My Family Treated Me Like A Servant While Selling Our $340m Company. They Had No Idea I Secretly Own 82% Of The Shares. Should I Fire Them All On The Spot?
The room went silent. “That’s impossible,” Dad said flatly. “I own 35%. I know exactly how the shares are distributed.”
“Our due diligence shows otherwise,” Wellington said, his tone shifting to something more cautious. “The majority shareholder is listed as J Holdings LLC, formed 12 years ago. The shares were transferred legally. All documentation is in order.”
Patricia laughed nervously. “That’s absurd. Richard’s father died 12 years ago, but he left the shares distributed among family. There is no single majority holder.”
“Mom’s right,” Vanessa said firmly. “This is obviously an administrative error.”
Wellington’s lawyer was already on his laptop, pulling up documents. “Sir, I’m looking at the state filing now. J Holdings LLC holds 82% of Jensen Technologies shares. The transfer was registered on March 15th, 12 years ago, two weeks before Jack Jensen’s death.”
Dad’s face had gone pale. “That’s… Jack never mentioned anything about forming a holding company. Who controls this LLC?”
“What’s the registered agent?” Derek demanded.
The lawyer scrolled through documents. “The registered agent is listed as Morrison Chin and Associates, corporate law firm downtown.”
Uncle Tom leaned forward. “I know that firm. They handled Dad’s estate planning. But 82%? That’s impossible. Even if he’d consolidated his own shares and some he bought back over the years, that’s only what, maybe 45% at most?”
“Unless he’d been acquiring shares quietly for years,” Aunt Linda said slowly. “Buying out old employees, small investors. But why?”
Patricia’s voice had risen an octave. “Why would he do that and not tell anyone?”
I continued taking notes, my handwriting neat and steady. “Call Morrison Chin immediately,” Dad turned to Marcus. “I need to know who controls J Holdings.”
Marcus hurried out, phone already in hand. Wellington closed his briefcase.
“Richard, I’m afraid until this is resolved, Meridian cannot proceed with the acquisition. We need clear title and proper authorization from the controlling shareholder.”
“This is a delay tactic,” Derek said hotly. “Some competitor trying to sabotage the deal.”
“Or a clerical error,” Vanessa added, though her confidence had dimmed. “An old filing that was never properly updated.”
“State corporate records don’t generally have those kinds of errors,” Wellington’s lawyer said diplomatically. “Especially not for 12 consecutive years.”
Marcus returned, his face troubled. “Sir, I spoke with Margaret Chin herself. She confirms J Holdings is a valid entity and does control 82% of Jensen Technologies. She says she’s been managing the holding company as per the trust instructions Jack Jensen left.”
“Trust instructions?” Dad stood abruptly. “My father’s will was straightforward. Everything was distributed clearly. There was no mention of any trust.”
“The trust was separate from the will, apparently,” Marcus said. “Miss Chin says she’s bound by attorney-client privilege, but the controlling member of J Holdings can authorize release of information.”
“Then get them on the phone!” Patricia nearly shouted. “Who is it?”
Marcus hesitated. “Miss Chin says the controlling member is in this room.”
Every head swiveled, looking at each other with suspicion and confusion. “That’s ridiculous,” Uncle Tom said. “None of us control any holding company.”
“It’s probably some legal technicality,” Aunt Linda suggested. “Maybe it’s in Richard’s name but he forgot about it.”
Dad shook his head slowly. “I would remember controlling 82% of my own company.”
Wellington stood. “Richard, I appreciate this is complicated, but Meridian needs clarity. We’ll table the acquisition pending resolution of the ownership question. Please contact me when you’ve sorted this out.”
“Wait,” Dad said desperately. “James, we can work through this.”
“I’m sorry,” Wellington said, his tone final. “Without clear ownership authorization, we cannot proceed. Our lawyers won’t allow it.”
The Meridian team departed, leaving a wake of stunned silence. Derek broke it first. “Someone call that law firm back. Demand answers! This is insane!”
Dad’s phone rang. He answered it without checking the caller ID.
“Yes?” His expression shifted as he listened. “What? No, that’s… Yes, I understand. Thank you for letting me know.”
He set the phone down carefully, like it might explode. “That was First National Bank,” He said quietly.
“The bridge loan we took out against the company’s assets last year—the one we planned to pay off with the Meridian money. They’re calling it due immediately.”
Patricia went white. “What? They can’t do that! We have 90 days’ notice in the loan agreement.”
“Unless there’s a change in ownership or control of the company,” Dad said mechanically. “It’s in the fine print. The bank’s legal department reviewed the state filings and determined that J Holdings, as the controlling stakeholder, could technically demand restructuring. They’re protecting their position.”
“How much is the bridge loan?” Vanessa asked weakly.
“$42 million,” Dad said. “Due in full within 30 days, or they can force the company into receivership.”
The room erupted in chaos. Everyone was talking at once, voices rising in panic and accusation.
I stood quietly, gathering my notepad and pen. “Where are you going?” Patricia snapped at me. “We’re in crisis here!”
“I need to make a call,” I said softly.
Derek stared at me incredulously. “I know you don’t understand business, but this affects you too. If the company goes under, your precious 2% is worthless.”
“I understand. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I nodded.
I walked to the small conference room down the hall, the one Grandpa Jack used to call his thinking room. I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number.
“Morrison Chin and Associates, Margaret Chin speaking.”
“Hi, Margaret. It’s Emily Jensen.”
“Emily!” Her voice warmed immediately. “I was wondering when you’d call. I assume the Meridian meeting didn’t go as your family planned.”
“No,” I said simply. “They’re panicking about J Holdings now.”
“As they should be,” Margaret said. “Your grandfather was very clear about the timing. He wanted you to observe how they’d behave when they thought they had total control. Have you seen enough?”
I thought about 12 years of being dismissed, ignored, and treated like a charity case. I thought about Vanessa’s mocking, Derek’s contempt, and Patricia’s casual cruelty. I thought about Dad selling Grandpa Jack’s legacy without a second thought, dividing the money before the ink was even dry.
“Yes. I’ve seen enough,” I said.
“Then let’s proceed,” Margaret said briskly. “I’m sending over the documentation now. You’ll need to make the ownership public and exercise your controlling authority. Are you ready for that?”
“I’ve been ready for 12 years,” I said.
Patricia was crying actual tears about the Manhattan penthouse she’d already mentally purchased. I sat down in my corner seat and opened my email on my phone. Margaret’s documents had arrived.
“Emily!” Dad slammed his phone down. “This isn’t the time for social media. We need to figure out who controls J Holdings before…”
