The Wise Ones chapter 1

One day, Anderson was having lunch in a small street-side restaurant not far from the company. Suddenly, a man came over with a tray. It was Pfir, a colleague from the company. Pfir greeted Anderson and sat down opposite him. After taking a few bites of his food, he immediately showed a melancholy expression on his face. Anderson thought he shouldn’t ignore the other person, so he casually asked, “What’s wrong with you? You don’t look happy.” Pfir hesitated for a moment, leaned closer to Anderson, and whispered, “Friend, I’m in trouble… You’re the smartest one in the company. Help me come up with a solution. This morning, I heard Mr. Blake, the boss, tell the accountant that the company will conduct an audit the day after tomorrow. Oh, my god! What should I do?”

Anderson was shocked. “Why are you afraid of the audit? Wait a minute. Do you mean you…?”

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Pfir’s forehead. “Last week, I secretly took some money from the company’s safe. I never thought there would be a surprise audit. If this gets discovered, I’m doomed.”

Anderson consoled him. “If that’s the case, it’s actually easy to handle. You can just quietly put the money back.”

“It’s too late,” Pfir said with a sob in his voice. “I’ve almost spent all the money. Moreover, I was so nervous at that time that I can’t even remember how much I took. Thirteen thousand? Fifteen thousand? Anyway, I forgot. Now, can you help me out of this mess?”

Anderson watched Pfir’s awkward situation with a gloating look in his eyes and felt quite pleased. Under Pfir’s repeated urging, he slowly began to speak. “Listen, friend. You know that our state is well – known across the country for its strict laws. If you get caught, it’s really over for you. So, you have no choice but to run away and leave this place. Besides, you’re single and you even rent your house. They can’t seal it up.”

“Thank you, Anderson. That’s really a good suggestion.” Pfir stood up, stuffed a box of top – quality Cuban cigars into Anderson’s pocket, and then rushed out of the restaurant.

When it was time to go to work in the afternoon, Pfir’s seat at his desk was empty. It was said that he had asked for a personal leave. Anderson thought, “This guy really ran away. Asking for leave was just a delaying tactic for him.”

That night, Anderson lay in bed fuming. On his way home from work, when he was refueling his car, a stylishly – dressed young woman actually smiled at him secretly. What else could she be smiling about? She must be laughing at his old car that he bought for just over a hundred dollars. Damn it! If only I could also take some money from the company… Hey, what am I thinking? Isn’t that a crime?

Wait a minute! Suddenly, Pfir’s words flashed through Anderson’s mind: “… I was so nervous at that time that I can’t even remember how much I took. Thirteen thousand? Fifteen thousand? Anyway, I forgot…” This fool actually forgot how much money he had stolen. If there were another two thousand dollars missing from the safe, who would people suspect? Of course, it would still be this stupid guy who had run away. Haha…

Anyway, by the time he got off work the next day, there was an extra two thousand dollars in Anderson’s wallet. He managed to buy an 80% – new Bluebird sedan at the second – hand car market. Then, he drove to the famous City Club in the city, a high – class entertainment venue. Eating delicious Oriental cuisine and sipping mellow wine, Anderson felt extremely comfortable.

On the morning of the third day, Anderson arrived at the company at half – past eight. The boss, Mr. Blake’s secretary, told him, “Mr. Blake was looking for you just now. He wants you to go to his office.” So, Anderson quickly went to the boss’s office. When he got there, he saw that Mr. Blake was pacing back and forth restlessly. Suddenly, Anderson’s eyes popped out: There were two other people in the office. One was Pfir, and the other was a policeman. Anderson thought, “Did the company report the case to the police and catch Pfir? It’s unlikely. The audit hasn’t even started yet! Or did Pfir turn himself in? This cowardly idiot!”