Chapter 99

"Mr. Joplin, the meeting's about to start." Murphy knocked on the door softly when he returned from escorting Yvonne out. This was an important meeting, mainly to address the fallout from the recent string of controversies. "Mr. Joplin, we've just received reports accusing our company of manipulating the stock market." The recent rumors had hit Joplin Group hard. Shares had plummeted due to the bad press, and many shareholders had panic-sold their shares. Then, just as quickly, the market rebounded, leaving those who sold feeling cheated. The pattern was obvious—a deliberate cycle meant to unsettle investors. "People are venting all over the company's social media accounts," Murphy continued, handing over a report. The comments were brutal. "This is a scam!" "How did the shares magically jump up right after I sold mine? Someone's rigging this." "What about the money we've lost? Who's going to compensate us?" Even the media had latched onto the story, fanning the flames with