Ben Moves On – But to What?

In the last episode,

Ben’s opportunity to win back favour with HR through the ‘Bring Your Pets to Work’ day had not gone too well.  Penny was on crutches (although Ben felt a large part of this was for show), and Mr T was in a neck brace after his encounter with his pet snake.

He still has to weather the storm as the investigation wraps up, but Ben has a plan.  He was excited to see Tina and felt better about his predicament, at least for the time being. Is his life about to change forever?

“A few words if I may,” Ben heard the all too familiar voice of Calvernicus, the Godfather of Compliance, buzzing in his ear again.

“Go away,” he said out loud just as a rather scruffy man was about to sit next to him on the train seat.

“What’s your problem, man?  People like you in your fancy suits, I have rights too, you know!”  quipped the man.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” replied Ben.

“Yeah, well, who else were you talking to?” replied the scruffy guy “You got voices in your head?”

Ben wanted to say, "Well, actually yes," but thought better of it. 

“What do you want?” asked Ben in a silent voice.

“Today will be the start of a new life for you, Ben, don’t blow it by being stupid,” replied Calvernicus.

“Who are you calling stupid?”  replied Ben, asking the obvious.

“Listen, just follow my lead - when you hear that voice in your head, it will be me.  I will help you to navigate through this meeting you have and if you follow my lead, all will work out.  If you don’t, then, well, I can’t help you.”

“Why should I?”  asked Ben in defiance.  “I have a plan.”

“Ben, you can’t just run off to the DOJ (Department of Justice) and report on your discretionary account.  It is not that easy.  You have to have hard evidence (which you don’t unless you steal company records).  It is just not that easy,” said Calvernicus.

“I’ll see,” replied Ben.

Ben sat across the table from Doug Selfrightous and Lizzie Whoa.  She was still being her charming self, smiling gently at Ben.  He was succour for a nice smile and somehow felt that she was on his side.

“So, Ben,” started Doug, “We have reached our conclusion.  On further digging, we have found many inconsistencies with this Discretionary Account- 60743 - your account, I believe." 

"It is full of compliance risks and a source of bribery and corruption, which is a big threat to the company.  There was the $800 bill for your boozy dinner, four expense claims, one for $640 with two doctors, one for $780 with a doctor and his two nurses, one for $110, which is OK, but it is for 24 Big Macs and the last one for $830 for five doctors."

"In addition, the cheques always have a tip of $200 in cash for the waiter at Roti Boti."

“They’re not all mine,” cried Ben in his defence, realising the severity of the frame.  “I’m not taking the fall for all of this!”

“Patience, Ben,” he heard the inner voice.

“We know,” said Doug, “there have been other events with this account long before you joined.  In fact, over the last two years, there has been some $200,000 siphoned through this account."

"Everything from Christmas presents that total 400 gift boxes ordered from a chocolate store, but only 300 were given away - bad enough in itself - but we suspect that the other 100 were sold.  The tips to the waiter have totalled over $20,000, which we believe has been shared with employees.  It’s part of a bigger plan -much bigger than you or I, Ben.  It is huge!”

“How do you know that?”  asked Ben, puzzled.

“We have our ways,” said Doug.  “We have developed a very good system for conducting investigations.  We have had to because of a whole lot of issues overseas, and now we have to apply these, let’s say, in other areas of the company.  Bribery and corruption are rife, Ben, and we are not immune."

"Let me introduce you to our top gun in this area; I have a proposal for you.”

“You can come in now,” said Doug after dialling a number into his mobile. 

Ben was perplexed.  He felt that cold sweat rushing over him again.  “Patience, my son,” he heard the inner voice.

The door opened as Doug said, “Ben, we want you to come and work for us in compliance.  You don’t really have much of a choice if you know what is good for you."

"You will be working as part of a team, as well, kind of a, oh hell! You will be a patsy, a spy; you will be working on the inside.  It’s all top secret of course.”

The door closed as they turned their focus to the door.  Ben nearly dropped dead.  His vision went blurry.  He felt like he had just had a shower from the perspiration.

“Let me introduce you to Tina Goodytwoshoes; you will be working with her!!

“I told you, Ben,” said the inner voice of Calvernicus.  “Just say yes.”

It was like a vision, more beautiful than he remembered.  Like an angel in motion.  Ben thought he had died and gone to heaven. 

Till next time,

Calvin

I love compliance, he thought to himself.

 Next Episode: Episode 19 – “Ben Becomes a Compliance Officer -well, kind of!”