63 Mysterious Boss
As Noah stood in the lobby near the entrance, waiting for John, the familiar chime of the elevator echoed through the large space. "Ding." The sound pulled Noah's attention to the far end of the room, where John emerged.
The CEO John, with a nervous yet eager smile, hurried his steps toward Noah, who stood about 10 meters away, far from the elevator's immediate view.
The receptionist, was still at her desk, not noticing John's anxious demeanour.
As he passed, she called out politely, "Good afternoon, CEO John." But John, too preoccupied with the looming presence of his mysterious boss, didn't hear her. He was too focused on reaching Noah.
Her curiosity piqued, the receptionist furrowed her brow, watching as John walked straight toward the young man she had just spoken to.
"Why is the president walking to that handsome man?" she wondered, her mind racing. "Do they know each other?"
She recalled their earlier conversation—he had said he was looking for work.
But as she watched, John came to a halt directly in front of Noah, offering a respectful, almost submissive bow. "Sorry, boss," he said in a hushed tone, his anxiety clear in his voice. "I'm late."
It was as if a bomb went off inside the receptionist's head. Her eyes widened in shock.
"This handsome young man was the new, mysterious owner of Walls4Us?"
"The one responsible for the abrupt firing of both a director and a site manager?" She felt a wave of disbelief wash over her, followed by a cold sweat building on her back.
"So, he was testing me earlier," she realized, feeling both relieved and embarrassed. As Noah glanced over at her and flashed a quick, confident smile, she shuddered, his quiet dominance and striking good looks sending an unexpected chill down her spine.
"He's way out of my league," she sighed internally, resigning herself to the fact that there was no chance with someone like him. Shaking off the interaction, she turned back to her work, trying to busy herself and recover from the humbling encounter with her 'boss.'
Noah and John proceeded through the building and finally arrived at John's office. The space was large and neatly organized, with modern furniture and a commanding view of the city skyline through the wide windows. John gestured to the main seat behind his desk and said, "Please, sir, take the seat."
Noah hesitated for a moment. He didn't particularly enjoy sitting in the 'big boss' seat, but he knew he had to project authority within his own company. If he didn't, people might mistake his kindness for weakness.
He also understood the need to strike a balance—stern in business but approachable in personal matters. Taking the seat, he settled into the leather chair, leaning back slightly as he assessed the situation.
John remained standing awkwardly, waiting for Noah's approval to sit down, his posture tense. Noah glanced up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Please, Take a seat John," he said calmly, motioning to the chair.
John quickly sat down, still visibly nervous under Noah's scrutinizing gaze.
Noah didn't waste any time. "John, how has the company been doing?" he asked, his voice steady and firm.
John straightened up and, with a sense of pride, began listing the company's performance metrics. "The company's been doing great, boss. We've signed five major contracts this month, each with high-value clients in the construction and architectural industries. Revenue has increased by 12% compared to last quarter, and our profit margins have risen to around 25%. We're expecting an even better close to the quarter due to some larger projects we're finishing up in the next two weeks."
He continued, "Additionally, we've expanded our portfolio with three new sites, and we're negotiating contracts for two more. The total revenue for this month is projected to be around $4 million, and profits after expenses should hover around $1 million. We're growing steadily, sir."
Noah nodded, processing the information. The numbers were promising, but Noah wasn't just interested in the surface-level successes. There were deeper issues that needed addressing.
"When are the dividends paid out?" Noah asked next.
"The dividends, sir, are paid out every two weeks, as per your instructions," John replied. "Since you're the sole shareholder, you'll be receiving them directly."
Noah leaned back in his chair, nodding again. "Good. Now tell me, what's the situation with Charles?"
John's expression shifted slightly. He knew this was a sensitive topic. "We followed through on your orders to terminate Charles," he explained. "It led to the firing of his uncle, the director, as well. We've been combing through their records, but... I'm afraid we haven't found anything yet, sir."
Noah's eyebrows lifted. He didn't believe for a second that Charles had been as clean as the records suggested. His instincts told him there was more to the story. "There's no way that guy's spotless," Noah thought to himself. He knew Charles, and the man was far from innocent. There had to be something buried in those records.
His mind raced for a moment. "There's a mole," he thought, but he didn't voice it. Instead, he said, "I see."
Noah's eyes narrowed, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Take me to the law director."
John's eyes widened slightly, but he nodded and rose from his seat. "Of course, sir. Right this way."
The law director was the one tasked with the investigation.
"Could it be that he..." John, thought as he started getting a bad feeling about it.
As they made their way through the halls of the headquarters, Noah's mind was still focused on uncovering the truth. If there was anything shady happening, the law director would have the records—or, at the very least, would know how to find them.
When they reached the law director's office, the door was slightly ajar. Inside, the director himself was seated casually at his desk, his legs crossed as he leaned back in his chair, playing a game on his phone.
He looked far too relaxed for someone who should have been pouring over company records. His office was in pristine condition—almost too pristine for someone dealing with legal matters, which only made Noah more suspicious.
Without knocking, John opened the door fully, and Noah stepped in.
Startled, the law director jerked upright. His eyes flared in anger. "Who opened the door without knocking?!" he barked, his tone sharp and commanding. He was clearly not used to being disturbed, much less in such a casual manner.
But as his gaze fell on Noah, his posture stiffened. The young man standing in front of him had an aura of quiet power that made him feel exposed. Those sharp, eagle-like eyes seemed to pierce through him as if they could see every secret he had tried so hard to bury.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the law director demanded, his voice rising in agitation. "Get out!"
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