Chapter 24 #2
Mina walked over to the conference room door and opened it. Two men in black suits appeared at the entrance. “All three of you must follow these nice gentlemen at this time. They have a few questions for you.”
Hem studied the shocked faces of the remaining people around the table as the compensation committee was escorted out of the room.
Mina motioned for someone else to enter, and a Chinese woman walked in, wearing a suit and a riot of tight curls around her face.
“Our guest speaker has arrived,” Ajay said cheerfully.
“This meeting is like a Warren Buffett shareholder circus, Ajay,” a woman said at the table. “First, you hang up on our shareholders, then you’re inviting these people into the room. What the hell is happening?”
“Through the due diligence process, we’ve realized that there have been a few employees and board members who have been taking bribes and exchanging trade secrets,” Ajay said. “This has led to a staggering effect on sales, which is why Bharat isn’t living up to its market potential.”
“So, we’re cleaning house,” Hem said. He walked over to stand next to Ajay, and Zail did the same.
“This company has been our father’s dream since he arrived in this country decades ago.
WTA Digital would like to use his genius, and the genius of the employees currently under our protection and weaponize it. That’s not going to happen.”
“Sanjeev Kohli?” Mina said. “I believe Josette Hu would like a few words with you. Can you please follow her out of the room?”
“I’ll do no such thing!” he shouted, his face tomato red. “I’m the one who belongs here, not you.”
“Mr. Kohli, this is no longer a request,” Josette said.
His eyes bulged. “How dare you speak to me that way!”
Josette motioned for him to get up from the table. “If you’d prefer to do this here, then I’m not opposed to it.”
“I’m friends with Deepak. He’d never stand for you treating me like this.”
“Our friendship is over.” Hem froze, as did Ajay and Zail. They watched in shock as their father used a cane to enter the room. His assistant hovered behind him. No one moved for a moment, until Mina spoke.
“Get your father a chair. He should sit.” Her words had Zail moving with lightning speed. He led his father to the front of the room and into the high- back chair that had remained vacant.
“What are you doing here?” Hem asked.
“Didn’t think I’d miss this show, did you?”
“Deepak, I’m glad you’re here,” Sanjeev said. His voice sounded a little calmer, but he remained standing. “Your sons and this— this spawn of my dead sister are trying to have me dismissed.”
“Sanjeev, I trusted you with my vision. But now that I’ve seen your emails, I know now exactly what you’re capable of.”
“Emails?” Sanjeev’s face morphed from confusion to anger. “Mina!”
“I’m really going to have to insist you come with me now, sir.” Josette motioned for him again. This time her aggressive stance was unmistakable. It wasn’t until she flashed her badge that the chattering, the whispering, the outrage came to an abrupt halt.
When Sanjeev remained rooted where he stood, Josette motioned for her two guards to come forward. “Mr. Sanjeev Kohli, you are being charged with violating the Economic Espionage Act and with two counts of bribery. Please come with us.”
“Here, I’ll help, Josette,” Hem said before her security detail could assist. He rounded the table and gripped the back of the shorter man’s neck. When he squeezed, feeling the give of wrinkled skin, Sanjeev yelped.
Hem easily maneuvered him out of the boardroom, despite his struggling. The whole process took two minutes but made Hem feel infinitely better. Josette took over when they cleared the doors, and just like that, Sanjeev was gone.
He was most likely going to serve a prison sentence as well as pay a hefty fine. Hem moved to stand next to Mina, placing a hand on the small of her back. She shuddered under his touch and whispered to him, “It’s finally over.”
A weight lifted off Hem’s shoulders, and when he looked down at Mina and saw her relieved expression, he knew that she felt the same way.
He’d have to watch her carefully though.
His beautiful hirye was grieving, too, and even if they’ve taken the biggest step, this was technically only the beginning.
Hem stood by his woman’s side as they listened as Ajay redirected the meeting for the rest of the members.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the show isn’t over yet.
It has come to our attention that there are a few more of you that have been trading secrets with WTA for profit and to the detriment of Bharat, Inc.
We’ve completed a thorough investigation at this time, and those who we’ve identified based on the investigation findings will be questioned. ”
Systematically, board members were escorted out while Deepak Singh, with his sons standing guard, watched in silence as friends and colleagues he’d trusted, some for over twenty years, left with their heads down in shame.
And then it was done.
Hem and his brothers, with the help of Mina Kohli, had gotten rid of the snakes for good.