Lying Flat, Winning Big

I'm incredibly lazy.

My husband Franklin has been keeping a mistress, and I know about it. But I can't be bothered to deal with it.

For ten years, the two of them have been lovey-dovey while I've been lying flat at home doing absolutely nothing.

The amazing thing is, these two are incredibly capable. They actually took my failing little company and made it go public.

I was planning to keep being lazy, but today they came to talk to me.

Franklin slid a divorce agreement across the table. "I'll give you ten million. Let's get divorced."

I looked at the company now worth over a hundred million and laughed. "I may be lazy, but I'm not stupid."

The air conditioning in the caf was blasting.

Sitting across from me were Franklin and his mistress of ten years, Lisa.

The two sat intimately close, wearing perfectly tailored designer clothes with matching couple's watches on their wrists.

Meanwhile, I wore a loose cotton dress and flat shoes, looking like a housewife who had wandered into a high-level business negotiation by mistake.

Franklin pushed a document toward me.

Next to it lay a check for ten million dollars.

"Ivanka, let's talk." Franklin's voice was calm, carrying that particular condescension of someone in power.

"These past ten years, you haven't managed anything. The company's success today is entirely due to the hard work Lisa and I put in."

He paused, as if giving me time to process this.

"There's been no love between us for a long time. Dragging this out benefits no one."

Lisa chimed in at the perfect moment with a gentle, slightly apologetic smile.

"Ivanka, Franklin is only thinking of your best interests. With this money, you can live comfortably for the rest of your life without worrying about anything."

Her tone was sincere, as if she truly had my welfare at heart.

Ten years.

Ever since I handed that half-dead company over to Franklin, I'd been living like I was retired.

I knew he was having an affair with his assistant Lisa, but I couldn't be bothered to call them out.

As long as they ran the company well and money kept appearing in my account, I didn't care how many mistresses he had on the side.

My best friend Elena said I was stupid.

I just smiled.

I didn't touch the divorce agreement or look at the check.

My fingers leisurely stirred the coffee in front of me. The porcelain spoon clinked against the cup, making a crisp sound.

Once. Then again.

In the quiet of the private room, it rang out especially clear.

Franklin's brow furrowed slightly. My calm reaction displeased him.

In his script, I should have been crying, shocked, or greedily haggling for more.

Not sitting here so composed, as if listening to a story that had nothing to do with me.

"Ten million, and I leave with nothing." I softly repeated the terms, as if savoring the words.

"Franklin, after ten years running a publicly traded company, is your vision really this small?"

Franklin's expression darkened. "Ivanka, people shouldn't be too greedy. Have you contributed even one ounce of effort to this company? You don't even know which office building it's in, do you?"

Lisa immediately jumped in, her tone laced with contempt. "Ivanka, this company is worth over a hundred million, but that's all from Franklin's and my blood, sweat, and tears. Giving you ten million is already extremely generous."

I finally stopped stirring my coffee.

I looked up at them.

Then I laughed.

Not a cold laugh or a mocking laugh, but genuine laughter from finding something truly amusing.

"Have you two gotten something confused?"

My voice wasn't loud, but it made both of them freeze simultaneously.

"This companyfrom its inception, I'm the legal representative. One hundred percent of the shares are in my name. You two are my authorized agent and a senior employee of the company."

I watched their expressions gradually change, my smile deepening.

"When did I ever say my company became your company?"

Franklin's face flushed red. "Ivanka, without us, it would just be an empty shell!"

"So I should thank you." I nodded. "As thanks, I've never shorted you on salary or bonuses. Lisa, your year-end bonus last year was over three hundred thousand. That's what bought you that watch on your wrist, isn't it?"

Lisa's face instantly went deathly pale.

I stood up and grabbed my bag.

"I won't sign the divorce agreement, and I won't give up a cent of my assets."

I looked down at them like they were a pair of clowns.

"The company's annual shareholders meeting is next month. When it happens, I'll attend in my capacity as Chairman of the Board."

"I'd like to see how you plan to spend a single dollar of the company's money without my authorization."

I turned and left, leaving behind two people with ashen faces.

Walking out of the caf, the sunlight was blinding.

The smile vanished from my face instantly, replaced by icy coldness.

I got in my car and made a phone call.

"Attorney Jamal, it's me."

A steady male voice came through the line. "Ivanka, are you ready?"

