CWMBR 38

Chapter 38

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Of course, it was natural to be wary when asked to hand over the operating records without explanation. However, Bridget found his reluctance to comply with her request strangely unusual. After all, everyone, at least all the employees, knew that Bridget was the owner of this theater. Why would the employees oppose something that the owner had agreed to?

"Bertio. Do I have to explain all of that?"

"No, I haven't heard anything from the boss. So…………."

Gilum, who had been quietly watching the scene from the side, interjected.

"As far as I know, the owner of the Glynford Grand Theater is Mrs. Bridget Wise, and she has granted permission to review the documents. But the 'boss’ you're referring to doesn't seem to be Mrs. Wise."

“Well, the boss of the theater is Mr. Ronan Pennington!”

"Does he hold any legal rights to this theater?"

"………………Well, I don't know about that......."

Bertio stammered awkwardly. Who would have thought to question anything legally? Everyone had simply followed Ronan, who had been sitting in the president’s office for some time.

Bridget answered in a voice mixed with a sigh, taking over for Bertio, who was at a loss for words.

"He’s running the theater as my representative. Since I have a formal power of attorney, I have the right to do so."

At those words, Gilum narrowed his eyes.

"Ah, a representative. So if any issues arose during the period he managed as one, we can hold him responsible for them, right?"

At the word “responsibility,” Bertio jumped in, startled.

“Excuse me, but I’m not sure why we’re having this conversation.”

However, Gilum, as if he had already gathered all the necessary information, spoke in a slightly firmer tone than before.

"I'm trying to verify the list of companies supplying goods to the Grand Theater. Please show me the relevant documents."

 "Oh, really."

Bertio was taken aback by Gilum's firm request, but upon hearing that the owner, Bridget, had given permission, he reluctantly nodded.

After a moment, the documents on the desk were... fewer than expected.

"Is that all?"

Bridget, who had expected the documents to pile up since they covered several years, couldn't help but ask. Bertio nodded with a sour expression.

"Yes. The documents are discarded every year. If we kept them all, there wouldn't be any space left."

"There's a separate archive room, isn't there?"

"We eliminated it when we laid off the archive room staff. Mr. Ronan decided that there was nothing worth keeping from the past, so he ordered us to dispose of everything."

Bridget was speechless, and Gilum quietly sat down and picked up the documents in front of him. Bertio stood there with his arms crossed, looking puzzled.

After briefly touching her forehead, Bridget picked up one of the documents on the desk. It was filled with unfamiliar company names.

From the start, the Glynford Grand Theater had not merely rented out the stage but had been deeply involved in practical matters such as signing one-time contracts with actors or producing the stage. Poor artists flocked to Glynford not just because they needed a stage, but because they needed such small-scale support. As a result, there were companies that had been dealing with them for a long time in various fields, such as props and costumes, and Bridget was familiar with a few of them.

But everything had changed.

“But Bertio, there was a company that had been doing business with my father for a long time. Why did it suddenly change?”

“Oh, because the unit price didn’t match.”

“The price?”

“Yes.”

Bridget blinked at the unfamiliar characters and lowered her gaze. The amounts that had been deducted were visible below. Some of them were noticeably large.

“What is this money for?”

“Huh? Oh, that. It’s the actors’ support funds.”

“But there are no productions on stage at this time.”

“Even if there are no productions, the actors’ support funds are still paid out.”

“Actors sign contracts per production, right?”

Bertio sighed loudly in response to Bridget's rebuttal. It was exactly the same attitude they had shown when she caused trouble at the theater as a child.

“So, there are also contracted actors besides the temporary ones, right? Hmm. Miss, I don’t know why you’re suddenly so interested, but shouldn’t you just keep quiet for now?”

At those words, Bridget, who had been looking at the documents, raised her head.

“What are you talking about?”

“The word has spread throughout Glynford. Even if others don’t know, the staff at the Grand Theater are aware of your situation.”

