Chapter 141 Annalise Barton’s Plan
Of course, he could not ask for more.
Thus, he became Moonlight Group’s legal adviser.
In the next two years, he rarely fought lawsuits. However, he would win every case that he fought. And it was really
because Heather Barton was a most remarkable woman. She was good-natured and tenacious. She would never
bully the good, but neither would she back off in the face of the bad. Under her charge, the company grew bigger
and stronger.
In reality, it was harder for women to gain a footing in business when compared to men. It was especially so for
beautiful women. Even if a woman were the president of the entire Group, there would always be the thoughtless
ones who wanted nothing more than to take advantage of her. Or the egomaniacs who looked down on her.
Once they failed to win her heart, she would face all kinds of stigmas and countless defamation.
In the two years, he fought nine lawsuits. Only one was related to the company’s operations. The other eight were
related to personal injuries and defamation.
Some women accused Heather Barton of being a mistress. They said that Heather Barton slept around with so
many men that she did not even know who her daughter’s father was.
Men who failed to win Heather Barton’s heart hurled verbal attacks at Heather Barton, saying she grew her
company by sleeping with clients.
As her attorney, he could only do his best to help Heather Barton win the lawsuits she faced.
However, he did not expect Heather Barton to die in a car accident at such a young age.
He also marveled at how foresighted Heather Barton was. She completed the assets distribution and necessary
notarization when her daughter was only one year old.
At the same time, he felt it was reassuring for Heather Barton and her daughter. Fortunately, they had everything
notarized. Otherwise, Annalise Barton might have ended up with nothing when she grew up. After Heather Barton’s
death, Kent Barton sought him out and told him he could continue to be Moonlight Group’s legal adviser.
Zander Hayes thanked Kent Barton with gratitude.
Indeed, he was pretty attached to Moonlight Group and was not ready to leave yet.
Kent Barton invited Zander Hayes to dinner, which the latter gladly accepted.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtZander Hayes thought that Kent Barton wanted to discuss work-related notions. Never in his wildest imagination
would he expect Kent Barton to ask him to find a way to amend the agreement of the late Heather Barton and
transfer all her shares to him.
In his eyes, Kent Barton knew no shame. Zander Hayes firmly told Kent Barton that it was impossible to make any
amendments to the document.
After hearing Zander Hayes’ definite refusal to make amendments, Kent Barton asked him for a favor instead. And
what was Kent Barton’s request?
Kent Barton told Zander Hayes that he must not meet Annalise Barton again in this lifetime. And that he must never
let Annalise Barton learn that such an equity distribution agreement existed.
Kent Barton said that so long as Zander Hayes did not meet Annalise Barton and mention this matter, Annalise
Barton would not have the slightest idea about the shares. And then, she would never think to fight for the assets.
Zander Hayes refused to oblige, nonetheless.
Kent Barton instantly turned hostile and fired Zander from his position as Moonlight Group’s legal adviser. Then,
Zander Hayes underwent a most upsetting period in the days that followed.
The law firm where he was previously employed posted his entire career history in the lawyer’s social network as if
he were a walking textbook for them. Everyone deemed Zander Hayes the one at fault. They felt he should think
from his client’s perspective and defend his client.
Zander Hayes was on the verge of giving up, ready to change his career path.
But Zander Hayes was fortunate enough to have met his girlfriend-turned-wife, who told him he was a righteous
man. And he did the right thing. She also said that upright and honest people always bear more brunts than the
average man.
Because of her support, Zander Hayes persevered and eventually opened his law firm.
Even so, until now, his law firm was far from flourishing. Zander Hayes barely earned enough to make ends meet
and put food on the table for his family.
Nevertheless, he was forthright and honest. He would never compromise with what he thought was wrong. always
sticking to what he felt was the right thing to do.
Being laid off by Kent Barton remained a sore spot for him. To be hired back to Moonlight Group, Zander Hayes
suddenly saw a ray of hope. It was like catching a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel as he recalled Heather
Barton’s words. With his help, Heather Barton wanted to believe there was a ray of hope. And she wanted to pass
on this ray of hope.
