MR BILLIONAIRE, NOT YOUR WAY!

CAUGHT

For several days, I didn’t sleep as I went over the company’s expenses over and over. The finance manager that disappeared into thin air did such a meticulous job because nothing out of the ordinary happened with the other ledgers. The only one with issues was the one coming from the Chairman’s office, which was that of Michael’s.

“This b***h is so thorough. How come I can’t find any problem with this?” I clacked my tongue in confusion.

I had gone through the documents more than five times, but all was clean. I had started doubting Michael and decided to have another meeting with him where I would ask him to come clean about the issues so I would know where to help him because all the evidence was indeed pointing at him.

After a hot cup of coffee, I decided to give it a final trial and my eyes caught something strange. I decided to match the expenses, dates, outflows, and inflows side by side, and I finally was able to see the error.

“She must have thought she included it in the bookkeeping but she didn’t. When you are shady, you are bound to make mistakes and leave traces," I mumbled to myself as I dropped the cup and focused on the ledgers.

After a whopping nine long hours, I finally drew out the inconsistencies, drafted them into a document and marched to the prosecutor’s office. I had told him the last time that I would bring the evidence so he has no choice but to grant his bail, which he agreed on.

“Here it is, over to you now”, I declared and he scanned through everything

Aside from the fact that he was rotten and got bribed, he was capable in his work. He understood the errors I pointed out without stress and admitted that I was indeed right.

“I am amazed at this. I checked over and over but I couldn’t find anything. You are indeed the number genius”, he complimented, and I rolled my eyes in pride

At least he knows and acknowledges a gem.

He reached for his phone and called for his secretary to bring over the bail document, which he processed in no time.

“Thanks to you, I am able to make things right”, he said to me and I scoffed.

“I think the pressure from the opposite side will be much though”, I slammed him and he scratched his head immediately.

I had gotten him trapped but he was wise enough to realize that no amount of pressure from the other side would measure up to his career getting dragged in the mud.

“I don’t have to bow to pressure every time. I did the worth of their money already. He will be released now that there’s evidence to back him up”, he responded and I smiled

Extending my hand for a shake, I continued, “Let’s meet on a greater path in the future," and he nodded as he took my hand.

****

I headed to the detention center with his lawyer, who had gotten bail from the prosecutor’s office, and Michael was granted his release. Given someone who was always high about his appearance, he looked so unkempt. His beards were overgrown, his eyes were dry and hollow and his skin was getting rough.

“I am such a mess," he said to himself as he dressed up in the waiting room.

“At least, this is out of it. You can now rest up and plan your comeback”, Jude chipped in

“What of grandfather?”

Jude coughed a bit. “He told me to tell you congratulations on getting your ass out. He also hope that you have learnt one thing or the other while you were here.”

His voice deepened as he cursed, “That darn old man. He’s always going on about learning one thing or the other. How could he abandon his precious grandson here for that long?”

His lawyer explained, “He’s trying to tell you that you are not the only grandson he has. Also, he will give the company to whoever is more capable. Even though your parents managed it before their death and made the shareholders appoint you after they died, your grandfather still has right over whoever will be the permanent successor.”

“Do I look like I don’t know all that? That old man cares about a building more than his grandsons”, he lashed out angrily while I just watched them from my seat

“Thank you for your help; I will not forget this”, he said to me and I just shrugged.

“I am only doing what I got paid for. There’s no need to put it like I did you a favor,” I responded sharply.

“You did me a favor. A great one at that,” he spat out

I was shocked at his declaration. Michael was someone who believed in give and take. He would never think of any gesture as kindness because he believed he paid for it. Even when he divorced me coldly, he never said anything about being thankful or sorry; it was a business transaction to him and he already fulfilled his own terms.

Hearing him say something like that sounded weird but I quickly dusted it off my ears before it got registered in my heart. I didn’t want him to give me another impression of him. He was a jerk in my head and he had to stay that way.

“There are still other things to check because the financial state of the company doesn’t look good. This is just to clear you of all embezzlement charges. The records are rotten”, I notified him and he nodded in acknowledgement

“I can’t even imagine how much those bastards have taken from the company. I will make sure they are punished heavily by the time I am done with them," he threatened but I just stared at him silently.

Everything he was threatening to do will only be possible if he takes back the ownership of the company and with the way Steve was moving, it would be hard for him to do anything. He already erased Michael’s trace from the company, reshuffled the personnel, and made sure everyone who could be loyal to Michael was either removed or placed in positions that rendered them useless.

“I need absolute rest so I will be taking my leave”, I declared and started walking out but he rushed to stop me

“Let me treat you to a thank you meal first”, he proposed and I scoffed

“Mr. Michael Clinton, have you forgotten the clauses of our contract already? There’s no need to act like you know me. Also, my boyfriend is waiting to grab a meal with me. I cannot leave him waiting because of a client and stranger”, I responded harshly

At the mention of a stranger, I saw the pain flush on his face but I didn’t feel bad. That was what he was to me after all. There was no need to sugarcoat it.

“You also need some cleaning up and rest. This place will leave an aftereffect for a while”, I added and exited the door

I was still contemplating if what I said was too harsh when Brian showed up to take me out of the place like I had requested.

“Now that you have helped him, how do you feel?” he asked as we drove off to a restaurant he already booked.

“Come to think of it, I feel happy and great whenever I complete a task for my other clients, but this time around, I have a feeling that I cannot really point out. It’s just like, I am done so that’s it”, I explained.

“It’s expected, given your past relationship but don’t dwell on it. I trust you, a professional at whatever you do”, he complimented to make me feel better but I just smiled a bit

I was not sure if I was a professional like he had said and if I could trust myself like he had trusted me. It felt like I was playing a risky game. I didn’t want a situation where I wouldn’t be able to control myself so I decided to up my guard around Michael, pending the time I would finish his project completely.

“Brian, I think I should move in with you instead of staying at the place I was provided with. I want to be by your side," I proposed, and he went silent for a bit.

“Of course, there is no problem about that but the issue is I am currently trying to move to a bigger and better place. I only got that place because I thought I wouldn’t be staying long but now that the company wants my service longer, I will have to move. Immediately I move, I will personally come over to get your things myself, so give me a little more time”, he calmly explained, and I nodded.

“There’s no problem with that. It’s a few days more”, I said, and he held my hand softly.

“Thank you for always understanding," he whispered and planted a kiss on my hand before my phone beeped with a text.

What I saw after opening my phone made my eyes widen in horror. What on earth did I just read?