Logan
I proceeded to ask the students questions when I was done talking then, someone caught my attention in the crowd.
It was her, the girl with weird clothes who spoke to me poorly on my way in.
I found her choice of clothes interesting, some funny pants and a top that will probably be oversized even for someone my size. But her face was something I could probably fantasize about, she had these cute lips with no colored lipstick unlike most of the girls I saw on my way in, just lip gloss that made it look so shiny and appealing.
Her hair was black and it ended just on her shoulder. Her somewhat round eyes that could make her pass for a Rapunzel look alike were blue, She was a rare kind of beautiful.
"The lady in black, can you answer?" I asked pointing towards where she was seated and she looked surprised. I noticed she wasn't paying attention and wasn't taking down anything because I insisted they write down some things in their notebooks.
"I can't answer" she replied, an answer that I wasn't expecting
"Excuse me, why can't you answer the question?" I asked her
"Sorry, but I don't know a thing" she insisted and glared at me.
"Ok, your answer is still a good one. Who can answer better?" I asked the students and saw a couple of hands, I picked a few.
I felt like she was intentionally trying to piss me off, she's a nobody so I won't think much about it.
I rounded off with the talk and got ready to leave. I got in the car and my phone started buzzing.
"Yes Kevin" I said when I answered the call
"The board meeting is at 12 sir, should we reschedule?" He inquired.
"No, I'll be there soon" I told him
"Did you look into the matter I told you about?" I asked my PA
"Yes sir, I just sent everything that you need to know and I made sure he doesn't miss the meeting" Kevin reported
"Good" I complimented
Today's meeting is a must, some issues needed to be tackled at once before they got out of hand.
I discovered so many discrepancies with the company's cash flow analysis. I doubt that the financial manager has been doing his work with diligence.
My thoughts drifted again to the poorly-behaved brat earlier. I think of her as bold for standing up to me. It's evident she doesn't know who I am and I wonder why that is.
"Was she telling the truth earlier?" I asked my driver
"Who do you mean sir?" He answered my question with another question causing me to sigh in frustration.
"The girl who confronted me on my way into the campus today" I explained for him to recall.
"I'm sorry sir, you wanted me to drive fast since you were late. I couldn't stop when it happened" he replied.
"It's fine just drive". I ordered him
"Next time something of that sort happens, make sure to tell me" I added
"Yes sir" he responded
We made it to the office, I rushed to get to the meeting room ignoring all forms of salutation from the employees around.
It's not like I didn't ignore their greetings all the time, but on my good days I try to give them a nod at least, today was not one of those good days.
When I got in the meeting room, everyone was already seated waiting for me as they should.
I didn't bother greeting. I dived right into the reason for the meeting.
"Did the finance department prepare the total statement of accounts as I demanded?" I asked and a man in his early forties stepped forward. I have seen him a couple of times, if my memory is correct then he should be the finance manager. I'm just bad with these names.
"And you are?" I asked him in the coldest tone ever
"The finance manager, Mr Adams" he responded. I was annoyed, I knew who he was.
"Flaunting your position in my face huh?" I asked him
"Not at all sir" he answered with a straight face, I wanted to twist it so bad
"You better" I muttered in a tone only I could hear
Then I turned to address everyone who was present
"We have in our midst, persons who want to bring us down. I want you all to know that I keep tabs on every little detail that goes on here because this is my company" I half yelled.
I could hear gasps and whispers about who the traitor could be in the boardroom, a scene similar to that of Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper when he said one of his own was going to sell him off.
I tapped the pen I was holding on the table as a signal for silence and they all obeyed.
"Head of the finance department, have you noticed that the digits in the financial reports do not correlate for some time now?" I asked him
"Mr Adams, I always double-check everything. I do not know what you are talking about, I always made sure everything was in order sir" he babbled.
"So who is to be blamed for these errors, there are no errors here right Kevin?" I asked my PA who nodded before coming forth to explain deeper for the rest to understand.
"I looked into it, all transaction names in the financial department and the ones in the CEO's keeping are a match except for the figures, this looks like a deliberate act. Someone has deliberately been stealing the company's money" Kevin lectured.
"What do you have to say about this?" I asked the financial manager
"My answer remains the same. I do my work well sir. Maybe one of the interns messed up the financial reports" he suggested
"I already checked that possibility. We only take interns from the month of July. These issues date back from about three years ago only that the amount being stolen has steadily increased, it wasn't noticeable two years ago but there's been a significant increase these years that's why we could notice" told him and he was quiet.
"When were you appointed to this position?" I asked him
"Four years ago sir" he answered.
"I think you have done enough" I told him and he looked confused.
"You are fired, this meeting is over" I said and prepared myself to leave.
The employees whispered among themselves.
"You can't do this sir, you can't fire me. I need this job please sir" he begged.
"You are right I shouldn't fire you, follow me if you want to keep this job" I commanded him.
I sat down when I got to my office and the financial manager was standing in front of me.
"Please sir don't do this" he begged again. I wondered why he was acting so badly.
"Why do you want to keep this job, even when I don't want you to" I asked him
"Boss, I need it. I need to take care of my myself and family" he lied
"If you tell me the truth, I might consider giving back your job and position" I leaned forward and narrowed my eyes at him
"What truth sir? what are you talking about, boss I'm innocent" he said
"You have been working here since when my father was CEO, two years with him and two years with me. So why all of a sudden did you start this act" I asked him but he said nothing.
"You have been stealing company funds for over a year. What did this company ever do to you for you to pay back with such evil" I lamented
He burst into a fit of laughter, laughing like he was a maniac.
"So now I'm the evil one?" He asked me
I watched how his facial expressions suddenly changed, he looked angry and vicious.
"What do you mean?" I asked him
"You heard me" he yelled
"Do not talk to your boss in that tone" Kevin cautioned him but I raised my hand telling him to let the man vomit his piece.
"You know what, fire me. I didn't finish everything like I planned but I did quite a number on you and your company" he said with a smile across his lips.
My heart started racing even though I didn't let it show on my face. I kept imagining the things he had done to harm me or the company as he confessed.
"Who are you or who sent you?"!This was the only reasonable question that could come to my mind at the moment. I was now very eager to know the truth behind his actions.
"I'm sorry that you got caught up in this mess but unfortunately, you are a son to Henry Adams. It's such a pity" he said while shaking his head.
I became very alert at the mention of my father's name and hoped all my fears didn't come true.