"Yes." I looked in the rearview mirror at the two figures chasing out of the caf, my eyes cold as ice.

"They've shown their hand. We can begin our plan."

The pigs I'd been fattening for ten yearsit was time for slaughter.

My attorney, Jamal, was a top expert in the field.

Ten years ago, when I decided to become a hands-off boss, I sought him out.

At the time, I had just inherited the company my father left behind.

The company wasn't large, but due to mismanagement, it was drowning in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy.

My father's dying wish was for me to save the company.

But I was naturally lazy and had no clue about business management.

Back then, Franklin was a dirt-poor nobody with overwhelming ambition. He pursued me obsessively and catered to my every whim.

I saw the hunger in his eyes.

I needed someone who could do the work. He needed a platform to climb the ladder.

We hit it off immediately.

Before we got married, I brought Franklin to meet Attorney Jamal.

Jamal drafted a prenuptial agreement and a company management authorization agreement that could only be described as harsh.

The agreement stated clearly: I owned the company, Franklin only had management rights. As my husband and agent, he could exercise management duties on my behalf, but all major decisions and equity changes required my personal signature.

His annual salary and bonuses were spelled out in black and white.

At the time, Franklin was dazzled by money and beautiful promises of the future. He signed without hesitation.

He thought that once we were married, both me and my company would be his.

He was too naive.

I've never believed in love. I only believe in contracts written in black and white.

These past ten years, I seemed completely uninvolved, but every financial statement, every board resolutionJamal organized them all and sent them to me.

Every transaction Franklin and Lisa made, I knew about.

I knew they worked together to inflate performance numbers, win over shareholders, and hollow out my authority.

I even knew they secretly used company funds to register several subsidiary companies under Lisa's relatives' names, attempting to transfer assets.

I knew everything.

The reason I didn't act was because I was waiting.

Waiting for them to make the pie as big as possible. Waiting for them to think they had victory in hand. Then I would take everything back, with interest.

Now, the time had come.

"Attorney Jamal, they tried to buy me out for ten million." My tone on the phone was calm and matter-of-fact.

Jamal chuckled lightly on the other end. "Sounds like they've completely forgotten who they actually are."

"They've forgotten. We'll help them remember." I said.

"What do you need me to do, Ivanka?"

"First step: send a lawyer's letter. Notify the board and all shareholders that effective immediately, I'm revoking all authorization given to Franklin. All company sealscorporate, financial, and contract sealsare to be secured immediately pending handover."

"Second step: file for asset preservation. Freeze all bank accounts belonging to Franklin, Lisa, and their affiliated companies."

"Third step: notify the financial regulators. I'm reporting current CEO Franklin for embezzlement and illegal benefit transfers."

I issued my instructions clearly, one by one.

Jamal recorded everything quickly on his end. "Understood. Ivanka, you still have that founding document, right?"

"I do."

That was my final trump card.

It was what my father left methe company's original charter with the highest legal authority.

Buried in an inconspicuous additional clause, it stated: Company founder Ivanka possesses veto power over any company resolution. This clause is permanent, unalterable, and cannot be diluted.

Franklin and his people always thought I only had that hundred percent equity stake.

They didn't know I also held this card that could flip the entire table.

After hanging up, I drove home.

To the villa Franklin and I had lived in for ten years.

He probably wouldn't come back tonight.

Fine by me. I couldn't be bothered dealing with him anyway.

I walked into the dressing room and retrieved a sealed manila envelope from the safe in the deepest corner.

I ran my fingers over the wax seal, my eyes clear and sharp.

Dad, I haven't failed you.

I'll protect what you left me.

Anyone who tries to take it will pay the price.

The next morning, Attorney Jamal worked with exceptional efficiency.

The lawyer's letters were delivered at maximum speed to every member of the board.

Almost simultaneously, court summons and asset freeze orders were served to Franklin and Lisa.

I could imagine the ghostly expressions on their faces when they saw those documents.

My phone was blown up with calls.

Company shareholders. Franklin. Lisa.

I didn't answer a single one.

I changed clothes, put on light makeup, and drove to Elena's art gallery.

She was instructing a student in painting when she saw me and raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Well, well, the sun must be rising in the west. You, the ultimate lazy bum, actually got yourself out of the house?"

I smiled and sat down on the sofa across from her.

"I'm here to tell you some good news."

"What?"

"I'm planning to go to work."

Elena's paintbrush clattered to the floor.

