DETACHED

Chapter 27: Office Problems

The office at Apex Engineering and Architecture had been running on exhaustion.It was late in the afternoon, but nobody seemed to notice the time.

Daniel sat behind his desk, staring at two computer screens. One displayed the Riverside project. The other contained the government proposal they were desperately trying to complete.

Lila was at the conference table with a stack of documents beside her. Zoe was checking measurements, while Jenna worked through a series of architectural drawings.

Nobody was talking.

The only sounds were keyboards clicking, papers turning, and the occasional sigh from someone who had been staring at the same document for too long.

Amara walked through the office with a folder in her hand.

She stopped beside Daniel.

"Where are the revised Riverside figures?" She asked

Daniel didn't look up.

"Almost done."

"Almost?" She questioned He finally looked at her.

"I've been working on them since morning." He replied frustration could be heard in his voice.

Amara placed the folder beside his computer.

"Finish them before you leave."

Daniel stared at the folder color draining from his eyes.

"Before I leave?" He asked in disbelief

"Yes." Amara said and picked her pace. He let out a quiet breath. She stopped beside Lila.

"How's the government proposal?" She asked

Lila looked up.

"We're still working on the financial section." Lila replied

"How much is left?" Amara asked as she scrouched down beside her

"About twenty pages." Lila replied raising her slightly

Amara's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Twenty?" Lila nodded.

"Most of it needs to be reviewed." Amara looked toward the clock.

"Then keep going."

Lila lowered her eyes.

"Yes, ma'am."Amara walked back toward her office. She had barely taken three steps when Daniel spoke again.

"Amara." She stopped.

"What?" Amara asked, Daniel pushed his chair back.

"We need help." Daniel continued

Amara turned around.

"We have a team."

Daniel looked around the office.

"We have four exhausted people." Daniel said looking exhausted. Nobody spoke, but Lila glanced briefly at Daniel.

He continued.

"We're handling Riverside, the government proposal, existing clients, revisions..." Daniel briefly paused

"I know what we're handling." Amara said trying to understand what he was implying

"Then you know we need another person." Daniel finished, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes.

Amara stared at him. For a moment, she looked as though she might dismiss the idea. She looked at her four employee, they were all tired.

She calmly held out her hand with the other tucked under her breast.

"Do you have someone?" She asked . Daniel reached into a folder beside his desk.

"Someone dropped off a CV yesterday." He handed it to her.

"His name is Steven." Amara looked down at the document.

She read the first few lines.

Then the second page.

Her expression remained unreadable.

"Experience?" Ske asked flipping the pages of the cv

"According to his CV, he's worked on several large projects."

"According to his CV." Amara asked puzzled, she understood the need for another hand but she didn't want a liability, someone she had to teach.

Daniel gave a small shrug.

"That's why we test him." Amara looked at him.

"I don't have time for a long interview." Amara said dismissing the idea

"You don't need one." Daniel replied pointing at the CV.

"Give him a task. If he can't handle it, we know."

Amara looked at the CV again.

The government proposal was due in two days. Riverside still demanded her attention. Her team was exhausted. She finally sighed.

"Call him."Daniel smiled slightly.

"I'll call him."

"And Daniel?" Amara called

"Yes?"

"If this doesn't work..." Amara didn't finish

Daniel nodded.

"I know." Daniel knew what she implied. Amara returned to her office.

Steven arrived less than an hour later. He was young, neatly dressed, and visibly nervous despite trying to appear confident.

Daniel introduced him.

"Steven, this is Amara. She's the CEO."

Steven straightened immediately.

"Good afternoon, ma'am." Steve Bowes slightly

Amara looked at him.

"Have you worked on large projects before?" Amara asked

"Yes, ma'am." Steve responded almost immediately

"Structural and architectural projects?" Amara questioned again

"Yes." Steven said

"Government work?"

Steven nodded.

"Some." Amara studied him carefully.

"You understand that we're under pressure here."

"Yes, ma'am."

"You may be given work without much explanation."

"I understand."

"And if you don't understand something?"

"I'll ask."

Amara nodded, "Good."

She picked up a file. "Daniel will show you where you'll work." Steven took the file she handed him.

"Thank you, ma'am." Steve said gratefully

As he walked away with Daniel, Amara returned to her desk.

She didn't watch him. She had more important things to worry about.

Steven's first mistake came less than two hours later. Daniel noticed it while reviewing his work.

"Steven." Steven looked up.

"Yes?"Daniel asked

"Where did you get this measurement?" Steven looked at the screen.

"I calculated it." Steven replied

Daniel pointed at the drawing.

"The original measurement is here." Steven leaned closer.

He stared at it for a few seconds.

"Oh." Steven realized

Daniel sighed.

"Check everything again." Daniel return the file

"I'm sorry." Steve apologize

"Just be careful." Daniel warned. Steven nodded.

"I will." Steven nodded

Daniel returned to his desk. But the mistakes didn't stop there. Another calculation was wrong.

Then a reference was outdated. Then a section of a document had been placed under the wrong heading.

None of the mistakes were disastrous.

But together, they were becoming a problem.

By evening, Amara picked up a document that was resting on the table untouched. Her eyes moved slowly across the page. She stopped. Then she turned another page.

Her expression tightened.

"Daniel." Amara called

He looked up. And ran to her office

"Yes ma, you called for me " Daniel replied as he entered the office

"Come closer" she looked at Daniel. Daniel stood and walked over.

Amara held up the document.

"Who prepared this?"

"Steven." She looked at him.

