THE ASSIGNMENT
1944 Words
By ten the next morning, Maya had learned three things.
First, Adrian Vale did not believe in small assignments.
Second, he apparently considered sleep an optional activity.
And third, agreeing to work directly with him might have been the worst decision she had made since joining Vale International.
She stared at the stack of documents on her desk.
“Two weeks,” she muttered.
Sophie leaned over the partition.
“What?”
Maya looked up.
“Nothing.”
“You've been staring at those papers for ten minutes.”
“I've been thinking.”
“That explains the frown.”
Maya rolled her eyes.
She picked up the first document.
The Manhattan development was significantly larger than she had initially realized. The proposed property would occupy a prime section of the Upper East Side, with luxury apartments, private lounges, a fitness center, restaurants, and services designed for residents who expected everything at their fingertips.
It was the kind of project that could make Vale International millions.
Or cost them millions.
Maya flipped through the financial projections.
There it was again.
The number that had bothered her yesterday.
Twelve percent.
She circled it.
Then she circled another figure.
Then another.
Something wasn't right.
“Maya?”
She looked up.
Sophie was still watching her.
“You're doing the thing.”
“What thing?”
“The thing where you disappear into your head and forget everyone else exists.”
Maya smiled.
“I'm working.”
“On the CEO's project?”
“Apparently.”
Sophie lowered her voice.
“Does he really want you reporting directly to him?”
“Yes.”
“That is…”
She searched for a word.
“Terrifying?”
“I was going to say interesting.”
“Same thing.”
Maya laughed.
Her computer chimed.
An email.
FROM: Adrian Vale
SUBJECT: Meeting
Conference Room B. 10:30.
No greeting.
No explanation.
Of course.
Maya looked at Sophie.
“He summoned me.”
Sophie grinned.
“Maybe he likes you.”
“Or maybe he likes my work.”
“Same thing if you're in a romance novel.”
Maya threw a pen at her.
Sophie laughed as Maya walked away.
Conference Room B was empty when Maya entered.
Adrian arrived exactly at 10:30.
Not 10:29.
Not 10:31.
Exactly.
He placed a folder on the table.
“You reviewed the financials.”
Maya sat.
“Yes.”
“And?”
She opened her notebook.
“The revenue projection is still too high.”
“I know.”
Maya stopped.
“You know?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“Then why was it presented yesterday?”
Adrian sat across from her.
“Because I wanted to know whether you'd notice.”
Maya blinked.
“You tested me?”
“I evaluated you.”
“That sounds nicer.”
“It wasn't intended to.”
She couldn't tell whether he was serious.
Probably both.
Adrian slid another folder toward her.
“Internal projections. Supplier agreements. Previous development reports.”
Maya opened it.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because I want you to find the problem.”
She looked at him.
“You think there's a problem?”
“I know there is.”
That changed everything.
Maya looked back at the figures.
“Where?”
“If I knew, I wouldn't need you to find it.”
She frowned.
“So you believe someone made an error?”
“Maybe.”
“Or?”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Maybe someone wanted the numbers to look better than they are.”
Maya's fingers stopped moving.
“You think someone manipulated the projections?”
“I think someone has a reason for every number in that report.”
His voice was quiet.
“And I want to know what that reason is.”
Maya leaned back.
For the first time, she understood why he had personally assigned her to the project.
This wasn't just about a development.
Something else was happening.
“Does the board know?”
“No.”
“Your uncle?”
Adrian's eyes lifted.
“Why did you ask about my uncle?”
“He questioned me yesterday.”
“Richard questions everyone.”
“He seemed particularly interested in me.”
Adrian was silent for a moment.
Then he said, “Stay away from him.”
Maya frowned.
“That's not exactly possible if we're working on the same project.”
“I mean don't give him information he doesn't need.”
“Why?”
“Because he doesn't ask questions without a reason.”
Maya studied him.
Something he wasn't telling her.
“Is he trying to take your position?”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
She had her answer.
“You don't have to tell me,” Maya said.
“I wasn't planning to.”
She almost smiled.
“Good.”
Adrian looked at her for a second.
Then, unexpectedly, he said, “But you're right.”
“About what?”
“Richard.”
Maya waited.
“He wants my position.”
The room seemed quieter.
“How long?”
“Long enough.”
“And the project?”
“Could determine whether he gets it.”
Maya looked down at the folder.
Now the numbers made more sense.
The project wasn't simply a business venture.
It was leverage.
If the development failed, Adrian's opponents would have something to use against him.
If it succeeded, his position became stronger.
Maya closed the folder.
“So that's why you need me.”
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
“I need someone who will tell me when something doesn't make sense.”
“You could hire a consultant.”
“I could.”
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
His eyes met hers.
“Because yesterday, you were the only person in that room who didn't tell me what I wanted to hear.”
Maya didn't know what to say to that.
So she looked away.
“Fine.”
Adrian stood.
“You have two weeks.”
“I remember.”
“I expect your first report Friday.”
“That's three days.”
“Yes.”
“Do you enjoy making people's lives difficult?”
“Only when necessary.”
