Before Janelle could even sit down, Westin signaled the butler to bring out the share transfer agreement.
"Janelle, you're still young. You have no idea how to run a company. Let Father manage it properly for you. You'll just need to collect dividends every month."
"Butler, give the transfer agreement to Janelle to sign."
With a dozen bodyguards now present, the butler felt emboldened.
He was Westin's man. What could Janelle possibly do to him?
The events of five years ago were water under the bridge.
What could a little girl, unwanted by father or mother, possibly do?
"Miss, this is the share transfer agreement."
Janelle ignored him. She walked over and sat in the single armchair.
Amber and Lillie were conspicuously absent, likely hiding somewhere.
Amber was smarter, at least smarter than Lillie; she knew better than to confront Janelle head-on.
Seeing Janelle hadn't taken the agreement, Westin shot the butler another look.
The butler had no choice but to place the documents directly in front of her.
This time, Janelle took them. She flipped through the pages carelessly.
"Janelle, Father truly has your best interests at heart. The prominent families of Graham City are all wolves in sheep's clothing. A twenty-year-old girl like you is no match for them."
"You've been gone five years. You don't know how difficult business is now. Blue Whale Co., Ltd. is struggling too." Westin began playing the victim.
"Regardless of what happened between me and your mother, I am your father. I wouldn't harm you."
"Dividends?" Janelle looked directly at Westin. She hadn't seen a single cent from Blue Whale in five years.
Hearing her speak, Westin mistook it for interest and eagerly nodded.
"Yes! Dividends every month from now on! If you don't want to go back to the border, you can stay. We can be a family here in Graham City."
"As for your mother... just leave her at the border." Westin's voice dripped with disgust at the mention of Madalyn.
"Hah. A family? Who the hell is family with you?" Janelle tore the share transfer agreement cleanly in half and threw the pieces at Westin's face.
"Janelle!" Westin roared, stung by the impact. "Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!" He brushed the torn papers off his face onto the floor.
"I'm telling you, you will sign this today. Willingly or not." Westin dropped the pretense.
Janelle was nothing like a daughter should be. Her nature was utterly vicious.
"Oh? I don't want to sign? Are you planning to force me?" Janelle sneered. So much for the loving father act. Couldn't keep it up for long.
"Butler!" Westin didn't want to waste words. He called for the butler.
The butler produced another identical share transfer agreement.
"Miss, I suggest you sign. The master means well. What business does a girl have running a company?"
Janelle stood up and slapped the butler hard across the face. The old man's cheek flushed red under the impact.
"What are you? Who gave you the right to lecture me?" Janelle's voice was icy.
The butler, relying on his seniority, was completely unprepared for the ferocity of the girl who once depended on him.
"Don't worry. I haven't forgotten what happened five years ago. Think hard about what you need to confess. We'll settle accounts slowly, one by one, later."
"Miss, I don't know what you're talking about." The butler seethed internally. Just a brat. What gives her the right to be so arrogant?
"You'll understand. I'll make time for a proper... interrogation." Janelle shoved the butler aside.
Watching Janelle's extreme arrogance, Westin felt only annoyance.
The pliable little girl of the past was gone. The current Janelle was a massive headache.
"Make her sign." Westin ordered the bodyguards behind him.
These weren't just any bodyguards; they were professionally trained.
Janelle's little tricks would be no match for them.
The lead bodyguard nodded and approached Janelle.
"Miss Rovella, if you please. Don't make this difficult for us," the bodyguard threatened.
"Then you'd better prepare to be very difficulted," Janelle retorted lazily, leaning against the armrest of the sofa.
"Then we have no choice but to offend."
Mr. Rovella had said their payment would double if they got her signature, by any means necessary.
However, before he could even grab Janelle's hand, her foot shot out, connecting solidly with his solar plexus.
Despite her slender frame, weighing less than 90 pounds, the kick was devastatingly powerful. It sent the 6-foot-plus, 170-pound man crashing to the floor.
Janelle herself remained casually draped over the sofa armrest, her long hair smooth over her shoulders, as if she hadn't just felled a giant.
The bodyguard sat up, rubbing his aching chest. This girl is trained.
"Together!" he ordered. The money outweighed any qualms about ganging up on a girl.
Two men charged. Yet Janelle remained utterly relaxed, seemingly unconcerned by the two hulking figures bearing down on her.
Her nonchalance unnerved them even more.
True masters didn't shout and posture before a fight.
They simply met the attack.
But the reward Westin offered was too tempting. And no matter how skilled, she was still a slender girl. She couldn't possibly win.
The two men attacked simultaneously.
Janelle kicked one squarely between the legs, then spun, landing a sharp uppercut on the other's jaw.
The first man crumpled, howling in agony.
Janelle stomped her foot onto his face while her hand shot out, clamping around the second man's throat. With a simple twist, she could snap his neck.
"Boss, this..." The other bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances, swallowing hard.
"All of you! Get her! Ten times the payment if she signs!" Westin refused to believe a mere girl could be that formidable.
Hearing "ten times," the remaining bodyguards surged forward as one.
A predatory smile curled Janelle's lips. Did they think she'd spent five years in that hell on earth for nothing?
What followed was a blur of lightning-fast movement. Her strikes were vicious, precise, fighting with a terrifying, reckless abandon.
Even well-trained, these were just ordinary bodyguards. They were no match for her.
Within minutes, a dozen burly men lay sprawled across the floor, groaning, injured, or incapacitated.
Janelle strode towards Westin.
"You... you... what are you doing?" Westin's voice trembled.
The butler cowering behind him felt the chilling, oppressive aura radiating from Janelle.
"Y-young Mistress, I-I..." The butler was genuinely terrified. Memories of what he'd done to Madalyn five years ago sent a cold shiver down his spine.
"Get out!" Janelle commanded, her face wearing a perfect smile, but her fox eyes blazing with unmistakable, lethal intent.
The dozen injured bodyguards scrambled to help each other up and stumbled out of the Rovella mansion as fast as their wounds allowed.
The Blue Whale Co., Ltd. shareholder meeting was scheduled for 9 AM every Monday. Early that morning, Amber arrived at the company headquarters.
Over five years, she had secured the loyalty of most shareholders.
Upon hearing Janelle had returned, they had all assured Amber of their unwavering support.
"Mrs. Evans, rest assured! We've all seen what you've done for Blue Whale these years. We stand firmly with you."
"Exactly! How did Blue Whale ever become solely the Rovellas'? We're a corporation. We support whoever makes us money!"
"As for that little girl Janelle? What could she possibly know after five years messing around on the border?"
"Oh? Is that so?"
The conference room door swung open. Janelle stood framed in the doorway.