Chapter 39
Since I was now in charge of the company’s audit, I headed to the Finance Department to assess the situation. To my surprise, the internal audit had already begun.
Isabelle Leek, the head of the Finance Department, handed me a thick stack of company accounts. “These are all the accounts up until now, Ms. Stovall. Take a look at them. This year’s audit will also cover Mr. Quinn’s side of things, so the workload will be heavier. Mr. Fuller has decided to let Harrison Credit handle the external audit this year.”
Flipping through the ledgers, I felt a headache brewing behind my eyes. “Alright, I understand. I’ll review these first. Also, could you compile a copy of AC Credit’s audited data from previous years for me?”
“Of course.”
With the documents in hand, I returned to my office. After settling some matters, Stacey entered and found me buried in paperwork. “Ms. Stovall, Thomas Lowe, the president of AC Credit, just called. He wants to meet with you.”
If AC Credit and Fuller Corporation ceased their collaboration, the losses would amount to millions. It wasn’t surprising that he was eager to meet. However, Ashton wanted to sever ties with them, which made me wonder if something had happened that I wasn’t aware of. Either way, I had no time for Thomas Lowe.
Looking up at Stacey, I instructed, “Tell him I’m busy. Also, get in touch with the president of Harrison Credit. I need to meet him. Look up the companies they’ve recently audited as well.”
“Understood.”
Once Stacey left, I resumed my work. Hours passed in the blink of an eye. By the time I looked up, the office was eerily quiet, and my body ached from sitting too long. Stretching, I made myself a cup of coffee, realizing I’d be working overtime and should probably order takeout.
A voice broke the silence. “Shouldn’t you be heading home by now?”
Startled, I turned to see Jared standing by the door. A faint smile formed on my lips. “You haven’t left either.”
He gave me a vague smile and handed me a lunchbox. “Devon just made this soup. It’s good for your health.”
Surprised, I looked up at him. “Thank you.”
We weren’t particularly close, so I assumed he’d leave right after. To my surprise, he lingered. Since I had nothing else to say, I remained silent.
“Did Ashton put you in charge of the company’s audit?” he asked, finding a seat.
I nodded. “Yeah. I don’t have much experience in this, so it’s a bit of a headache.”
He nodded in agreement. “The company has only been public for a year. This year’s audit will be vastly different from previous ones. A single mistake could cause the company’s stock to plummet. Many companies go bankrupt every year due to errors in their annual audits.”
His words carried weight, so I put down my work and met his gaze as he continued, “On top of that, the audit firm has changed this year, which means you have to be extra careful.”
His remark was a clear warning.
I frowned. “Ashton knows auditing isn’t my strength. Why would he put me in charge of something so crucial?” A single misstep could jeopardize Fuller Corporation. The risk was enormous, and I couldn’t comprehend Ashton’s reasoning.
Jared straightened up, his gaze steady. “If you handle this well, the shares Old Mr. Fuller left you will be officially transferred to your name. You’ll gain full ownership and won’t just be a director—you’ll become a partner in the company.”
After a brief pause, he adjusted his sleeves and added, “But if you fail, Fuller Corporation will be in trouble, and you might face the possibility of leaving the company altogether.”
My brows knitted together. Was Ashton betting the entire Fuller Corporation on me, or…
I pushed that thought away and closed the ledger in front of me. As I opened the soup container, I glanced at Jared. “I’ve taken over HiTech, but why does Ashton want me to monitor OrbitTech?”
Jared furrowed his brows in thought before responding, “HiTech was acquired due to its cash flow issues. So far, Joe has been managing it. Now that you’ve taken over, perhaps Ashton wants you to gain experience in new technologies. With government policies shifting in favor of internet and tech industries, Fuller Corporation might eventually transition into that sector. Maybe he wants you to familiarize yourself with it in advance.”
After a pause, he added, “As for OrbitTech, Ashton might be considering an acquisition. Asking you to monitor it could mean he’s assessing its potential for future development.”
I nodded and took a few sips of the soup. Finding it delicious, I looked at him appreciatively. “Thank you for looking out for me.”
He smiled and stood up to leave.
“Are you heading home?” I asked, glancing out at the darkened sky.
He hummed in response. “I have something to take care of later tonight.”
I nodded, feeling a faint pang of disappointment. I had briefly entertained the thought of having supper together.
After he left, I finished the soup and returned to my work, staying late until my body finally protested, urging me to call it a day.