Chapter 392 Start a New Empire
There was an oppressive chill in Julian’s eyes, which made Charles shudder fiercely. “I mean… I mean…”
“I don’t need to know what you mean,” Julian said in a dispassionate voice. “Starting tomorrow, you don’t have to come to work.” Everyone was stunned.
Charles had been working in Burton Group for ten years, and he had never made any significant mistakes. On the contrary, he was strict and responsible when working.
But Julian actually fired him!
Charles was stunned as well. “But, President Peters, why?”
“I’m the largest shareholder of the group. By bringing up ‘President Burton’, are you saying that I’m not qualified to manage the company? Am I not worthy of being your boss?”
“That wasn’t what I meant. I was just saying that…”
“Say no more. Since I’m not qualified to be your boss, I won’t delay you from finding another job, Charles.”
Charles’ face paled. After a while, he couldn’t hold back anymore and said, “Julian, this isn’t a dictatorship! What right do you have to fire me? I’m going to file a complaint to the board of directors!”
“Even if you complain to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, it’s useless. However, you can give it a try.”
As soon as he said that, everyone was in disbelief.
“President Peters, you’re crossing the line. Charles has been working in Burton Group for ten years. Doing this will only deeply disappoint us, long-term employees.”
“That’s right.”
“Exactly.”
Whispers were coming from the audience.
“Disappoint long-term employees?” Julian was unconcerned, and he sneered coldly, “If you’re already disappointed, what’s the use of me forcibly keeping you here? Keep you so that you can stab me in the back in the future?”
“President Peters, what are you talking about? We all work for Burton Group.”
“Really? Don’t you work for Justin?”
Several people speaking up for Charles wanted to say something, but Charles interrupted them.
“Forget it. All of you don’t have to speak up for me. Since President Peters has already given the order, I can’t convince him no matter how I explain myself. So, I’ll just leave.”
With that, Charles slammed the door and left.
The remaining few people exchanged looks, and some even threw down their cards and yelled, “I quit too!”
“I’m leaving too!
In the blink of an eye, one-third of the people in the conference room were gone.
Robin’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat. “You’ll regret it!”
Julian still appeared indifferent as he swept his gaze over the remaining people. “Who else wants to go with Manager Hoult? I won’t stop you.”
He leaned against his chair, looking much more indifferent and resolute than Justin did in the past.
Although Justin was strict with employees, he at least cherished talents and would never fire employees based on his own preferences, not to mention long-term employees who had been working in the company for at least a decade.
The whole room was silent for fear that they would be the next ones to be fired if they said the wrong thing.
Not everyone was as bold as Charles and the others. Although they too had moral integrity, most of those who came out to work had families to support. Even if they were dissatisfied, they still had to bite the bullet most of the time.
As soon as the meeting ended, Robin anxiously reminded Julian, “President Peters, isn’t it too hurtful to do this? What if we can’t keep them? These are all executives in important positions, and as soon as they leave, they’ll be taking away a lot of customer resources too.”
“There would be consequences to keeping those who don’t intend to stay here. So, it’s time to change the company’s structure.”
Julian glanced at all the Burton Group employee cards that were left in the middle of the conference table. “Inform the Human Resources Department that they need to step up with the recruitment starting today. Regardless of age and qualifications, they can work for Burton Group as long as they’re capable. We’ll judge them based on ability.”
“We’re not looking at their level of education anymore?”
“No.”
Robin hesitated. “But, the main focus of Burton Group is high-precision talents. If they don’t even pass the threshold of academic qualifications, the quality of the company’s talents will be seriously reduced. By then…”
Before Robin could finish speaking, he was so frightened by the look Julian was giving him that he shut his mouth.
“I’ll make the arrangements now.”
“Hm.”
After watching Robin leave, Julian sat in the empty conference room for a long time.
After a certain period of time, he picked up all the discarded employee cards on the table and tossed them into the trash.
Whoosh! All of them were thrown away.
From today onward, Burton Group would truly belong to him.
It was already late autumn, and all the leaves had fallen off the sycamore trees on both sides of the entrance to a summer resort in the western suburbs.
A black sedan passed by the fountain in front of the villa and stopped at the entrance. A figure in a suit and leather shoes got out of the car and hurried in.
“President Burton!”
Justin was practicing calligraphy in the study, and as soon as he wrote the last stroke, he was interrupted by the sound of a door opening. The pen in his hand trembled, and it ruined one of the letters.
He stared at the ruined letter, finding it a shame that there was an ink dot on the last stroke.
“President Burton, something bad has happened!”
Frankie ran in, sweating profusely.
“What’s the matter?” Justin changed a new piece of paper without raising his head.
“Julian laid off one-third of Burton Group executives. Unfortunately, these executives aren’t forgiving folk either. Besides losing a large number of employees, the clientele has also been taken away!”
“Is that so?”
Justin took a pen and wrote down ‘mediocrity’ with total concentration.
“How can you still have the heart to practice calligraphy? The company is in chaos!”
Frankie was extremely speechless to see Justin writing calligraphy in such a calm and relaxed manner.
It was a fact that the person in question was not as anxious as the spectators.
It wasn’t until he finished writing the last word that Justin set down his pen and wiped his hands with the towel next to him. “What do you think of this word?”
“Stop it. How could I possibly be in the mood to look at that?”
“We have to be calm when facing problems. What did I teach you last time?”
“I can’t be calm right now. President Burton, you’re not just going to watch Julian bring about the collapse of Burton Group, right?”
“No,” Justin said tonelessly. “You underestimate Julian. If he dares to do this, he will have the ability to see the end of it.”
“Different industries have different specializations. Dr. Peter’s medical skills are good, but we’re talking about managing a listed company. What does it mean to fire one-third of the executives? Isn’t he just messing around? Even the stock market is unstable!”
“One must be ruthless to have a change of appearance. But then, he can do what I can’t.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Since young, he had never been cultivated by Old Mr. Burton to be the heir of the Burton Family, so he has no relations with the board of directors. He has no supporters and no backers.”
“Isn’t that a disadvantage?”
“It’s a disadvantage, but also a new way out. If he dares to build an empire when there isn’t one, then the whole empire will belong to him.”
Justin picked up his calligraphy work.
The wind blew in from the outside, rustling the paper.
The words ‘mediocrity complicates’ were written in one go, and they were smoothly written.
Frankie still didn’t understand. “Well, all I know is that Burton Group is in a mess now. So many people are hoping that you can go back. So why don’t you think it over again? At the very least, you’re the vice president.”
“There’s no need for that. He can take Burton Group if that is what he wants.”
As he spoke, the autumn breeze was blowing outside the window, while Frankie had a look of incredulity on his face.
