DETACHED

Chapter 22: Plots and Thoughts

That evening, Claire sat alone in the temporary apartment Cole Group had arranged for her.

The apartment was comfortable, modern, and far better than she had expected. Everything she needed had already been provided, yet she still found herself staring through the window at the unfamiliar city.

Germany was beginning to feel real. She had left London in a single day. Her apartment. Her routine.Her friends.

Everything she had built around herself had been left behind because Xavier had decided to return to Germany. Claire picked up her phone.

A message from Xavier was waiting.

Be at headquarters by eight tomorrow. We have another meeting concerning the government project.

She read it twice.It was completely normal.Just work.

Still, a small smile appeared on her lips..She quickly put the phone down.

"Get yourself together," she whispered.

She had worked with Xavier for nearly four years. She knew his habits, his moods, the way he preferred his reports arranged, and the subtle change in his expression whenever something displeased him. She knew him better than most people did.

And lately, being around him felt different. Perhaps it was because they were no longer in London. Perhaps it was because she was now living in the same city as him.

Or perhaps she was simply allowing herself to notice things she had spent years ignoring. The way he had told her not to worry about leaving London.The way he had insisted that she come with him. The way he had immediately made sure she had somewhere comfortable to stay.He was simply being a responsible employer.She knew that.At least, she told herself she did.Her phone vibrated again.

Did you eat? Claire stared at the message.

Her heart skipped. She smiled before replying.

Yes.

A few seconds later, another message appeared.

Good. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be busy.

Claire slowly lowered the phone. It was nothing. Yet somehow, it was enough to keep her thinking about him long after she had turned off the lights.

She knew she was beginning to cross a line she shouldn't.

Xavier had never given her a reason to believe there was anything between them.

But feelings rarely waited for permission.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Cole group, the boardroom had emptied.But four men remained behind. The doors closed quietly after the last director left.

Victor Hahn loosened his tie and leaned back in his chair.."This project could be worth a fortune," he said.

Klaus Reinhardt nodded."If we handle it properly."

Matthias Vogel glanced toward the door before lowering his voice."Cole Group will be supervising the entire government development. Think about the contracts that will pass through this company."

Victor smiled.

"Construction materials. Equipment. Transportation. Subcontractors."

"And procurement," Klaus added.The men exchanged knowing looks.

There were legitimate profits to be made from a project of that size. But legitimate profits were not what interested them.

For years, they had created private arrangements with suppliers and contractors. Companies were awarded contracts at inflated prices, while the difference quietly found its way into private hands.

The government project could make everything they had earned before look insignificant.

"This could be the biggest opportunity we've ever had," Victor said.

A slow clap came from the doorway.

The three men immediately turned.

An older man stood there.

Richard Cole.

Sebastian Cole's younger brother.

He wore an impeccably tailored black suit, with a silver watch visible beneath his cuff. His dark hair was streaked with grey, and his handsome features carried an effortless confidence. But his eyes were cold and calculating.

He walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

"I've been listening," Richard said. The directors immediately straightened.

"Mr. Cole," Klaus greeted respectfully. Richard took the empty chair at the end of the table.

"You are thinking too small."The men exchanged uncertain looks. Richard placed a folder on the table.

"The government doesn't care which small firms win the individual contracts. They care about completion, transparency, and results."

He opened the folder.

"We care about something else." Victor leaned forward.

"How much?".Richard looked at him.

"Enough." A faint smile appeared on his face."If the right companies receive the right contracts, the money will move through several layers before anyone notices."

Klaus understood immediately. "We could control the suppliers."

"Not directly," Richard corrected.

He tapped the folder.

"That would be careless."

He explained that companies connected to trusted intermediaries could submit competitive-looking bids while quietly building inflated costs into materials, transportation, equipment, and specialist services.

Cole Group would supervise the work. That meant access. Access to contracts.

Access to payments.

Access to the companies doing the work. And access to enormous amounts of government money.

Richard leaned back.

"By the time anyone notices the numbers, the project will already be too far along to stop." Victor smiled.

"And Sebastian?" The room became quiet. Richard's expression hardened slightly.

"Sabastain is sentimental." He paused.

"But his son isn't.".Everyone knew exactly who he meant.

"Xavier," Klaus said. Richard nodded.

"He's the problem."

He had known Xavier was returning before most people in the company did. He had also heard about what happened on the fourth floor.

"Two days," Richard said quietly. "He's been here for two days and already ordered an investigation." Victor's smile disappeared.

"The financial records?"

"Some of them." Richard closed the folder.

"That is why we cannot allow him to continue digging." Matthias shifted uneasily.

"Should we speak to Sebastian?" Richard gave a quiet laugh.

"No.".He stood and straightened his jacket.

"Let Xavier come to me."

The directors watched him carefully. Richard's eyes hardened.

"I want to know exactly what kind of man my nephew has become." He walked toward the door before stopping.

"And gentlemen..." They looked at him.

"Do not make the mistake of thinking this government project is just another contract."

A faint smile returned to his face.

"This one can change all our fortunes." He left the room. The door closed behind him.

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Victor finally looked at the others.

"Do you think he can stop Xavier?" Klaus stared at the closed door.

"Richard Cole doesn't intend to stop him."

He paused. "He intends to control him."

Across the building, Xavier sat alone in his office. The city lights reflected against the glass windows behind him.Several financial reports lay open across his desk.

He had already noticed inconsistencies in the Urban Developments Department. Now he was finding them elsewhere.

Repeated suppliers.

Unusual payments.

Contracts approved without proper documentation. Xavier leaned back in his chair, his expression becoming increasingly serious.

This wasn't one careless manager.

It was bigger.

His phone rang.

Adrian.

Xavier answered.

"How's Germany?" Adrian asked.

"Interesting." Xavier replied as he leaned back on his chair. Adrian laughed.

"That doesn't sound good." Adrian replied

"It isn't." Xavier looked down at the documents.

"I've found irregularities in several departments." Xavier said reaching out to the documents

"How serious?" Adrian asked over the phone

"I'm not sure yet." Xavier replied There was a brief silence.

Then Adrian's voice became serious.

"Xavier, be careful." A faint smile crossed Xavier's face.

"You sound like my father."

"Someone has to." Xavier's smile faded.

He looked through the glass wall toward the corridor outside.

For the first time, he wondered how many people inside Cole Group had something to lose if he kept digging. He didn't know that one of those people was his own uncle.

And he certainly didn't know that Richard Cole had already begun thinking about how to deal with him. The government project had brought a new opportunity to Cole Group.

But beneath the opportunity was something far more dangerous.

A network of people who had spent years protecting their secrets. And Xavier had just started pulling at the first thread