Null Existence
12. The Monday Morning Conspiracy
Monday starts with clear weather and the time shifts around 10 a.m.
Nina was sure, even though the clock perched on the table was actually digital, but, but it feels like every second goes by with the beat-up analogue needles spinning very slowly while waiting for the reaction from his superiors who are still glued to the screen monitor noteboknya an hour 30 minutes ago.
Waiting is the most torturous and boring job for him, especially if what is waiting for is something significant. Whether it had been twelve minutes his lentic finger was tapping slowly the end of the arm of the chair, like trying to race the clockwork motion as if time would be dragged together, the look of his eyes also seemed increasingly impatient.
Elsa folded her reading glasses and kneaded her thinly after finishing the seemingly heavy reading session. He tried to find the right words to start a conversation with the woman who had been watching him.
He can feel the aura of impatience from the glare of the eyes and the implied gestures, he also already anticipates what arguments come out of his critical young woman's work, idealistic and intelligent despite maintaining a calm attitude before him.
The figure of the woman who captivated her admiration since the interview session first now turned around like an investigator waiting for his confession, calm and threatening. Elsa feels like a student who will be lectured during guidance and confessing if her thesis falls apart.
“Pak Dendhy has sent the results of the meeting and audit analysis enabled by Swarnadipa, including all the funds flow of investors behind it. everything is well verified.” Elsa opened the conversation, the woman in front of her reacted as if in disbelief.
“Mother also read the email I sent is not?” ask Nina.
“Listen to Dyah! I've also learned what you sent, but to be honest, to me your accusations are still just a suspicion,”
“That's on paper, Bu.” Nina refuted. “Mom also listened to a clipping article about Swarnadipa whose estimated unit price is fantastic, about the valuation of local investment companies that fund them, he said, then multinational companies and banks who become outside investors they also patronize with a fantastic flow of funds to many real estate projects and startups in ASEAN in the last 10 years.”
“Lantas, What's your conclusion?” elsa.
Elsa herself understood where the conversation was that Nina was trying to dribble in her opinion.
“Some of their own funding companies are indicated shell companies, even though the outside investors listed in the audit are large Investors and official Banks in South Korea, Japan and Thailand, that's new based on my limited search results ma'am. Meaning..”
“That means on paper all your suspicions are not enough based on valid facts. Remember Dyah, you and I are not Forensic Accountants, even if your analysis sounds sharp. You need concrete evidence, you need a Burden of Proof that can be presented at the trial if that is what is now in your head.” refute Elsa firmly.
“That's not all Mom, I call some companies behind them are indicated as just shells, mostly in the Caribbean.there are those who enter Panama Paper even, Hanseol Investmen and Woojin Soft Bank for example, the value of their investment into many properties during these 5 years alone is fantastic, the growth is also rapid.”
“That's not enough, Dyah. You have evidence of the flow of funds that go into them there is an indication of dirty money?”
“That I don't have yet Ma'am, but we know companies in the Caribbean are mostly just fictitious, or shells for money laundering right? They are also registered as individuals who then disburse funds to the company through acquisitions for example, while one from Cayman Island is only registered as an International Trading Company.”
“I know about Tax Heaven in the Caribbean, Dyah. But all your points and analysis will only be valid if there is evidence, you want to say there is a bubble and a dirty flow of funds, you need to show what and where it comes from.”
“I know Mom, and I can just browse with all my access limitations. But from there I put my suspicions, I smell there is a practice of money laundering through this project,” exclaimed Nina.
“Forensic Accounting is not just a matchlogi,” cut Elsa. “Without any evidence, your argument on paper is nothing more than a conspiracy theory against their portfolio.”
Nina was unable to hide the disappointed look on her superior's statement, a little struck by the words of the Forensic Accountant, to her it seemed to marginalize the prowess and analysis she put forward.
“I was placed to help Mr. Dendhy, with a client of this size, even because Mom believes my ability is not?” Nina tried to fight back, her voice a little stammered.
“Sure, and so that you also learn,”
“Then please support me, Mom! Please try to believe, what I did was right.” said Nina.
"I'm trying to help you, see how far you've got!"
“You are certainly aware of the severity of the allegations that you are trying to pin to our Clients, especially we are enabled to release a Financial Audit Due Diligence report that will be used to catalyze the continuation of their project.” Elsa continued.
“I understand what Mother means, I also since yesterday thought what are the consequences that may arise, since they released their full report for us to learn, since, and also the last meeting when my questions were answered. I think Mother will more easily understand the concerns I have conveyed via email.”
“You think I am, or Mr Dendhy can't feel the same?” hatch Elsa. Nina gulped her saliva realizing her talk just now was like two-eyed.
"Well what are you trying to do here, hamper our work with unnecessary investigations, make reports without sufficient evidence, make a rowdy, tarnish the names of our clients and offices?"
“Me and Dendhy have already worked in this field, before we decided to open this KAP. I also acknowledge your skills, critical thinking and abilities. But you are arrogant if you think you can jump into the middle of a commotion of this magnitude and everything ends fine. It's dyah duniyata, anything can happen.”
Nina is seen trying to cut the current of rebuttal that tides choppy, although her words seem to be stuck on the tip of the tongue.
“If you think this will end up like a movie. You've become famous for exposing multinational money laundering cases, in you-elukan as a hero, right? You're too naive, Dyah!” toilet Elsa, Firm.
