One Man Band System

A few moments later, inside the CEO’s office, Eric and Katie sat side by side. Chloe sat directly across from them, joined by a silver-haired man in his late fifties. Wearing glasses, he carried a tired expression but had sharp, resolute eyes.

This was Bryan Vance, the man who had looked after Chloe since childhood. He held a 5% stake in the company, managed Chloe’s 45% share, and carried a legal notary mandate officially stating he was appointed as the trustee over her inheritance.

Bryan was currently reviewing Eric’s paperwork. He flipped through the shareholder certificates under the name of E-R Holdings, a ten-year business projection, an official affidavit clarifying Eric’s background, and proof of Eric’s relation to Ethan Reed backed by a DNA test, along with several other documents Katie had handed over for review.

The more he read, the wider his smile grew, and his face looked noticeably brighter than it had when they first introduced themselves just moments ago. After finishing, he leaned back in his chair and took off his glasses. Then, he turned to look at Chloe beside him.

"Now Paul and Mason won’t be able to make a single move. They were the most vocal ones questioning why you, someone who should be in school, were out playing in a band until it went viral. They were also the ones egging on a few shareholders and investors to vote you out, thinking they held the biggest share in this company," Bryan said.

"They only hold 7%, and honestly, Paul is the only actual shareholder. Mason was just brought onto the board because they’re brothers, and he already considers himself a major shareholder because he assumes I’m engaged to his son, Brandon," Chloe stated.

"Exactly. They’re terrified. If word gets out that you’re out and about, running with a band and getting famous, all the noise they’ve been making all this time goes down the drain. That’s why they are making such a massive deal out of this," Bryan said.

"And now, if I suddenly show up, it’s obvious their entire plan is going to blow up in their faces," Eric added.

"Spot on. Plus, with you being the founder and songwriter for the band Chloe joined, they’ll be completely trapped. But we can’t just blindside them immediately. We need a tactical approach so they can’t wiggle out of it in front of the remaining shareholders and investors," Bryan noted.

"To that end, allow me to play a recording Eric caught last night. Please have a listen, Mr. Bryan," Katie said.

She pulled out her smartphone and placed it on the table. She tapped play, and immediately the voices of Owen, Brandon, and Eric filled the room, replaying everything that happened last night. Bryan’s eyes widened in temporary shock before his brows tightly knit together, processing what he was hearing.

"Hmm... this isn’t just about kicking them out. This could actually put them behind bars," Bryan said.

"Exactly. We’re currently trying to dig a little deeper, and once we lock down concrete proof backing up what those two kids said on the recording, we can make our move," Katie said.

"Bryan... is this this month’s financial report? Are we currently bidding on a city government contract, or was there a project awarded to us by the city?" Chloe asked, scanning a financial spreadsheet.

"There are no bids this month. I haven’t received any reports regarding new bids or city government projects," Bryan stated.

"I see... then what is this? An expense reimbursement for entertaining investors regarding the convention hall construction project in the business district... As far as I know, that project is currently stalled and undergoing a government review because of zoning issues that violate city council permits," Chloe noted.

Bryan looked over the data, holding his glasses as his eyes darted across the page, his brow furrowing.

"Hmm... Mason is the one who filed the reimbursement... and the amount is quite substantial... a whopping $320,000.00... What kind of restaurant hosting costs that much... Oh... a trip to an island, it wasn’t just a dinner?" Bryan muttered.

"We should look into the company’s finances at the same time. Let’s hire a forensic accountant to audit our books," Chloe decided.

"No need to worry, Mr. Bryan, Chloe. We’ve already started investigating that angle," Katie assured them.

"Oh... I see. That’s a relief, thank you," Chloe said, letting out a breath.

Then Chloe turned to look at Eric, who was completely stunned, his eyes full of deep admiration and respect after seeing her look like someone who wielded true power and knew exactly what she was doing with flawless execution. Chloe’s face, which had been cold and fierce just a second ago, instantly flushed a little.

"Uh... why are you looking at me like that?" Chloe asked shyly.

"You... you really are a CEO, aren’t you? That was amazing," Eric replied, flashing a thumbs-up.

"Oh, stop it," Chloe murmured, blushing as she instantly melted back into her usual self.

