Secrets Found

A businessman named Albert Hert invited his son, James, to a meeting at his office as he needed to speak to him about something urgent. His son was very surprised to be called to the meeting as this almost never happened. “What is the matter dad,” said James, “you are scaring me with all of the secrecy lately.” “Is there anything I can do to help you? I have been working here for about ten years, and I have never seen you like this.”

His father finally gave an answer though he remained in a panicked state. “My son,” he said, “I have done something very wrong.” “Something that could get me in a lot of trouble.” It took about a minute before Albert could catch his breath and continue. “Do you know about fraud and embezzlement?”

James looked confused for a second before finally an uncomfortable realization hit him, and his face turned pale with worry. “Dad, do not tell me that you did what I think you did,” he said, “I am aware that if you are convicted for both, you will not only be barred from working in finance, but you could face decades in prison for it.” “How bad is it?”

Albert took a moment before continuing. “It has been going on for about twenty years now,” he said, “some friends told me about a business venture.” “They also told me that it would be risky doing what they suggested, but I did it anyways. I thought about it for a few days, but I finally decided that making millions within a few years would be worth it as long as we didn’t get caught.”

James’ jaw fell to the floor as he heard what his father was telling him. “It has been going on for twenty years,” he asked, “how could that happen?” James wasn’t just shocked by the scale of his father’s crime, but also that he was able to get away with them for so long. “The worst part about this is that you could be facing life in prison for it.”

“Well, that isn’t all,” said Albert, “I think one of our business associates has agreed to work with the authorities.” “I don’t know who it is, but it is someone with a lot of information on how I conducted business here. If I had to guess, it is most likely Ryan Ilt, he was good at making money, but he was always a problematic employee. There were multiple times where I had to bail him out of criminal charges, including being a public nuisance and fighting in public.”

James, who seemed to be finally accepting that his father was going to go to prison for a very long time for fraud, continued to ask questions on how he managed his illegal enterprise for long so.” “Dad, so, how did you get away with it for so long,” he asked, “I have seen you work and you aren’t the most scrupulous person that I know.” Albert at first seemed annoyed by his son for saying that but continued to talk.

“Well, like I said,” replied Albert, some people had a job for me, and I decided not to pass up the opportunity.” Albert knew that he was giving terrible excuses but continued with his story. “I genuinely thought that they were going to protect me while I worked on their money laundering operation. I was very confident of that after working with them for decades. I don’t know how, but it looks like the operation was discovered, and I might go to prison to protect those people.”

James had a different interpretation of the events his father told him. “No dad,” he said, “you very likely got sloppy with work, and began to be careless,” he said, “I saw you driving around in fancy cars, and buying fancy suits even though our finances told a very different story.” “I was wondering how we were able to afford those things even though we were on a very tight budget. What happened was that you got sloppy, and I will very likely get in trouble to.”

Albert tried to assure his son that he would not be affected by his crimes. “No James,” he said, “you will not be affected by my crimes as there isn’t anything that ties you to them.” “I know that I am not always careful, but in this, I was careful to make sure that when the authorities come, they will not find anything that will tie you to what I did.”

James, however, was not convinced by what his father said. “No dad,” he said, “you pushed me my entire life to go into finance, and now, my career will forever be ruined, because of you.” “I am not upset that we will lose our fancy house and cars, but that no one will hire me now that my father is guilty of fraud. I gave ten years of my life to the career you wanted for me, and now it will all be for nothing as no one will trust me to work in finance anymore.”

Albert tried one last time to convince his son that he wasn’t a horrible person. “No son,” he said, “there is money, and they can’t touch it.” “I put money in a trust with your name on it, and I did everything I could so that they won’t be able to touch it. You didn’t commit any crimes, so they won’t have any legal precedent to take it. You and your family will be set for life with that money, so you won’t have to worry about it ever again.”

James, while looking a little relieved, remained frustrated with his father. “It is not just about money dad,” he said, “I loved working here for everyday that I was here.” “Not only have you betrayed my trust, but you have taken away from me the thing that I enjoyed doing the most in life. I also don’t know how my family will look at me once they find out.” James then left the office once Albert had nothing else to say, leaving Albert to wait for a fate that he knew was inevitable.