<<<< Xi Group of Companies>>>>
Rowan was sitting in his office, addressing his father's employees.
One of the employees, the company's head of financial unit, raised her hands.
"Go ahead Annette, make your contributions snappy." He instructed her and leaned back in his chair.
"Thank you sir. I'd like to point out that we made some good profit in the last four years; however, the company's net expenditures are toppling over the profit per season. I would suggest that some unnecessary frivolities be cut down on."
Rowan bit his lower lip. He knew where her conversation was headed and he was definitely going to address it.
"What are the components of this net expenditure? Can you give me a run down?"
"I can mail you the comprehensive list of all that the company has funded for the past four years."
"Send me that mail before midday, Annette. I would like to address the situation immediately."
Annette nodded and thanked him.
"You can all get back to work, there is a lot to do," Rowan instructed.
His employees began to disperse one after the other.
Mr Kenny, his hotel manager, stayed behind.
"I would like to have a word with you sir."
"Go ahead, Mr. Kenny," Rowan said, trying to listen with rapt attention.
"The hotel is in need of extra hands, cleaners, and supervisors. We have prepared an advertisement to be put out in the dailies and on the television and radio. But, we had not had the time to let you know while you were away. So, may we proceed?"
"Go ahead, Mr. Kenny. You are the manager of that aspect of our company and you have the sole responsibility of making sure that things go as they ought to. From now henceforth, whatever decision you need to make, go ahead and make it without necessarily getting my permission."
"Alright Boss," Mr Kenny cheered him and thanked him for his time. Then he excused himself and left the office.
Rowan was left alone.
He tried reading through the paper work that was stacked before him. Then a mail dropped into his inbox from Annette.
He opened the email and his eyes were widened with bewilderment.
Net Expenditure for between 2023 and 2027, July:
Transportation - $2,456,400
Salaries & Allowances - $40,678,300
The Xi Family upkeep- $30, 723 000
Office items. -$237 000
Taxes. - $16 420 794
Office maintenance and bills- $25 000 000
Mabel's monthly allowance - $480 000
Mabel's vacations and leisure/miscellaneous. - $ 3 807 450.
"What nonsense!" Rowan yelled and slammed the laptop shut. He was fuming.
"How can she be so extravagant, running down my father's company to this point? By the way, she does not work for me!"
He picked up the office phone and made a call to Annette.
In a few seconds, Annette was tapping at the door.
"Come in!" He called out aggressively and she pushed open the door and stepped in.
"What is this nonsense you sent to me?"
Annette was panicking.
"The net expenditure sir," she replied almost in a whisper. She was fiddling with her biro, trying to maintain composure in his intimidating presence.
"Who has been authorising these allowances that were given to Mabel? How could you be so foolish, Annette?"
Annette put down her face. She knew better than to argue with Rowan or try to make defences while he was speaking. She had to wait for his rantings to end first.
"Do you realise that she has been running down? By the way, she never even bothered to call me while I was away, nor did she bother to check up on me now that I am back. She even denied knowing me yesterday when I bumped into her at a club. She may be a wh*re whom I mistakenly took in and now, she has spent my father's money extravagantly as if she worked for it."
He was furious and his eyes were blazing red.
"I am sorry sir," Annette pleaded. "The instruction you gave to us before your trip was that we should make her comfortable. You issued cheques for her upkeep and when that was exhausted, your brother Wilson was contacted when reaching you was difficult and he agreed that we should go ahead and sign her to the payroll since she is your guest."
"So, Wilson took these decisions without me?" He asked with fury etched on his face.
Annette nodded.
"Well, I know just what to do. The thief is leaving my villa at this instant. Go and ask my secretary to put a call through to Anna, my head housekeeper, and they should inform Mabel or whatever she is called that I do not want to meet her upon my return."
Annette nodded and started to leave the office. Rowan called her back and she turned around.
"And do not think that your carelessness would not cost you anything. I will make deductions from your salary for the next six months, to cover up for the excess allowances you wrote off for Mabel."
"Please sir…" Annette tried to plead.
