DETACHED

Chapter 26: Richard Cole

Xavier stepped into the Chairman's office and closed the door behind him.

Sebastian looked up from the documents on his desk.

"You wanted to speak with me?"

Xavier nodded and walked toward the desk.

"Yes."

Sebastian studied his son's expression.

"Something happened?"

"I've been going through the records."

Xavier placed the folder on the desk.

"The problem is bigger than Geoffrey."

Sebastian's expression became serious.

"What did you find?"

"Nothing I can prove yet."

Xavier opened the folder.

"That's the problem."

He turned several pages.

"There are supplier changes that don't make sense. Financial approvals that weren't properly documented. Managers who approved things they can't explain."

Sebastian listened quietly.

"And HR?"

"They're reviewing the records."

Xavier paused.

"There's another thing."

Sebastian waited.

"Richard."

The room became quiet.

Sebastian leaned back in his chair.

"What about him?"

"His name keeps appearing around the changes."

Sebastian didn't answer immediately.

"That doesn't mean he's involved."

"I know."

Xavier closed the folder.

"I'm not accusing him."

"Good."

"I just want to understand how he became so deeply involved in the company."

Sebastian sighed.

"Richard has always been ambitious."

"That's not what I'm asking."

Xavier looked directly at him.

"When did he start getting involved with the subsidiaries?"

Sebastian was silent for a moment.

"Gradually."

"How gradually?"

"At first, he was involved in smaller matters. Supplier negotiations. Internal restructuring. A few subsidiary decisions."

"And then?"

"He became more influential."

Xavier frowned.

"Without anyone noticing?"

Sebastian gave him a tired look.

"I noticed."

"Then why didn't you stop it?"

Sebastian looked away.

"Because at the time, I didn't have a reason to."

Xavier leaned against the edge of the desk.

"Now you do."

Sebastian looked back at him.

"Perhaps."

Xavier picked up the folder.

"The government project is about to begin."

"I know."

"I can't supervise something that large while the company's internal records are this disorganized."

Sebastian nodded slowly.

"Then don't rush."

"I'm not rushing."

"You are."

Xavier frowned.

Sebastian continued calmly.

"You've been back for only a short time, and you've already started pulling apart departments that have been operating for years."

"Because something is wrong."

"I know."

Sebastian's voice softened.

"But if you want the truth, you need patience."

Xavier was silent.

Finally, he nodded.

"Then I'll find it."

Sebastian gave him a small smile.

"I know you will."

Xavier picked up the folder.

"I'll keep investigating."

"Good."

He turned toward the door.

"Xavier."

He stopped.

"Don't accuse anyone until you have proof."

Xavier looked back at his father.

"I won't."

He left the office.

As the door closed behind him, Sebastian's expression slowly changed.

The concern returned to his face.

Richard's name had finally reached Xavier.

And Sebastian knew that once his son started digging, he rarely stopped until he found what he was looking for.

Xavier returned to his office and found Claire waiting outside.

"Mr. Cole."

"Did HR send the records?"

"Yes."

She handed him a thick folder.

"They were delivered a few minutes ago."

Xavier took it.

"Thank you."

Claire looked at him carefully.

"You've been in there for quite some time."

"I know."

"You should take a break."

Xavier gave her a brief look.

"Later."

Claire sighed.

"Of course."

She walked away.

Xavier entered his office, placed the folder on his desk, and opened it.

Claire walked away, leaving Xavier alone in his office. He closed the door and returned to his desk. The HR folder was still open before him. Xavier picked it up and began reading again. He went through the management records slowly, comparing names with the reports he had already collected.

Geoffrey.

Williams.

Victor Klaus.

Supplier changes.

Department transfers.

Approvals.

The more he read, the more questions appeared. But he still didn't have enough to make an accusation.

Across the building, Williams wasn't nearly as calm He walked straight to Victor Klaus's office and knocked."Come in."

Williams entered and closed the door behind him.

Victor looked up from his desk. "You spoke with Xavier."

Williams nodded.

"He questioned me about Geoffrey." Victor's expression remained calm.

"What exactly did he ask?"

Williams explained everything.

The documents Xavier had shown him. The questions about Geoffrey.The supplier changes.

The approvals. Victor listened without interrupting. When Williams finished, he leaned back.

"Did you mention me?" Victor asked

"No." Williams answered

"Richard?" He asked again

"No." Victor nodded.

"Good." Williams hesitated.

"Mr. Klaus..."

"What?"

"I think he's getting suspicious." Victor gave him a cold look.

"Suspicion isn't evidence."

"But what if he finds the records?"

"He won't."

Victor stood and walked toward the window.

For a moment, he said nothing. Then he turned.

"How much does he know about Geoffrey?"

"Enough to believe Geoffrey was involved." Victor's eyes narrowed.

"Then let him believe it." Williams stared at him. Victor continued calmly.

"Geoffrey already has a history of poor decisions. He's arrogant. He's careless. And after what happened on the fourth floor, Xavier already has reason to distrust him."

Williams slowly understood.

"You want everything to point toward him."

"Exactly." Victor confirm

"What about the other records?" Williams asked

"We clean them." Williams asked again

"And the supplier changes?"

"Make them look like Geoffrey's decisions."

Williams swallowed.

"What if Xavier keeps digging?" Victor gave a faint smile.

"Then he'll find exactly what we want him to find."

Later that evening, Victor made another call. Richard Cole answered.

"What happened?" Richard asked over the phone

"Xavier is investigating. Richard was silent.

"How far?" He asked cautiously

"Far enough to notice the pattern." Victor anwered. Richard's voice hardened.

"Then we need to remove it." 🤑 Richard finally responded

"We already are." Victor Answer with so much respect

"And Geoffrey?" Victor paused.

"He's going to carry the weight." Richard understood immediately.

"Good."

"Once the records are cleaned, Geoffrey becomes the obvious explanation." Richard leaned back in his chair.

"And if Xavier doesn't stop?" Victor asked again

Victor looked through the glass wall of his office.

"Then we'll give him something else to investigate." Richard responded and ended the call.

Back in his office, Xavier continued reading. The building had grown quiet. Most employees had already gone home. Claire had left hours earlier. But Xavier remained at his desk. He turned another page. A new name appeared. He stopped. Then another.

He flipped back. Read it again. Another name appeared in a different report.Xavier picked up a second folder.Then a third.He began writing names on a sheet of paper. One name.

Then another.

Then another.Some were connected to suppliers. Others were connected to subsidiaries. A few had approved financial transactions.

The connections weren't obvious yet.But they were there. Xavier leaned back in his chair.

For the first time, he realized something. Geoffrey might not be the center of the problem.

He might only be the part someone wanted him to see Xavier looked at the growing list of names on his desk. He wasn't ready to make a move.

Not yet.

He needed more.

So he opened another file.

And kept reading.