Chapter 80: What He Can Do
Chapter 80 of "Suddenly, I Am Rich" starts unveiling mysteries: Chapter 80: What He Can DoMarcus was quiet for a moment. He didnât rush the... Keep reading!
Chapter 80: What He Can DoMarcus was quiet for a moment. He didnât rush the answer. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at Gray across the short distance between them.
"Well," Marcus said, his voice was low but certain, "the first thing is you keep gathering everything. Even the smallest anomalies. Consistency in patterns is what gets someone caught, not just one big mistake."
Gray nodded slowly, listening. He was still slumped back in his chair, but his gaze had sharpened as he listened to his words.
"You also document everything," Marcus continued. "Transaction times, dates, even the vendors he works with. If something smells off, weâll trace it. You build a report that HR and legal canât ignore even if itâs just policy violations."
Gray exhaled through his nose, processing it all.
"Right..."
"But," Marcus said with his tone shifting a little, "if you come up dry... If you canât find anything solid that was worth looking at..."
Gray looked at him then. "...What happens?"
Marcus held his gaze.
"Then you make one."
Gray blinked.
"...You mean fake it?"
"No," Marcus replied calmly. "I mean you create an opportunity. Give him enough room and pressure that he walks into a mistake himself."
Gray sat up a little straighter now, eyes narrowing slightly.
"You put something in front of him that looks like a loophole," Marcus went on. "Like an easy win. Something thatâs tempting enough to push him into crossing a line."
"Like a test?" Gray muttered under his breath.
"Exactly," Marcus nodded once. "Let him believe heâs in control. If he bites? Then we catch it. If he doesnât? Then that means your perception of him is wrong. You can also just fire him and say that weâre changing the whole management."
Gray sat in silence for a moment. He didnât speak, he didnât even blink. He just stared at the table in front of him, tapping a finger against the wood frame of it.
The idea... it sat with him.
Gray leaned forward again as he exhaled through his nose.
"Create an opportunity..." he repeated quietly.
Marcus didnât interrupt him as he thought of it. He just sat still, letting Gray think. Letting the suggestion sink in.
Gray wasnât someone reckless. He didnât like playing dirtyâat least, not unless the situation called for it. But this?
This wasnât just about some petty workplace drama.
This was about the future of the branch heâd just taken over. The people who worked under it. The store Jonathan left in his care. It was about accountability.
About respect.
About control.
"I donât want to fire a man without proof," Gray said finally. His voice was quiet but deliberate. "Even if Iâm ninety-nine percent sure heâs doing something shady, I donât want to walk in and kick him out just because I can."
He looked up at Marcus then.
"Because if I do that... then whatâs the difference between me and every other asshole boss?"
Marcus nodded once, slowly.
"I understand." He looked amused at how Gray answered. For a moment, he forgot that Gray was just new to this.
"I want it clean," Gray continued. "Not for show. But because if Iâm going to run this place right, I need to know Iâm not guessing things. I want people to trust the system. Even if they donât like me, they need to know Iâm fair."
His fingers paused on the table. His shoulders were tight, but his gaze didnât waver.
"That said..."
He hesitated.
"...if Will really is the kind of person I think he isâif heâs been draining funds, stealing companyâs resources and covering his tracks like itâs nothing..." His voice dropped lower.
"Then yeah. I want him gone."
Grayâs expression hardened.
"But if not, then Iâd apologize for my actions." He glanced back at Marcus.
"Still, maybe youâre right. If I canât finy any proof then I guess thatâs the only way." Gray sighed and abruptly nodded.
"Iâll make sure he digs his own grave if ever."
Marcus didnât say anything but his respect for Gray deepened visibly in that moment.
"Aright..." Gray let out another sigh and the smile on his face returned. "Iâll review the next round of reports tonight. Letâs keep this quiet between the two of us for now."
Marcus stood with him.
"I understood, Sir."
"Alright, you may go."
Marcus gave a final nod before turning for the door. The door clicked softly behind him as he left.
Just like that, Gray was alone again.
He leaned back in his chair and let out a deep breath. His eyes wandered to the ceiling for a second, then to the folder that was still sitting on the corner of his desk.
For the next few hours, Gray buried himself in work. He went through weekly sales figures, reviewed maintenance receipts, checked employee shifts, and cross-referenced vendor invoices.
By the time he looked up again, it was already five.
Gray stretched his arms over his head and stood. His back cracked, and he rolled his neck out, sighing. He gathered the reports he needed to take home, shut his laptop, and slung his blazer over his shoulder.
"Time to go," he muttered as he turned off everything in his office before leaving.
On their floor, the halls were quieter now. The offices next to him was mostly empty except for a few staff still wrapping up. Gray gave them a small nod as he passed, then took the elevator down to the lobby where Daniel was already waiting with the car.
The ride back to the apartment was quiet. The sky outside had started to dim.
He didnât even realize that they were already in the destanation because his mind was filled with thoughts.
"Weâre here, Sir."
"Oh, thanks Daniel."
Daniel parked as usual, and Gray went out with his bag slung over his shoulder.
"See you tomorrow."
"Have a good night, Sir."
Gray gave a short wave and headed toward the elevator. But just as he reached the door, his phone buzzed in his pocket.