The Billionaire Deception Read online

  I woke up Monday morning determined to just call my boss and tell him that I had decided one week of vacation was more than enough. Grant had nursed me through the weekend with a half dozen rounds of miniature golf, two chick flicks and the worst two games of bowling that were ever played. I loved him for it, but he had to go back to work today and another day home waiting for the phone to ring was liable to put me over the edge. I sat up in bed and looked at the time; it was about eight-fifteen. I reached for the phone just as it rang. My stomach pulled up in brand new knots when I saw the caller I.D., it said, “Hunter Corp.”

  I took a few deep breaths and on the third ring I pushed answer and said, “Hello,” in what I hoped was a very professional voice.

  “Hi is this Erin Summers?”

  “Yes it is.”

  “Hello Erin! This is Harlan Broderick from Hunter Corp.”

  “Hi Harlan, how are you?”

  “I’m fantastic, and yourself?” I am dying to know why you’re calling man!

  “The same Harlan. It’s good to hear from you.”

  “Well, I think you’ll be even happier to hear from me when you hear that I am calling you to offer you the position you applied for with our company.”

  I was trying not to squeal and in the process, I let out a little squeak. I composed myself as much as I could and then I said, “Thank you so much! I’m so happy about this, Harlan.”

  “You’re very welcome; we’re going to be very lucky to have you aboard. I’m going to have you call Brenda in Human Resources and she’ll lead you towards what you need to get done to start.”

  “Thank you again, Harlan.”

  “You’re welcome. Young Mr. Hunter was very impressed with you, and I’ll tell you that he is not the easiest man in the world to impress.”

  I thanked him one more time and allowed myself a squeal when I hung up. I was finally on my way to claiming what was rightfully mine and I couldn’t wait. I didn’t realize it just then, but it was going to be another long week. The first thing I did was give my notice to Mr. Lyons who looked like he might cry when I told him. He tried everything he could think of to cajole me into staying, but when the meeting came to an end at last, he hugged me and told me that as soon as I wrapped up whatever loose ends I may have that I was free to go. He had a daughter that had just graduated NYU and he would train her for my position. I felt better about leaving him knowing that.

  Then, I called Brenda. She had me come in the next day and I spent hours going over the paperwork and signing at least a hundred documents. I watched welcome videos and read internet articles about the company. It was all part of the new employee orientation that even executives can’t escape. I lived through it all. On Sunday I noticed Grant scrutinizing me with those deep brown eyes of his.

  “Can I help you?” I asked him. I knew he had something on his mind and he wasn’t sure if he should bring it up or not.

  “I know that we had this conversation before, when you applied at Hunter Corp…”

  “You’re worried about me.”

  “I am. I just keep thinking that this man who was smart enough to seize an entire company under the guise of paying off its debts within weeks of the owner dying… He’s not going to be an easy one to fool.”

  “That’s true. But you know me, Grant. You know me better than anyone alive. I’m not going into this thinking it will be easy, or that it will be quick. I’m prepared to work hard for the company. I’m only helping myself there in the long run, right? I’m also prepared to be content with doing that for as long as it takes for me to be in a position to… find things.”

  “What kind of things do you think you’ll be able to find?”

  “The best that I can hope for probably are the old financials on the business. When James Hunter took it over, he inherited all of the old books. I want to see for myself that my father was not in financial straits. I don’t believe it for a second. I didn’t believe it when I was thirteen years old.”

  “You don’t think that Hunter would have been smart enough to get rid of them?”

  “Well you and I both know that he probably doctored them to begin with or he wouldn’t have been able to say my father was in the red. Then he would have had to keep them for the IRS for at least seven years… I’m just hoping that by that time he was so comfortable with what he’d done he didn’t even think about going back and shredding them. If they’ve been doctored, I’m sure there’s a way to prove that, right?”

  “Sure, yeah I’m sure. I just have a bad feeling about you putting yourself in this position. Couldn’t you have the SEC investigate?”

  “No, this is a civil matter according to everyone I’ve talked to, not criminal. I have to do this myself. But don’t worry. I have a good head on my shoulders,” I told him with a smile.

  He kissed my cheek and said, “Just keep that pretty head low if and when the bullets start to fly.”

  “Absolutely.”

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