Darren's POV
In the morning, I dressed up in a black suit and powder blue shirt, comforting my feet in a pair of brown brogues. Adriana tried to complement me, wearing a checked blue gown and black heels. She locked arms with me as we walked out of the hotel and into the rented car.
I wanted to surprise the supervisors, so I didn't inform them of my visit.
It was the only way to catch them off guard and red-handed. Their useless antics and annoying behaviour had gone on for too long. It was time to do some weaning, removing the bad eggs from the bunch. And setting a few examples would be a good deterrent for the others.
We sat in silence, Adriana staring at her laptop. She gave me some reports along the way, and I just nodded in response. Having her here made this much easier. I didn't have to control every single detail, allowing my mind to relax and focus on other things.
Yes, I loved making money and also getting the worth of my investment, but my life was of more importance. And it wasn't a human problem or something a lot of money could solve.
The vampire clans had amassed wealth over the centuries, almost rivalling mine. The werewolves were a crazy bunch, but they could still hold their ground. The witches, also silent and used to the shadows that could keep them hidden, were not left out of the humans' economy. They had their own sources and hidden channels that would never run dry.
I had decided to start with the largest ranch I had in England, reaching there in about three hours. I got out of the car and stood at the gate while Adriana spoke with the driver.
I stared across the fields, using my eyes and ears to survey the area. I could hear chatter amongst the farmhands, with the sound of the animals mixing in. The distance was a lot,t but this was nothing that more focus wouldn't fix.
"… it's been a while since boss came to the ranch."
"Yup, but he never stops demanding the money from the sales. The records are never straight 'cause he keeps pocketing the larger part."
"Well, we can't do a thing. He's our boss, and even when the supervisor tried to talk him out of his greedy behaviour, he threatened to fire him."
"Blimey. I remember that day. Old William almost had his white beard screamed off. His pay isn't even that great. I wonder why he stays."
"You know he has a sick daughter and a son that's still in school. Ain't that easy to raise money these days. And who would employ such an old man?"
"Yeah. I'd be glad if the boss was somehow fired and Old William became the new boss. Then maybe I could be the supervisor."
"Yeah, and fish would walk the earth. There's no way the higher-ups would do that. Let's just go back to work."
I listened some more, hearing them leave the mess hall and return to the fields and barns.
"Adriana, who is in charge of this farm? What's his name and qualifications?"
She whipped her tablet out, searching through the company's database for a few minutes before passing the tablet over to me. I read through, nodding my head before asking her to pull up the credentials of the supervisor.
"William Locksley. Sounds like a real native. Dropped out of a business college to run his family's farm. He sold it to us years ago and was given a job here by the former manager as a sign of sympathy."
I passed the tablet back to her, watching her adjust her glasses as she looked at the screen.
"Yes, and so far, he's worked here for over twenty years, the longest worker on this particular ranch. Is there a problem, though?"
"Yes and no. The present ranch manager has been stealing from me and falsifying records. Fire him and make William the new ranch manager. You can sit in the car and make the necessary calls. I'll be taking a walk around in the meantime. We leave in ten minutes."
She nodded, walking back to the car, and she pulled her phone out of her handbag.
"One more thing, find the hospital that the Locksley girl is in. I need to see her."
I didn't wait for her response as I passed the gate, the sleeping guard not noticing me. I could fire him,m but he wasn't the priority. My outfit was a mismatch in this environment,nt and the muddy ground threatened to stain my shoes.
I whizzed across the fields as softly as possible, finding my way to William's office. It was empty, but I took a look at the papers on his desk. He had been looking over the records, trying as much as possible to cover up the mess of the ranch manager.
This was partly my fault. If I had paid more attention, things wouldn't have gotten so rotten. Now, an old man had to cover up for a greedy youth. I burned with rage, but I couldn't let it out.
I walked out, using my ears to find William's location. I rushed over and stood a distance off as I watched him tend to the sheep. He had a woman with him, who I first assumed to be another farmhand until she raised her head and the tufts of white hair peaked from under her hat.
"Excuse me, are you William Locksley?"
"Yup, that's me. What can I do for you?"
"Nothin,g really. I just have a few questions."
"Well, I'd love to answer you, but I'm really b,usy, and unless you're a customer, I couldn't spare you any real time."
My gaze shifted from him to his wife, who stared at me with curious eyes. My face was unknown to them, so it was natural to think of me as a customer.
"I see. Is the ranch manager in? I also need to speak with him."
"Well, the boss isn't in. Hasn't been for a few months. But I could give him a call later if that helps."
"There's no need for that. My name is Darren King, your CEO and founder. And starting from today, you're the new ranch manager."
I could see the shock slowly covering his face and his lungs threatening to scream.
"Nah, that can't be right. I heard the CEO lives in Romania, and although I've never met him, he wouldn't come all the way to England just for a promotion."
"You're right. I'm here for an inspection, and I found your ranch manager wanting. You will take his place, something you rightfully deserve. Fire whoever's lacking and employ good hands. I trust you, and I hope you pay my trust with good deeds. I hope to see you again. The regional manager will reach out to you in a few days to cement your new position."
I vanished, leaving William and his wife stunned. I hurried back to the car, and we left immediately for the hospital where William's daughter was. I was going to do him a favour by curing his daughter with my blood. He shouldn't suffer after being diligent for years.
I barely spent any time there, waiting until his daughter woke up before vanishing again. The hospital would sort out the rest, and in a few days, she would be back home with her parents.
The rest of the day was spent driving across London before making a stop at a coffee shop at noon. I had visited four other farms and one brewery. I had exceeded my expectations, and I was quite proud of myself, not forgetting the driver's ability.
The day was over, and I wanted some time to relax and enjoy the view of local London.
It was a small shop filled with happy customers and cheerful workers. I was served with a wide smile and took a sip of my coffee as I turned my attention to the TV.
They were showing an old football match, one that I remembered vividly. Most of the patrons only glanced at the TV before turning their attention to the newspaper before them, their partners, their phone, or just enjoying their food. I took a bit from my pastries, savouring the taste with a nod. The chef really knew their way in the kitchen.
Relaxed and not expecting any disturbances since Adriana was seated in the car, I didn't notice when a woman slid into the seat in front of me.
"Hi. Are you new here?"
Her presence was slightly annoying, ng but when I saw her smile, my heart quickly warmed up.
"And how did you figure that out?"
"It's simple. I live here, and I've never seen you. And that black jeep parked out front is new, too."
She reclined her back, watching me with a smile as she slowly sipped her coffee.
"I'm Janet. Janet Moore. And you?"
She stretched out her hand, and I gladly took it.
"Darren King. Nice to meet you."
There was a jolt in my soul, a certain loss that I couldn't place. Something was amiss, but Janet's smile made me dismiss my worries.