Chapter 5: New director

Jeremiah Aaron Elijah, that’s me. I am a Eurasian, grew up in England but I had been greatly influenced by my Chinese Malaysian grandmother and mother on my Chinese heritage, culture and roots.

Even though, I was educated in Business and Economics, I have studied on Chinese history, Culture and Arts. Guess this interest play an important role for me to return to my grandmother’s and my mother’s homeland.

I wanted to be based in Kuala Lumpur, then to travel around China, Taiwan and other areas where Chinese culture is a part in the livelihood of the people.

Dad has had been on my back, barking at me to work in his company in Kuala Lumpur for years.

Suddenly, I gave him the call. He was so excited, and told me that he would like me to handle the HR and Administrative first, later to other department.

I won’t mind, as I believe I have to learn from bottom-up.

I was equally excited about my new role, and Dad wanted me to come up with a new effective and efficient office system.

I started to plan before I arrive Kuala Lumpur. Shared my plan with him via video-chat, and he gave his approval.

“Dad, possible to send me the profiles of all the personnel in these two departments. It will give me a head-start of how to work with them.”

Dad nodded with approval.

Moments later,

A notification came of an incoming email. Dad sent the files.

Good! I clicked to open the folder and open the organisational chart file. A thorough browsing and noticed that the chart is a typical traditional chart with names and rank.

Hey, who is this? Rachel Jane Chin, Assistant Administrative Manager.

Suddenly, I am interested to know this person.

I clicked the file under her name, there is a photo of her. She looked familiar but I couldn’t remember when I had seen her before.

She has a young look like a teenager. I began to read her profile and found out that she started working at Rectitude Development when she was only seventeen years old, that’s underaged.

I believe that the photo was taken then, that explained her youthful look. This is a first job since she graduated from Secondary School. Five years in Rectitude Development, and she is twenty-two years old now.

Her working record showed that she started off an Administrative Clerk. Her superiors gave good annual appraisal for her diligent works, outstanding performance, good working attitudes and aptitudes, etc.

Wow! Interesting! I like her to be my assistant or start off as a secretary.

Hey! Em…why is she familiar?

A month later, I am here in Kuala Lumpur.

My first day at Rectitude Development….

Dad called an urgent meeting for all personnel to introduce me. I was excited with my new role as well as to meet this interesting lady, Rachel.

When I walked into the meeting room, I was greeted by everyone and there she was.

A small, slim, petite lady about 5’2” with a pair of beautiful eyes. Though, her eyes are not big, yet double eyelids, small nose and a sweet smile.

Immediately, I was attracted and she looked familiar but I just could not remember when and where did I meet her.

After the meeting, Dad gave me a tour to all the departments. When we came to the Marketing Department, a lady immediately rush up to shake my hand.

“Jeremy, I am Chloe Ooi. I am the Senior Marketing Manager”.

Chloe dressed up elegantly with heavy make-up, she is about 5’5” and super-talkative.

Guess that the trait of hers has helped landed her as Senior Marketing Manager. That is definitely good for her.

She continued to skite about herself, boosting about her track record of sales.

However, my mind could not be bothered. I went on to greet other marketing personnel, ignoring her. What a show-off?! That’s my impression of Chloe.

Chloe Ooi on the other hand, has a different view of this young Director, the boss’s one and only son.

Impressive man and most of all, rich. I am going to get him, he would be mine. I am going to seduce him that he would be within my grasp.

Chloe thought confidently about herself.

Who is Chloe Choi? She is a local gal from Kuala Lumpur, twenty-eight years old and she is an experienced marketing personnel in selling any items or commodity.

Colleagues considered her an opportunist for rich man, in short, she is a gold digger.

She started working in Rectitude Development two years ago as a Marketing Personnel.

Dad told me that rumour said, she used all sort of dirty tricks such as grabbing sales or closing another marketing personnel’s deals and even to the extent of using her body to seduce clients.

A selfish person she is plus her super talkative personality has had created lots of office politics. She was promoted to an Executive post only after six months of working in Rectitude Development.

Then, she continued with her dirty tactics to rid-off the Marketing Manager, Robert Lau who were one of the few that started Rectitude Development in Kuala Lumpur with dad.

Robert was supposed to close a deal with a company which was interested to buy four apartments on the same level at Spring Hill Condominium. The total values was more than Four Million Ringgit.

