Chapter 23 Something is Not Right
Angela stood there, not sure how to feel. Just 24 hours ago, she was facing the disciplinary committee for breaking a company rule with termination as the punishment. Lucky her, she was not terminated, but she signed an undertaking and now this.
"Mr President, I ...." Angela began and realised there was nothing she could say that would liberate her, and if anything, trying to explain that it wasn't her effort was not going to save the company from the inevitable.
"What can I do to help?" Angela found herself looking very sorry.
Bryce was about to reply when they both heard a knock on the door. Bryce responded, and Susan walked in.
"Mr Present, I received this email from Don Entertainment. They claim they have a contract with us," Susan said. "They sent me this, and it has your stamp on it," she added and showed the document she had printed to Bryce.
Bryce looked at it briefly and sat down behind his desk. He dismissed Angela with a hand gesture, and he asked Susan to sit down.
"Now listen to me carefully. This signed contract must not make headlines tomorrow. Get the team to work on this to make sure no gossip channel even gets wind of this. Go with Eva and Bernard to the top news agency and engage the CEO. None of this must see the light of day tomorrow," Bryce instructed.
"Yes, Mr President. What about the contract with Don Entertainment? I am sure they have already made a copy for themselves, which they will use against us," Susan pointed out.
"Terminate the contract," Bryce said.
"Mr President, that would cost the company 50 million dollars," Susan said with an eyebrow raised.
"It would cost the company nothing. I will handle it," Bryce said.
"Bryce, you are going to use your money to pay the penalty?" Susan asked. "And what happens to the employee who did this?" she added.
"Susan, you are my friend, but never address me by my first name in the office again. And secondly, do you have a problem with how I want to resolve this issue?" Bryce asked.
"No, Mr President. My apologies," Susan apologised.
"Now, do exactly what I ask you to do. Ask Angela to see me on your way out," Bryce added, and Susan stood to her feet.
She was boiling inside about how Bryce was going about this. She thought Bryce would ask her to find the one behind it and have her appointment terminated. She was surprised he didn't say anything about what should be done to the employee who had done this.
Susan exited Bryce's office and entered Angela's office without knocking. She found Angela pacing up and down her office. Worry was written all over her, and she looked very regretful. Anyone who sees her would know she has done something terrible.
"And what is wrong with you?" Susan asked, pretending not to know anything.
"Nothing," Angela replied.
"Are you the one who did this stupid thing?" Susan asked, and Angela stared at her briefly.
"I am not sure I follow what you are talking about," Angela replied.
Susan was just coming from Bryce's office. If she doesn't know who did it and she is asking, it only means Bryce didn't tell her, so she doesn't need to confess to her.
"Hmm," Susan said. "The president wants to see you," she added and stood there. "Move now," she yelled, and Angela headed for the door.
Susan exited the office after Angela closed the door behind her.
"Don't keep the president waiting. Hurry up," Susan yelled, and Angela knocked on Bryce's door.
Susan pretended to be heading towards the elevator, but she tiptoed back to the door once Angela entered and closed the door. She pressed her ears to the door to listen.
Inside Bryce's office, Bryce asked Angela to sit, and she did. Angela looked very regretful.
"Angela, is there anything bothering you that you want to tell me?" Bryce asked, and Angela lowered her head. "Look at me," he said, and Angela raised her head to look at Bryce.
Her face looked very dull, and sadness was registered in her eyes. Her aura filled the room with regret.
"I am listening," Bryce said.
"Mr President, forgive me. Whatever I say at this moment will not justify my actions. If you want to terminate my contract, I understand," Angela said, her voice laced with sadness.
Bryce stared at her and sighed. His usual self would terminate her without a second thought, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to terminate her contract. He already felt Angela would not be this stupid, but aside from that, he likes seeing her.
"I am not going to terminate your contract," Bryce said, and Susan, who was eavesdropping, gasped with her eyes widened.
Back inside the office, Bryce continued.
"But I will not tolerate a repetition of this nonsense," Bryce warned.
"Thank you, Mr President," Angela said.
"Mr President, may I suggest something?" Angela asked.
"Go ahead," Bryce said.
"Aside from the fact that Don Entertainment Industry only make losses, is there any other reason Diamond Corporation would not want to sponsor their upcoming movie production?" Angela asked.
"No, there is no other reason. They don't have what it takes to make good movies that would make them profitable," Bryce replied.
"Mr President, the penalty to pay is quite huge, but I believe it would cost less to have a collaboration with a good movie production company," Angela said.
"This sounds like a fine idea, but no one would want to work with a company that is only good at running into losses, " Bryce pointed out.
"Maybe those who have already made their name, but the baby production company's. They would want a chance to be out there. We can get involved and ensure the money invested makes a profit. If they make it, the dividends are a lifetime for the company. Diamond Corporation may not be a movie production company, but an extension in the entertainment field may not be a bad idea," Angela suggested, and Bryce gave it some thought.
"This sounds interesting," Bryce said after giving it much thought.
Bryce pressed a button on the phone on his desk, and Bernard's voice came through.
"Bernard, come to my office and Evans with you," Bryce said.
"Yes, Mr President," Bernard replied.
"Let's give it a shot," Bryce said to Angela, and Angela was about to smile. "Don't smile yet. We are still experimenting," he added, and Angela just nodded.
Outside, Susan tiptoed to the staircase and used that knowing Bernard was coming upstairs. She returned to her office and dropped the files on the table. Susan started pacing up and down in deep thought.
"How did it go? Is Angela getting fired?" Eva asked.
"Something is not right," Susan said, and Eva frowned.
"What do you mean?" Eva asked
"He knows Angela did it, but he won't terminate her contract. Instead, he is ready to bear the cost of compensation," Susan said angrily. "Did you find out who this Angela girl is?" she added.
"Not yet. I would get answers today," Eva said, surprised by the turn of events.
"So what is going to happen now?" Eva asked.
"They are talking about some nonsense experiment," Susan replied, annoyed.
"This is not good. It means Angela is still going to be around," Eva said. "Wait, how about we make sure whatever nonsense experiment they are doing doesn't work?" she suggested, and Susan gave it a thought.