a lawyer about
this . "
Cole felt helpless . He looked at Li Du and Li Du shrugged his shoulders . He did not care
much for it and said, "Fine, then let's wait for the lawyer to get in for discussion . We'll
play it safe, everyone . In any case, I have confidence and faith in my diamond mine . "
It was good that the transaction was delayed, actually . Li Du did not have much time
and energy to deal with the share transfer . He had to prepare for the impending
engagement party .
Unlike previously when he was acquiring shares, this set of shares was not easy to land
his hands on . Even when the end of the year came, he knew that Carlston would not
stop short of trickery or any underhanded method to get out of the contract .
The shares that Carlston held were very valuable . It seemed like Harry Winston Inc .
was recovering and could present better development opportunities . It was inevitable
that the market shares would rise in value .
In Carlston's agreement with Li Du, each unit was only worth twelve million . That had
been the market price at that time . Back then, Harry Winston Inc . had just stabilized and
had yet to launch the jewelry of the Opal series .
Today, Harry Winston had launched several new series of jewelry that had been well
received . They have started to set the trend, and the company's market value rose
greatly . Even if each unit of shares were priced at twenty million, there would be people
who'd take the offer . Hence, how would Carlston be willing to sell the shares at such a
low price?
Furthermore, Li Du had discovered the diamond mine, which would serve the company .
Therefore, the market value of Harry Winston Inc . would continue to increase .
However, Carlston could at most irritate Li Du and Cole, or make them feel upset by
delaying the transaction . The transaction would definitely have to take place eventually
because they had a contract in hand .
Laws were created to be enforced . That was something Li Du loved about America .
Everyone had to obey the law, and no connections could help someone avoid that .
Cole had called the shareholder meeting to promote the shares transaction . As he was
unable to reach his goal, there was not much meaning in the meeting anymore .
After a brief discussion of the company's development plans, Cole adjourned the
meeting . Then he made to keep Li Du behind for an in-depth discussion .
However, before that could happen, Carlston had approached Cole in a low profile
manner . The two of them went off to another office room to have a private chat .
Li Du did not know what the two of them were up to . Hence, he let out the little bug to
spy on them . It was a pity that the little bug could only see what was going on, but could
not hear them .
He saw that Carlston showed Cole something on his phone . After that, Cole frowned
and started to tap his fingers on the table .
When Carlston left, Cole's secretary approached Li Du and invited him into the office .
In his office, Cole poured a glass of red wine for Li Du . He said, "This is a top vintage
from a winery in Boston . It has a unique taste, try it . "
Li Du took a sip and shook his head . "I lack expertise in the taste of red wine . In this
aspect, I still need to receive more guidance and learn more . "
Cole smiled . "Let it come naturally . You will fall in love with it . On another matter, what
do you think of Carlston's shares? Should we change our plans? It seems like he does
not want to give up his shares . "
Li Du put down his glass and said firmly, "I want his shares . Otherwise, I will not allow
the diamond mine to become the property of the company . That's because there would
no longer be a need for that . "
He had no idea what Carlston had discussed with Cole to change Cole's stand .
Regardless, he was not going to back down . Cole had better not do that either .
Otherwise, Li Du would take other measures to take back what belonged to him .
Chapter end
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