Robert was confident that he would close the deal as he knew the Managing Director of the company well, but lest he knew that the opportunist saw the chance.

Robert was careless, he told everyone of his appointment with the Managing Director. Chloe took note of all details, and even planned for someone to sabotage Robert’s car so that he couldn’t make it to the appointment in time.

When his car broke down, she was sitting in her car which was parked opposite the road. She smiled, and padded on the folder that she had with her, she drove to the client’s office.

In the client’s office, Chloe gave her best to convince the client to sign the deal and at the same time, she was seductive.

In the end, she was successful and of course, the client sent her to a hotel where they spent the rest of the day and night. Her dirty scheme won her the Senior Marketing Manager post while Robert retained his original post.

Chloe is his boss now.

Many knew of what she did because the client told Robert and others about her seductive skill in the hotel. Yet, none dare to investigate further.

Jeremy, while continuing his tour,

Dad continued to lead me to another department, and he whispered,

“Jeremy, this department is the next department that you are going to take over. There is an accountant but I prefer my own son to be in-charged.”

I was stunned, “Why?” I asked. Dad smiled, “I will tell you later.”

Upon arriving at the Accounts & Finance Department (A&F), I was greeted by all the personnel.

“This is Jennifer Yong, the HOD and accountant”, Dad introduced.

Jennifer is quite a stunning lady, she is tall, around 5’7” and has a slim figure. She could have been a model if she wanted to.

“Hi Jeremy”, she greeted and shook my hand.

Wow! Her voice is sexy. I was telling myself.

She opened her mouth, as if she was going to say something, Dad interrupted.

“Jennifer, for your information, Jeremy will soon handle this department as well once the Administrative and HR Department is on track with the new system. Please render your best cooperation for him.”

Dad looked at the other personnel and said, “I am expecting the team from this department to give your full cooperation to Jeremy, am I clear?”

“Yes, boss”, they answered in unison.

However, I noticed Jennifer’s facial expression had changed. Her eyes glared and lip corners narrowed.

Why? There is something about her. I have a bad feeling about her.

Jennifer Yong was in deep thoughts,

Jeremiah Elijah, don’t you remember me? Don’t you recognise me?

Good, the many surgeries on my face and body paid off. You will know who I am when the time comes.

Who is Jennifer Yong?

According to her profile, she is a certified accountant. She got her experience in accounting and financing from her five years working experience in Sydney, Australia.

She had a degree in USA, and went to work in Sydney, Australia after graduating. Her parents are chartered accounts and own a company.

Rectitude Development never hired an accountant because Mr Aaron had always trusted his old friend who is an accountant to audit the company’s accounts annually.

Jennifer suddenly appeared at the front desk one morning seeking for an accountant post in Rectitude Development.

She was determined and requested for a chance, and Mr Aaron interviewed her personally in the presence of Susan Liu.

Jennifer was very convincing, and she gave a good show-case of herself. She was successful in landing herself with the Accountant post.

She has been in the company for over a year, and she rarely talked about herself. She was considered a distance person, she refrained from talking too much and attending any event or activity in the office.

She is more of mysterious sexy woman where some male colleagues are quite interested in her but she seemed to be oblivious about it.

Once the tour was over,

“Jeremy, let’s go to my room first.” Dad said, and I followed obediently.

“Jeremy, sit down” Dad gestured me to sit while he closed and locked the door.

I looked at him. Why did he lock the door?

“Jeremy, I don’t trust Jennifer Yong. Let me tell you about her. She started working here one year ago.

She is of your age, thirty years old. She came from a rich family, both parents are chartered accountants, having their own firm.

I hired her because I thought she can be a good accountant especially with her family background as well as her working experiences in Australia for five years.

However, I have noticed that something is not right with the accounting last year. I am not familiar with accounting and finance, so I asked her for the previous accounting reports from first year of business till last year.

I need it for comparison. Do you know what her attitude was when I asked her for it? She queried me the reason and even said,

Why? Am I not good enough for your company?

I was shocked to hear that. Jeremy, don’t I have the right to refer and compare?”

I was furious to hear my Dad being bullied by an employee, just because she thinks she is an accountant and better off than my Dad.

“Dad, did she give you the reports you requested then?”

