Chapter sixty five

OLIVER

KANG CHEMICALS ALLEGEDLY TIED TO AN ILLEGAL NARCOTICS COMPANY IN ITALY

Pure rage coursed through my vein as I stared at my phone screen, as if to bore holes in it. It took a whole lot of restraint not to smash the phone on the floor. I trained my eyes on the headline, forcing myself to absorb the content.

The content was about the contract with Russo pharmaceutical industry. The contract that I had no idea happened and I had to find out on the news. The same contract I went to D.C and told Ronan-shitface-Russo off. I even fired Jason over his incompetence.

Turns out the deal has actually been signed the day I walked out of the meeting. Neither of them had thought I would show up to the first meeting since I don't usually do. I always attend my meetings virtually.

The second meeting was arranged as a formality. Jason had assumed I would be intrigued with the bonus and would agree to the deal immediately. Whether he knew Ronan's company was associated with the Italian Mafia or not, I had no idea. And I didn't care enough to find that out. He was going to pay for what he did.

Ronan was in the same social circle with one of Xavier's client. The drug he needed my company's investment to produce was actually banned in Italy. It was considered to be more harm than good. And he needed to manufacture it somewhere else. For his Mafia clients, of course.

Xavier got a whiff of the situation when he went to Italy for some business. Ronan had boasted about getting fundings from Kang Chemicals to produce the drugs that was initially banned in his country. He had informed me immediately but I put it off. I was certain the deal didn't go through because I was present doing the meeting. Now, my negligence was catching up to me.

“We’ll be landing in a few minutes, sir. I've arranged an emergency meeting with the board of directors at Kang Chemicals in an hour, then you'll meet with the reporters after the meeting.” Tabitha's voice pierced through my thoughts.

“Good.” was the only thing I said. I couldn't even hear my own voice because of the roaring in my head.

I was grateful Ethan offered to hold down the fort back home. He was going to deal with the situation with my mum and attend to some issues at the company. Xavier was already waiting in D.C.

By the time the wheels hit the runaway, I had accessed the situation and came up with quick solutions. Ethan had found Jason's location and Xavier was going after him. Jason had went into hiding immediately the news came out.

I didn't even ask how Ethan was able to locate him from New York. That's my cousin. He could literally find anyone from anywhere in the world.

I decided to send a quick text to Dallas during the car ride, informing her of the emergency. I would call her later after the meeting. I'll really need to hear her voice after the meeting.

I suddenly felt like punching myself for not at least kissing her before I left. Granted, she wasn't in the house when I left. She went grocery shopping with Heather. But I could have driven a few minutes downtown to give her a kiss before leaving.

I groaned in frustration. This was all Jason's fault. I was going to have a long talk with him when I see him. I'd make it so unpleasant for him that he'd wish he hadn't made that decision.
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I stalked towards the conference room in haste. I heard the hurried sound of Tabitha's heels as she tried to keep up with me, but I didn't slow down my pace.

I could hear the murmurs coming from the conference room as I approached the door. The entire room fell into a deafening silence as soon as I stepped in.

I dragged my gaze across the room to see if everyone necessary was present. I might not be physically running the business big I know all of my employees. Fortunately for them, the entire board of directors were present. Good.

They all stared at me with solemn expression on their faces. I didn't care if they felt sorry for what happened or not, everyone involved in this will be punished accordingly.

“Let's get down to business,” I said, while approaching my seat. “I want to know everything about this contract. Who signed it, when, and why I wasn't informed.”

The room fell silent, the only sound the rustling of papers as the everyone prepared to explain themselves.

I leaned forward, my eyes scanning the entire room. I finally found who I was searching for. The director responsible for overseeing the contract. John Maybank. He was sitting on the far end of the table, hiding his face from me.

“John Maybank.” I called, a bite on my tone.

He flinched slightly before raising his head up and meeting my gaze.
“Mr Kang?”

“Care to explain how this deal went through without consulting me?” I stared straight into his eyes, my gaze cold and unfeeling.

Everyone seem to pause what they were doing as they stared between John and me. Some held pitying looks in their eyes, while others held neutral expressions.

John shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Mr Kang, I...I can explain. Jason came to me with the proposal from Russo Pharmaceutical Industry. He assured me it was a legitimate deal, and that it would be beneficial for the company."

I raised an eyebrow. "Beneficial? How exactly did he say it would benefit us?"

He hesitated for a few seconds, but the glare I threw at him seem to loosen his tongue. "Jason said it would give us a significant share of the market in Italy. He promised it would be a lucrative deal."

My jaws tightened. "And you didn't think to run this by me? To get my approval?"

He looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. "Jason said it was urgent. That we had to act quickly or the deal would fall through. I...I trusted his judgment."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my anger in check. Are all my employees this dumb and money hungry? God, the fate of my company is really doomed if I don't find new employees.

"And did Jason happen to mention the allegations against Russo Pharmaceutical Industry? The ties to the Italian Mafia?" I asked in a calm tone.

John wiped away the bead of sweat on his forehead as he continued to shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"No, Mr Kang. I swear to you, he didn't mention anything like that."

I contemplated hauling him up from his seat and slapping some sense into him. I leaned back into the chair and took a deep breath.

"I want a full investigation into this deal. I want to know everything about Jason's involvement in it, including the reason he kept it from me. I also want a detailed report of all of Jason's previous deals in this company.”

The room fell silent, the only sound the scratching of pens on paper as everyone began to take notes.

"I want quick results, and I want them now," I said, my voice firm. "We're going to get to the bottom of this. Everyone involved in this will be punished…” I paused and turned my attention to John.

He was shaking in his seat by now. His shirt dampened with sweat despite the air conditioned room. The room fell into silence once again and it seems everyone was holding their breaths for what I'm about to say next.

“And you, Mr Maybank, are fired.”

I didn't wait to see his reaction before I stalked off. There's still a lot of things I need to take care off thanks to their incompetence.

I don't believe in suspicions or bad karma, but I had a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that this was only a tip of the iceberg.

The same feeling I had the day of my father's death anniversary. Someone was watching.
The billionaire's cure
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