Maya shook her head.
“You're impossible.”
She gathered her papers.
As she reached the door, Adrian spoke.
“Maya.”
Don't tell anyone what we're investigating.
“Not even my team?”
Not yet.
Why?
Because I don't know who I can trust.
Maya stared at him.
Neither of them spoke.
Then she nodded.
Understood.
She left.
Adrian remained in the room.
He had expected resistance.
He hadn't expected to enjoy it.
By Thursday afternoon, Maya had barely left her desk.
She had gone through invoices, development contracts, supplier agreements, property assessments, market research, and three years of internal financial reports.
Something kept bothering her.
Not yet.
But the numbers didn't simply look optimistic.
They looked manipulated.
She opened another spreadsheet.
Her eyes moved down the page.
Construction costs.
Projected expenses.
Supplier payments.
She stopped.
A payment appeared twice.
Maya checked the reference number.
Same supplier.
Same amount.
Different dates.
She pulled up the original invoice.
Then another document.
Her pulse quickened.
The payment wasn't duplicated.
Someone had changed the date.
She leaned closer to the screen.
“Why would anyone do that?”
“Maya?”
She nearly jumped.
Sophie stood beside her desk
“Sorry. You've been staring at that screen like it insulted your family.”
Maya quickly minimized the file.
I found something.
What?
I don't know yet.
Sophie frowned.
Is it bad?
Maya glanced around.
The office was busy.
People were moving between desks.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
I'm not sure.
Sophie lowered her voice.
Do you want me to help?
Maya hesitated.
Then shook her head.
Not yet.
Sophie nodded.
Okay.
She walked away.
Maya reopened the spreadsheet.
She compared the figures.
The payment had been made to a company called Blackwell Development Services.
She searched the company.
Nothing unusual appeared.
She checked the address.
A small office in Midtown.
She checked the payment history.
There were six transactions over eight months.
All connected to the Manhattan project.
All approved by different departments.
That was strange.
Too many departments.
Too many approvals.
Yet somehow nobody had noticed.
Maya reached for her phone.
She considered calling Adrian.
Then stopped.
He had told her to find the problem.
She needed proof first.
She opened another file.
A supplier agreement.
Then another.
Her stomach tightened.
The same company appeared again.
But this time, the payment amount was different.
And the contract had been approved before the company was officially registered as a supplier.
Maya stared at the screen.
No.
She checked the date again.
The supplier hadn't existed when the contract was signed.
Someone had created the paperwork afterward.
She immediately printed the documents.
Then she heard footsteps behind her.
Maya turned.
Richard Vale stood several feet away.
His expression was pleasant.
Working late?
Maya forced a smile.
Just finishing up.
Richard's eyes moved toward the papers on her desk.
Anything ?
No.
Good.
He walked away.
Maya watched him disappear into the elevator.
Her instincts screamed.
She looked back at the documents.
Then at the elevator.
Maybe she was overthinking it.
But one thing was certain.
She needed to speak to Adrian.
Immediately.
Adrian was still in his office when Maya reached the thirty-fourth floor.
His assistant looked surprised to see her.
He's in a meeting.
I'll wait.
Ten minutes later, the office door opened.
Daniel Brooks walked out.
He stopped when he saw her.
Maya.
Daniel.
His eyes moved to the folder in her hands.
Everything okay?
I need to speak with Adrian.
Daniel studied her expression.
It's serious?
Yes.
He stepped aside.
Go in.
Maya knocked.
Come in.
She entered.
Adrian was standing behind his desk.
You found something.
It wasn't a question.
Maya placed the documents in front of him.
I think someone has been manipulating the project's financial records.
Adrian didn't react.
He picked up the first page.
Maya explained what she'd found.
The duplicate payment.
The altered date.
The supplier registration.
The contract that shouldn't have existed when it was approved.
Adrian read every document.
His expression became colder.
Who approved this?
I don't know.
Who has access to these records?
Several departments.
Who changed the dates?
I haven't found that yet.
Adrian placed the papers down.
Did you tell anyone?
No.
Maya looked at him.
Richard saw me looking at the files.
Adrian's eyes hardened.
What did he say?
Nothing.
That isn't what I asked.
He asked if I'd found anything interesting.
Silence.
Adrian walked toward the windows.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then his phone rang.
Adrian.
A pause.
His expression changed.
Maya couldn't hear the person on the other end.
But she knew immediately that something was wrong.
Send me the report.
Another pause.
Tonight.
He ended the call.
Maya waited.
What happened?
Adrian looked at her.
The board meeting has been moved.
To when?
Tomorrow morning.
Why?
His gaze dropped to the documents between them.
Because someone has already started questioning the project's finances.
But how?
Adrian's expression was unreadable.
“That's what we're going to find out.”
He picked up the documents.
Then he looked directly at her.
“From this moment forward, don't discuss this investigation with anyone.”
Maya nodded.
“Okay.”
“And Maya?”
“Yes?”
“Lock your computer whenever you leave your desk.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
Adrian's voice dropped.
“Because whoever changed those records knows exactly what they're doing.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD