In the evening, I arranged to meet a few brothers at a club; ever since things went wrong at home, it has shifted from being a place for playing cards to a venue for a few brothers’ meetings.
It’s not as lively as before. In the past, as long as Felix Shaw and Evander Lancaster were around, it wouldn’t be dull. The three men each sat on a sofa, with only Evander sitting at the card table, cutting the deck out of boredom.
Sophie Foster caused trouble, injuring a guest at her regular gig venue... So recently, Nicholas Croft has also been quite troubled. Ever since Titus Zane left, Nathan Moore has been cold and distant. Felix Shaw buried his head in smoking, and aside from Evander, the three men were all preoccupied with their own thoughts.
After taking another drag, Felix Shaw looked up and sighed, "... I always feel that woman’s motives aren’t pure. Someday she’ll trick my dad out of his shares. So before she gets her hands on them, I need to find a way to acquire more shares to prevent the company from falling into someone else’s hands."
"Third Brother, it can’t be that serious," Evander Lancaster looked up and said, "You’re the eldest son. Even if Uncle retires, he’ll transfer the shares to you." Evander’s father passed away early, when he was not yet twenty, with three uncles in the family, but none wanted to fight for his father’s company—especially his second uncle, who taught his mother to do business hands-on.
"That may not be the case," Nathan Moore, who had been silent, finally spoke up. He held a cigarette, sniffing it without lighting it, his obsidian eyes half-closed, looking somewhat nonchalant.
"Uncle and Aunt’s divorce is something Third Brother has already mentioned. Uncle wouldn’t even agree to give Aunt a five percent alimony share after decades as husband and wife. Yet for that woman, he was willing to start with three percent. This shows that the woman holds a significant position in his heart."
"Hmph, you analyze others’ affairs so neatly but get muddled with your own." Evander Lancaster sneered with disdain, and Nathan Moore shot him a cold glance without responding.
"Big Brother, why don’t you say something? I don’t understand business matters. If you need money, I still have some savings."
Evander Lancaster had started a hospital himself, but he knew nothing about business matters.
Nicholas Croft snuffed out his cigarette and said, "Actually, Nathan’s suggestion just now is feasible. We can apply to the Securities Regulatory Commission for the company to issue a private placement to specific shareholders, diluting Uncle’s shareholding percentage. Then Nathan and I can transfer the shares from the private placement to you,"
"Third Brother, count me in. I’ll transfer mine to you too!" Hearing this plan might work, Evander eagerly volunteered. He didn’t grasp business affairs, but he could help financially.
"Your little savings are worthless!" Having been exposed by Evander earlier, Nathan seized the chance to retort. Evander rolled his eyes in defiance, "Second Brother, I know you’re wealthy, but you can’t look down on us. Even though I’m poor, I can still come up with tens of millions."
Evander’s remark prompted another cold scoff, "You think private placements to specific shareholders are child’s play!"
"Big Brother, isn’t tens of millions enough?" Evander asked incredulously. That was his entire fortune.
Nicholas Croft laughed, "Actually, you could go back and inform Aunt. Becoming a specific shareholder in the company’s name wouldn’t arouse suspicion."
With Nicholas saying that, Evander Lancaster resumed shuffling cards, muttering to himself, "Forget it then,"
The four brothers were close, and everyone knew Evander didn’t want to go back home. It was normal for an adult man to live in his own apartment for some space; however, Evander’s way of interacting with his mother was puzzling. Every time it took numerous phone calls from his mother for him to visit home, and he never stayed overnight after a meal.