DECLARE YOUR BUSINESS
1169 Words
You can’t cheat nature, that’s what they say and it was true for Liora. After using her energy to cuss at Jason for putting her under so much duress and stress, she finally relaxed to listen to the creative ideas. Thirty minutes later she was dozing off on the table.
“Excuse me, ma’am?” One of them touching her hands gently.
She woke up swiftly, wiping the spit mark on her face. “Yes?”
“It’s twelve am. I was wondering if you would like to go home.”
“Twelve am?” Checking her wristwatch and yawning. “Oh my goodness! This is so late.” Facing them, “are you all not done with your brain storming?”
Wagging their head, “actually, we plan on spending the night finding ideas.”
“Wow! All night?”
“Yes. You can leave if you want. It’s not our first time here, we would finish brainstorming and send you the reports in the morning.”
Tilting her head gently, “are you sure?”
“Yes ma’am. We would send you the reports first thing tomorrow morning.”
Too sleepy to argue, she succumbed. Dragging her heavy feet into the elevator then her car. Next she remembered was Genevieve waking her up in the morning for work.
“Girl, you know you have a thirty minutes meeting with Jason before work starts. You have to be there early.”
Reluctantly getting out of bed, she freshened up for work. Her phone beeped on her way to work with the update on the creatives meeting. She smiled to herself. At least she didn’t have to put up with Jason’s nagging. She was already ten minutes late for the meeting when she arrived at work, hence she didn’t go into her office but stepped into the elevator straight to his floor.
Her hands carefully knocked on the door. Ears ready for an earful.
“What is the time, Miss Adamson?”
“7:40, sir.”
Leaning back on his chair, he turned to one of the executives. “Mr. Almond, when is the time for our morning meetings?”
“7:30, sir.”
“So, Miss Adamson, can you explain to us why you are ten minutes late?”
In her head she already screamed blames on him for leaving her to work late and now blaming her for resuming late. Instead she just muttered. “I’m sorry, sir. I overslept.”
“Always have an excuse. “ sighing, “are you going to keep standing there or take a seat already?”
She dashed to the only available seat. It was a strategy meeting for the new outlets of Green Leaf Groups. It lasted another twenty five minutes before it ended.
“Adamson?” He called out her surname without any form of respect but she wore a wry smile in response. “Yes sir.” Retracting herself back to her seat.
“Tell me, how did the brainstorming go?”
“Fine…really innovative.”
Shocked at her response, he just nodded. “So what exactly did you guys come up with?”
Shrills ran down her spine. She had no idea since she was asleep the whole time and left them behind.
“We came up…with…really nice ideas.”
His eyes bulging, “I know that. Can you be more specific?”
“Actually,” scratching her neck. “I sent all the updates to your email.”
Eyeing her scornfully, “you attended a meeting and you can’t speak of any of your ‘nice’ ideas off hand?”
“Sorry sir. I was just-“
“I’m tired of your excuses.” Opening his system to scan through. “What are you still doing here?”
“I…thought…”
He just stabled his eyes on her. “Get out of my office, will you?” Springing up and reaching for the door, instead of stepping out a train of people led by Mabel, his secretary was led in. Liora noticed two familiar faces dragged in by the security guards. Her inquisition forced her to stay and observe.
Jason on his feet, “what’s the meaning of this, Mabel? Why would you lead these people into my office without my permission?”
“Sorry sir.” Her head slightly bowed , “just that, Mr. Augustine, the chief security said this is an urgent matter.”
“Urgent matter? What’s my business with security department?”
“Actually, sir. We are sorry to disturb you.”
“Sorry for yourself.” Sitting down, “just declare your business and get out of here.”
“Ok sir. Please do you recognize any of these faces?”
The guards pushed the young men forward. He stared at them for a while. “I don’t think so.”
“I know them!” Liora declared, “they are part of the creative team that came to brainstorm last night.”
Mr. Augustine nodded, “I’m sorry these are frauds whom the security team caught trying to steal data from the company’s system this morning.”
Like his words possessed a charm that got Jason to his feet. “Steal what exactly?”
“From the company system. After interrogation, we realized that they were trying to steal some of the company assets online and liquidate some of the foreign accounts.”
His eyes bulged, fist clenched but he calmed himself. “Who else knows about this?”
“No one yet sir. We plan on informing the CEO when he returns.”
“No!” Quickly negating, “how about we keep this between us? Have them arrested and charge to court. At all cost keep this away from the CEO.”
“Yes sir.” Mr. Augustine bowed, “let’s go!” the guards pushed the men out of the office.
Liora’s face paled, goosebumps all over her.
“Miss Adamson, do you have an explanation for this? Or wait!” Crossing his arms, “are you working with competitors to liquidate this company?”
“No!” Jumping at the question. “I’ll never do that.” Her eyes glistening, “I’m sorry…I didn’t know they were…thieves.”
“I gave you one simple task! And you nearly ruin this company?!”
“It wasn’t intentional…I thought they were…”
“Well, you thought wrong!” Slamming the table. His whole body fidgeting, “these creatives are contract staffs hence we have to supervise their brainstorming process!”
“I’m…sorry.”
“No you’re not!” His eyes blazing, “how incompetent can you be?! First you arrive late for every strategy meeting and you can’t even do one simple task of watching these people?!” He scoffed, chuckling under his breath. “It’s not you I blame. I blame the CEO for employing an inexperienced kid to manage this company!”
The door parted, “sorry to interrupt sir but…the CEO is here!”
- Writer
