AWACS - An American With A Chinese System
Copyright© 2025 by PT Brainum
Chapter 4
0/450 (8) Level
2,245/4,500 positive points
4,407/4,500 neutral points
1,276/4,500 negative points
3 Active Skills
1 Passive Skill
Healing: 13,002 minutes
I took a moment to send my nearly 4500 neutral points into healing, it took less than I had. As my healing completed, the countdown disappeared.
0/450 (8) Level
2,245/4,500 positive points
1,202/4,500 neutral points
1,276/4,500 negative points
3 Active Skills
1 Passive Skill
My big breath caught short as he picked up his recorder, “This is John Marcham, it is 1145 and I’m now ending the recording of Mr Koby Roberts.
He looked at me and gave me a big smile, “Gurjit Singh and her husband Avinder Singh ask that I pass along that they and their entire family is praying for your speedy recovery.”
“What?” I asked at the seeming non sequitur.
“The woman who was being assaulted, and her husband. Her husband by the way knew who you were, as he works as an electrician for one of the subcontractors on your old project.”
“Ok,” I said, drawing out the sound.
“His Majesty the Prince also wishes for your speedy recovery.”
“Which Prince?”
“Let’s leave that for now, Mr Handsy, as you called him, is one of the Prince’s grandsons, via a couple of not important concubines.
“His father, who serves in the government of Saudi Arabia, quite reliably I understand, was slightly disheartened when his wayward minor son, one of many by the way, and his three buddies died in the desert after becoming stranded without water when their new vehicle ran out of gas.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. His drunken public molesting of a married woman was the boy’s last mistake, of many as I’ve come to understand. And that’s why this conversations is so important.
“If TransNat should be neglectful in its good treatment of you, they will suffer severe difficulties regarding all future work in the region. Thus I’m here to see that TransNat takes very good care of you. TransNat of course can’t just come and take care of everything personally, so your union, as represented fully and solely by me, has been asked to facilitate your good future care and well-being.”
“Ok, well I don’t know what to say to that,” I told him honestly.
“I’m hoping that it will be a simple thank you, when we are all done.”
“What about Mike?”
“Criminal intent is pretty easy to prove, especially with that plane flight. Your Mr Investigator had actually ordered that you be moved to a better hospital for care, and was quite upset when he discovered you were no longer in the country. Mike managed to get a boat ride out to Egypt just before being arrested, and is solely responsible for his own welfare.
“Should he return to Saudi, there is a company plane ticket for him to go home, and police officers who are quite eager and ready to arrest him. TransNat doesn’t know his current location and really doesn’t care, they have done their required duty.”
I laughed, I couldn’t help it.
John smiled, and nodded in acknowledgment, “His toady Greg didn’t make the boat, as no one bothered to tell him there was a problem. He’s sitting in a jail, and has a ticket waiting, as an ex employee, for his return home when he is released in a year or two. It’ll likely be that long before he goes before a judge, who typically would expel him from the country.”
“Ok, I can laugh over their misery at my leisure, what do I need to do now?”
He looked at his watch, “I believe we might do lunch.”
“An excellent suggestion, I’m thinking steak, how about you?”
“Anything you like, it’ll be a company expense, so lets get something we will enjoy.”
So we ordered and I learned that all my bills so far were now being taken care of, and I would surely be getting a refund on everything I’d spent on the hotel and room service. I also wouldn’t be getting any medical bills.
“The company of course has rescinded your termination, and you are on indefinite paid leave. You can ask for an employment termination settlement, should you desire it, and I guarantee you will get a glowing recommendation should any future employer ask.”
“I’m not interested in going back to the middle east, I’ve had my fill of heat, sand and snooty robe wearers.”
“Your exemplary work in Jeddah was noticed, you got things under control months earlier than expected. Your excessive overtime was also noted, and factored into your paid leave at the same rate.”
That made me blink, I had been earning a lot while in Jeddah, multiple foreign work and hardship bonuses, plus overtime. I hadn’t been spending anything either, eating and sleeping exclusively at the company provided facilities.
“There has been talk about a position at one of the European headquarters, but that’s at least a year away, for now.”
“Just how much is my paid leave?”
“I believe it was calculated at around $8500,” he paused at my frown, “per week.” he finished quickly.
“That’s about what I was getting before.”
“Yes, and the company will continue to pay for all your food and lodging until you are fully recovered as well.”
“And if I want to change hotels?”
“Not a problem, the Hyatt presidential suite is quite expensive, without the medical necessity discount it is going to run $340 a night plus room service, I figure no complaints as long as your room and board is less than $500 a day.”
I blinked and then grinned, “What if I wanted to retire from the company?”
“Add that all up for a year, and multiply it by three.”
“Five,” I countered.
“Five,” he agreed, much to my shock.
I tried to do the math in my head, and couldn’t, so I used the calculator on my phone. A bit over 3.1 million.
He just grinned at me as he finished a very good and big steak. That seemed like a good idea, So I went back to work on mine.
“No rush, enjoy your paid time off, take a year to get better, and then pull the plug if you want. Alternatively, in a year, the Brussels office will still be there, I hear it’s very nice.”
He was right, no need to jump off the gravy train right away, plenty of time to mend, relax, and explore the system.
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