She stared at me with wide eyes, her face full of disbelief.

"You? Go to work? Do you have a fever?"

"No fever." I picked up the lemon water on the table and took a sip.

"Franklin and Lisa want to push me out."

Elena's expression instantly darkened. She knew those two cheaters were up to no good.

"How dare they?!"

"They think because I'm lazy, I'm easy to bully." I set down the glass and looked at her, my eyes filled with unprecedented determination.

"So I've decided to stop being lazy."

"I'm going to take back my company and make them leave with absolutely nothing."

Monday morning. Azure Sea Group. The boardroom.

Around the long conference table sat the company's directors and shareholders.

Most of these people were confidants Franklin had promoted over the past ten years, or allies he'd bound to himself through mutual interests.

At this moment, their expressions were grave as they whispered among themselves.

At the head of the table sat Franklin, his face dark, his eyes bloodshot.

Beside him, Lisaserving as his special assistantalso looked haggard, having lost her usual polished competence.

Everything that happened last Friday felt like a sudden tsunami to them.

Lawyer's letters. Asset freezes. Reports to regulators.

Three strikes, and they were completely blindsided.

Franklin couldn't understand how the woman who had been lying at home for ten years, completely uninvolved with the company, could suddenly become so ruthlessly efficient, every move deadly.

He especially couldn't figure out how she knew about those affiliated companies.

Those accounts had been cooked to perfection.

"Franklin, what's going on? Why is Ivanka suddenly revoking your authorization?" A shareholder couldn't help but speak up, his tone anxious.

With the company accounts frozen, several projects had ground to a halt.

The stock price was also beginning to fluctuate abnormally.

Franklin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his irritation.

"Everyone, don't worry. This is just a small family dispute between her and me. It'll be resolved soon." He tried to reassure them.

"A family dispute?" An older director laughed coldly. "A family dispute that needs to be reported to regulatory agencies? Franklin, you'd better give us a reasonable explanation!"

This was an old company employee, someone from my father's generation.

Over the past ten years, Franklin had marginalized him until he had no real power left.

Seeing this, Lisa quickly said in a soft voice, "Johnson, please don't be upset. This really is a misunderstanding. Ivanka... she might just be temporarily upset."

"Temporarily upset?" Johnson looked at her. "I think you two have been harboring improper ambitions for far too long!"

The boardroom instantly erupted.

At that moment, the heavy double doors of the conference room were pushed open from outside.

I walked in wearing a sharp white suit, seven-centimeter heels clicking, accompanied by Attorney Jamal in his black suit.

Every pair of eyes instantly focused on me.

Shock. Confusion. Scrutiny. Hostility.

I ignored all those looks and walked straight toward the head of the table.

Franklin sat there, staring at me with eyes that seemed ready to spit fire.

"Ivanka, what are you doing here?"

I didn't look at him. Instead, I looked at Lisa beside him.

"Lisa, is that a seat you're qualified to occupy?" I said flatly.

Lisa's face went white as a sheet.

She stood up reflexively, looking at Franklin helplessly.

I walked to the head seat and stopped, my gaze finally landing on Franklin's face.

"This seat isn't for you either."

My voice wasn't loud, but it landed like a hammer blow on everyone's heart.

Franklin's fists clenched instantly, veins bulging on the backs of his hands.

"Ivanka, don't go too far!"

"Too far?" I smiled. "Franklin, who gave you the nerve to spend my money, manage my employees, and then try to push me out?"

I pulled out the chair and sat down gracefully.

Attorney Jamal distributed a stack of documents to every director present.

"Ladies and gentlemen, these are Azure Sea Group's original founding charter and proof of Ivanka's equity as the company's sole founder."

"According to corporate law and the group charter, Ivanka possesses one hundred percent of Azure Sea Group's equity and is the group's sole legal controller."

Jamal's voice was steady and authoritative.

"Furthermore, according to additional clause three of the charter, founder Ivanka possesses veto power and has final decision-making authority over any group resolution."

Veto power!

Those words brought instant silence to the boardroom.

Everyone's eyes widened, their faces written with disbelief.

Franklin's body swayed violently, as if all his strength had been drained.

He knew I had majority shares, but he never knew I had this power.

This meant that no matter how many shareholders he'd won over, no matter how many allies he had on the board, as long as I disagreed, no resolution could pass.

I was this company's absolute sovereign.