Seeing that Zander Hayes was not saying anything, Annalise Barton smiled and said, “Mr. Hayes, it’s okay. I don’t
want to put you on the spot.”
“No, I’m more than willing to be Moonlight Group’s legal adviser. The honor’s all mine! Thank you, Ms. Barton. No, I
mean, Ms. Annalise Barton.” Zander Hayes was touched and gave Annalise Barton a slight bow.
“Alright, we’ll go through the formalities after the meeting,” Annalise Barton said.
“Okay,” Zander replied. He immediately stepped away to call his wife and share the good news with her.
Julian Parks raised his eyebrows slightly when he saw how Annalise Barton was executing her plan in such an
orderly manner. He liked to see her looking so focused. No matter what she focused on achieving, her eyes would
shine so brightly that it made his heart flutter.
Annalise Barton chaired the meeting with the shareholders and management executives.
At first, they were all very much against the idea of Annalise Barton becoming the president of Moonlight Group
But then, Mr. Hayes announced that Annalise Barton’s mother had left her 70% of Moonlight Group’s shares and
that she would become the new president of Moonlight Group.
A small shareholder started to ramble on with reasons to discourage her. “Anna, you’re still young. It is better to
entrust these shares to Uncle Kent to manage them for you. A young lady like you should spend time falling in love
and going on dates.”
The other executives were quick to concur.
“That’s right. Ms. Annalise Barton should use your time on happy dates. You don’t have to build a career. You should
simply wait to reap the benefits.”
“That’s right. It’s not easy to manage a company. It took Mrs. Barton more than a decade to grow the company to
what it is today. It is easy to start a business, but maintaining it up to the current day is no easy feat. The bigger the
company gets, the faster it will fall.”
“A few decades ago, you might be able to succeed in setting up a business of your own if you had enough guts. But
things are not the same now. If you want to manage a company well, you will need to be well-cultivated and
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmknowledgeable. And you also need to be insightful with great foresight to come up with strategic game plans.”
They were so close to bluntly asking. “What do you know about management? Getting you to be the president is
the same as ruining the company, isn’t it so?”
Annalise Barton knew that the shareholders and executives doubted her and did not believe in her. She had
mentally prepared herself to be attacked by everyone as such.
But they all expressed their thoughts politely and tactfully. There was not a single person who spoke like a hillbilly or
bumpkin. This fact alone made her feel that they were civilized and refined people.
She dropped a bombshell about her plan. “Don’t worry, everyone. I called you all for this meeting today because I
have something to inform everyone. In the future, I will be a major shareholder of Moonlight Group. But, I will not
be managing the company and making decisions.”
Would she have the time to station herself in Moonlight Group all day long to ensure she was in command of the
company?
Hearing Annalise Barton tell them that she was not going to personally manage the company, everyone
heaved a sigh of relief. However, a sudden realization struck them and they all looked at Julian Parks beside her.
When Annalise Barton saw everyone looking at Julian Parks, she smiled graciously and introduced him. “This is my
husband, Mr. Julian Parks of Parks Group from the city of Jadeborough.”
Having heard Annalise Barton introduce him as her husband so unreservedly, Julian Park felt like a warm spring
breeze had hit him and instantly shed him of his cold and sullen demeanor. It was as if winter had turned into spring
in the blink of an eye, transforming Julian Parks into a warmer person.
He smiled and nodded before greeting them. “Hello, everyone. I’m Annalise Barton’s husband, Julian Parks!”
The executives and shareholders exchanged glances.
Everyone from the city of Jadeborough would have heard of the Parks residence, somehow or other. Nevertheless,
they were not expecting Mr. Julian Parks to be so young and handsome.
Annalise Barton added, “Don’t worry, everyone. I will hire a professional team of managers capable of fulfilling the
president’s duties. In addition, Parks Group and Moonlight Group will soon embark on a new journey of
cooperation.”
The two largest industries of Moonlight Group were medicine and clothing. Since Moonlight group had a clothing
sector, then it was a given that she had to get the company to help Julian Parks with distribution immediately.
She would never let Abigail Barton and Alexander Parks get an edge over her.