Page 6

I escorted her to the office next to mine, the plush dark grey carpet silencing our footsteps as we entered.
“This will be your office for the next month.”
It was a basic office.
On the desk sat a phone and computer, while a chair for Delilah was positioned behind it, with two visitor chairs on the other side. Two colorful abstract pieces of art decorated the cream-colored walls, and in the corner, a small coffee station stood beside a small fridge. The door closest to her desk led to the bathroom. Just like my office, this one had a stunning skyline view.
Delilah placed her belongings on the desk and then turned her attention to me.
“I’d like to start working on the themes. Do you have anything in mind?” she asked.
“Nothing in mind at the moment. Work on a variety of themes and then we’ll…”
Just then, there was a knock on the door, cutting me off.
“Come in,” I called out.
Caite stepped into the room. “Mr. Quantum, Ida is on line two. It’s urgent.”
The worried look on Caite’s face was noticeable, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. After Saturday night’s close call, I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation with Ida. She was an employee from one of my lounge branches, responsiblefor handing over the money received at the club over the weekend to an armored truck every Monday morning.
“I’ll be with her shortly,” I said, my voice firm.
Caite nodded and hurried out of the office.
I turned my attention back to Delilah. “I’ll check in on your progress in a few hours.”
I walked briskly out of the office without waiting for a reply. Once in my office, I sat behind my desk and pressed line two. I heard Ida sniffling, and an uneasy feeling washed over me.
“Ida, Mr. Quantum here.”
The sound of my voice drove Ida over the edge, and she sobbed uncontrollably. I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my composure. Whatever the situation was, I needed answers. Ida’s crying wasn’t helping matters.
“Ida, pull yourself together. Tell me what happened,” I said firmly.
“M-Mr. Quantum. I think we were robbed.”
I stopped breathing.
“What do you mean youthinkwe were robbed?”
Between sobs, she explained, “I went out this morning to the delivery loading dock to hand the bag of cash over to the truck like I do every Monday and collect the receipt. But this morning, when I got to the back of the truck, the doors burst open, and someone wearing a mask grabbed the money, and they sped off. Sir, I’m certain I saw two unconscious men at the back of the truck.”
The muscles in my jaw twitched as my grip tightened on the phone.
“Ida, have you contacted Mr. Jaxson about the incident?”
Mr. Jaxson was the owner of the private security company I had been using since I opened my first Lunaire Club ten years ago.
“No, sir, I wanted to inform you about the incident first.”
“Ida, how much money was stolen?”
“A little over two hundred thousand, sir. I have the exact amount written on the record.”
I slammed my fist on my desk and swore under my breath.
“Ida, hang up and call Mr. Jaxson and let him know the situation. I will also call him to follow up.”