DETACHED

Chapter 23: The Pressure 1

The morning at Apex Engineering and Architecture Firm began quietly. It didn't stay that way for long.

By eight o'clock, the office was already alive.

Phones rang from different corners of the building. Printers worked continuously, papers moved from one desk to another, and the sound of hurried footsteps filled the corridors.

Inside Amara's office, several files were spread across her desk.

One belonged to the Riverside Project.

Another contained the requirements for the new government project.

She sat between them, moving from one document to another without giving herself much time to breathe.

Amara was cold and strikingly beautiful, but there was nothing soft about her appearance that morning. Her dark hair was pulled neatly away from her face, and her sharp eyes remained fixed on the figures in front of her.

She had been awake since before dawn.

And she had already been working for hours.

A knock sounded on her door.

Daniel stepped inside with a folder.

"The revised Riverside report.".Amara held out her hand.

"Put it here.".Daniel placed it on the desk.

"You haven't looked at the government proposal yet." Daniel asked

"I have." She replied. He looked at the thick stack of papers beside her.

"You've been saying that for the past hour." Amara looked up.

"And?" Amara questioed..Daniel smiled faintly.

"And nothing." He turned to leave.

"Daniel." He stopped.

"I need the updated material estimates before lunch." She requested

"Already working on them." Daniel answered

"And the structural drawings?". She added

"With Zoe." Daniel replied

"Good." Amara said Daniel nodded and left.

Amara returned to her work..Outside her office, the rest of the team was just as busy. Lila moved between her computer and the printer, carrying documents under one arm.Zoe was comparing figures from two different project reports. Jenna was seated at the conference table surrounded by architectural drawings..Nobody seemed to have enough time..Lila finally dropped a file onto the table.

"Zoe, did you finish the government requirements?" Lila shouted across the room

"Almost." Zoe replied

"You said that twenty minutes ago." Lila fired back

"I know." Zoe replied

Jenna looked up from her drawings.

"Can both of you stop talking and let me concentrate?" Jenna complained

Lila stared at her.

"You've been staring at the same drawing for fifteen minutes."

"I'm thinking." Jenna replied coldly

"You're sleeping with your eyes open." Lila said

Jenna frowned.

"I'm not."

Zoe laughed quietly.

For a brief moment, the tension in the room eased.Then Amara stepped out of her office.

Everyone immediately returned to work. She looked around.

"Where is Daniel?" Amara sked

"Meeting with the engineering team," Lila replied.

"And the revised Riverside measurements?"

"He's bringing them." Jenna responded to Amara

Amara nodded.

"Good."

She turned back toward her office.

Her phone rang.

She stopped.

The number wasn't familiar.

Amara answered.

"Hello?" There was a hurried voice on the other end.

"Ma'am, this is Riverside site."

Amara's expression changed.

"What happened?"she asked over the call

"We need you here." The person the other side of the phone said

"Why?" Amara asked

There was a pause.

"There's a problem with one of the structural sections." The voice came again

Amara straightened.

"What kind of problem?"

"We don't know yet." The voice replied

Her eyes narrowed.

"Then why are you calling me?" She asked

"Because the site engineer says you need to see it immediately." Amara could.sense the tension and without hesitation, Amara was already reaching for her handbag.

"How serious is it?" She asked again

"We're not sure, ma'am." Voice replied

"Has anyone been injured?" She asked concerned

"No ma" the voice came through

"Good." She ended the call.

Daniel appeared at the end of the corridor.

"Amara?" Daniel called

"Riverside."

His expression changed.

"What happened?" He asked

"They said there's a structural problem."she replied.

Daniel immediately grabbed his phone.

"I'll get the drawings." He said running off the his desk. She was already walking toward the exit.Daniel followed.

"Should we take the company car?" Daniel asked

"No." Amara kept walking.

"I'm driving." She said

Daniel caught up with her.

"Amara, wait. We need our helmets."

She stopped for half a second.Then looked toward the office behind them.

"We'll get them when we arrive." She said as he threw her bag to the back seat

Daniel stared at her.

"That's not exactly how safety procedures work." Daniel said rushing to enter the car...

