Chapter 7 Crisis

Looking at his empty hand, Kyler felt a little disappointed. He turned his head toward Audrey who was now holding her little boy's hand and smiling down at him. He walked over to her and spoke indifferently.

"I promised Harlan I'd treat you two to have roast duck for lunch. What do you say?"

Audrey raised her eyebrows at Kyler's invitation. She did not want to take her son to lunch with an arrogant man who just muscled a DNA test out of her. She was afraid that it would cause them both indigestion.

So she answered, "Thank you for your kind offer, but no. I have to go see a friend. We have to leave now. I'll keep my phone on in case you hear back from the lab about the paternity test results. Let me know, will you? And don't worry, we won't run. I think it's pointless considering we're in your territory."

Before he could once again admire Audrey for being straightforward, Kyler heard his phone ring. He fished it out of his pocket and checked the caller ID. It was Malcolm. He picked up.

"Hey, Malcolm. What's up?"

"Bad news, man. Someone anonymously reported He Group for tax evasion. The government has been pretty strict about such cases lately. If they find something wrong with the company's accounts, you will be sued. Some guys from the tax bureau will come to your office this afternoon. You better get your books in order as soon as you can."

"Got it. Thanks." After hanging up with Malcolm, Kyler immediately called one of his most trusted people, Andy Wei, and asked him to check the accounts in the financial department.

"Mr. He, the financial department staff are unwilling to pull up the accounts. They said they wouldn't do a thing without the director present. I think something fishy is going on."

After listening to Andy's report, he knitted his brows and narrowed his eyes. He hung up and turned to his secretary who was standing aside.

"Do you know anyone who can do accounting and auditing?"

The secretary was stunned by the sudden question. She thought, 'Aren't there several accountants in the company? Why is he looking for someone outside?' Then, something occurred to her.

Kyler's grandmother made him CEO of He Group, but before he took over, his stepmother, Camryn Fang, had managed the company. All the members of the financial department staff were her people. It was reasonable that Kyler did not trust them.

"I know an experienced senior accountant. He used to be the director of the financial department. He went into early retirement a few years ago, but he still assisted many companies in their accounting. I can contact him."

Her boss nodded and replied, "Ask him to come here immediately. I'll pay him whatever he wants."

The secretary dipped her chin in acknowledgement and walked over to her desk at once. She picked up the phone, called the senior accountant, and asked him to come over right away.

Kyler watched as his secretary made the important call. In the middle of it, her face turned pale and then she hung up. "What's wrong?" he asked her.

"He's indisposed, Mr. He. He's in the hospital right now. How about I find another accountant for you?" she offered dully.

Before the CEO could say anything, little Harlan blinked his big, dark eyes at him and said, "Do you really need an accountant, Uncle Kyler? Mommy is a CPA."

Kyler looked at the boy in surprise and then turned his head toward Audrey. He asked, "Are you really a CPA? How is your ability to audit?"

"Oh, Mommy is the best. She handles the accounts for one of my uncles' company." The little boy raised his chin proudly.

Looking at her son's proud eyes, Audrey could not decide whether to feel touched or annoyed. He seemed so eager to sell her out.

Although he did not see a trace of doubt in Harlan's face, Kyler still did not take his word. He was talking about his mother. Of course he thought that she was the best accountant in the world. Since Audrey kept silent, Kyler ordered his secretary to look for other accountants, but she came up empty. Time was running out. He was left with no other choice.

"Please, Miss Yang. I really need your help," he said in the humblest tone he could muster.

"I'm flattered, Mr. He, but I've lived abroad for some time and did my job there. I'm not familiar with the accounting here. I don't think I'm the best person for the job," Audrey declined and explained politely.

He dipped his chin and thought for a while, but he was not able to think of another way to get out of the crisis. Maybe if he told her the truth, she would consider offering her assistance. He took a deep breath and started briefing her on the situation.

"Well, I suppose I should just be truthful with you. I just took over the company, and I just found out that somebody anonymously reported us for tax evasion. The tax bureau people are coming later today to investigate. At this point, I'd take any help I could get. But if you decide to pitch in, I'll reward you with anything you want. You have my word."

He watched her face swim in a sea of emotions that he could not tell apart. She was about to answer when Harlan tugged on her hand and begged, "Mommy, please help Uncle Kyler. Didn't you say that friends should look out for each other? Now Uncle Kyler is in trouble. As his friend, you have to help him. You will help him, won't you?"

Slowly, the creases on Audrey's forehead smoothened, and Kyler breathed a sigh of relief. When all this was over, he would not only owe her but also the little guy who just helped his case.

"Show me your books." Kyler smiled and phoned Andy once again.

He told him to prepare the books as he walked Audrey to the financial department. When they arrived, they found Andy in front of a computer and a tall stack of folders.

"Here's everything you asked for, sir," Andy said, gesturing to the things in front of him.

Audrey nodded, sat down, and started looking through the records. She immediately immersed herself in her work.

Harlan, who was smiling proudly beside the CEO, looked up at him.

"Don't worry, Uncle Kyler. Mommy will help you solve your problem."

Kyler touched his little head and replied, "Let's hope so."

He turned his head toward Audrey's direction once again and watched her pore through his company's books with such shatterproof concentration. Maybe her son was right. Maybe she was the best accountant in the world.

Meanwhile, in the financial department, an accounting clerk secretly sent a message and reported the current situation to Camryn Fang.

"Mrs. He, Mr. Kyler He has found an accountant to help him check the accounts..."

At a luxury clubhouse, nursing a cup of coffee in her hand, Camryn Fang listened to her subordinate's report. Her cold, beautiful face was devoid of any emotion.

"When will the tax bureau people arrive?"

"They'll be here at three o'clock at the latest."

"It's in less than three hours. How competent do you think this accountant is?"

She took a sip of her coffee. Even if her stepson's accountant found the problem in the books, it was no big deal. It would still take a miracle to make the accounts look flawless, and miracles did not happen over a matter of hours. She was not worried.

At three o'clock later that day, in the financial department of the He Group.

"Mr. He, the people of the tax bureau have arrived," the secretary rushed in and reported anxiously.

Kyler's handsome face remained unchanged, but his tightly pursed lips revealed his true emotions. He looked at Audrey who was sitting in front of the computer with her fingers dancing over the keyboard. Her brows were knitted and her eyes narrowed.

"Give me five more minutes," she snapped without raising her head.

Kyler stood up and walked out of the office with Andy. He looked like he was going to stall the people from the tax bureau to buy the five minutes Audrey needed.

After they left, Audrey's little boy walked over to her and began watching what she was doing over her shoulder.

She stopped for a moment and stroked her son's hair. "Don't worry, honey. Mommy's got this." She smiled at him, and he smiled back. It was a joy to behold.

Five minutes later, Kyler led the staff of the tax bureau into the financial department. They took the account books to be audited and left.

Audrey stood up from the chair and stretched her muscles. It had been three hours since she started working, and it left her sore.

"Mommy." Harlan rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her hips. He looked up at her and asked, "Have you solved all of Uncle Kyler's problems?"

She winked at him and answered, "Baby, you know there can't be a problem where Mommy is." The little boy chuckled. Scooping up her son in her arms, she grinned confidently and looked up at Kyler. "I never work for nothing, and my expertise doesn't come cheap. Wire my pay to my account right away as well as Harlan's endorsement fee."