"Did you check it?" She asked

"Not completely." Daniel replied

"Why?" She asked till looking at him

"Because I was finishing the Riverside report." Daniel replied bowing his head.

Amara placed the document on the desk.

"There are mistakes everywhere." Amara said really coldly

Daniel looked at it.

" I hate incompetence, he can't work, then he should leave" Amara said folding her arms under her breast. She was visibily irritated. One will say very irritated.

"I'll correct them." Daniel said

Amara shook her head.

"That's not the point." Daniel looked at her.

"He needs more supervision." Daniel try to under her.

"I don't have time to supervise another person." Amara fired.

Daniel went quiet. Amara glanced toward Steven. He was sitting at his desk, staring at his screen. He looked overwhelmed.

She turned back to Daniel.

"You suggested him." She said

"You said we needed help." Daniel just stared quietly, he knew his boss was anger although she was not shouting.

Amara sighed, trying to calm her nerves

"Fine." Daniel waited.

"Give him minor tasks." She said

"So he stays?" Daniel asked

"Do you need me to answer that also?" Amara questioned

Daniel nodded.

"Understood." Daniel rushed out. Amara picked up another file. Amara returned to her work.

Outside her office, Daniel looked at the exhausted team.

Then at Steven. Then back toward Amara's closed door.

He already knew this was going to be a long night.

The following morning, the boardroom was unusually quiet. Xavier entered with a folder tucked beneath his arm.

He noticed Richard immediately.

Richard was already seated near the far end of the table, speaking casually with two of the directors. He looked relaxed, almost comfortable.

Too comfortable.

Xavier said nothing.

He took his seat at the head of the table and placed the folder in front of him. A few minutes later, the remaining directors settled into their seats.

"Good morning." Xavier greeted "Good morning, Xavier."

Xavier opened the meeting.

"We need to finalize the management structure for the government project." Xavier said

Richard leaned back slightly.

"I thought we'd already agreed on that." Richard asked

Xavier looked at him.

"We agreed on the general structure." Xavier said then paused.

"I want to make sure the details are clear."

Richard smiled faintly.

"Of course."

Xavier turned to the finance director.

"All payments connected to the project will require proper documentation."

"Naturally. The director in the person of Victor Hehn said."

"And major expenditures should be reviewed before they're approved."

The finance director nodded.

"That can be arranged."

Richard watched Xavier carefully.

"You seem particularly concerned about financial controls." Richard comment. Xavier closed the file halfway.

"It's a government project."

"That explains the caution." Xavier responded

Their eyes met. For a moment, neither spoke.

Richard was the first to look away. Xavier continued.

"Procurement will also need to be monitored closely."

Richard folded his hands on the table.

"Do you have a particular concern?" Richard asked. The question sounded innocent.

Xavier knew it wasn't. He leaned back in his chair.

"Not yet." Xavier said. Richard's eyes returned to him.

Xavier gave him a calm smile.

"I like to understand things before I make conclusions." Xavier said again

Something flickered across Richard's face.

It disappeared almost immediately.

"That's wise."

"I've found it useful." Richard finally said.

The directors remained quiet. They could feel something beneath the conversation, even if they couldn't identify it. Richard leaned forward.

"Since you're new to headquarters, perhaps I can help you understand how some of these departments operate." Richard said clasping his hands together.

Xavier looked at him.

"I appreciate the offer." Xavier replied. Richard smiled.

"Then" Xavier called out sharply make some director flinch.

"I want you coordinating with the subsidiary managers." Xavier said placing his hands on the table . Richard nodded.

"That shouldn't be a problem." Richard said with a smile

"I'll also require copies of their reports." Xavier continued

"Of course." Richard replied excitedly

"And I'll be reviewing them personally." Xavier announced

Richard paused.

"Personally?" One of the director asked

"Yes." Xavier replied his gaze turning to the man direction

"That's a lot of material." Dema said looking at Xavier.

The room became awkwardly silent. Everyone was scared, they were terrified but Xavier just stared blanking at them, determined to find the truth.

Richard's expression changed slightly. For the first time that morning, the relaxed confidence in his face seemed to weaken.He understood what Xavier was doing. Xavier wasn't accusing him. He wasn't threatening him.He was putting eyes everywhere. Reports would be copied.

Payments would be reviewed.

Managers would be questioned.

And every department Richard had spent years building relationships with would now be watched more closely. Richard looked down at the papers in front of him

The meeting continued. But neither man was really listening anymore. Richard was thinking about what Xavier might already know.

Xavier was thinking about what Richard might try to hide next.

Neither of them spoke about it. They didn't need to. When the meeting finally ended, the directors began gathering their documents.

Richard remained seated. Xavier closed his folder.As he stood, Richard spoke quietly.

"Xavier." He stopped. Richard looked up at him.

"You should be careful." Richard responded

The words were gentle. Almost friendly. Xavier looked at him for a moment.

"About what?" Xavier asked

Richard smiled, "This company is complicated." He replied with a smile

"Good luck nephew". Richard patted Xavier's shouder

Xavier nodded.

"Thank you." Xavier replied

He walked out of the room..Richard watched him disappear through the glass doors. Only when Xavier was gone did Richard's expression harden. He knew now.

Xavier was looking.

He just didn't know how much Xavier had already found.

And that uncertainty was dangerous. Outside the boardroom, Xavier walked toward his office without looking back.

He had deliberately said very little. That was the point. He didn't need Richard to know what he knew. He needed Richard to wonder.Because the moment Richard became nervous...

he might make a mistake.