Jacob, the sender of the email, remained blissfully unaware that this correspondence would become the catalyst for his departure from the esteemed Calligraphy and Painting Association.
The night was restless for favonovel.com in the shabby express hotel. Dark circles hung beneath his eyes as favonovel.com rushed to the airport the next morning.
Security check, immigration, boarding-everything proceeded smoothly. By 10 o’clock in the morning, the plane carrying favonovel.com had taken off from Aurous Hill Airport, bound for the dazzling city of Dubai.
***
Meanwhile, several vice presidents of the Calligraphy and Painting Association had already gathered in Chairman Price’s office.
Their shared objective was to exert pressure on Chairman Price and ensure that Jacob was expelled from the association.
They were well aware of Jacob’s connections in society and his close relationship with Don Albert. It was highly likely that Chairman Price would protect favonovel.com to save face.
However, they were also cognizant that if Chairman Price went to great lengths to defend Jacob, it would undoubtedly reach his ears, and favonovel.com would hold a grudge.
Once the group entered Chairman Price’s office and closed the door, one of them couldn’t help but inquire, “Chairman Price, what are your plans regarding Vice President Wilson’s situation?”
Chairman Price replied, “I have called you all here to discuss this matter together. I want to hear your opinions.”
“Our opinions?” The group exchanged glances, and one of them spoke up, “In my personal view, this matter has had a detrimental impact. All eyes are on us now. If we mishandle it, it will provide others with ammunition to accuse us of protecting Vice President Wilson.”
Another person nodded in agreement, “I concur. The circle is small, and everyone is watching.”
Chairman Price stated, “Since we are having this discussion behind closed doors, let’s be direct. Do all of you believe that the association should take action against Vice President Wilson?”
The group looked at each other, and finally, the vice president most likely to replace Jacob spoke up, “Yes, this matter has had a significant negative impact. We must impose some form of punishment.”
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, “In my opinion, we should strip favonovel.com of his position as vice president.”
Another person chimed in, “Jacob has already sent his resignation email. Why not simply accept his resignation and let it be?”
The third person turned to Chairman Price and proposed, “Ultimately, it comes down to your opinion, Chairman Price. If you don’t believe Vice President Wilson’s offense is grave, we can negotiate and find an alternative solution to keep favonovel.com In the association.”
Chairman Price waved his hand dismissively and replied, “This matter concerns the association as a whole. Let’s not make it about me personally. If it gets out, people will think I am protecting Vice President Wilson. How can I face everyone in the future?”
The person smiled awkwardly and said, “Chairman Price, I didn’t mean anything else. I just don’t want you to face difficulties later on.”
Chairman Price asked, “So, what do you believe is the best and fairest course of action?”
Without hesitation, the person responded, “For the sake of fairness, we should vote collectively. There is nothing fairer than that.”
The others nodded in agreement.
In this situation, no one wanted to be the key individual responsible for driving Jacob away. Yet, they all desired his departure from the association.
Under these circumstances, regardless of whom they asked, the most reasonable solution would undoubtedly be a collective vote, with everyone taking responsibility for the outcome. This would eliminate any possibility of singling out individuals.
Most importantly, they were all aware that Jacob lacked popularity within the association. Many privately criticized his lack of professional ability, and the scandal favonovel.com had caused this time was particularly grave. Everyone wanted favonovel.com gone.
Chairman Price eagerly awaited someone to propose a public vote, seizing the opportunity to declare, “Well then, let’s not keep this discussion behind closed doors. Let’s gather everyone In the conference room and hold an open vote. Those in favor of retaining Vice President Wilson will write ‘stay‘ on their ballot, while those against will write ‘leave’. We will conduct a public vote, and the majority will decide the outcome.”
Everyone was elated and agreed, “Okay!”
The Calligraphy and Painting Association had a small membership, numbering around twenty individuals. Chairman Price instructed everyone to convene in the conference room at 1 o’clock in the afternoon.