Bridget's face turned pale. Seeing her like that, Bertio clicked his tongue and muttered to himself.

"If the late theater owner were to see this, how disappointed he would be. I thought everyone would finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief, but what is this?"

It wasn't the first time the theater staff had blatantly judged Bridget. Especially to the long-time employees, Bridget was just a child who only knew to run around the theater, a naive young lady who knew nothing of the world.

When the Penningtons were alive, they tolerated her as a cute little thing, but after they died, the staff began to treat her like a child even more.

To be more precise, the staff couldn't easily accept the fact that Bridget, whom they had watched grow up since childhood, had become their boss. They would rather follow Ronan's instructions.

Bridget understood their feelings. She fully understood the employees' confusion and had been overlooking their overstepping of boundaries with a smile.

Bridget realized in that moment how wrong her attitude had been.

“Bertio, that’s harsh.”

"Huh?"

"I admit my personal life is messy, but I'm not going to tiptoe around just because of that. It's frustrating that I'm only now getting a glimpse into the theater’s finances. If I'd known the books were in such a mess, I would've stepped in sooner."

Bertio jumped in surprise at Bridget’s cold response.

“Why such a bitter remark? Do you know how many years I’ve worked at this theater?”

“I do. The reason I’m not firing Bertio right now is because I know how long he’s been here.”

"Miss!"

Bertio's shock made Bridget calm down. For an employee to behave this way toward the theater owner in front of a guest... She couldn't help but realize how badly she had been living all this time.

Bridget put down the documents and turned around. Gilum, who had been glancing through the materials, called out to Bridget in a low voice.

“May I have a moment to speak with Mrs. Wise?”

Bertio, who had been grumbling, clenched his lips and left the office when Gilum gave him a quick glance. Bridget sighed and took a seat across from him.

“It seems the scope of the investigation will be broader than we anticipated. It may be a bit chaotic for a while, so I’d like to ask for your understanding in advance.”

At this point, Bridget felt indifferent, nodding half-heartedly with a resigned expression.

“But exactly what part are you investigating?”

“The drugs.”

Apparently with no intention of hiding anything, Gilum explained to Bridget without hesitation.

“We aim to thoroughly investigate the source and circumstances of the drugs that Mr. Wise took on the night the two of you spent together. Do you happen to have any related information?”

Bridget unconsciously clasped her hands together and lowered her gaze. Her memory instantly brought back that day over a year ago.

That day, countless guests flocked to the Glynford Grand Theater. It was the day Donna, who had been insisting on going on stage, finally got her wish. The theater's finances were shaky due to the reckless production, but at least the scene that day was as splendid as anything in history. Nothing was spared in terms of money, from the stage and costumes to the supporting actors.

Upon hearing the news that the Grand Theater was finally staging a lavish play after a long hiatus, influential figures who were acquainted with Ronan also visited, each bringing their own acquaintances. Donna, adorned with heavy makeup and elaborate attire, smiled as she was showered with applause and praise. After the play ended, the theater lobby was transformed into a party venue for the after-party. It was a night filled with wine and music.

 “…………That night was crowded with outsiders. Even guests not on the list showed up, making it a chaotic night.”

People laughed and chatted all night, and some even used the rooms inside the theater as if they were hotel rooms. Bridget later found out that Ronan had deliberately decorated the rooms like hotel rooms to entertain the guests.

Well, since many influential figures from Glynford were in attendance, Ronan’s elaborate preparations weren’t entirely unforeseeable.

It would have been better if it had just ended as a noisy night. If it had just ended like that…………………

Bridget closed her eyes tightly and then opened them, speaking in a calm voice.

“If you’re trying to confirm whether I have done anything illegally, shouldn’t you investigate my actions?”

“It doesn’t necessarily require direct involvement for a crime to be established, madam.”

“Do you think I mobilized someone inside the theater to do something… to him?”

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