Counter-attack

"This project will fall apart without damaging Mr. James' name. The destruction of that project will also bring all of you to prison on charges of embezzlement of project funds, fraud, and defamation. Mr. James is the victim here, and besides that there are many witnesses who can testify to prove that Mr. James is one of the victims of your greed in this project. If you want to prove it, you can still insist on having Mr. James in this project."

 It was one omen that would be taken into consideration by all of them. They would definitely choose to relent rather than continue to insist on trapping James. It's okay for them to be scolded by the person who leads their cunning plan, after all, even if that person is angry, that person still can't do anything. That person has no power whatsoever to punish them other than by violent means.