Fired
07:20:00
I quivered as I approached his office. I knew I was surely done for. How he found out I do not know. The snitch that ratted us out would be dealt with if I get out of this scot free. For now, the books were with the CEO, our fraud left clear in the open and heads would definitely roll. Mine definitely.
"Oh boy, we don die". I could see Charles was feeling exactly like me. It was fun while it lasted, but we knew this day would come. And it had. The day we face the music. The day it all came crashing down. We were so fired.
"Close the door", he said gently without waiting for our good morning greeting. He pointed to the swinging visitor chair positioned in front of his table beckoning on me to seat. I obliged and in that moment you couldn't tell whether my napkin was generating the sweat or the pores in my skin. I was evidently drenched as I thought about how devastating it would be to lose my job. Chief Accountant sacked for embezzlement. What of my children, my wife, my club commitments? I throw a quick glance at Charles standing beside me and I could read his mind. Mine was saying the exact same thing. I knew I was in trouble.
"You are stealing from me, Accountant. You are stealing my money". Nobody told me to drop to my knees because in a split second I could be jobless-worse still, jailed. "Sir, I'm sorry. I know its much; I'll pay back". Listening to myself, I knew it was impossible. With which job? Which money? "I'm sorry sir. Please sir, have mercy", I begged. I can still remember that moment. My throat was as dry as though the Harmattan season wasn't long passed.
CEO had one look at us and laughed dryly. We had nothing to offer and he knew it quite well. He knew my begging was useless. One look at his expressionless face and you could see that all the cards were in his hands, with the power to do and undo. Seconds seemed like endless hours as he stared at me, then at Charles and back at me, my heart pounding like heavy weights on concrete. I was speechless, muttering every prayer and vow I could remember.
"I forgive you...". The words, for sure unbelievable, hardly sunk in before the door barged open as the Project Manager walked in. "Oga, good morning CEO sir". "Sir, I've called the police sir", he gloated motioning to the well dressed officers brandishing handcuffs on their side belts. "Sir, you know in our Code of Conduct Manual clearly state in Section 4 Subsection 3d that and I quote 'any fraudulent activity contravening the financial stipulations and sound transparent running of the company's economic activities shall be treated as a violation of the laws of...'; Sir! Are you listening sir?". I frowned at the PM dashing off to the police headquarters. But he was the least of my worries now.
"PM. Go and sit down. Who signed that document? Is it not me?". He stood mouth-agape as the disbelief at the CEO's disregard for punishing me resonated in his mind. "But sir...sir, this is fraud. You know that this is a financial crime. They should pay. Sir, at least suspend them. Do something sir?", he insisted, visibly angered that I was about to be let off the hook. But all it helped do was delay the inevitable. The CEO had his mind set on freeing us."PM, I hope its not because of sacking them you brought these books to me. You have done your part. Thanks for the information".
"Like I was saying, accountant, I forgive you. But if you ever try it again! If you try it again!!! You are free to go".
"Like I was saying, accountant, I forgive you. But if you ever try it again! If you try it again!!! You are free to go".
As I walked back to my office I thought to myself on how lucky I was to make such a narrow escape. Every fiber in my body shivers every time I remember the way the CEO forgave me. But for some funny reason, Charles continues to embezzle. He's transfered now to another branch and somehow he feels D-Day would not reoccur. I call it stupidity. Refusal to realize the danger of his actions. With the PM always watching our backs, I'm sure he's scheming our downfall endlessly. Another day is coming when he would not be able to wriggle out of his trap. Once bitten twice shy. I cant let that happen to me again. I've learnt my lesson. I leave Charles to his fate.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hebrews 2:3a (NKJV): How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
Hebrews 2:3a (NKJV): How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
1 comments
Hmmmm# beautiful
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