THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 240: Whose Idea Was It?
’Shawn is getting more daunting these days,’ Kathleen said as she stared at the disconnected phone in her hand, an inexplicable feeling surging in her heart.
Seeing the flustered look on Kathleen’s face, Ariel asked, "Boss, is that president Hudson?"
Kathleen threw Ariel a cold glare.
"I’m sorry boss," Ariel quickly stepped back.
"Is the report I asked you to prepare ready?"
"Yes boss. But there are some disparities in the account I was given."
"What do you mean?" Kathleen had specifically selected the people she had placed in charge of the project and from their previous dealings together, there hadn’t been any need to doubt their sincerity.
"The money we disbursed is still intact, there has been no withdrawals so far, yet work has been going on at the site," Ariel reported.
Kathleen was thrown into more confusion by Ariel’s explanation.
"Let me have a look at the financial report."
She reviewed the project expenses from the report Ariel handed to her and actually noticed some discrepancies.
A deep frown appeared on Kathleen’s face as she stared at the financial report. "This can’t be right. Why is there so much money left in the project account? We should have used most of it by now."
Kathleen decided to investigate further. She began digging into the project logs, examining every transaction and expenses made so far.
Kathleen was surprised and at the same time puzzled.
"Wait a minute... How is this possible? The work hasn’t stopped, yet the funds remain untouched. Who could have...?" She paused and stared at Ariel, a deep furrow forming on her forehead.
"I couldn’t trace it. Maybe you need to talk with some of the partners in this project to know if any of them have an idea of what is going on."
Kathleen nodded in agreement. "I think you are right."
After calling her brother and a few others that she had personally brought in and none of them admitted to spending any extra money apart from the one they have initially sent to the central projects account, her last option was Candace Rosse, Sophia’s mom who was the major stakeholder.
Perhaps someone from her own end had sent in support.
"Hello, Dr Janice, how are you?" Candace answered from the other end of the phone, her voice was cherry.
"I’m good," Kathleen responded to the cheery voice of Candace.
"Do you have time for us to meet briefly today? There is something I need to discuss with you urgently concerning the project."
"Hope there is no problem?" Candace asked, a ting of worry could be detected in her tone.
"Not really," Kathleen said in reply. "How about we meet at your office in an hour?"
"That’s perfect with me. I happen to be heading to the office as we speak."
"See you later," Kathleen said and hung up.
Turning to Ariel, Kathleen asked her to prepare all she would be needing for their trip the following day before asking the driver to send her to the children’s school.
She needed to personally inform the school about Shawn’s coming as it was the first time a different person outside their immediate family would be picking the children from school.
While Kathleen waited to meet with the children at the head teacher’s office, the head teacher engaged her in a little chat.
It was of course filled with wonderful testimonies about the two children.
"Thank you, Madam," Kathleen smiled politely after hearing all the kind words from the headteacher. She knew the kind of children she had, and also knew that something must have triggered such praises from the head teacher.
"Ms Wyatt, I must say both you and President Hudson are outstanding people, so it is not a surprise that the two children would turn out to have such a high level of intelligence."
"They are simply good at everything they set their hearts on to do. Except of course that incident a few days ago, and we are deeply sorry for what happened," she rambled on.
’It turned out that my guess was right in the end. They have all concluded that Shawn is the father of the two kids. No wonder the head teacher didn’t have any misgivings when I informed her that Shawn will be the one to pick up the children from school tomorrow,’ Kathleen thought.
"There’s no need to be sorry, it was one of those unfortunate things that is bound to happen once in a while," Kathleen said dismissively.
"We don’t know what would have happened if president Hudson wasn’t there at the time."
"And as a school we will forever be indebted to him for what he did. Although he is a major stakeholder in the school and has never slacked in his support and commitment to the school, this particular act of his will always remain deeply rooted in our heart."
Kathleen sighed inwardly. Why am I being subjected to such heartfelt gratitude all of a sudden. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes inwardly when she heard such high praises about Shawn.
It was a great relief to her when the door to the head teacher’s office eventually opened and Eleanor and Elvis were ushered into the office by their class teacher, Ms Richards.
"Mom?" The two children rushed towards their mother excitedly, their faces lighting up with a surprised smile when they saw their mother.
"Hello, Ms Wyatt," Ms Richards smiled sweetly at Kathleen when she eventually looked up after releasing the children from her embrace.
"Good day, Ms Richards. It’s good to see you again."
"The pleasure is mine, Ma’am."
After exchanging pleasantries she and the headteacher excused themselves from the office.
"Mom, why are you here so early?" Eleanor asked.
"Oh, it seems I am not welcome to come see you in your school," Kathleen asked, with an offended look.
"It’s not like that mom. We love having you around. It’s just that you have never come to the school this early before," explained Elvis.
"Well, I came to deliver a piece of news which I am sure you two would love to hear, especially Eleanor," Kathleen said, casting Eleanor a suspicious look.
"Why are you staring at me like that mom?" Eleanor complained. From her mother’s look, she felt her mother wasn’t too happy with her and wondered what she had done wrong.
"What’s the news mom?" Elvis asked, clearly not in the mood for the mother-daughter banter he saw coming.
"I will be traveling for work outside the city," she announced.
"Okay?" the children said together, while they waited for her to continue. Her journey was no news to them, so they knew that was not the reason she came to see them in school.
"Before I get back home today, I’m sure both of you will be asleep as I will be coming back late and leaving very early in the morning before you are awake."
Eleanor pouted, "That’s not fair mom. So we don’t get to see you before you leave? Is that the good news you brought?"
"No, sweetheart. I also came to inform you that your father will be the one to pick you up tomo..."
"Yeah!!!" Eleanor yelled, completely oblivious of the "I knew it" smile on their mother’s face as she stared at her.
She only became aware of it when she received a nudge from her brother whose eyes had not left their mother.
"Really, Mom?" She toned down but couldn’t deceive Kathleen.
"Whose idea was it?"
The two children exchanged awkward looks between themselves before their gazes returned back to their mother.
"Nobody wants to own up, right? I will let it go for now, but we will revisit this matter when I get back."
"I specifically came here to warn you that you are not allowed to pull any stunt while I’m away. If I find out that you ganged up with your father to sabotage my interest you will never get to see him again. Is that understood?"
The two children could only nod their heads like robots. At the moment, their mother really looked like a tyrant and they didn’t dare say or act recklessly.
"You can go back to your class now, but remember to bring your masks along with you when you go out with your father," as she said that, her eyes were trained on Elvis who could easily be identified as Shawn’s son if seen without a mask.
"Yes, mommy," they chorused once again.
Kathleen ruffled their heads and for one of those rare times, Elvis did not dodged his mother’s hands.
They both left humbly, a complete opposite of how they had reacted when they saw her earlier.
After leaving the children’s school Kathleen couldn’t help but give herself a thumbs up when she remembered how she had dealt with those conniving children.
Thank goodness for the reminder from Lauren, she wouldn’t know when those two kids will sell her off and she will ignorantly help them count the money.
She was sure they would think twice before planning anything against her with their father.
