101 Family Holiday (V)

Of course, all of this talk only made the ones hearing it not only quite impressed but there was some envy as well. Having a loyal subordinate was not easy and a fantasy for most.

"So Auntie Beatrice is the same for Auntie Kay?" Alex asked.

"Ah, no, not really," Kyle replied, "Auntie Kay is the COO, and she's the type that likes to see everything from the start. And when Auntie Kay is the acting CEO when I'm not around, Uncle Sam still makes most of the decisions that are needed."

"So Auntie Kay is the next CEO when you step down?" Alex asked the question that had always been on his mind.

Kyle shook his head, "Nope."

Kyle chose not to continue this as it then involved internal matters, so he looked at Brian and said, "I believe Greg would have shown you the documents by now?"

Brian, who was suddenly named, sat up straight in shock like a student who had been caught sleeping by the teacher and asked to answer a question on the board.

His eyes were wide open and his face in shock, his mouth slightly open while not making a sound – and the idiom, 'Like a deer caught in headlights' seemed to Alex, to be apt at this moment.

Brian stammered for a while, and he looked at his PA, Greg, who was now frantically moving on the tablet the was holding.

Seeing this, Kyle raised his hand and said, "It's okay. Brian can take a look at it later."

Facing Brian, Kyle then started listing out in brief, the reasons for the dismissal. Brian's eyes never recovered from the initial shock of suddenly being called out and now, his face was starting to pale before eventually, it became slightly red from anger.

What he had thought to be 'small' things were really, in the end, quite big when it was listed out like that. Brian admonished himself for not seeing the bigger picture, which Kyle was kindly doing right now.

Though he was extremely grateful, he was also puzzled.

He had heard how ruthless and cold CEO Smith could be, yet now, he was patiently explaining to him the situation. Plus, it wasn't like how a superior was admonishing his subordinate, but more like an equal discussing the situation.

Though in truth, it was 'teaching' rather than discussing.

CEO Smith didn't have the usual 'teaching' tone of a teacher, nor was he 'talking down' on him like how some teachers would be towards a slightly slower student who was asking questions.

What was going on?

Alex listened to everything intently.

Again, he was surprised.

He stared at his father who was calmly naming all the employees he had fired, and what crime had been committed. Not only that, he would state that because of one employee (A) who cut corners, another employee (B), became more rampant and was in constant contact with a competitor (C) who also was having ties with two other employees (E and F) in getting information and lower costing.

The web was quite big and in the end, most of the losses the company suffered were actually due to one or two competitors. In isolation, it didn't look like a lot but in reality, the effect was quite big as it meant he was being undermined all the time.

A lot of contracts were lost – which Brian had thought was just fair competition but in fact, it was due to all these shenanigans from his own employees.

"You're a good man, Brian," Kyle said, "And a capable CEO but in business, there are times you just have to be ruthless. Pull out the weeds with rotten roots, for otherwise, it can choke out the real good plants around."

Brian could understand what Kyle was alluding to.

When the ones who were undermining the whole process were getting richer through ungainful means, the real capable ones would eventually feel the unfairness and get disillusioned. He may lose them in terms of them not working as efficiently as they would or worse, they changed jobs.

"You've already lost two – who went to the very same competitors that are the reason for the decay in your company," Kyle went on to reveal ruthlessly.

Brian clenched his jaw in frustration and anger upon hearing that.

"But, it's not too late," Kyle replied, "Like your records have shown, you're not in the red and your reputation is still very good. Now that I've got rid of all the poison, you can now start the recovery."

Kyle looked at Greg and then at Karen who was silently standing way back, and then turned back to look at Brian, saying, "Both Greg and Karen are capable employees. They are efficient and loyal. The only flaw is that they aren't working together to create the best atmosphere for you, because you, yourself, do not have them working together."

Brian looked at Kyle in puzzlement, "What do you mean?"

Kyle jerked his head towards Greg and said, "Greg should deal with the overall situation of your company, but his focus is more on just ensuring that you have your part done – and even then, it depends on what you give him."

He jerked his thumb towards Karen and said, "While Karen is in charge of the secretarial department, who, I must say, has the best insider information of the gossip and internal workings of the company. Karen doesn't care about those, so long as the work is done properly."

Kyle leaned back further on the sofa, "So, in essence, both are not being utilised. You can't be expected to know everything, but you shouldn't be kept in the dark either. You need to be aware of the gossip and rumours because quite frankly, there is no smoke without a fire."

"Either because there is something to it, or you have someone creating hype for a problem," Kyle stated, reaching and taking the cup of coffee that was now slightly cold.

Kyle grimaced internally at that, but it didn't show on his face.

He just needed a cover to have a pause so that Brian could absorb what he said. He wasn't here to lay it all out for Brian would have to figure it out for himself what was the best way for his company.

Kyle looked at Alex, whose face was in deep contemplation.

Alex, feeling his father's gaze on him, studied his father silently for a while.

Alex could understand what his father had been saying, and it made him think of all the things his father had been telling him to do since he started schooling.

Observing the people around.

Not just about the potential dangers but also observing *people*.

How the action of one, could cause a ripple and create something else.

All this while, Alex was thinking that it applied only to him keeping a low profile and also, that every action of his can cause consequences later on.

Now, though, he understood that it was not just about him but also about the people around him. How they worked, how they acted, how they reacted.

It was still a huge concept for him to absorb suddenly, but his worldview expanded at that moment.

There was so much more to observe and learn.

Seeing his father jerk his chin slightly at the hot chocolate in front of him, Alex's eyes flashed in understanding, and went to drink it.

The moment Alex finished his drink, Kyle got up and smoothened his shirt, saying, "Well, that's it for today. I leave the wrapping up to you."

Brian got up also and reached out his hand for a handshake, "Thank you."

Kyle gave a slight smile, and took his hand, shaking it firmly, "It's been a pleasure."

Alex, who had stood up and was waiting patiently by his father's side, followed him out – but this time, beside his father and not behind. Brian was also beside Kyle, walking on the other side.

As Kyle passed by Karen, he gave the slightly red-faced woman a nod of acknowledgment and exited the office.

Alex rolled his eyes as he passed Karen, seeing how her eyes seemed to be stuck on his father. She was so engrossed that she had not even noticed his obvious eye roll at her, making Alex's impression of her lower even more.

This was the sort of person that his father had praised earlier?

How could anyone – who was so obviously unprofessional – be so efficient?

Karen quickly followed behind, then overtook them and waited at the elevator entrance. She acted like a porter, pressing the button and then entering and waiting for them to enter.

As Alex noted her behaviour, he looked at his father and Brian. He saw that they had basically ignored her actions, indicating that they had no problems with it. Alex shrugged and continued to observe her.

Amidst the disdain, he was curious.

How could anyone like Karen be as good as what his father had said?