Behind them, Lila looked up from her desk

"everyone keep.working one the government proposal while boss is gone, there is a problem at the Riverside site" Lila commanded. In Amara's absence she always takes the lead.

Zoe and Jenna nodded and returned back to their work.

Daniel sat beside her, holding tightly to the seat as she drove.

"You're driving too fast." He said

"We don't know what's happening at the site." Amara responded

"We still don't need to die before we get there." Daniel fired.

Amara didn't answer. Her eyes remained fixed on the road.

"What did they actually tell you?" Daniel asked.

"That there is a structural problem."

"That's all?"

"That's all." She replied

Daniel looked down at his phone.

"I'll call the site supervisor.".

"Do it." She said

He made the call.

After a few moments, he ended it.

"He's not saying much."

Amara's grip tightened on the steering wheel.

"What did he say?" She asked panic set in her voice

"That we'll understand when we get there."

Amara frowned.

She hated answers like that. They were already approaching the Riverside site.The familiar construction towers appeared in the distance. Workers moved around the entrance.

Several vehicles were parked outside..But something felt wrong Too many people were standing around.

Amara slowed the car only slightly before pulling into the site.

The moment it stopped, she opened the door.

Daniel followed.

They didn't even bother looking for their helmets. They simply ran toward the construction area.

And as Amara saw the group of workers gathered around one section of the building, she knew immediately that this was

By late afternoon, the executive floor had grown quieter. Most of the employees had already left, but Xavier was still in his office. Several files lay open across his desk.

He had been going through the financial records for almost two hours, and the more he read, the less satisfied he became. A payment here.

An unexplained transfer there.

Figures that didn't match.

Reports that had been approved without proper documentation.

Xavier leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead.A soft knock came at the door.He didn't answer immediately.The door opened slightly.

Claire looked inside.

"Mr. Cole?"

Xavier lifted his eyes.

"Come in."

Claire stepped inside carrying a small tray. She had noticed the light in his office from the corridor and knew he was still working.She placed the tray on the small table beside him.

"I brought you something." Xavier glanced at it.

A drink and a small bowl of snacks sat neatly on the tray.

"You haven't eaten since lunch," Claire said.

"I'm fine." She gave him a doubtful look.

"You've been saying that for hours.".Xavier returned his attention to the files.

"I have work to finish."

"I know." Claire moved the drink closer to him.

"But you're not going to finish anything if you continue like this.".Xavier said nothing.

Claire watched him quietly.

His tie was loosened, his sleeves slightly creased, and the usual calmness in his face had been replaced by obvious exhaustion. He looked as though he had been carrying the weight of the entire building on his shoulders.

She picked up the small bowl and held it toward him.

"At least have something."

Xavier looked at the bowl, then at her.

"Claire."

"Yes?"

"I appreciate it." She waited.

"But I need some space." Claire slowly lowered the bowl.

"Of course..There was no anger in his voice Only exhaustion

She placed the bowl back on the tray.

"I'll leave you to work.".She turned toward the door.

"Claire." She stopped.

"I need you to arrange a meeting with HR tomorrow morning."

She turned back.

"HR?"

"I want a complete review of the management structure."

Claire studied him.

"Is something wrong?"

"Several things." He looked down at the documents scattered across his desk.

"I want to know who is responsible for what, who approves the financial reports, and where the gaps in management are."

Claire nodded slowly.

"How early?"

"Eight."

"I'll arrange it.".She picked up the tray.

Then she hesitated.

"Mr. Cole?"

Xavier looked up.

"You really should rest." For a moment, he simply looked at her.

Then he gave a tired nod.

"I'll try."

Claire smiled faintly.

"That's better than nothing."

She walked toward the door..As she reached it, Xavier spoke again.

"And Claire?"

She turned.

"Thank you." Her expression softened.

"You're welcome."

She left quietly, closing the door behind her. Xavier remained alone. The office fell silent again. He looked at the files on his desk. Then at the drink Claire had brought him.

For the first time that day, he allowed himself to sit back without touching a single document. Tomorrow, he would start asking harder questions. But tonight, he simply needed to breathe.