"By the way, are your uncles Paul and Mason from your mom’s side?" Eric asked Chloe, changing the subject.

"Yeah... that’s right, but Mason is just Paul’s adopted younger brother. That’s why, since there’s no actual blood relation, they just went ahead and tried to set me up with Brandon... even though I’ve turned him down countless times," Chloe said, clearly annoyed.

"Oh... well, don’t sweat it. Don’t worry about it anymore. The main thing is we’re going to kick them out so nobody bothers you again," Eric replied.

"Yeah... thank you, Eric," Chloe said shyly, her face turning red.

Seeing how Chloe acted around Eric, and noticing how her expressions could flip in an instant when she was with him, Bryan couldn’t help but smile. Then, he turned to look at Eric.

"Please look after Chloe, Eric. She’s carried so much on her shoulders since her parents passed away when she was little. I’m really happy to see her like this," Bryan responded, sounding exactly like a father trusting someone with his own daughter.

"Um... leave it to me, Mr. Bryan," Eric answered, finding it impossible to refuse after seeing the expression on Bryan’s face.

"And look after me too, my handsome little brother," Katie teased, using her finger to pull Eric’s chin and force him to look at her.

"Hey!" Chloe yelled.

"Blam!"

It wasn’t just Chloe reacting. The door burst open with a loud bang as Emma, Monica, Priya, Heidi, and Laura stormed right into the room. It turned out they had been peeking through the window the entire time. They were followed closely by Norman, who shut the door behind him looking incredibly awkward and clumsy, clearly feeling guilty for failing to keep the girls in check.

Instantly, Chloe stood up, while Emma, Monica, Priya, Heidi, and Laura glared coldly at Katie, positioning themselves protectively behind Eric.

"Haha... relax, I’m just kidding," Katie said, winking as she adjusted the frame of her glasses.

Looking at Katie’s face, Eric couldn’t tell if she was actually joking or not because her expressions changed so rapidly. Watching the girls, including Chloe, react this way, Bryan could only smile. Without saying a word, he leaned forward across the desk and patted Eric on the shoulder, leaving Eric completely confused by the meaning behind the gesture.

After that, the conversation shifted back to serious business. Katie explained exactly what could be processed through legal channels once the evidence was secured. The recording itself already constituted a threat and could be used to sue them for defamation and extortion.

"My advice is to wait for the evidence before we confront those two. For now, we stay quiet and let them make all the noise they want about your band. We gather as much proof as possible and find the perfect moment to drop the nuclear bomb. You get what I mean, Eric? What do you all think, Chloe, Mr. Bryan?" Katie asked.

"Right, I get it," Eric replied.

"Agreed," Chloe shot back shortly, giving Katie a cold stare.

"Alright, let’s wait for the results," Bryan agreed.

"But what if they attack us online? Don’t forget they recorded us last night," Emma pointed out.

"As for that, I’ve already filed a police report and issued a subpoena for the footage their three friends shot last night. So don’t worry. If they dare leak that recording, we’re fully prepared to hit them with online defamation charges," Katie said casually.

"Oh... I see. Okay then, got it," Emma said, though she didn’t actually understand a word and kept glaring coldly at Katie.

Suddenly, "knock... knock," there was a rap at the door. "Come in," Bryan called out. The door swung open, and a beautiful woman wearing a designer suit and high heels stepped inside, carrying a folder that looked like a report. Her hair was a rich brown, and she sauntered in like a supermodel walking down a runway, clearly flaunting her curves. Eric turned to look at her, and his eyes instantly widened.

"Thud."

The woman’s folder clattered to the floor. She froze in her tracks, her face turning pale as her eyes went wide. Her gaze locked directly with Eric’s. Seeing her space out like that, Bryan stood up.

"Is something wrong, Melissa?" Bryan asked.

"N-nothing, CEO Bryan," Melissa stammered.

Yes, this woman was Melissa, the very woman who had framed Eric and got him kicked out of his own home and town. And she didn’t look like someone who was pregnant at all.

"What the hell is this bitch doing in this office... she must have run here because the man I used to call dad is suing her," Eric thought, staring at Melissa with a cold, indifferent, and completely expressionless face.