This behavior immediately made the executives rage. They had been in the company for years! How could they tackle business at this time?
What kind of man was he? Instead of taking the time to grieve, he was here… talking about damage control and future plans about the company. Seeing Zhou Jingren's blank expression made many people in the room angry and confuse. However, the man's argument about the company is also logical. Lily would not want to see her company suffer because of her death. Moreover, Cathy was also there assuring them as Zhou Jingren explained his side to everyone.
In the end, those people concluded that he was only doing this for his wife's sake. They understood that this could be Zhou Jingren's way of dealing with the loss. After all, everyone knew how Lily treated the company as her own child.
While some of them doubted Zhou Jingren's real intention about the matter, the fact that he was a businessman himself made them agree with Cathy's suggestion to make him the new CEO.
After the meeting, a press conference was called with Cathy confirming of Lily's unfortunate passing because of the accident. She assured everyone that they will do their best to update the people of the Facci Group's actions about the matter. She also informed them that they wanted the utmost privacy in this heartbreaking time and requested the media not to blow up the matter.
Of course, it was futile. After the announcement, chaos ensued.
Just as Zhou Jingren predicted, the Facci Group's stock prices started dropping. The media were all over the accident as social media blew up on the fact that Zhou Jingren did not even show his face at the press conference.
To appease the worried investors, it was immediately announced that Zhou Jingren will take over the company. It was a risky move. Considering that the company hailed from Europe, choosing someone from the East did not only cause a lot of controversies and issues, it even made some investors angry.
Why do they need to choose someone that is not a part of the company? Why choose someone who has not worked with the company before? Everyone was worried about the future of Facci's Group now that Lily was dead.
"This was already expected." Zhou Jingren sat in Lily's leather chair. "Let's stick to our plan."
"You are aware that most people in the company are thinking that you killed your own wife to get this position, right?" Cathy said bluntly as she sat opposite to him. "Once the chaos will end, many people will go forward to question this decision and will challenge your authority. This will create more chaos and instability."
"I have limited time. I am aware of that." Zhou Jingren was firm on his belief that he was only doing the right thing. He knew he was not crazy, and that Lily was alive somewhere. "However… I am confident in my skills. I can keep the company steady until she comes back."
"You seem really confident. Are you not even concern about Lily?" Cathy stared at him, her gaze was placid, yet he did not miss the scrutiny in her tone. "Are you not even afraid that she is already dead?"
He shook his head in response. Lily would not leave him. "The result of the DNA will arrive tomorrow. By then, you will know that I am right. She is alive." She looked at him for a few seconds before she nodded.
"Our vice president is already asking questions and asking me if he could have a private meeting with you. I can hold off the investors while you show them why you deserve to become our CEO. However, Mr. Rossi is a different case. He had been close to Lily and Lilian. You have to deal with him on your own."
Zhou Jingren smiled at her as he nodded. He then assured her that he could deal with Mr. Rossi on his own. After talking more about the company, Cathy bid him goodbye. She needed to leave and deal with a lot of public relations matter about Lily's death.
"I was surprised that she trusted you that easily." Bei Tian commented after Cathy left. He ran his finger through his hair as he sighed. Seeing Zhou Jingren web a complicated plan about this whole thing only made Bei Tian anxious.
"She knew that I will never betray Lily."
"You think so?" Bei Tian asked.
"Hmmm…. I bet that woman knows my whole life story. She is one of Lilian's trusted people. She would not have let Lily get near me if she doesn't know what kind of person I am."
Bei Tian nodded at his words. Now that he thought about it, Zhou Jingren's words actually made sense. "So? What are we going to do now? I mean… your actions would easily affect Zhou Capital. You can't have people speculate the worst. Our enemies might take advantage of this."
"Let them."
"What do you mean?"
"The Zhou Family…" Zhou Jingren made a deliberate pause as he shifted his gaze at Bei Tian. "Have been standing in my way for too long. It's time to end them."
"What if they are the ones holding Lily? What if…" Bei Tian did not continue his words when he saw Zhou Jingren shook his head. "It wasn't them?" he asked.
"There is a possibility that it wasn't them. However, I am not taking any chances." He dialed his phone. "Lily wanted me to destroy them before our wedding."
Bei Tian pursed his lips. Without Lily, how could they have a wedding? Still, he kept his opinions to himself. Confusion immediately laced his eyes as he listened to Zhou Jingren call Zhou Jingtao. "You—"
"I will destroy the Zhou Family." Zhou Jingren confirmed. Determination flashed in his eyes. "And I will do it before Lily comes back."