Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Integrity (04/11/24)
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TITLE: Discrepancy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dennis Gallemore
04/14/24 -
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She sighed heavily. “I haven’t smiled like that in some time,” she muttered to herself. “Not since…” Her voice, already barely audible, trailed off into silence. Only the laughter of the children and the honking of the geese broke her reverie.
“It’s often difficult to make the right choice.”
Startled, she jerked her head sideways to find a tall thin man with a Van Dyke beard sitting next to her on the bench. “Where did you come from?”
He smiled, his eyes a deep blue. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to surprise you. I was walking around the park and, for some reason, decided to sit here on this bench. I beg your pardon; I should have asked permission first.”
Momentarily speechless, she simply stared at the strange apparition. Finally finding her voice again, she shrugged. “That’s okay; it’s not my park bench, after all. You just took me by surprise, that’s all.”
He laughed, a deep throaty laugh. “I do seem to have that effect on people at times.”
She frowned. “How did you know that I was trying to make a decision?”
“People that sit on a park bench by themselves are either trying to make a decision or they are trying to convince themselves that their actions were justifiable.”
“That’s not always the case,” she replied. “I could have been here simply enjoying this beautiful weather.”
He nodded. “True enough, but your body language said otherwise.”
“Are you a detective or something? Anyway, you’re right, I’m trying to decide something. How did you know that I wasn’t justifying something?”
He laughed. “An educated guess.” He waved a hand. “In any case, may I ask what you are trying to decide?”
She hesitated. “I don’t know you.”
He nodded and started to rise from the bench. “Then I bid you good day.”
Surprising herself, she placed a hand on his arm. “Please don’t leave.”
He reseated himself and leaned toward her. “I’m all ears.”
Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. “It’s about work. I’m an accountant with the, well, I guess I shouldn’t say which company. I found some discrepancies in the books concerning some inventory items that were severely overvalued. When I confronted my boss about them, she said that it was nothing and to keep my mouth shut about it.”
He nodded. “What do you think was the reason the items were misrepresented?”
“I did some checking behind the scenes and found out that the items were purchased from a small supplier who just happens to be owned by my boss’s brother. I think she’s helping her brother out as she’s dating the purchasing manager.”
He studied her face intently. “What decision are you facing?”
She shook her head. “Whether or not to go above her head and talk to the CFO.” She glanced at her benchmate. “The Chief Financial Officer.”
“What is stopping you from doing so?”
“If there’s really nothing going on, then I could lose my job. At the very least, my boss will be furious with me. I’m having a hard enough time getting along with her now.”
“There is a lot at stake here, my friend, namely your integrity. What others say about you and to you, when said with a malicious heart, is nothing more than the barking of a dog. What matters is simply doing the right thing.”
She managed a bitter laugh. “Easily said. What if I lose my job?”
“What if you do? There are other jobs. It is much better to lose one’s job than to lose one’s integrity.”
She stared at him. “Who are you?”
Standing, he smiled down upon her. “Who I am is not the question here. The real question is…” He leaned over her. “Who are you?”
Shaking her head as he walked away, she slowly reached into her purse, pulled out her cellphone and punched in a number. “Hello, Judy? This is Shania Jones. Would you put me through to the CFO’s office? I need to make an appointment.”
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