“I’m sorry I left you alone all those times,” I apologized to him. It’s what I wanted to say to him that day in the hospital room.
He then hugged me back.
“I’ll be here from now on,” I told him once more. “We’ll get through this, I’ll make we get through this.”
“I love you, mum,” he then said.
“I love you too,” I immediately responded. I was about to burst into tears but managed to hold myself back. I couldn’t fall apart now.
We said goodnight to each other, and then I left his room. I went to bed that night feeling at peace. Like a heavy weight had been lifted off me. My son and I were getting closer. I was making progress in my plan to fix things and give my son what he truly wanted.
To hear him say that just made me feel so happy as a mother. I was so, so grateful to have been given a second chance. I would make sure not to make it go to waste.
The next day, after dropping off Tony at school, I went straight to the restaurant where I’d accepted the job offer. It was a fancy, popular restaurant with many chains around the city called the Garden House. I had eaten there a few times with Keith and Tony in the past. I even knew who the owner of the garden house chain was. He was an elderly man who had been friends with Keith’s family. However, he later sold the company to another company and retired. I wasn’t sure who the current owner was, just that the garden house chain was now a subsidiary company. I wasn’t interested in researching further, as it wouldn’t do me good if I found out and knew who they were.
No doubt there was a chance that other wealthy people I knew would have meals at the restaurant and probably see me working. The rumours would spread fast about Keith’s abandoned wife, who now worked at a restaurant. I let out a sigh. I couldn’t worry about that. I had to focus on getting the money my son and I needed, which was more important than being gossiped about.
I arrived at the restaurant and was introduced to the manager, who was also my new boss. He was a middle-aged man named Giovanni. We had our introductions, then I explained my position as a waitress and what I would do. He then showed me around the restaurant, introduced me to the staff, and then we finalized the contract.
I then changed into my work uniform and began my first shift with the help of my fellow co-workers so could learn from them. I quickly discovered being a waitress was hard. I was moving and running around the place, dealing with diners. Taking orders, delivering ready orders to tables, listening to complaints, etc. Despite being overwhelmed, I encouraged myself to do my best as I needed time to get used to it.
By the time I was done, I was completely exhausted. I felt like taking several breaks as I went to pick up Tony. All in all, I would say it was a good first day at work.
The following days were normal and uneventful, which was a relief. I took Tony to school, and I went to work. Tony didn’t come home grumpy, nor did he get into any fights. He informed me
Work was going well, but I was still struggling since it was still early days, so I continued to do my best. I just needed time. I was looking forward to the weekend as I was paid weekly by the restaurant. The weekend was when Tony and I would have time to spend with each other. I wanted us to do an activist, either going to the zoo, aquarium or something!
KEITH’S POV
I sat in my office as I went through several documents; I had to prepare for a meeting I had soon with the board of directors on the direction we were taking this company.
I then heard the ring of the bell to my office. For security reasons I only people I approved could be let into my office.
“Chairman someone’s here to see you,” my PA Edward said
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. To my knowledge, I had finished all my meetings for the day. Everyone knows they have to set ab appointment with me
“Oh gosh Edwin don’t tell me it’s Jasmine,” I said in annoyance. had informed him to give the order that whenever Jamine came to see me, she should be refused.
“No, chairman as per your orders ,she is refused, whenever she tries to see you.
I was feeling sorry for the receptionists who had to deal with her on my behalf.
“And in any case, she hasn’t come to the office in the past week.” He told me.
My eyes widened in surprise. “Giving me a break, is she?” I asked and chuckled. “How kind of her.” Jasmine had been coming to office, and the mansion non-stop, every day. She was completely off her rocker. I wonder what had possessed her to suddenly stop?
“It’s CEO Goodwin, he said he has an update on an accounting situation you told him to look into last week,” he informed me.
“Ah, I see,” I responded in understanding my expression becoming serious as I remembered the order I had given the CEO.
“Allow him in,” I accepted.
Soon a short, stout man in his early forties came into the room. Harrold Goodwin. He was a hard worker and extremely dependable. In the 4 years since he’d been serving as the CEO he had been doing a wonderful job.
“Good afternoon, Chairman Acland,” he greeted me.
“Mr Goodman, have a seat” I started. After he sat on one of the two seats opposite my desk I then said. “I hear you have an update for me.”
“Yes, I checked with the CFO and the finance department” he told me. “This is a more in-depth report on the finances of the company in the last year.” He then then placed a file on my desk. Which I took and immediately opened and read.
As the CEO, he was tasked with controlling all internal operations of the company and reporting to me and the board of directors everything that was going on. A position I was very familiar with as I was once the CEO of Acland Holdings before I became chairman.
“I also asked the accountants and financials advisors if there’s anything concerns, they wanted to report and they said they had nothing to report all is well,” he further informed me.
“I see,” I responded as I went through the document looking for the information I wanted to see.
At the time when you asked me to give a report on the finances I didn’t say anything, but I wanted to ask if there’s an issue?” he asked me. The week before after he’d made a presentation to the board of directors on the progress of the company, I suddenly asked him to give me an in-depth report on the company’s accounting, all the money going in and out of the company. It’s understandable why he would wonder if something was wrong.
” – No, there’s nothing wrong,” I simply responded as I continued reading the document. “I just wanted to double check the numbers that’s all. As well as ensure that all is well in the finance department.”
“I understand,” he replied.
“Thank you, Mr Goodwin that’ll be all. You’re free to leave,” I dismissed him.
He said goodbye to me and left the room.
How strange I thought to myself as I finished with the report CEO Goodwin had given me. The finances seemed to check out. I would keep it and look at it later. The truth is there was something I found strange about the finances of the company when Goodwin made the initial presentation the last week.
The numbers I had estimated for the company’s spending and buying for the year compared to the reality were quite different. The actual numbers were much higher than I expected. Also, the profits I had estimated were different from the actual profits that were lower than my However, looking at the document, everything seemed to be accounted for. Perhaps I had made the wrong estimation? Was I overthinking this?
The Acland holdings company was a massive empire that was growing fast around the world. Running it required a lot of work. You had to be alert at all times, or you could get struck where you least expect. There was no harm in double checking. However, I was worried because this is the second time my estimations were wrong. The same thing had occurred the year before. However, unlike last year this time I asked for a follow up report to check myself.
I looked out of the clean glass window of the office take in the view of the whole city. It’s been 4 years since my father stepped down as chairman. I wanted to fill the role well and be just as good a chairman as my father and grandfather.
“Chairman, are you listening?” I heard Edward ask me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked Edward who brought me out of my thoughts. I had forgotten he was still in the office with me.
“I just noticed your mind seems preoccupied,” he told me.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing,” I assured him.
“If you want, I can find out what Ms Towers has been up to,” he suggested.
“Now why would I care about that?” I asked him confused. Did he think I was thinking about Jasmine?
“I just thought you might be curious as to what’s possibly occupying her time now since she hasn’t come for a whole week. Perhaps she’s sick?” he said with a mischievous smile. I cocked an eyebrow at him. He words were ones of concern, but his expression didn’t show concern at all. I realized HE was the one who wanted to know about Jasmine.
KEITH’S POV
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