No Trace, No Mercy

“Explain to me, why you still haven't found the person responsible for this?”

I stared at the fools all lined up in front of me. Forty-five percent of Wing Pharmaceuticals, stolen right under my nose. My head of IT, Ben, a small mousy man who I could probably snap in half, fidgeted, his gaze fixed somewhere above my head. My chief financial officer, Sarai, clutched her hands together, her knuckles white, her usual composure replaced with tremors. My lawyer, Davies, was also present and while he was usually a calm presence, I could tell by the he kept clicking his pen that even he was nervous.

“Mona, we’ve been working tirelessly,” Ben began, his voice laced with apprehension. “We’ve scoured every digital footprint, every backchannel. It’s like they vanished into thin air after the transaction.”

“Vanished?” I repeated, My voice was dangerously soft, a silk-edged blade. “That's your excuse! No one takes a huge chunk of my company and then disappears without a trace.” “Or perhaps you’re not looking hard enough?” I rose from my chair, the sudden movement causing them all to flinch. I walked to the large window overlooking the city, the skyscrapers gleaming under the afternoon sun, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me.

The air in the boardroom was thick with my fury. This wasn't just a financial hit; it was a hostile takeover- one I hadn't orchestrated or was happy about. It was a significant chunk, enough to give someone a major say in operations, enough to push me out of the board, to disrupt my every say! Now, as I paced the boardroom, the silence from my team was almost as infuriating as the acquisition itself. I picked up the heavy crystal telephone receiver and slammed it against the wall beside Ben's head. I had to give him credit, he only flinched, eyes wide while the rest shuffled back towards the door like penguins.

“We’ve contacted every major firm, every investment group known for hostile takeovers,” Sarah managed, her voice a little higher than usual. “No one is claiming responsibility. It’s almost as if it was a ghost acquisition, orchestrated to be untraceable.”

“A ghost acquisition…” I mused, turning back to face them. My eyes narrowed, scanning each face for any tell-tale sign, any flicker of guilt or complicity. My mind raced, cycling through every enemy, every disgruntled former associate. Who could it be? A sudden, sharp realization hit me. Kade. It couldn't be, could it? The pieces clicked with precision. He was smart, Desiree had said. He didn’t tolerate threats or blackmailers. Was this his way of showing me what he thought of my ‘liberation’ of Emilio’s assets? A warning? But… It was too soon, too quick.

“Ben” He straightened his lanky frame, practically snapping to attention. “I need you to do some extra work for me. Find out every transaction Kade has made within this month, Everything!”

He nodded, a jerky motion.

“Sarai!” She startled, her eyes wide. I almost smiled at how pasty she had gotten.

“I want every single person who sold those shares, investigated. Every single one,” I stated, my voice regaining its usual steel. “Cross-reference their financial records, their associates, their family history. I want to know who they spoke to, what they ate for breakfast, if necessary. And I want to know who is benefiting from this. Follow the money. It always leads somewhere.”

“But the non-compete clauses, Mona,” Davies interjected, clearing his throat. “They are ironclad. Any violation would result in severe penalties, litigation that would make their lives and the lives of their children a misery.”

“Then someone was very desperate, or very well compensated,” I countered, a chilling smile playing on my lips. “Or, perhaps, they were coerced. Find out which. I want names. I want faces. And I wanted them yesterday.”

I paused, letting the silence stretch, before adding, “One hour. That's all you have to deliver a name, a face, and a plan for recovery. Fail, and consider your careers at Wings conglomerate terminated. Now get out.”

As they scrambled to obey, the room emptying in a flurry of hushed apologies and hurried footsteps, I remained, staring at the empty chairs. But my job was far from over. No. I would have to pay a little visit to the former shareholders of Wing Pharmaceuticals. We were going to have a little chat.

*******

I get out of the elevator and I'm immediately accosted by my secretary Joy.

“Ma'am, you have something on your face” she said, taking a wipe and gently cleaning my cheek. I thanked her absentmindedly. “Some tea must have splashed on me during lunch”

“Any news on the ghost acquisition?” I ask eager to get this shitshow over with.

She hesitated, and I eyed her “ Well, what is it?”

“We found something on Kade” I froze, but she continued, oblivious. “ A huge transaction occurred yesterday around nine pm, but we don't know where I headed. Ben's still trying to figure that out”

She paused, “You think it might be him?”

There was no doubt about it. it had to be him. He was trying to steal my company from under me. I had underestimated him, but it was not a mistake I would make again. “Where is Kade right now?”

“He's having a closed door meeting at Nok with someone, we don't know who.”

“Get the car ready, and get our ‘specialist’ on the line.” I said and strode back into the elevator. Ben was good but it was better to get a professional on the job anyway.

This shouldn't take too long.