The Final Mile Chapter 1

“Hudson, lend me your car for today,” my driver asked over a call as I was busy working in the office.

I sat stunned for a few seconds, then said, "Uncle Wagner, have I said yes before you started using my car? Also, the client I’m meeting today is very important. Go to the airport right now to pick him up.”

“I have something urgent to attend to and need the car. I’ve just transferred 20 dollars to your client. Isn’t it the same getting him to take a taxi to the hotel?”

When I read my driver’s text, anger rose in my chest.

He had been working for me for three months. He was great at the start, and I respectfully addressed him as Uncle Wagner on account of him being similar in age as my dad.

Did he really think that made him my uncle?

* * *

I held back my anger and said through gritted teeth, “I’m not joking…”

He hung up immediately.

When I tried calling him again, there was no answer.

Left with no other choice, I hired another private car and rushed to the airport to pick up my client.

I ended up late by 20 minutes.

When I saw my client, I could clearly see the look of displeasure on his face.

I immediately apologized to him and ended up dead drunk after entertaining them over dinner. Thankfully, my efforts managed to appease my client.

When I finally returned home, my live-in housekeeper Lucy brewed me a cup of tea to make me feel better.

“Hudson, I hate to say this, but you getting completely wasted every day is just unacceptable. You’d better cut down on the alcohol from now on.”

So saying, Toby Wagner plopped down on the couch and crossed his legs. He even had a cigarette between his fingers.

Others might think he’s the boss while I was his driver.

“Stand up,” I ordered. “Who gave you permission to sit down?”

The look on Toby's face froze, and he looked slightly stunned.

“You really shouldn’t get mad. I’m saying it for the good of your health. Other people are hoping fervently that you’ll die early. I’m the only senior who cares so much for you. You should treasure people who genuinely treat you well.”

He quickly returned to his devil-may-care attitude, blowing out a puff of smoke.

He then carelessly flung the cigarette box on the table. I immediately recognized it as the box of cigarettes I had been saving in my trunk.

He didn’t look like he had any intention of standing up and continued sitting there comfortably with his legs crossed.

Before I could say anything, he went on, “Oh, yes. The cigarettes in your trunk have run out. Do stock up on it.”

He stretched himself out and yawned. “I can’t compare to you youngsters. I’ll be off to bed now!”

With that, he headed straight to his room.

I had a drop too much and my head was still throbbing. I thought I’d deal with this problem the next day after I woke up.

Back then, I had asked Toby to be my driver because he was humble and also a very steady driver. He was also very punctual on a daily basis.

I wasn’t a stingy man and was always generous with rewarding my employees, especially after being an entrepreneur for so many years.

I wouldn’t say anything even if he were to take a couple of cigarette boxes from me. I would even offer him some.

When I woke up in the morning, I had a good stretch on the bed.

The moment I let out a yawn, I received a call from the finance department.

I answered the call and heard my finance manager say, “Mr. Grant, why did your entertainment spending at The Silk Canopy exceed the budget by so much?”

“What did you say?” I was still groggy at that point. My mind was still in a haze even after the alcohol had faded.

“Typically speaking, your entertainment expenditure at The Silk Canopy wouldn’t exceed 20,000 dollars every month. However, you spent a whopping 100,000 dollars there this month. You're a whole 80,000 dollars over the budget!”