Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 50: Fall from Grace

Chapter 50: Fall from Grace

True to expectations, the Chairman launched an investigation immediately.

With Lucian’s move to secure this private warehouse, they managed to locate the most recent missing inventory, which is solid proof of inventory shrinkage due to theft.

The warehousing personnel explained that they were told to separate the inventory because these wouldn’t match the BOQ (Bill of Quantities) and were considered the reserve. No one doubted the practice as that was common for tiles and bricks. They also didn’t think much of it because it’s been that way for years, and the trucks came during work hours.

Who would assume they were stealing in broad daylight?

"When did you get your hands on those videos?" Lucian asked an expected question.

"I requested them last night but had no idea when they could do that for me. It wasn’t exactly easy combing through that much footage before office hours even began. I got it while the meeting was underway."

I knew that such footage could exist, but I didn’t want to give them false hope when some of these transactions happened years ago.

"My dear, thank you for noticing and preparing evidence. You didn’t have to do that, but you did." Grandpa said as he sat back down, a look of exhaustion on his face.

By any means, Grandpa wasn’t that old. Most people from families that needed heirs had children early for security. In fact, Lucian and I would be classified as old in the baby-making department. But right now, Grandpa looked tired.

"This was also my fault. Because the numbers added up and had been that way over the years, I overlooked this cancerous development."

We were silent as there wasn’t really a fitting reply for that. Anything would just sound placating.

"Watch over bid documents and recheck our final offer. This will reach the ears of our competitors, so prepare yourselves for the Unveiling."

"I understand, Grandfather." Lucian and Oliver nodded at the orders.

"Eli, I apologize for asking this of you after you’ve done so much for us. I heard you were coming to the Unveiling. If possible, kindly assist Lucian in stabilizing the public opinion."

I don’t know how that’s possible, considering my running streak as part of the country’s most scandalous elite, but okay.

"I’ll try Grandpa, though I’m not sure how good I’ll do on that." You could’ve just asked me to whack the thugs down. I’m confident in that. Bring em on. But this...this is iffy.

"Anyway, the three of you should rest. Any more work, and you’ll look older than us." Grandpa waved us off, and I chuckled a bit because that was really possible, considering how bad we look right now.

"Bye, Grandpa! I’ll have our people send over documents you might need for the investigation." I said on the way out, earning me a smile from both Grandpa and Mr. Barton.

__

Westview Detention Center

Unlike most cells, the detainee in cell 8 maintained his rapid and repeated pacing.

There wasn’t much space to move about; the same four corners remained even after encircling the room a hundred times over, but Jasper didn’t care. He was restless.

When he was first thrown into the cell, he threatened anybody and everything who passed by because he was sure he would be able to enact his revenge. As always, he just had to wait for their lawyers to pick him up.

But night fell, and no one came. Jasper assumed that they hadn’t heard anything. Maybe those bastards blocked the news from breaking out, and his nightly activities made it so everyone got used to him not being home.

Then the next day came, and the same thing happened. Jasper got annoyed, throwing out the food and water rationed for him. He couldn’t believe the incompetence of his people. Granted, he left without his security detail, but for them to be this bad? Unthinkable. He was going to fire everyone the moment he got out of there.

But that never happened. It’s been two weeks, and Jasper was still stuck there. This wasn’t the correctional facility but the detention cell. So, how could he be stuck here for this long?

Well, that’s because he refused pro bono attorneys when the station offered him one, so no one actually worked while he was detained here. He fully believed that his family would work him out of there; he just had to wait.

That seemed like the correct mindset as the guard suddenly came over and told him that someone was there to see him.

Finally! The incompetent idiots!

Jasper was delighted yet ready to scold at how long they made him wait. When he got to the visitation room, which was just a step better than his current cell, he was surprised to see his grandfather’s lawyer, and not his usual retainer.

Huh?

"Atty. Dillon, have you come instead of Patrick? I figured it’s because Pops realized Patrick was slacking off at getting me out of here." Jasper snorted as he flopped down on the seat before the well-dressed lawyer.

"Mr. Jasper." That ticked Jasper off. He wasn’t addressed as "Young Master, Sir, or even Mr. Orwell," but just as Mr. Jasper.

Had this guy gone insane from being too old?

"I’m here to inform you about the results of the most recent internal investigations by the Orwell Main Branch." Atty. Dillon did not waste time with pleasantries and went on with the meat of today’s meeting.

"The Orwells have found you guilty of embezzling funds from the holdings company and illegally using company assets and shares as collaterals for loans you’ve personally taken."

Jasper’s eyes widened, and he jerked up, itching to grab the attorney by his tie, but the security guard behind him pulled him down.

The old lawyer seemed used to his antics, as he didn’t need to be told to avoid Jasper’s outbursts. He just did it pre-emptively.

"What the fuck are you talking about, old man?" Jasper cursed at the messenger.

"I’m saying that the Orwells are filing a case against you for embezzlement and fraud. They have also frozen your accounts in lieu of paying for the damages."

With every line uttered by the lawyer came the crack in Jasper’s facade. And what finally did him in was when the lawyer relayed the Chairman’s message.

"The Chairman has also ordered your exile from the Orwell clan, effective today."

The lawyer waited for Jasper to react but was too dumbfounded to be useful, so he went with the semantics.

"Kindly expect to hear from us regarding the case. And we will forward all necessary communication to your lawyer once you’ve managed to get one."

Atty. Dillon left just as fast as he came. The security guards had to drag a catatonic Jasper into his cell.

He stayed still for hours. Many would have assumed he had solidified that way until the people outside started hearing screams of insanity.

Jasper thrashed his cell, or at least he tried. Everything was bolted to the floor or to the ground, as expected of a detention center. So Jasper only managed to relieve his anger by punching the wall.

It was a long night for everyone in the Westview Detention Center as Jasper wailed his anger all night, blaming anyone and everyone but himself.