I'S

ildings that hummed with the constant activity of eight hundred employees working in shifts around the clock. As Gabriel parked his Tesla in the executive spot nea

e main building. "When we broke ground here five years ago, this area was mostly ab

asked, pulling my jacket tigh

hires-we prioritized employing people from the surrounding c

rust surface impressions in my investigation work. Companies could create jobs while sim

r-a woman in her fifties with graying hair and the kind of competent energy t

haking his hand warmly. "And you must be the new

med. "Thank you for accommodat

." Janet's pride in the facility was obvious. "

ing workers by name, asking specific questions about production schedules and safety protocols. This wasn't a CEO making a

e quality control station that I

us a computer terminal where technicians logged defect rates and complia

approvingly. "Rejection rates are

eks ago that showed unusual patterns. Batch numbers that didn't follow the standard sequence, inspection co

s?" I asked, pointing

saw a flicker of something-confusion? concern?-

she said. "Some clients have unique requiremen

n sharpened. "I don't recall approving

quickly. "CFO authorization for a rush delivery to one of

al note of the information. As we continued the tour, I found myself paying clo

ping and receiving area. The loading docks were busy with trucks arriving and departing, but what caught my eye was a

e him. The conversation appeared heated, with lots of pointing and head-s

ng okay?" a voice

aching, his presence completely unex

y surprise didn't show. "Ju

g my face. "Interesting facility, isn't it? Lots of moving parts, lo

think he wasn't just talking

ll-organized," I

smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Come on, I'll walk y

t production schedules for the next quarter. James disappeared without explanation,

ht?" Gabriel asked

mind was racing with questi

the logistics systems that moved Verity Holdings' products around the world. The scale was impressive-tens of tho

stricted access," with security cameras that seemed more sophisticated than necessary for standard inventory prot

t to comment on it. But I filed away every observation, every inconsi

to the city that Gabriel brought up J

today?" he asked, navigating through traffic

ust said he was checking

ity reviews are typically scheduled in

ne maintenance on t

t he didn't so

nal, but it had also raised more questions than it answered. Why were there special handling procedures that Gabriel hadn't been info

from my thoughts. "What's your overall

nows her business, and the workers seem committed to quality." I paused. "Though I d

at me, interes

f the restricted access areas in the warehouse seemed to ha

ly. "Most people don't pay attention t

er support executive decision-making," I said, falling back on my cover story. "If I k

luable," Gabriel said. "She understood that being an executive assis

me the way he'd trusted his previous assistant, it meant I was succeeding in my cover. But i

h a text message. U

Some things are best left unexami

nvestigation closely enough to know I'd been asking questions at the manufact

sked, noticing my re

lied, hating how natura

ty Holdings Tower, Gabriel turned to me with an e

ghts. If you ever notice anything that seems unusual or concerning abo

him about potential problems in his company, while I was activel

stand the importance of maint

ar. "Tomorrow we'll be back to routine office work, but

peared to be well-run, but there were definitely irregularities that deserved investigation. Special handling procedures that Gabriel wasn't

ted that not everyone at Verity Holdings wa

worked on the larger puzzle. I needed to find a way to investigate the anomalies I'd observed without arousing s

o do the same. But Gabriel emerged from his office w

ancial reports. You don't need to stay, but if you're will

d without hesitati

yment schedules. Elena used to handle this kind of analysis, but it'

ccess to financial documents, and it would also provide insig

I said. "Should I o

ould be excellent. There's a Thai place that de

ow different Gabriel seemed when most of the staff had gone home. Less guarded, more w

he man behind the corporate reputation. But as I pulled up the vendor contracts he'd req

he ethical businessman he appeared to be, or it would provide the ev

the quiet office was going to test e

BE'

sed with her capabilities than I'd expected. The facility visit had been a test of sorts-I wanted to see how she handled being outside her comfor

expectations

ccasionally approved rush orders for premium clients, but I should have been informed about any procedures that d

a said, looking up from her computer screen. "Some of these companies app

different types of services, each with their own pricing and payment terms. What'

mental notes about everything she was learning, the same kind of

while continuing to review contracts. There was something comfortably domestic about sharing

manufacturing facility impressed me, but I noticed some security measures that seem

. I appreciated that she was trying to u

know our production methods, client lists, and supply chain relationships. The

er her next question carefully. "James Morrison's

mes hadn't been expected. I'd bee

mes occasionally does unscheduled security asse

llowing up on so

her than routine, and his conversation with Alexandra ha

ls that most people missed, asked questions that revealed inconsistencies I might have overlooked. That level of awareness wou

ention back to the contracts. "The payment terms are significantly more favorable t

ntract details. The contact sent an unexpected jolt of awareness through me-she smelled like vanilla

s, G

concentrate on the business issue. "Marcus negotiated that contract-they'r

iverables or measurable outcomes," Alexandra obse

st seen the Morrison Industries arrangement. Marcus had assured me it was standard

up with Marcus about the specific deliverab

er anomalies-payments that seemed disproportionate to services received, contract modifications that h

larities was concerning. Either our financial oversight systems were i

ganizing the last batch of contracts. "Most people would have processed these a

me that financial documents tell stories if you know how to read

oblems that need a

at

uiet except for the overnight security staff and cleaning crews, givin

red her things. "This kind of detailed analysis is exac

The things we discussed tonight about vendor relationships and fi

er understanding that some conversations needed to b

ations reveal before we create official documentation

cour

s beautiful, yes, but it was her intelligence and competence that I found most attractive. Working with someone who co

do with our working relationship and everything to do with the woman herself-her quick mind,

ur discretion about the issues we discussed tonight. Some of the irregularities you i

she said. "Confidentiality

ng had evolved in just two days. She was more than qualified for the position-she was exactly the

orward to working with in ways that had

I said as we r

today's facility visit. It really helped me un

veries. Alexandra's observations had identified potential problems that I needed to inve

n any profession. That Alexandra also happened to be beautiful and increasin

our evening's work. Conversations with Marcus about vendor relationships, review of contrac

hat working closely with Alexandra Sterling was affecting m

ay. And despite all my careful risk management, that excitement had more to do

and whether the intelligence and competence she'd demonstrated were ma

s looking forwar