"Do not bother begging me," Rowan stalled her. "It is either these deductions or you tender your resignation letter."
Annette swallowed hard and nodded. Then she turned around and left the office with a gloomy face.
*********************************************
<<<<Xi Villa
Mabel was trying to put on her best dress to go out with her friends. She managed to dodge Rowan again in the morning and she was trying to figure out how she would keep up with the trend.
"Does he really know what Amanda looks like," she thought to herself. "Did he see her face well enough that night to know that I am not her?"
She was anxious about being caught and considered an imposter.
She wanted to leave by herself before that happened, yet she had already become too attached to all the beautiful things she was enjoying in the Xi Villa. The extravagant lifestyle, the luxurious rides, the beautiful house, the monthly allowance and the exotic trips.
"How can I give up all of these?" She asked herself again, damping her face with the last touch of powder and bronzer.
A gentle knock came on her door and a voice she recognised as Anna's called out to her.
"Ma'am Mabel, please open up. I have a message from Mr. Rowan for you."
Her heart leaped with joy as she rushed to the door, wondering with excitement what this message from Rowan would be.
She quickly unlocked the door, her face filled with smiles.
Anna's gaze seemed indifferent and unfriendly.
Mabel began to feel panicky as a result of Anna's expression.
"Miss Mabel, I just received a call from Mr. Rowan's secretary, she stated that Mr. Rowan has asked you to leave the villa immediately and that he does not want to meet you upon his return to the villa this evening.
Colour flushed from Mabel's face and she exclaimed; "what!" with so much energy, almost fainting on her mattress.
Mrs Roberts was at the hair salon with her friends, they were trying to get a makeover."You look damn good , girl." Katherine exclaimed excitedly."Been a while, you know. You do not seem to get a lot of time these days because of the babies," Angela added.Mrs Roberts was a bit uncomfortable about having those conversations but she had no choice."Yes. It has been a while. Thank God you know that I am very busy. The kids do not allow me to get some breathing space," Mrs Roberts replied, trying to stay composed and unashamed. "Yeah…right?" They both echoed."Yeah," she replied sternly, trying to move away from the conversation. She did not want to last too long on conversations about her daughter's children."What does Amanda do now?" Angela asked with curiosity etched on her face.Mrs Roberts shifted to her seat. She was becoming uncomfortable."She works with a big company now," she replied with a whisper, hoping they would not ask her the name of the company because the truth was
"Hey mama," Amanda called out to her mother.Mrs Roberts turned around to see her daughter looking sad."Is everything okay?" She asked with panic. "Did anyone hurt you?"Amanda shook her head. She did not want to tell her mother about her travails at the restaurant."I am fine, mother," she replied in a whisper."I am glad those nosy friends of mine had left earlier because it would have been bad if they met you in this state. You did not even try to put a brush on your hair. Look at how disheveled your hair looks."Amanda took a quick glance at her reflection in the mirror and let out a sigh of exhaustion."I am sorry mum. I had a pretty rough day.""It is alright honey. We need to fix you up because I have found just the perfect job for you. They are calling for submissions and interviews and the deadline is in two days. All thanks to your children, I came across the advert just in time."The excitement in her mother's voice was making her enticed and she wanted to know more about
>>>>"It was fun catching those unplanned photos of you. I am going to have your handler put them up on your Instagram. How does one go from week to week without pictures? Do you not know that you are a celebrity?"Rowan was angry but he was trying to remain calm."My life, my choices!" He retorted to Jack.Jack laughed hysterically at his cousin."Well, if you feel offended, I am sorry. However, I am not sorry that I got pictures of you taken; I am only sorry that it was done like an ambush."Rowan threw him a cold stare and shook his head."You're a terrible human, you know. I will have my pound of flesh. Just watch."Jack laughed again."I am a jolly good fellow, if you throw lemons at me, I will make a huge basin of lemonade from them. You need not worry."At this point, Rowan found his anger dissipating and his heart lightened a bit. He smiled slightly at Jack and his smile got Jack almost reeling on the floor with laughter."You know you want to laugh s
