Chapter 315 - THE TRUST FUND
Takahashi Kaito looked at his uncle and grandfather with a calculating glint in his eyes. This obvious expression was connived to make them believe that he had nefarious plans.
Of course, he had nefarious plans, but his intentions were beyond their comprehension.
"He cannot be part of the planning department." His eldest uncle faced the older man with unrelenting stubbornness.
The old man became angry.
"Why not? Your daughter is the head of the department. She can help him understand the company faster." The old man countered.
"The planning department requires some level of understanding of the industry. Let me ask you, Kaito. Do you know anything about medical equipment? What about pharmaceuticals?" His uncle looked at him with the pressure of a seasoned businessman.
"Well," Kaito smiled awkwardly. "I am a fast learner."
His uncle scoffed. "The Takahashi family has experienced a lot of waves, but we have remained the premier manufacturer of medical equipment. In recent years, we have also managed to expand to the pharmaceutical market."
"This industry does not need anyone with a casual interest. It is a world where mistakes could cause the loss of lives. Do you understand? Our reputation cannot be squandered by an outsider who has poor education."
"Senzo! There is no need to speak to him like that. He is still your nephew." The old man countered.
"Am I wrong? You have also investigated him. He received a poor education in a low-class university. The only good thing about him was that he had a good job in Shuriken Logistics. Now, he has quit that and come back to mooch off of the family. How can you even be sure he is your grandson?"
"He is part of the Takahashi clan. It is his right to enjoy the same benefits as your children." The old grandpa said.
The uncle scoffed. "Why? He has made no contributions to the family."
"No, but his parents did, and their shares are still in my hands. Even though you are now the chairman and the CEO, you know that I still have some power." The grandpa added while releasing his pressure.
Kaito's lips stretched into an evil smile as he watched the two.
While their animosity was real, he knew that the old man did not think of him as family. He intended to regain control of the family business and keep ruling with an iron fist.
And he wanted to use Kaito to accomplish his goals and then, kick him out.
However, he was not a masochist. And he had never been a good Samaritan.
Those who had evil intentions towards him could no longer talk.
When he found out that his uncle was chairman despite having only a small fraction of the company shares, he was a little puzzled. If that was the case, the grandfather should have the majority of the shares. But again, if he did, he would not have been kicked out easily.
So, he had investigated the reason for the anomalies and inconsistencies in the family. As it turned out, a large portion of the company shares had been held by his deceased parents.
According to the report, they had thirty per cent of the shares before their death. It was not strange because they were the core of the company at the time. Furthermore, they were quite loved.
Kaito found the story quite interesting.
In the beginning, the old man had transferred the shares to his children due to some health issues. At the time, the company was not small, but it was still growing. A lot of people were eyeing him, looking for an opportunity to swallow the company.
His lawyers and his wife suggested giving away the shares to his children to reduce risk and protect the family interests. If he died unexpectedly with the company in his hands, the family would fall apart even if he left a will.
It was not a secret that most valuable private companies fell apart due to succession issues.
After persuasion, he finally let go of his tyrannical control. At the time, he had complete control because all his other family members had died in various ways. It could be said that Takahashi Industries was his paradise.
Only fifteen per cent of the shares were out of his hands. Ten per cent belonged to some miscellaneous people while five belonged to his wife.
After thinking for a while, he gave each of his three sons twenty per cent of his shares and under his wife's glare, he gave his two daughter's five per cent each.
As a distrustful man, he naturally saved fifteen per cent for himself in case of a rainy day.
His illness was quite serious, so he did not pay attention to the company as he recuperated. However, the company began growing well because his children had new ideas, and their sense of security was higher because of the shares.
Miraculously, he recovered.
When he returned, the company was doing well, even without him at the helm. Unfortunately, he had no way to take back his shares and control everything again. However, he remained the chairman and CEO, which gave him a lot of say.
Everything remained quiet until his second son and his wife died in a horrible accident.
It was after this occurrence that the family found out that both the grandmother and the third son had each given five per cent of their shares to the couple.
Elder Takahashi thought he would be able to get these shares. However, it turned out the couple had been cautious about the family. When they died, the shares were put into an irrevocable trust for their son.
Moreover, the trust was controlled by an unknown but possibly very powerful third-party. Even Kaito had not been able to find out anything about the trustee.
The couple had also declared that if the shares could not be inherited by their son, they would be given away and could not return to the Takahashi family.
It was for this reason the Takahashi family had insisted on the police recording Kaito as a missing person instead of a deceased one. Since there was no corpse, the report was able to stand.
As long as Kaito's body was not recorded as deceased, the shares would still be held in a trust for him.
"Even if his parents worked hard, he needs to prove his worth to the family. Otherwise, he will ruin the company." Senzo argued.
He also knew about the problem with the shares.
However, he could not expose his father for saying that the shares were in his hands. If Kaito found out about his trust fund, he would suddenly be the largest single shareholder. Even if he currently had support from everyone except his father, he could not allow Kaito to know his importance.
"Then, allow him to prove himself." The old man said.
Kaito looked at the two men and felt an urge to laugh. However, he sighed dramatically instead before talking.
"How about this? I have experience in logistics. I could join this department and work my way up." He said as if to arbitrate.
The two men realised that they had not been thinking clearly. Even if the logistics department was not prestigious enough for a core member of the family, it was good enough for the wild seed.
Both of them had one thought. As long as Kaito was busy, they would have time to figure out how to get his shares.
As for the third son's shares, there were in the hands of that easy-to-control boy.