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.