“Yet to, I have instructed my secretary to follow up with her on this. She gave my secretary excuses after another excuses. It has been two months since I requested for it.” Dad replied.

“Dad, don’t worry. Let me handle it.” I smiled to Dad.

Dad nodded and said, “Another thing about Jennifer, she seemed to hate Rachel, or I could described it as ‘resentment’.

I gave Rachel the full access to our accounting systems as well as other systems. She was the only person I gave the full authority.

One day, I told Rachel to print out accounting data directly from her PC for me to review. Neither Rachel nor I informed Jennifer about it since I have given her the full access.

However, when Jennifer found out, she was furious and stormed into this office to complain about Rachel. Who knows, Rachel was here to discuss about work.

The moment she saw Rachel, she was bombarding Rachel non-stop. She was humiliating Rachel to the bits.

I couldn’t stand and shouted at her,

Jennifer, who are you to scold her? I am the one who authorised her to print out the data, and she is the only one the company that has access to every data of every department that is in our system. I have given her the authority.

Yet, she had the guts to reply me,

But she is too young to handle such access. I can’t trust a kid!

Dad paused and took a sip of my tea before he continued with his story, “I was extremely angry with her and she was showing disrespect for me as the owner of the company and her boss.

It was an insult to me and Rachel. I was fuming, banged the table and stood up.

Are you trying to criticise my judgement? Jennifer Yong, remember this! She is my most trusted personnel in the company. All the executives in the management knew about this, and no one ever question me. How dare are you?

Having said that, I apparently chased her out by gesturing her to leave my office immediately without uttering any word.

Yet, she shameless tilted her chin up and stormed out my office.

My goodness! I wanted to fire her but we needed her to in our A&F Department desperately. I have no choice but to bear with it.”

My heart was burning in anger as my Dad had to handle such an employee who was shameless and disrespectful.

I gazed at Dad, “We can appoint external auditor instead of her. And as for accounting works, the team members in A&F Department are quite experienced and qualified. Just get a good A&F Manager to lead them; or we might as well promote the best employee to be the Manager and the second best to be the Assistant Manager.”

Dad leaned back to his chair and nodded,

“Good idea. We will get Susan and Rachel to show us the records of the existing staff. Rachel should know better as she had worked with each one of them. In fact, Rachel is good enough to be the A&F Manager. Even though, she is just a diploma holder in Business Administration, she can handle full sets of account, audit and capable to issue Finance and Management Report. She has given me drafts which were as good as a certified accountant.”

I smiled looking at how Dad couldn’t stop praising Rachel.

While I was on my way back to my office after the tour, I saw everyone leaving for lunch. Oh, yes. I looked at my watch, lunch break.

Then, I noticed one person, Rachel was sitting still on her seat clicking the keyboards. I walked to the desk, but it seemed that she didn’t notice me.

Suddenly, she looked up and almost gave out a shriek. I quickly apologised and asked her about her lunch.

I insisted to buy her more food for lunch instead of sandwich that she told her colleague, John to buy on her behalf. She refused, so I smiled and turned to go back to my room.

However, I stopped and stood by the glass panel next to her cubicle to look at her. Why are you so familiar? Why am I interested in you?

Rachel stood up with her tumbler in her hand and startled when she saw me standing behind the glass panel.

I felt embarrassed for scaring her wits off, I could only smile and walked briskly away.

Back to my office, I pondered on what Dad said about the accountant, Jennifer. I called her intercom after lunch break to follow up on the documents that my Dad requested.

She was friendly, “No problem, Jeremy. I will drop by your office in a short while.” Oh, that’s fast!

Fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on my door.

Indeed, she came in with the documents and walked to my side.

Why? She could stand in front of me, why walked to my side?

Then, she put the envelope next to me.

I looked up and puzzled, why was she standing close to me?

“Jeremy, here’s the documents.” she said with her sexy voice and even touched my hand before leaving.

Wow! Behaving indecently in the office? Goosebumps!

Perhaps, she thought that I am interested in her. Nope, she’s ain’t my type.

For other guys, maybe they would grab her into their laps by now.

I shook my head and flipped through the documents she sent.

That’s a lot to digest for me. Something was definitely wrong with the accounting. Dad told me that business had been good and continued to grow through the years but why was the company having lots of debts owing creditors, which affects the profit last year.

I need to dig and investigate more on this matter.