Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 50: Business Talk

In Celestine Ridge, nearly every household employed servants, bodyguards, and even private doctors and tutors, consume massive amounts of food and supplies every day.

Following the idea of keeping profits within their own circle, the homeowners invested in these two businesses in varying proportions.

They were both operators and customers, enjoying convenient shopping and entertainment while also taking advantage of luxury brand counters from around the world.

Greenfield Organic Farm achieved full self-sufficiency in meat, eggs, and dairy, cutting out middlemen while ensuring quality and sustainability. It was the ultimate expression of the wealthy's refined self-interest.

Such a profitable setup naturally couldn't belong to just one household, so most Celestine Ridge residents held shares in both companies.

Among them, the Hancocks and the Grahams held the largest stakes.

At the start of the storm, people still held onto hope for the future.

They planned to distribute supplies from these businesses for now, then resume operations once the rain stopped and the floodwaters receded.

But they had no idea the disasters would keep coming. There wouldn't be any "normal" to return to.

...

To the residents of Celestine Ridge, their shares in Imperial Crest Plaza and Greenfield Organic Farm were insignificant compared to their wealth, mainly serving their luxurious lifestyles and appetites.

But given the current situation, these two assets had suddenly become critical.

The Hancocks, however, didn't seem to take the matter seriously and hadn't spoken up.

Harvey volunteered and easily gained the support of the residents, announcing that he would send people overnight to inventory the supplies and publish the accounts in the group chat by the next day.

The two businesses would suspend monetary transactions and instead distribute supplies daily based on household size.

Once the rain stopped and things returned to normal, everything would be settled based on the records.

Almost everyone believed the rain would eventually stop. It was only a matter of time.

What they were doing now was just a temporary measure.

The residents selected three representatives, including the Grahams, the Shepherds, and the Carrolls.

These three groups would send people to inventory supplies and keep records.

Starting the next morning, residents could collect meat, eggs, dairy, and daily necessities based on their household staff lists.

The work was tedious, thankless, and prone to criticism. Most residents didn't want to deal with it. They weren't interested in such small gains anyway and preferred ready-made convenience.

With the Hancocks silent and no opposition from others, the Grahams stepping up seemed natural.

Just as Harvey declared, "It's settled. The three of us will work overnight to finalize the accounts. Tomorrow at 8 a.m., you can come collect your supplies."

Residents responded with praise, "Thank you, Mr. Graham. You're such a kind and helpful man."

"Hold on." The owner of No. 1, Kieran, finally spoke. "Did anyone discuss this with me? Did I agree to it?"

"Mr. Hancock, you can't possibly care about scraps like this, can you?" Harvey said, feigning surprise.

"You care, so why wouldn't I? Don't forget, the Hancocks hold the largest shares in both companies. That gives me the final say," Kieran shot back without hesitation.

Only then did the residents start to notice something was off.

If both the Hancocks and the Grahams were fighting for control, there had to be serious profit involved.

So Harvey's enthusiasm wasn't out of kindness after all. It was for personal gain.

The goodwill people had toward him quickly turned into suspicion.

After stripping Harvey of any claim to leadership, Kieran didn't bother with elections. Instead, he declared, "Management will be reassigned based on shareholding. Each household must send at least two people to help with inventory and distribution."

The arrangement was fair, and no one objected.

Just like that, Kieran regained full control over both companies.

As for Mariella... he waived three months of her mortgage payments as compensation.

After all, she didn't hold shares in these companies, so it wouldn't make sense to let her take a cut.

...

Mariella hadn't intended to insert herself into the profits anyway. She only wanted to ensure Harvey didn't get control and use it for himself.

When Kieran waived three months of her mortgage, she accepted without hesitation.

With that settled, she finally went downstairs.

Chandler stood there with ten bodyguards, along with Matthew, Serena, and Lucky, all lined up neatly in the dining hall.

They had been watching TV to pass the time, but the moment Mariella came down, they all stood up.

Chandler turned off the television, and everyone looked at Mariella in silence, waiting for her to begin.