"I never thought so, Mom,"
Nina was bowed lethargic by the words that Elsa had just uttered, one side she felt offended because it seemed to be back in abasement, but her rationality justifies everything that was thrown out.
Also only this time he was yelled so hard by this notoriously friendly and relaxed boss. Her confidence seemed to waver and Elsa was able to see that.
“I didn't mean to dwarf you, my words just now were probably spicy. I'm just purely worried you're being rash. You think logically, if indeed this big evil practice you want to dismantle, do you not think they can do anything to silence you?”
Nina frowned and looked back at the look of her superior's face that looked awkward, as if begging her to just give up. Elsa stared deeply at the puzzled look in front of her.
“In addition, it takes more than just a match of news pages and quotes to simply prove against the verified information they provide to the public. All are still preconceived before it is proven, based on your own words, try to imagine how arrogant it is if it is true.” Elsa closed her laptop screen.
“Already Dyah, I will finish the Swarnadipa business with Dendhy, you from today will take care of other clients as before. Please never discuss this again, especially to others, besides me.” he continued, the intonation was calm again.
Nina nodded softly assuring despite her mind filled with many questions, as well as resentment, but she was already reluctant to fight again despite the disappointment that remained. He admitted defeat this time, but the fire of his spirit was still not extinguished.
Elsa glanced at her watch, it was time for Coffee Break, then got up and took Nina out to get some fresh air. He tried to dilute the mood with another question.
I also deliberately did not reply to Mom…
“I looked for him after the meeting but did not meet Ma'am, I kept asking Nathan to pick up.” Nina replied unenthusiastically, as they waited in front of the elevator.
“Thank God that you have nothing, a panicked office when you say you missed alone and can't be contacted,”
“Iya Ma'am, sorry to worry.”
The two entered the empty elevator. Silent then.
“Oh yes, indeed the car is damaged Bu?” nina asked, as the two got out of the elevator on the 20th floor and started assembling the stairs towards the roof.
“Iya, Ajo same Mey send her picture to me. Those berets. He said he was damaged by thugs because Rangga ogah paid for parking the minimarket near his cost.” replied Elsa, a little breathless carrying her body up the stairs.
“Indeed not to return to Mom's office, her car?”
“Si Rangga said overnight and lazy back and forth, so deh... Bu Mey nagged since yesterday in Group.”.
Nina mangosteen heard Elsa's words, there was a little bad taste because of her actions that night. The garden on the roof was empty when the two arrived, the clock did show almost 11 pm, Coffee Break time was long over.
“According to you, how is he?”ask Elsa, all of a sudden.
“Eh, I asked you. I'm not too familiar,”
“Yeah, you guys are not the most familiar lately, have been a few times you delivered with Rangga right?”
“Iya, but the same drought Mr. Misbah. Just know it, the person is a bit strange.” replied Nina.
“Any?”
“Yes, the behavior, is unique. Yesterday the last time between me was also so,” Nina then said Rangga's silly behavior when meeting Mr. Sarbini at the red light, including several other things according to Nina based on what she had seen.
Elsa laughed at the length of Nina's story, she indeed often heard Mey nagging about Rangga who was late or how fierce he was to the behavior of his driver's clumsy luggage.
But he deliberately asked Nina because he still thought it might still ask Rangga specifically to support him, although it was firmly going to move him from Swarnadipa affairs, only then was he a little surprised at the many comments he got from Nina in a half-nagging tone.
“Oh, so yes. But the child is still good, although the lack of may be a lot” said Elsa.
“Iya Ma'am. Sometimes it's weird, the behavior,”
“What's so weird again, Dyah?”
“Sometimes he looks like a cheerful snob, or that friendly, say hello here and there like SPB in the Mall. Continue another time suddenly can be silent, contemplating in the corner, or missing such expressions, like a psychopath maybe yes,”
“This attention is also yours,” Elsa laughs seductively.
“Yes..Not a concern, it just so happens to be Bu.” Nina hurriedly corrected.
“That's the proof, you can know a variety of expressions Rangga, but not long ago know. I would be heartbroken if I were Nathan and heard that,” said Elsa, still with a smile and a seductive expression.
“Bu Elsa, can only.”
“Well, long life..It's dia” cut Elsa.
***
Nina observed the standing figure sculpting silently at the end of the garden, while her gaze was glued to the bright blue sky, her right hand bouncing the rubber bolar to the floor in a long pause.
It never completely missed catching the reverse reflection, and every time the ball was reflected to the floor was always in the same straight line, it was done with a long, glaring view into the sky.
Between being impressed and feeling silly, I don't know how many years he did until it was as good as Nina thought.
“You're still here, Rangga?” reprimand Elsa when the two are close.
Rangga caught the last reflection and turned his head, for a split second Nina could see the cold expression change into a smile on her face. Nina then turned her eyes the other way as Rangga stepped up to greet them.
He still keeps a little upset because of the incident last Friday, and upset from the conversation with Elsa just now, somehow he felt lazy to show it in front of Rangga and chose to be indifferent.
“I happen to be waiting for Mom, there is something I want to talk about.” said Rangga.
“Boleh, I and Dyah want to rest. What's wrong, Rangga?” answer Elsa.
“I want to resign, Bu.” said Rangga.
A gentle breeze roamed the benches and the long table-swaddled Canopy, gently wagging the unbuttoned Jas Rangga suit, blowing the brownish tip of the female hair all the way before him.
Both Nina and Elsa exchanged glances, both shocked.
