The Orphan
Copyright© 2025 by A Well Traveled Man
Chapter 6
Nicholas followed Kelli to the office and inside. When she went to her office, he returned to his Bronco and watched her Range Rover. Carl Jones arrived and stopped at Kelli’s vehicle. He opened the gas cap, pulled a baggie and a funnel out of his coat pocket. Nick put Carl to sleep by pressure point, then carried him to the stairway and slammed his hand in the doorway. Nic left him in the stairway and waited for Robert to arrive. When he did, Nic poured the baggie contents into Robert’s vehicle and returned to the office.
On his way to Kelli’s office, Robert rushed out of the office, pushing Nicholas to the side. Nic moved Robert’s right foot with his mind, causing him to trip and fall into the elevator door. Robert’s head hit the door with a thud and fell to his knees, holding his bloody nose with a handkerchief. The elevator opened, and Robert got inside, cursing. Kelli came outside her office and asked what had happened. Tammy laughed, said Robert tripped, and did a header in the elevator door.
They returned to Kelli’s office, and Nic said he had nothing to do with Robert’s accident. He pushed me out of the way, rushed to the elevator, and tripped, hitting the door. Kelli said Robert and his merry men were in for a rude awakening. Carl, Scott, Jeff, and Ben are the lowest producers at the firm. They latched onto Robert to secure their jobs, and now he’s in trouble, too. Kelli said,” Let’s go to lunch and they left the office.”
Robert rushed to the hospital to see what had happened to Carl. When he arrived, his vehicle was overheating and died as he parked. Robert left it and went into the emergency room to check on Carl. He was in a treatment room, and Carl told Robert about starting to pour sugar into Kelli’s Range Rover, and then he couldn’t remember anything. He woke up in the stairwell with a smashed right hand. The doctor said I need reconstructive surgery, and the odds aren’t good for recovering full use.
Robert told Carl that Jeff called in sick today. He has a broken right arm and a concussion. What the hell is going on? I’ll tell Scott and Ben to lay off Kelli for now. Robert told Carl not to worry, he’ll ensure his pay will continue while recovering, and left the emergency room. Robert was shocked to see the fire department putting out the fire in his vehicle. It was destroyed, and all that was left was burnt metal. Robert was so enraged that he punched a concrete pillar, fracturing his right hand.
When Kelli and Nicholas returned from lunch, she told Nic to stay out of sight. There had been enough fireworks for today, and they laughed. Then Robert arrived with his hand bandaged and an ice pack on it. Kelli said, “My god, Robert, what happened to you?” Robert said it’s none of your business bitch. Hearing Robert yell at Kelli, David arrived and told him to come to his office immediately.
David shut the door and told Robert to sit down. He said your actions since returning from vacation are out of control. Calling a partner a bitch in the lobby is misconduct per the firm’s bylaws. Therefore, you will be suspended for 30 days, and the partners will review your actions upon your return. Also, Carl and Jeff should be informed that they can use sick time and vacation to recover. But their accidents happened away from work, so they won’t qualify for workers’ compensation.
Robert told David he couldn’t do that to him, and David told him to read the firm’s bylaws and then review the partnership agreement during his suspension. When he returns, there will be new associates, and some will be gone. We’re getting rid of the dead weight and hiring go-getters. Also, your assistant, Amanda, will be fired for lying on her time sheet. It wasn’t business in Mexico and Vail, Colorado. So, enjoy your time off, and please leave without causing a scene.
David said he would issue a memo stating that you are taking a 30-day leave for personal reasons. Robert left the office pissed off, and David called Scott and Ben into his office. When they sat down, David told them that Robert was taking a 30-day leave of absence for personal reasons. I’m also aware of your plans against a partner of this firm. You have 30 days to find new employment, as your jobs will be terminated. Carl and Jeff are in the same boat, and Robert is in no position to help you, so focus on finding a new job.
They left David’s office pissed off and afraid. Ben said jobs were scarce, and the ones available were hard to get. Scott said that without a letter of recommendation, they were screwed. Ben agreed and said Robert had gotten us into this mess, so he could write us one. Scott agreed, and they returned to their offices, packed their personal items, and left.
At the end of the day, Kelli told Nic to head home. She would pick up dinner and arrive after him. When Nicholas arrived, his makeup/disguise kit was on the front porch. He brought it upstairs and put it in his closet. Sensing Kelli was nearby, he returned to the kitchen and waited. While they ate, Kelli told Nicholas about the memo David distributed to staff. He said Robert was taking a 30-day leave for personal reasons. It was total bullshit, and he was suspended.
Nic said that when Robert returned and you asked what had happened to him, why did you say, “Hey, raccoon,” and they laughed? Kelli said Ben and Scott left the office with their personal items in boxes, so David fired them. That should remove the threat, but we must watch for trouble. Nic asked what would happen to Robert when he returns. Kelli said she didn’t know, but getting rid of a named partner will be difficult. I’ll bet he’s reduced to a figurehead, and David is made managing partner of the firm. When they finished dinner, they said goodnight and went to bed.
When Amanda arrived at her apartment, she saw Robert and said she had been fired today. She asked why he hadn’t come to her aid, and Robert said he had been suspended from the firm. Amanda said David took her credit card and car, saying they belonged to the firm. I had to take a taxi home and asked Robert what had happened to him. Your nose looks broken, and you look like a raccoon laughing.
Robert said he tripped while rushing to the elevator. Then, his car overheated while he was driving to the emergency room to check on Carl. When he came out of the hospital, the fire department was putting out the flames on my vehicle. It’s a total loss and another thing I must deal with. Amanda said this started when you opposed Kelli’s partnership. Why didn’t you want her as a partner? Robert said because she was a woman.
He knew right away that was the wrong thing to say, and Amanda said, “Well, you can sleep on the couch tonight. Maybe you should get your buddies to satisfy your urges.” Then she slammed the bedroom door. Robert didn’t need another problem and couldn’t afford to have her kick him out. His hand and nose hurt, so he drank until he passed out.
Nicholas teleported to the basement gym and practiced martial arts. Then, he used his mind to move a two-pound dumbbell. Returning to his bedroom, Nic showered, dressed, grabbed a box of Mia’s boyfriend’s textbooks, and went to the kitchen. On the way to the office, Kelli asked why he was bringing the textbooks. Nic said to read when he wasn’t busy. When they arrived, Nicholas saw his computer order beside the reception desk.
He carried the boxes into his office and started assembling the computer. David entered his office and said, “Good, you got your computer.” He said that with recent dismissals, we need to rekey the locks. David asked Nic for his opinion on an access control system. Nicholas said an access control system with the right additions is better than a key. It logs the user entering and leaving, and you can restrict access for off days or hours.
If you go that route, I recommend installing a camera in reception to record who enters and whether they have company. Also, a doorbell would be needed for customers to enter. However, if an employee leaves the firm, their card can be deactivated, eliminating the need to rekey the locks. David asked him to get an estimate of the cost with the camera and left Nic’s office.
Robert woke up in pain, and Amanda wasn’t there but left a note. She told him to go to the emergency room because he looked like a clown. Amanda said she had a job interview and would be home late. Robert said shit, he’s losing control of Amanda, and if she gets a job, he will lose her. He got up, looked into the mirror, and was shocked at how bad he looked. He showered, dressed, and went to the hospital.
They took X-rays, reset his nose, and put a cast on his hand. The doctor said he may need plastic surgery if his nose doesn’t reset right. His hand had hairline fractures and should be fine in six weeks. Returning to the apartment, he called his insurance company. They said an investigator needed to examine the vehicle, which could take two weeks. He needed to rent a car and have them call for authorization. Robert knew they wouldn’t pay for a luxury vehicle, and he would have to pay the difference.
Nic finished building the computer and powering it up. He updated the BIOS and Windows. Then he went online and researched an access control system and a CCTV camera with a recorder. Nicholas found a complete 50-card access control system and a camera system. He typed the proposal and emailed it to David. Then, he read four financial textbooks before Kelli entered his office.
They went to lunch, and Kelli said they had an appointment at Croft Industries tomorrow morning. So, he needed to wear a suit and asked why he was going. Kelli said Henry Croft wanted to meet you, and I needed their signature on the retainer agreement. Nic said, “Great, I’m the bait,” and they laughed. They finished lunch and returned to the office.
David asked about the labor costs on the estimate. Nic said he could install it in a day on the weekend and save the firm a few thousand dollars. David gave Nicholas the go-ahead to order and install the access and camera systems. He returned to his office, and Nic ordered the systems and continued reading the finance books. He completed the twelve books by the end of the day, and they headed home.
Kelli stopped for barbecue takeout on the way. Upon arrival, they ate dinner, and Kelli said tomorrow was an important day for the firm. Croft Industries needs to feel confident that we can represent them, no matter the issue, and win. Obviously, we can’t win every case, but we can mitigate the damages. Nic asked if he should wear his cowboy boots, and Kelli laughed. When dinner ended, they said goodnight and went to bed.
Early Thursday morning, Nicholas jogged slowly around the neighborhood, gradually increasing his speed. Soon, he was running fast and didn’t realize how fast he was going until a car passed him and honked. Nic slowed and thought he needed a device to check his speed and distance. Returning home, he showered, dressed in a suit, and went to the kitchen.
After breakfast, they went to Croft Industries and met Henry Croft and his son, Reid. They signed the retainer agreement, and then Henry asked Kelli what she knew about stock price manipulation. Kerri said little but asked Nicholas what he knew. Nic said it’s a person or persons who spread rumors about a company to influence the price. Then, they bet on the fall or wait and buy when the stock drops. Depending on their motive, they sell when the stock recovers or try to gain a seat on the board.
Henry asked Nicholas how long he’d been studying finance. He looked at Kelli, who nodded and said a few days. Kelli said Nic bought a friend of mine’s boyfriend’s college textbooks, who majored in finance and stock trading. Henry said he thought you were a computer programmer, and Nicholas said it was one of many talents. Everyone laughed, and Henry asked Kelli to investigate their stock price swing starting in March and ending in June.