I looked with satisfaction at Franklin's ashen face.

"Now, in my capacity as Chairman and sole shareholder of Azure Sea Group, I announce the first resolution."

My gaze swept across the room before settling on Franklin.

"Franklin is hereby removed from all positions within Azure Sea Group, effective immediately."

"As of today, all his access privileges are frozen, and a third-party audit firm will conduct an exit audit."

"Until the audit results are available, Franklin may not leave the city."

As my words fell, the boardroom became deathly silent.

Franklin's eyes instantly reddened, like a cornered beast.

"Ivanka! What gives you the right?!" he roared, his voice twisted with rage.

"The fact that this company is mine, not yours." I leaned back in my chair, relaxed but authoritative.

"You don't have that authority! Removing a CEO requires a board vote!" One of Franklin's loyalist directors stood up, his voice shrill.

Attorney Jamal adjusted his glasses and spoke coldly. "According to the company charter, when the Chairman has sufficient reason to suspect the CEO is damaging company interests, she has the right to remove them first and seek board ratification afterward. Moreover, Ivanka possesses veto power. She herself is the board."

The director's face turned red, unable to say another word.

My gaze shifted to him as I tapped lightly on the table.

"James, I recall you own a construction materials company that's the main supplier for several of Azure Sea's real estate projects?"

James broke out in a cold sweat immediately.

"I... that's normal business cooperation..."

"Is it?" I picked up a document and waved it in front of him. "In this procurement contract, your company's pricing is twenty percent above market rate. The profit margin there is enough for you to buy a new car, isn't it?"

James's legs gave out, and he collapsed into his chair.

Around the boardroom, several other members of Franklin's faction also showed panicked expressions.

They hadn't expected that I, the lazy one, actually knew the company's inner workings inside and out.

I was making an example of them.

I wanted everyone to know exactly who called the shots at this company.

"And you, Paul." My gaze turned to another person. "The money for your son's overseas educationLisa helped arrange that, didn't she? Using the company's overseas accounts."

"You..." Paul's face also turned deathly pale.

Lisa stood to the side, trembling.

The way she looked at me was full of fear.

She had always thought I was a clueless waste who could be manipulated at will by her and Franklin.

Only now did she understandI wasn't unaware. I was just waiting.

Waiting for them to personally deliver all the evidence to me.

Franklin watched as I called out his allies one by one, his expression changing from dark to deathly pale.

He finally realized I wasn't throwing a tantrum.

I had come for a reckoning.

"Ivanka, what exactly do you want?" His voice carried a tremor.

"What do I want?" I smiled. "I want to take back what's mine. That's all."

I looked at Johnson, who had remained quiet.

"Johnson, this company was my father's life's work, and yours too. Thank you for these ten years."

Johnson's eyes reddened as he stood up emotionally.

"Ivanka, you're finally back!"

"Yes, I'm back." I nodded, then looked at everyone, my voice clear and firm.

"Now, I announce the second resolution."

"Johnson will temporarily assume the position of Group CEO, responsible for daily operations. At the same time, a special audit team will be formed with Johnson as team leader to thoroughly investigate all company accounts from the past ten years."

"Everyone here, every single one of youwhoever has issues, come forward and explain clearly. Don't wait for me to throw the evidence in your faces."

My gaze swept like a blade across every guilty director.

"Let me be clear: this company doesn't support freeloaders, and it certainly doesn't support parasites."

"Now, those who agree with this resolution, raise your hands."

Johnson was the first to raise his hand.

Then several neutral shareholders hesitated before raising theirs.

Then the directors I'd called out raised their hands, trembling, faces ashen.

They knew resistance was futile.

I held their lifelines in my hands.

Finally, only Franklin remained, sitting there rigidly.

He looked at me, his eyes full of resentment, hatred, and a trace of fear.

The business empire he'd spent ten years building, thinking it impregnable, had been effortlessly dismantled by me in just one hour.

He had lost. Utterly and completely.

I didn't look at him again. I said to Johnson, "Johnson, arrange the handover immediately. Clean out Franklin's office, and Lisa's too."

"Yes, Ivanka." Johnson's voice was strong and clear.

I stood up, preparing to leave.

At the door, I stopped and looked back at the dejected Franklin.

"Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention."

"The villa we've been living inthat's also in my name. You have three days to move out."

"I'll have the housekeeper pack your things. As for anything that doesn't belong to you, don't even think about taking it."