Chapter 4

“I just took a look of the financial statements of the company, and there are some major errors stated—you see, I’m not only a lawyer, but also a CPA. If its possible, I would like to see and talk to our company’s accountant. It’s somewhat… serious.”

“I’ll have the accountant go to your office, Atty.”

“Oh, n-no need—I’ll just go down-”

“I’m afraid you can’t, Atty. It’s company policy that anyone assigned to the twenty-seventh floor isn’t allowed to go down to approach other employees personally. Those from the lower floors are required to come up instead.”

Tila nasurpresa si Aiesha sa narinig saka napasapo ng noo. Ano ba naman ‘tong kompanyang ‘to.

“Oh, ganon ba… f-fine. That would save me from leg work.” the line ended and Aiesha just waited for the accountant to arrive her office. While she was waiting, she took a scan at the company’s legal issues—if there was any.

What she found, was not just issues, but already cases of the company that were ongoing. Tila nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang makita niya ang sandamak-mak na kaso ng kompanya. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Terrorism Financing, Money Laundering, Violation of Sanctions/Trading with Terrorist Organizations, Fraud and False Reporting.

It was quite a lot to name that Aiesha could not help but to drop the folder on her desk and stared at nothing.

This corporation… isn’t what it seems to be-

“Atty. Jimenez, this is Accountant Pelarnia.” biglang bumalik yung diwa ni Aiesha saka napatayo nang pumasok si Argon ng opisina niya saka may kasamang babae na halos kasing edad niya lang din.

She looked fierce and spiteful. That was Aiesha’s first impression of her the moment she stepped inside her office.

“Hello Atty. Jimenez. I heard you’re new here. And the first thing you’d really check was my work? What do you take me for?” biglang bungad sa kanya nung accountant na ikinatigil niya.

But upon knowing and seeing the woman’s spitefulness, Aiesha was quick to perceive the woman’s temperament in work. Oh, this is going to be a piece of cake for me.

Aiesha smiled when she had thought of how to handle the woman, so she asked Argon to leave her office.

“Sir Argon, I would like to talk to Accountant Pelarnia alone.” nang tumango at lumabas na si Argon, ay lumapit si Aiesha sa accountant hawak yung dokumento na kaka-review niya lang.

She didn’t intend to scrutinize with someone else’s work, but the moment she saw something was wrong and needed proper work, that’s where she’s going to step in.

“I found major errors, in the company’s financial statements. Misstated Revenue, Expense Manipulation, and Altered Supporting Documents.” Aiesha sounded authoritative and defiant as she handed the folder to the accountant. But Pelarnia only chuckled, refusing to accept the document that Aiesha was handing her.

“Oh, please… you’re a lawyer, what do you know about accounting? And for your information, Atty. Jimenez, it has been audited by both internal and external auditors. Cut your crap and know your place.” the accountant arrogantly stated as that didn’t budged Aiesha, she knew that she was speaking the truth of what she had found.

She only smiled and raised her head confidently, “I knew you’d say that, but as far as I know, you don’t get to audit the statement until the year ends. It’s only just the third quarter of the year, Ms. Pelarnia, how come you already had the statements audit?”

Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Pelarnia. She looked at Aiesha with spitefulness and even pointed her finger at her.

“Y-you! How did you-“

“It’s not even the end of the fiscal year, and these statements haven’t undergone final audit yet. So how can you claim they’ve already been reviewed by both your internal and external auditors? Even if they had been, errors like these should have already been corrected—especially since the year isn’t over. You’re supposed to be making continuous adjustments and submitting updated reports to secretary Argon for verification before forwarding anything to the auditors.”

Aiesha spoke with profound knowledge and proved that she was not clueless about her profession. The accountant was left utterly speechless and took the folder from Aiesha’s hold, but before she could storm away, Aiesha added something.

“And for your information Miss Pelarnia, I’m not only a lawyer. I’m also a Certified Public Accountant.” her voice was full of authority that accountant Pelarnia scoffed in defeat and left her office fuming.

Lihim na natawa si Aiesha saka napailing. What a first for my first day huh!

Nang siya nalang sa kanyang opisina ay muli niyang nireview yung nakita niyang legal cases ng kompanya saka isa-isang pinag-aralan. But as two hours had passed while busy reading the cases, she felt the sudden need of cafeine.

“Ugh… now I know why I’m getting drowsy, I want iced caramel machiatto coffee…” she pouted and check the time on her wrist watch. It was already eleven fifty-seven. Just in time for lunch.

With that thought in mind, she got off her swivel chair, took her blazer from the side and wore it. With her phone and wallet on her hands, she left her office to go get lunch.

Nang marating niya ang elevator ay nasilayan niya si Argon na nasa desk nito, abala sa mga gawain. And his working desk was only near her office. Seeing her fellow co-worker still in his work, she approached him.

“Sir Argon! I’m going to grab lunch and coffee. Do you want to come with me? It’s almost twelve. Baka gusto mong sumama.” Her voice was bright and inviting, almost too cheerful. It made Argon pale.

There was something Aiesha didn’t know. Argon shouldn’t get any closer to her. Otherwise, he’d be fed raw to his superior’s leopard.

“U-uhm, Madam—I mean Atty., I decline. Thank you.”

“W-why? I’m pretty sure you’re already hungry, you know, you shouldn’t indulged much in your work-“

“Please. Leave me alone. I politely ask of you.”