The Last Time We Loved

Chapter 5

Harrison

I took a deep breath and adjusted my suit, tucking my both hand into my pocket as I waited for the elevator door to chime open.

The elevator door slide open when I arrived at the top floor, employees lined up a the hallway, executives, directors, managers, all filled with anticipation as I stepped out of the elevator. It was my first official day as the CEO of Hayes Global, after accepting my father’s proposal the previous day.

The board had announced me late the previous night, and with the look on their faces, I was sure no one had expected me to be their new CEO, especially since there was Nate, and I was just a new face that most of them didn’t recognize.

“That’s him.”

“He’s younger than I expected.”

“Do you think he’ll change the entire system?”

“Look at him, he probably already knows all our salaries.”

I pretended not to hear a single word, I have never cared about gossip. I was forced to be here, but I have to carry out my father’s request, bring order and results that the previous administration had been suspiciously lacking.

“Mr. Hayes, welcome to Hayes Global.” The board chair, Mr. Edward stepped forward with his hand stretched out for a handshake, but I didn’t receive it, he slowly lowered his hand. “Your office is prepared, the senior team is ready to support any instructions you have.”

“Thank you.” I gave a single nod. “I’ll begin immediately.” I walked through the hallway until I reached the large glass office overlooking downtown Los Angeles.

I stepped into my new office, obviously, my father had already prepared all these before asking me to come back, he had made the decision before breaking it out to me.

“Mr. Hayes, I’m John Darwin, I will be assisting you for---“

I walked to the desk, ignoring the nameplate with my name boldly written on it. “I want every files o every active development project on my desk, today.” I interrupted the executive assistant.

“A…all active projects, sir?” John blinked,

I slowly raised my eyes to meet his shocked face. “Yes, all.” Without hesitation, he nodded and left the office.

I leaned back on the desk and closed my eyes briefly, if I can quickly finish everything important my father was working on, then I will hand everything over to Nate and be on my way back to Australia.

Within fifteen minutes, John returned with stack of folders. I rolled up my sleeves and began sorting through blueprints, site reports, cost analyses, engineering notes, and planning proposals one after another.

After hours, I paused at a particular project file. “Project Orion?” I flipped through, it was a mixed use waterfront development, a billion-dollar crown jewel.

I flipped through the pages, glancing through each site plans, zoning approvals, structural designs, everything looked standard, which instantly caught my interest, but then…

I frowned when I noticed an error in the structural load distribution, a subtle miscalculation, but if construction continued as planned, the waterfront foundation would suffer long term instability, millions in potential damage and years of setbacks.

“Who prepared this?” I turned sharply toward John who stood nervously near the door.

He swallowed. “Um... according to the internal log, it was assigned to Jacob Adams, sir.”

“Bring him here.”

His eyes widened. “Right now?”

I frowned, looking up at John who keeps making me repeat myself. “Yes, I want him in my office immediately.”

Eight minutes later, I heard a knock on the door. “Enter.” I said, flipping through the file on my desk without looking up.

The door opened and the man walked in, I slowly looked up and the moment he saw my face, his stopped abruptly, and his expression collapsed in shock.

“You…!” He blurted before catching himself. “I mean, how… are you the CEO?”

Interesting I lowered my pen and leaned back on the desk, I still recalled his face, and how he had spoken to me at the hallway the previous day.

“Is that a question I need to answer, Mr. Adams?”

“N-no, sir… Mr. Hayes.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly, seeing him was the first time I was recalling the incident that happened yesterday, how I was used by that lady, and got scolded by Jacob for it.

Elara, right? It was the name I had heard Jacob call her the previous day, although I don’t know her last name because she had refused to say.

She had looked miserable. I shook that thought off my mind. I shouldn’t be concern of that ridiculous drama.

“Good, now explain project Orion, especially this section here.” I slid the folder across the table.

Jacob opened it, I watch him stare at the error as if they were written in ancient Greek. His mouth moved slightly, but no words formed. As I studied his expression, he closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath.

“Well?” I demanded

“I-uh… um…” Jacob stammered. “I wasn’t the one who handled that part entirely.” He quickly said.

“That’s not what the log says.” I said, and Jacob opened his mouth, but closed it again. “Mr. Adams, you are telling me you submitted a critical proposal with numbers you don’t understand?”

“I mean… It wasn’t my part, I-um… I wasn’t alone.” He swallowed hard. “Someone worked on this section with me.”

“Who?”

Jacob hesitated, his eyes flickered up to me, then back down. “Elara.” His jaw tightened. “Elara Brooks.”

Her?

I leaned close to the desk. “And where is she?” I asked, my voice colder than I intended.

Jacob froze. “She… uh… she doesn’t work here anymore, she was terminated.”

I didn’t react outwardly, I had heard her mutter something after Jacob walked out of the lobby yesterday. You should be the one pissed. Elara, don’t cry for a guy who just cheated on you and got you fired

“When?”

“Yesterday.” Jacob said.

“So a crucial project was left incomplete because you removed the person doing all the work?” I murmured.

Jacob swallowed hard. “I didn’t fire her, HR… um… HR had her on a list, they let go of a few junior staff.”

I closed the file. “You’re dismissed. Send me the corrected calculations by morning.” He nodded rapidly, hesitated, before walking out of the office.

“Send HR to my office, now.” I instructed John, and few minutes later, a middle aged man entered moments later, already sweating.

“Mr. Hayes, how may I…”

“I want the list of all employees terminated yesterday.”

“Of course, I will have it emailed--”

“No,” I interrupted. “Bring the physical document, now.” He nodded and rushed out, two minutes later, he returned with a blue file, and I opened it.

There were five names. I scanned through them until I found Elara Brooks. I stared at her photo clipped beside the page. It was the same face that looked so sure when she kissed me yesterday, and bold when she snapped at Jacob.

“Sir, is something wrong?” He asked.

I looked at the reason she was fired, it was restructuring which was a pathetic excuse. I leaned back slowly in my chair.

“Prepare Elara Brook’s full employee file, and someone find out where she is now.”