Page 53 of Billionaire Corruption

“My brother was ill.”

“Yes, but apart from that, there have been other… absences, times when you were late. This is unusual for you Grace, your record has otherwise been impeccable.”

I didn’t understand what was going on here. I had the feeling I was being criticized, disciplined even.

“The loss of evidence is seen in a very serious light. We will have to take steps.”

“Yes, but I didn’t lose them.”

He nodded. “Indeed, we will be relooking the office team, making some adjustments. At the same time, we will need you to find those records again. Understood?”

He got up without waiting for a reply.

My coffee arrived as he was leaving.

The waitress placed it in front of me and I stared at the cup, frozen to my seat. Henderson’s word had cast a chill over me, it was like I couldn’t move. I didn’t know what to make of the conversation we’d just had. I had the sense that there were things going on that I didn’t understand.

I put money down on the table to pay for the coffee.

Then I got up slowly and walked out of the diner.

I wanted to go home, to think about what had just happened.

It seemed like my job was in danger too. I couldn’t afford being fired and having my reputation dragged through the mud. No firm would hire me again, I wouldn’t be able to find work at a reputable firm.

But I wasn’t sure if I could go back after that conversation.

I wanted to talk to Paul, but my battery had died. I’d not charged my phone the night before, getting distracted by Paul and our cooking adventure at the inn.

I kept wondering about the conversation I’d had with Henderson.

It felt like he was saying one thing, but he meant another.

Why would he tell me to find the evidence if he thought the investigation was at a dead end? We’d found other evidence too, surely all the work into the South American accounts was worth something?

I called my colleague again. Without going into detail about my discussion with Mr. Henderson, I asked her if she thought there was something strange going on with the investigation.

“What do you mean, strange?” she asked.

“I don’t know, it’s just, like I’m getting the feeling something else is going on?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, both David and Soraya have been in meetings with head office all morning,” she said. “I’ve heard talk that there is going to be an update at the head office tomorrow. A big meeting. So, check your email.”

I rang off, the uneasy feeling intensifying.

I walked to our apartment building, deep in thought. At the corner, I stopped and waited for cars to pass. Then as I stepped off the pavement to cross the road, someone violently shoved me to the side. As I fell over, onto my side, a car came speeding past, missing me by a hair’s breadth.

“Are you all right?” Someone helped me to my feet. My arm was smarting where I’d fallen on my shoulder.

“Yes, I think so.”

“That car came out of nowhere, man! It was going to hit you!” said a young man, looking like he was out for a run with sneakers and headphones still plugged in, he was badly shaken up.

“I was checking to my right as you were starting to cross the street. This car literally stepped on the juice, it looked like it wanted to hit you!”

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