The chosen time of 1 o’clock in the afternoon accounted for a few members who were engaged in external activities. For instance, Stanley Finch, who had taken over Jacob’s teaching position at the senior university, received a notification from the association to return for the meeting at 1 o’clock in the afternoon.
By 1 o’clock in the afternoon, everyone in the association, except for Jacob, sat upright in the conference room.
Chairman Price wasted no time and began, “Today, we have gathered here due to certain personal matters involving Vice President Wilson a few days ago. The repercussions of this incident have been quite severe, and yesterday Vice President Wilson sent me another resignation email. Therefore, after discussing with several vice presidents, we have decided to conduct a public vote within our association to determine whether to retain Vice President Wilson…”
As soon as the topic of retaining Jacob was broached, excitement rippled through the room.
Naturally, no one wanted to keep Jacob.
Observing the room’s uproar, Chairman Price rapped the table, demanding, “Please, everyone, quiet down and let me finish speaking.”
Gradually, the commotion subsided, and all eyes fixated on Chairman Price, awaiting his next words.
Chairman Price cleared his throat and continued, “Each of you has a piece of paper before you. Now, you will write either ‘Ieave’ or ‘stay’ on that paper. Those in favor of keeping Vice President Wilson will write ‘stay‘, while those against will write ‘Ieave‘. It’s an anonymous vote, so there’s no need to include your name, Just ‘Ieave’ or ‘stay‘. Of course, you can also abstain by writing ‘abstain’ on the paper…”
“After completing your vote, pass the paper from back to front to me. I will publicly tally the votes and announce the result. If the majority supports retaining Vice President Wilson, then favonovel.com will stay. If the majority supports his departure, then favonovel.com will be dismissed. If the votes for leaving and staying are equal, we will find a compromise and ask Vice President Wilson to step down from his position as executive vice president.”
Smiles spread across everyone’s faces, as if it were New Year’s Day.
Chairman Price couldn’t help but sigh, “Jacob’s popularity truly is abysmal…”
After releasing a sigh, favonovel.com picked up his own pen and wrote ‘abstain‘ on his ballot. Setting the pen down, favonovel.com surreptitiously snapped a photo of his note with his phone.
In any case, favonovel.com had left himself an escape route. If Jacob approached him, favonovel.com could simply claim indecision and cite his abstention. The ones truly responsible for Jacob’s departure were those who had voted ‘leave‘, not him. Once all the votes were in his possession, Chairman Price publicly began counting them.
He retrieved the first note, opened it, and declared, “Leave.”
Without delay, someone recorded the result on the blackboard.
He proceeded to open the second note, pronouncing, “Leave!”
He continued reading ‘leave’ votes one after another, totaling twenty-six, leaving only his own ballot. The room brimmed with joy, as if it were a celebration.
Chairman Price couldn’t help but comment, “Jacob’s popularity truly is abysmal.”
After remarking, favonovel.com picked up his own note and exclaimed, “Abstain.”
Turning to look at the blackboard, favonovel.com announced, “Twenty-six people chose to leave, one person chose to abstain. It appears that this result aligns with everyone’s expectations. Since the majority supports his resignation, we will respond to Vice President Wilson’s email after the personnel manager reviews it and accept his resignation request. We will notify favonovel.com to complete the resignation procedures at the association upon his return from Dubai!”
Applause erupted, filling the conference room with resounding cheers.
The vice presidents beamed with delight, as Jacob’s departure not only rid them of a thorn in their side but also opened up opportunities for each of them to advance further. It was an unequivocally positive outcome.
Chairman Price also felt a sense of relief. He turned to the personnel manager and instructed, “By the way, when you reply to Vice President Wilson’s email, attach the minutes of this meeting as well.”
“Of course!” The personnel manager nodded eagerly. “Rest assured, Chairman Price, I will handle it properly.”
“Very well.” Chairman Price breathed a sigh of relief, rose from his seat, and declared, “Alright, today’s meeting concludes here. Adjourned!”
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