"You even look better than you sounded over the phone," Jack complimented her and she blushed evidently."Thank you Sir," she whispered with an intriguing smile.Jack found himself craving time with her. There was something enchanting about her presence and her carriage. She was too poised for a waitress.She placed his order carefully on the table and stood beside him."I will take my leave now, sir. If there's anything else, please use my number.""I will use this number from now henceforth and I will make sure all my friends use it as well. You deserve all the points in the world; with your striking features and your sonorous voice.""Thank you Sir," Rosemary chuckled. "I do appreciate these nice comments. I will keep your promise in mind."Jack smiled at her."Would you like to have lunch with me? Different location, at your convenience?"Rosemary thought for a while and then nodded."This is against our employee policy here. But, we can.""I promise I won't get you into any kind
"Oh…Look at my daughter," Mrs Roberts chuckled.Amanda giggled and looked at herself again in the mirror."You look breathtakingly beautiful, sweetheart. If they do not accept you for your experience and certificates, your beauty and delicate nature would take a toll on them," Mrs Roberts complimented."Oh, there you go again mother, making it about my physical appearance. I get bothered if it all comes down to my looks. I will change into something less show-offy. I don't want to be seen as attractive." Amanda had a frown on her crease."Stop it Amanda!" Mrs Roberts cautioned sternly. "You seem to forget that just because you had babies does not mean you are less beautiful. The reality is, men would still want you. They will crave you and there is nothing you can do about it. The only thing you can do is to empower yourself, especially financially, to avoid them using you recklessly."Even though her mother's tone was harsh, Amanda got the message clearly. She was becoming too scared
The other applicants also showed up and were waiting within the conference room.The panel was set. It consisted of Mr Kenny; the hotel Manager, Miss Kira Mason (his Assistant) and Miss Joan Rivers, (The head of maids and room service unit).Nondon was also present at her meeting to take important notes for Mr Kenny.Amanda was seated across from Mr. Kenny and occasionally, their gazes would lock and Mr. Kenny would smile as though he had known her before that day.She found her heart beating so fast at his facial expressions towards her which were not present in his dealings with other applicants.The first applicant, a young man who looked like he was in his early thirties, walked up to the table where the panel was. Although they were all in the same room, no one could hear the conversation between the panel and the applicants."Mr Jacob Whiteley, you are welcome to The Xi Hotel," Mr. Kenny said with an expressionless face."Thank you sir," Jacob replied.Mr Kenny glanced towards
"I see no point in us picking someone who has no experience over someone who does." Mrs Joan was fuming at Mr Kenny and Miss Kira. "How do we even explain this madness to the board? Especially to Mr Rowan Xi?"Mr Kenny's impatience was wearing out. It was obvious in the way his voice was down."Mrs Joan, I believe I have the right to make decisions regarding whom I choose to partner with. It works for us. Why are we even turning this into an argument?""Because it does not make any sense to me. Amanda has absolutely no experience! She was just a cleaner for multiple restaurants and different hotels…""But she got a course from a prestigious institution for hospitality and management," Kira cut in, her frustration evident in her cracked voice. " I just think you do not like her, Mrs Joan. You are judging her from your emotions.""If anyone is using emotions here, it must be you. You feel like you should take her probably because you two share a uni experience. I feel that is a very unp
After a while, she regained her composure and she quickly picked up the phone, assembled it and switched the phone back on. Amanda's heart raced as she struggled to redial her mother's number. Panic and fear gripped her, making it hard to breathe. The phone began to ring again and it seemed like the longest wait of her life. Today is such a terrible day, she said to herself as she waited for her mother to get the call. After what felt like an eternity, her mother answered."Mother, please tell me what happened! Is the baby okay?" Amanda's voice quivered with anxiety.Mrs. Roberts took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Amanda, it was a close call. At this point, Amanda became impatient. All she wants to hear for now is if her baby is alright. She does not even know which of her babies got hurt. Amanda's heart raced as she heard her mother's trembling voice on the phone. "Daughter, it was Tyler. He is hurt" Amanda's heart sank. Panic surged through her as she clutched the p