Chapter 392 - Can we talk (1)

10 May, LY Studio and Matthew's Office at Military Base, City K

Matthew watched Bronwyn shut the door and slumped in his chair. While work was not an issue, he knew his emotions were already running out of control.

As he listened to Head Honcho and Legend and read the raw transcribed intelligence from Office N, he was worried. Just something, despite their opinions about Officer N's intelligence had him feel that they did not see the dire threat that the Devil was posing at this moment. Their willingness to bring him into the intelligence inner circle when it came to Officer N, not only demonstrated their trust in him but an acceptance that they may be missing key pieces of intelligence that would protect the country.

His gut feeling was that the Devil was planning a series of attacks culminating in a massive attack. Based on that, he knew he needed to produce two position papers quickly. One for those in the inner circle to consider, and a second one that could be use more widely ensuring Officer N's protection.

To do that, Matthew picked up his phone and dialled Lexi.

Meanwhile, Lexi was sitting in her office with Karen, and said "Are you certain?"

"Boss, you know me. You have left the running of stores worldwide in my hands, and even told me I could have remained in Europe when you relocated back here and appoint a subordinate to manage the Asia/Pacific area under my direction. As you have told me repeatedly, I know retail and I know that to be the most effective I can be, I need to be located where you are. And if I am realistic, my family are loving living here. I thought two teenagers in their last years of schooling before university would make things difficult, but they are loving living somewhere different."

"Your recommendation?"

"We need to go to City Y and immediately remove store management as their actions are starting to cause brand damage. Not irreversible, but the longer we delay the more damage they will do. We are lucky that the store opening management team have finished with the new capital branch, and we have nothing for them to do presently so we can move them to City Y, to stabilise the store before we put into place new management. It will not matter the time that we need, as their next store was in Singapore and there has been a delay of a couple of months in its planned opening. My understanding is that that it is linked to a dispute between the previous tenant and the store owner. The courts have put a stay in us being able to do the renovations we require to open until they have mediation to resolve the dispute which is scheduled for a couple of months' time. My plan is we will recruit our staff but bring them in country to be trained so when we can open, we can quickly transition from the store opening team management to the local management."

Lexi nodded, before adding "Do you think it will be long to deal with?"

"Boss, as of Mother's day this weekend, the complex where the store is located, as a marketing strategy, require all stores to be open from their opening today until 7pm tomorrow. The only reason I want you there is to send the clear message to the current management team that they are done. Their schemes to date would tell me that they would try and run to you arguing that I had going outside my powers."

After shaking her head, Karen continued "That is not what we need. Their removal needs to be quick and clean, and your presence will achieve that."

"Can we quickly get flights?"

"You doubt me being organised boss. I was able to get the last two seats, thank goodness in business class, on the last direct flight today. Your bodyguards are not happy, but they said they will make arrangements."

"Screw that, it is about Matthew wanting to control me…"

"Let it be boss. Your husband loves you and just wants you safe."

"Safe, ha!" came Lexi's cynical response. "He wants to be in control is more like it."

"Boss, he treats you like a princess, and even I despite having been happily married for over twenty years, can appreciate the good-looking man you have. Take it from a old married hand that the times your husband treats you like your husband is treating you are few and far between. Lap it up, because he will soon change, into what is a normal life. Yes, he still loves you and will cherish you, but the extremes are not there."

"As if," Lexi replied cynically.

Karen, looked at Lexi before saying "I am not going to win this argument am I boss?"

"No."

"Fine, but just let things be because I do not want him to cause too many impacts. I know because of your marriage that he controls whether you can get out of the country or not because of his position in the military. There are a number of trips in the next few months we need to make, including securing the locations in China where we want to open."

"So, in other words, do not press my luck."

"Correct. But the other thing boss, and you will have to handle it as I will need to stay in City Y to deal with the consequences of what we will do today, which is to head to City F. There is that promotional event at JL International's mall there where the female lead and the secondary female lead agreed to wear our ready to wear collection. I was going to head there on the first flight tomorrow morning from here to take the dresses for them. As it was hard enough to convince them to wear them, I just do not want any one to take the dresses."

Lexi paused, and said "True. So, you…"

"Have everything booked for you to fly to City F from City Y. As there are no direct flights over the weekend between City F and here, the only option is for you to fly back to City Y and then back here. The timing of the flights will have you back here late tomorrow night allowing you to spend Mother's day with Dominic."

Before Lexi could say anything, her phone started ringing.

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