I was particularly interested in TradeInvest. I requested a meeting with the CEO, Mikhail Petrovich Kuznetsov.
“Anna Sergeevna,” he said when we were alone in his office, “I must be honest: the company’s situation isn’t very good. The sales department in particular is struggling.”
“Tell me more.”
We have an employee, Dmitry Andreev. Formally, he serves important clients; the turnover is high, but the profit is practically zero. In addition, many deals are unprofitable. There are suspicions of violations, but there is not yet sufficient evidence.
I requested an internal investigation, without revealing the true reasons for my interest in this particular employee.
The results of the investigation arrived a month later. Dmitry was indeed embezzling company funds, agreeing to “personal bonuses” with his clients in exchange for lower prices. The sum was considerable.
By then, I had already renewed my wardrobe. But, true to myself, I chose understated clothes, only now from the world’s best designers. Dmitry didn’t notice the difference. To him, anything that didn’t stand out because of its price was still a “little gray mouse.”
Last night he announced that they would be hosting an important corporate event tomorrow.
“A presentation dinner for senior management and key employees,” he informed me in an important tone. “The entire company management will be present.”
“I see,” I replied. “What time should I be ready?”
