Chapter 24 Angela's New Project Idea For the Company - Part 1
"That sounds like a good plan, but how do we pull that off without drawing attention to ourselves? Let's not forget that you fought with her, and she was not dismissed. Bryce saw my reaction when I realised they were keeping her, and Bryce saw my reaction again when I realised he intended to keep Angela after this second mistake. Bryce would run an investigation if a third mistake happens," Susan pointed out.
"We don't have to be directly involved. We can pay someone to do the job," Eva said with a sinister smile.
"Great. Do you have someone in mind?" Susan asked.
"Don't worry about that. I will find someone perfect for the job," Eva said, smiling.
"Remember, everything must be Angela's mistake," Susan pointed out.
"Let me get the person first. I come over to your house," Eva said, and Susan acknowledged.
Susan sat down behind her desk, and the phone on her desk rang. She frowned, knowing it was Bryce calling to tell her to hold on with the contract cancellation. She answered it and put it on speaker so Eva could also listen.
"Hello, Mr President," Susan greeted, trying to sound normal.
"Susan, hold on with the contract cancellation. And don't engage the PR team for now. I will let you know if we still need to do that," came Bryce's voice.
"Okay, but what changed?" Susan asked.
"You will find out later," Bryce said, and the call ended.
"Wow, when did Bryce grow this side of him?" Eva questioned with a frown.
"Makes me wonder who this Angela girl is," Susan said with a frown.
Back in Bryce's office, Bryce was with Bernard and Evans to discuss Angela's idea.
"Mr President, this sounds like a good idea. Looking at our financial standing right now, we can venture into other industries, and the entertainment industry looks like a profitable place right now," Evans, the finance manager, said.
"I do agree with Mr Evans. We have two Estates, four top hotels with restaurants and two big hospitals. We can bring on board the entertainment industry. Don Entertainment at their level will be the easiest to get. With our resources, we can easily bring them up to the same level as the other entertainment industries," Bernard added.
"Okay. Angela, this was your idea. I am going to make you the project lead. Bernard here will assist you, and Evans will help you with the financial model. Draft something and share it with me by the close of business today, and we can discuss it tomorrow and fine-tune it," Bryce said to Angela.
"Yes, President," Angela acknowledged, feeling some joy inside.
"Okay, thank you," Bryce said to all of them and dismissed them from his office.
Angela returned to her office and started working on drafting the project plan. She looked at the contract and added all the timelines. At the close of business hours, she sent the first draft to Bryce's email. She checked her time, and it was 5 p.m. She packed her stuff and exited her office. Her phone rang, and it was Zora.
"Hello, Zora," Angela greeted with a smile as she headed for the elevator.
"Hey, girlfriend, what happened? Why have you called me? The week is half done, and you never called," Zora whined.
"I am sorry, Zora. My phone fell on my first day at work and was broken. I got a new one nearly 24 hours ago," Angela replied and pressed for the elevator.
"Hmm, I see. So, how have you been talking to your parents? Last, I called them pretending you and I are having a good time in our new apartment, they told me you called," Zora informed her. "So why didn't you use the same channel to reach me?" she questioned.
"I am sorry, Zora. I used the house phone to call my parents. I promise, I will make it up to you," Angela promised.
"Huh! One Visit to your husband's club, VIP lounge, free," Zora said.
"Zora, that will be impossible to do," Angela complained as she stepped into the open elevator.
"Girl, the owner of the club is your husband," Zora pointed out.
"Yes, but that is a secret no one knows, except you," Angela whispered.
"Sweety, you can still do something. Just tell him you want to meet your friend at the club. He will want to keep you at eye monitoring. We get the VIP 2 lounge for free," Zora suggested, and Angela frowned.
"That would work?" Angela asked.
"Yes, he married you, and a man like that wants eyes on everything. So work it out and let me know. This weekend," Zora said.
"No, Zora, let's make it next weekend. I am going to be busy this week and the next," Angela said.
"Fine, next weekend it is," Zora said, and they spoke for a while before the call ended.
Angela exited the elevator and walked towards the clocking machine. She placed her finger on the sensor and signed out. She walked towards the exit and was soon out of the building. She started working towards the gate, but a familiar car driving towards the gate stopped, and the glass rolled down.
"Angela, can I talk to you for a second?" Bernard said to Angela, sticking his head out of the car window.
Angela just stared at him for a while.
"Come on, it's going to be brief. It has to do with the project," Bernard said, sounding persuasive.
"Okay," Angela replied and drew closer to the car.
"No, come inside. We can't block the road just to chat," Bernard said, and Angela went around the car and got into it.
Little did Angela know that Bryce was watching her from his office window. Bryce frowned deeply, but he wondered why he was getting worked up about Angela getting into Bernard's car. Bryce didn't know much about Bernard because he didn't meddle in employees' personal affairs unless there was a need to, but Bernard has been portrayed as a Casanova of the company.
Outside, Bernard drove towards the main gate with Angela sitting next to him.
"The idea was a great one. Mr Moore, since he took over, had this idea of making Diamond Corporation the headquarters of multiple businesses. So far, he has worked this goal out. You already know from the meeting some businesses run by Diamond Corporation. I will tell you, he runs a very popular club in this city. Most people don't know the owner of the club," Bernard said, and Angela just listened, waiting to know why Bernard had invited her into his car.
The car drove out of the gate after Bernard gave his card to the security man to sign out.
"Mr Bernard, I will be meeting a friend in town. So I am not heading home now. Can we talk about why you invited me into your car? I will be getting off at the bus stop," Angela said, and Bernard stopped the car just a distance away from the company main gate and a couple of distances away from the bus stop.
"Angela, I want to apologise for what Eva did to you, and I want you to know that Eva and I are not a thing. We never dated, and we are not in a relationship. We used to be friends until Eva," Bernard said and paused, lowering his head.
"Well, it doesn't matter now. Eva and I are just friends," Bernard repeated and shifted his gaze to Angela, who was staring at him.
"Okay. You said you wanted to talk about the project," Angela reminded him.
"Yes, I just want to commend you on the initiative. I will help you make this a success. So don't hesitate to call me if you need anything. Here is my card," Bernard said and handed Angela his business card.
"Thank you," Angela appreciated accepting the card from Bernard's hand.
"Let me drop you at the bus stop," Bernard said, and Angela nodded.
Bernard dropped Angela off at the bus stop and drove off. As soon as Bernard drove away, another car stopped at the bus stop in front of Angela. Eva got out of the car and walked up to Angela.
"I thought I told you to stay away from my man," Eva growled, and Angela took a step back.
"I am not going out with Mr Bernard, and he is not even my friend," Angela replied.
"Hmm, I see. So why do you have his business card, you slut?" Eva said, and she snatched the card Angela was still holding in her hand.
"We are going to work together on a new project. He just gave me the car for easy communication," Angela defended.
"Hmmm, easy communication. What do you think meeting rooms in the company are meant for?" Eva questioned. "Let me warn you, floozy, if I see you around Bernard again, you will wish you were never born. Go back to the slutty life and leave our men alone," she sneered and left Angela stunned.
Angela stood there and watched Eva get into the car, and the car drove off. A bus stopped at the bus stop a few minutes later, and Angela got onboard heading back home.