Billionaire love in shadow

Chapter 2

The face of Betrayal

Tony's manager stood In front of him as he had been called on. “What is the problem, sir?” He asked in a surprise tone to the call he received from Tony.

Tony looked at him with his piercing eye, “who has worked with this supplier you introduced to me before ?” asked in an authoritative tone.

Ted eye was wide opened as he keeps wondering what might come up for Tony to be questioning his decision “No one, they are team and approached me for business” he said sharply.

“Ohh… you want us to be the first to patronize them. Do you even know their company location?” Ted approached Tony's table and took the file on it, opened it to show him the address.

“Here is written” said with a trembling voice.

“Have you been there, is the address existing?” he asked sharply.

“I will verify…” Ted replied, stammering with his body shaking at the same point.

“You want me to sign what you haven't verified?” Tony said loudly as he shakes his head in disappointment. He continues, “there is more to this because this is not the manager I know before….”

“No, My CEO, don't overthink this. It's one of human errors. I trust the team of gentlemen that approached me and I made the deal because of the discount given to us” Ted explained.

“Who else is with you at the meeting and where does it take place ?” Tony questioned.

Ted was a bit defensive for his actions because he couldn't expect Tony to think sharply with this intelligent question asking him. He knew he had been exposed of his evil plan and was trying to look for the perfect words to save himself from this shameful act.

“It… it took place outside the office, and I was the only one with them. But I am just working for the interest of the company” he stammers.

“Good plan, you want us to pay this huge amount into an unrecognized supplier company. They will run away with the money and when the company folds up, you get your shares and start yours…..”

Ted interrupted, “No… that is not true.”

“That is what I can visualize, your failure to prove the physical appearance of this team makes me believe your motive” Tony said with a steadier voice.

Ted was speechless and couldn't find the right words to defend himself again. He started regretting his actions because he underestimated Tony's intelligence to deduce.

“Proof this people's identity and I will believe you again. In Fact, their bank for payment doesn't match with their company's names. Can you prove their identity ?” Tony yelled.

Immediately after Tony's reaction, Ted fell on his knees and started begging. He knew he had been exposed, and he is at the risk of getting arrested or losing his job for it.

“Please it's a mistake, I don't overthink it like this. I thought it would help the company to save more cost” Ted pleaded.

“No, it's a lie. You knew I trusted your decision and I don't question them. That gave you the confidence to work against the company. Thank God, my secretary did the research before she provided me with the document to sign.”

Tony continues, “This is how I will sign, and you move the money out without any raw materials being supplied to us. You acted like a guardian when I inherited this company, which makes me believe you and with the relationship you have with my father. I never thought a day like this would come, you are a disappointment” yelled at his manager.

Ted was speechless and couldn't defend himself anymore. He knew things can never be the same again between him and his CEO.

“Get out of my sight ” Tony screamed.

“Please, I have a family and remember the good relationship between me and your father. Trust me, I don't mean to bring the company down” He kept begging.

“I also have a family that trusted me for the best decision here, I won't allow you to let them belittle me for failing them. Now get out!!” Tony screamed louder than before.

Ted quickly gets himself up, moving to the left side of the office before making it back to the right, trying to find the way to the exit door. He left the office scared with the loss of his respect from Tony.

****

Sarah is on her desk, sorting out files and arranging the file cabinet at the same time. She has been busy working and that is what she is well known for among her colleagues. Less time for office gossip and more time to work.

“Hey you” Ted screamed.

She is on this while she hears a loud voice behind her desk, which calls her attention to turn and see the person.

“When did your work go from receiving and submitting the files to you questioning my decision?” Ted asked with a furious face.

Sarah acted surprised because she never thought her CEO would challenge his manager or ever consider her suggestion with the way he addressed her.

“Question your decision…. How?” she asked with her hands suspended in the air to know what exactly happened.

“Why do you call Tony's attention to verify the source of the supplies before signing?” Ted asked.

“Ohh… I am just looking out for the company not to fall victim to many fake suppliers out there” she explained.

With Ted head raised, nodding in agreement to Sarah statement “Really…, and you think I haven't done enough research before sealing the deals” he asked angrily.

“I am just doing my job” she said sharply.

“Your job also requests verification of the company's production activities? Because I don't know your aim of poke nosing on what you aren't called for” Ted slammed.

Sarah looked at Ted with a disgusted eye. She knew he had a mission on this, and he had been challenged. Obviously, a failed mission.

With more confidence in her, she replied “My job includes checking what my CEO will sign because he may be too busy to check them thoroughly. We all work together to protect the company”.

“You think…” Ted was about to reply when he saw Tony coming from his office. He quickly left Sarah's desk and make way to his office.

Tony approached Sarah's table.

“Welcome Sir” she said as her voice suspended in the air

“Type me a sack letter, I will mail you the name to put on it when you are done”

“Alright sir” she replied sharply as she felt frightened. “ Who is he sacking?,” she asked herself as her heart beat rose.

She grabbed her keyboard and set to start typing, a lot of thought running through her. She doesn't know whether she is typing the letter for herself or the manager.

“One thing is certain, one of us is going home” she whispered to herself.

“Who is going home” Caroline asked sharply

Sarah turned to see she had been behind her unnoticed. “What is this lady's problem?” she taught and replied with her lips spread out and a smiling face, “ I am just talking to myself, what do you want?”

Caroline moved closer and whispered, “why is he angry with you?”

Sarah focused more on her work now and gave less attention to Caroline. She can read through the lines that she wanted some information to gossip around the office.

“Who are you referring to?” she asked absent-mindedly.

“The manager, of course, I saw the way he was talking to you. He looked so angry” Caroline said.

“Nothing serious, just work matters. Can you help me with the stamp from the general secretary office” Sarah requested.

Caroline started squeezing her face and reluctantly responding, “Ohhh… downstairs is far. Must you use their stamp”.

“Yes. I need it, help me get it” Sarah replied sharply with an authoritative voice.

Caroline knows she intentionally wants to dismiss her, and she is not going to provide her information on what is going on between her, the manager and the CEO.

She started dragging her legs and mutters “sooner or later, I will know what is going on” and she made her way downstairs for the stamps.

Sarah smiled, but less bordered because she is yet to know her faith with the letter she is typing. She remembered her duty to her family,“ How will I keep sending my mum the monthly allowance I promised if I'm laid off?”

Different thoughts on how miserable her life may be before getting another job is what is disturbing her mind as he keeps typing the letter.

As she was about to round up. A mail pops on her screen. It is from her CEO, stating the name to address the letter to. It's Mr. Ted the manager.

Sarah's heart beats faster and sweat covers her forehead. She grabbed her water bottle and drank to calm her nerves.

She felt good that the letter was not for her, but still felt sad for the manager. “How will his family handle this news” she asked herself silently.

Caroline returned with the stamp and left immediately, she dropped it on Sarah's desk.

Sarah printed the letter and took it to Mr. Ted's office.

As she was about to knock, she heard a voice “That secretary needs to be dealt with….”