Primary Suspect.
After a 15-minute drive, Alvin finally arrived at his multi-billion Dollar company in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia.
The Royal Gold Mine is a modern and sleek gigantic edification made with glass and sophisticated steel.
"Welcome boss. I hope your night was productive?" Josh, Alvin's office assistant, approached him and offered to retrieve the briefcase in his possession, but he refused and motioned to his office with a sad face. His attitude didn't stun Josh. He already knew the type of person he was dealing with.
Minutes later, he summoned Josh to his office. Pointing to a brown envelope and a briefcase on the desk.
"Inside that envelope is a check for $1 million. Go to the bank and cash it out. You can use this briefcase to bring the money. Don't waste any time. Fabiola isn't available at the moment, that's why I chose you for this assignment. I want no stories. Now leave immediately. My chauffeur would take you there."
"Okay, Sir. I promise to be back soon." Josh grabbed the envelope and briefcase and vacated the office with immediate effect. In a short while, the chauffeur drove him to Ozone Bank, which was a few miles away from Royal Gold Mine.
Josh held the briefcase in his right hand and motioned majestically to the manager's office to cash the check. Despite just joining the bank a few months ago, Alvin has already been considered the bank's favorite customer due to the large amount he usually deposits.
Approaching the manager's door entrance, Josh noticed the check was missing from the Pocket. He quickly went back to the car, hoping to find the check.
"So quick?" The chauffeur asked.
He wasn't expecting to see Josh return so quickly.
"I misplaced the check. Do you by chance see it?" Josh asked in a panic.
Not so sure. But…" The chauffeur halted after spotting a piece of paper behind the passenger's seat.
"Isn't that the check you were searching for?" He pointed to the white piece of paper.
"Yes! That's it. Thank goodness.
Mr. Alvin would behead me for misplacing the check," Josh sighed and hurriedly grabbed the check.
With a move too fast, he rushed back inside the bank to cash the $1 million.
On the verge of stepping inside the Manager's office, a middle woman
brushed Josh's shoulder and tossed the briefcase to the ground. Josh didn't see that coming as he sparked outrageously at her. "Are you blind? Didn't you see my coming?"
"Pardon my manners. I wasn't looking." She pleaded and opted to raise the briefcase when Josh declined. "Hey, don't touch that. You have no permission,"
"Thank you, sir." She walked away while still apologizing. Josh picked up the briefcase and walked to the manager's office angrily.
"Hey, Mr. Josh. Welcome to Ozone Bank. Alvin already notified me of your arrival. Please be seated," Mr. Connard May welcomed Josh and noticed the sad look on his face.
"What's wrong? You don't seem happy. Did anyone offend you?" He asked in keen interest.
"It was… Nevermind! It's already sorted out. I just came to cash this check." Josh dipped his hands into his pocket but couldn't find the envelope anymore as fear sent some shivers down his spine.
"What are you searching for? Mr. Connard asked.
"The envelope containing the $1 million check. It's not there anymore. How on earth did I misplace it? Gosh! Alvin will kill me." Josh cried and went completely nut. He searched every part of his body but still couldn't find the check.
"Oh, no. Not again. I can't believe this is happening again. What do I tell my boss now?" Josh wailed in agony and placed his head on the desk in profound thought.
"What are you talking about? Has the check gone missing before?" Connard raised the question. He couldn't help but ask, as he suspected a foul play.
"Yes, and that was before I came here. But not to worry, I found it inside the car I came with. I was very certain. I dropped it inside my pocket. The check can't be missing again for the second time. I am not that stupid to make such a mistake again," Josh bragged.
"Now you're speaking the language I understand. I was pretty sure you didn't come with the check. You might wanna go check the car again. Perhaps, it fell off your pocket before you descended from the car," Connard advised.
For months, Alvin has been making massive transactions with Ozone Bank and not, for once, was there a case of a missing check. It baffles Connard to hear that a check miraculously went missing on Josh's very first visit to the bank.
"Well, I don't expect you to believe me anyway. You weren't there when I found the check the first. It's only natural for you to doubt me because you're not in my shoes,"
"Is that y'all say? Do you think I'm not affected by this either? What do you think the CEO of Ozone would do to me when he discovers that a check went missing from his bank for the very first time? Let's not even talk about Alvin, Alejandro. Of course, you know what he's capable of doing. He's your Boss, isn't he?" Connard clapped back at Josh and panicked. His heart beats fast like the drum of war.
"And you think I'm happy about this?
Let's find a solution and put a stop to this madness. I wouldn't want my boss to find out about this.
My Boss personally gave me that envelope containing the check. There was no way I was gonna misplace the check for the second time like a toddler.
Before I stepped into this bank, I felt it in my pocket. But now, I just don't know. Gosh! What am I gonna do now?" Josh cried and placed both hands above his head.
20 minutes had gone by, and they still hadn't found the check yet. The tension was increasing for Connard and Josh. Both men were glued by fear and anxiety. Suddenly, Josh's phone rang.
Without staring at the phone, Josh knew for sure it was Alvin. He had spent too much time, and Alvin was getting that feeling that something bad was wrong.
"Talk of the devil. I knew he was the one calling. It just had to be him.
I'm doomed! What am I gonna tell him?
He's worriedly sick that I'm taking too much time, "Josh bemoaned as he sweats profusely despite the air conditioner being turned on.
"Why did you ignore the call? You are only worsening it. The best you could do is answer the phone and…"
"And do what?" Josh cuts in.
"No, you tell me. What do you expect me to say to Mr. Alvin? That I misplaced his check? And you think he's gonna applaud me for doing an impressive job? Think about it," Josh added.
"So what are we gonna do?
Time is running out already," Connard asked in curiosity.