CHAPTER 87: A MAJOR SETBACK

JASMINES POV

When I got to the accounting papers and I was about to start organizing them, it suddenly hit me. My eyes narrowed as I looked again at the accounting papers sprawled on my bed. I had organized the them according to dates so I could easily compare them. I looked at a paper on the budgeting and expenses from 2013 and then took one from 2015 and carefully studied it. Then I took another one from each respective year and compared them. Then again.

Something was a little strange about the numbers.

Now I could be wrong because there was still so little I knew about accounting. However, the budget from the previous years and the spending done compared to the recent years, something was definitely strange. It was a small subtle difference. Barely noticeable unless you were really looking.

I looked at the time. 3:34 am. Just when I had decided to get sone sleep after going through these files all night. For the rest of the night I continued to comb through the financial documents and began writing a report on my findings.

***********

The following day at work I was so tired as I worked the breakfast and lunch shift. My mouth was fighting not to yawn every two seconds. I’d had almost two sleepless nights just working on this Gatwick case. During lunch break I talked to Megan and Mike privatelt and we finalized our plans for the following day. I showed them the microphones and the recorders which I had brought to work with me.

We then tested out how Megan would hide them under her uniform so we could see how best she should wear them without Gatwick noticing. Once we agreed on it we then discussed how Megan would go about luring Gatwick. We then hid the microphone and recorder, deep in the basement so no one else would find it. Ready to be used the next day.

Later that evening once I was in my bedroom, after saying goodnight to both Tony and Louis I got back to my investigation folder and added the finishing touches to it as I was planning on handing it to Louis tomorrow.

*********

On Thursday morning once Louis dropped me off I made my way to the restaurant feeling determined and excited for the day. Today was the day after all.

With Megan, Mike and I having planned everything all we had to do was wait for the right time to act on it.

"Jasmine," I heard my name being called by a familiar voice. I turned to face the person and found the manager standing behind me.

"Yes, manager," I replied.

"Come to my office please," he requested of me almost in a whisper, his tone was grave. Immediately my facial expression changed to one of concern.

His office? I thought to myself. Whatever it was it had to be bad.

I then followed him to his office where he told me to sit down in the guest chair of his desk.

He had a troubled expression which only increased my anxiety as it confirmed he had bad news to tell me.

"What’s this about, manager?" I asked him slowly.

"Jasmine I don’t know how to tell you this but—" he started then hesitated. "we’re letting you go."

For a moment I just stared at him processing what he’d just told me. My eyes widened in shock. Why?

"You’re firing me?" I asked.

Why did I do anything wrong?" I asked him.

The call came from higher up," he explained as he picked a paper from his desk and handed it to me.

I took the letter from his hands and read through it.

"Dear Jasmine Towers,

We regret to inform you that.... due to budget reasons of the company as well as unruly behaviour to leaders.....best wishes

"Unruly behaviour to leaders?" I asked the manager. "What does that mean? What did I do?" I asked in disbelief.

"I don’t know," he told me.

"The only thing I can think of is the drink I spilled on the CEO. Is that why? But I thought you said I was forgiven for that?"

In all honesty Jasmine I’m just as puzzled as you. I dont understand it either," he replied. "I just received the order to fire you."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

There were only two higher-ups for this restaurant after the manager, Louis and Gatwick. It couldn’t be Louis. Why would he have me fired in such a roundabout way? He literally dropped me off this morning. How odd would that be for him to do. So the only other culprit was Gatwick. But why would he fire me? I didn’t buy the weird reasons he gave in the letter.

The manager literally said Louis had stopped me from being fired that other time. As for the budget reason didn’t make sense because they literally just came from hiring me two months ago if you knew you were going to have budgeting issues you shouldn’t have hired me in the first place.

This was a personal attack. I didn’t know Gatwick personally, neither did he know me. So for him to specifically want me fired was so bizzare.

My mind began racing was it because of the investigation I was running? Had he found out and was trying to stop me? Did he know I spoke to Rebecca.

"Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about this Jasmine," the manager sincerely apologized. " You’ll have to leave the restaurant I’ll have your final pay check organised and transferred to your account."

"Is it Mr Gatwick that requested I be fired?" I asked the manager.

"I don’t know I just follow the orders," he answered.

It had to be Gatwick. "Is he coming today?" I asked.

He cocked an eyebrow at me. "Why are you asking me this, Jasmine?"

"Manager, can you do something for me?" I then asked him.

I recalled that he was the one who had found Rebecca and stop the situation with Gatwick from escalating. He was also looking for Gatwick that other day with Megan to prevent anything from happening.