CHAPTER 4 - THE TWELVE PERCENT MISTAKE
828 Words
By mid-morning, the Smith Corporation was a hive of frantic activity. But in the center of the noise, Lily sat in a pocket of absolute silence. Her screen was a mosaic of financial projections and audit flags.
She didn't just see numbers; she saw the heartbeat of the company. And right now, that heartbeat was skipping.
Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.
“Miss Lily? It’s Ade from procurement. The overseas shipment figures... they don't align with the department report.”
“Send me both versions,” Lily said.
Ten minutes later, Lily’s gaze sharpened. The discrepancy wasn't a typo. It was an intentional inflation of logistics costs, hidden behind a trail of metadata that led straight to the Vice President’s office.
Vanessa.
Vanessa wasn’t careless; she was inexperienced and overconfident—a lethal combination in a boardroom. Lily leaned back, tapping her fingers against the desk. She didn't call her sister to scream. She didn't run to her father.
Instead, she picked up her desk phone. “Schedule an emergency meeting with procurement and finance,” she told her assistant. “And make sure Vice President Vanessa is the guest of honor.”
The Boardroom Clash
The conference room was thick with tension when Lily walked in. Vanessa was already at the head of the table, holding court.
“...and we’ll move forward with the revised structure,” Vanessa was saying, flashing a polished, predatory smile. “It’s more aligned with our growth targets.”
Lily took a seat at the far end of the table. She didn't interrupt. She waited until Vanessa had finished her performance.
“Perfect timing, Lily,” Vanessa cooed, though her eyes were cold. “We were just discussing the shipment adjustment.”
“Good,” Lily said, sliding a document across the mahogany. “Then you can explain why these numbers don’t match the supplier contract.”
Vanessa didn’t even glance at the paper. “They’re updated figures based on projected demand.”
“Based on which model?” Lily asked, her voice calm and level.
The room went silent. Vanessa’s fingers paused on her tablet. “Our internal projections.”
“Could you specify?” Lily pushed. “Because according to the Master Supplier Agreement, adjustments are capped at eight percent. You approved twelve.”
A finance head shifted uncomfortably. The procurement team exchanged panicked glances. Vanessa’s perfect mask didn't break, but her knuckles turned white.
“Currency fluctuation...” Vanessa started.
“Wasn’t accounted for,” Lily cut her off. “Logistics costs were inflated. You’ve approved an overpayment of nearly four million dollars.”
Silence fell like a guillotine. Vanessa stared at Lily, her smile sharpening into something jagged. “Then we’ll revise it.”
No apology. No accountability. Just the cold entitlement of a woman who thought she was untouchable.
“Good,” Lily said, gathering her files. “I’ll send the corrected model. Try to stick to it this time.”
As the room cleared, Vanessa stayed in her seat. “You’ve been busy, Lily,” she said, her voice dropping to a hiss. “But you’re still invisible.”
Lily paused at the door, looking over her shoulder. “And yet,” she said softly, “the work still gets done. Careful, Vanessa. Visibility makes you an easy target.”
Lily stepped out of the building as the sun set in streaks of deceptive gold. Her phone buzzed.
Ethan: I’m nearby. Come out.
No greeting. Just a command. Lily sighed, the habit of years pulling her toward his car parked across the street. Ethan was leaning against the hood, his silhouette familiar, but his energy… jagged.
“You came,” he said as she approached.
“You didn’t say hello,” Lily replied, studying his face.
He blinked, giving a quick, hollow smile. “Hello.”
He stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. Usually, this was Lily’s sanctuary. But tonight, as she rested her head against his chest, the warmth felt manufactured. The heartbeat beneath her ear was steady, but it wasn't the heart of the man she had fallen in love with.
Ethan’s POV
Ethan watched Lily through the rearview mirror as he started the engine. His hands gripped the steering wheel so hard the leather groaned.
“She’s noticing,” a voice murmured from the hands-free set.
Ethan’s eyes flicked to Lily’s reflection. She was staring out the window, her expression unreadable. She was too smart. Too observant.
“She always notices,” Ethan said, his voice flat.
“Then why are you still doing this? You’re going to break her, Ethan.”
Ethan shifted the car into gear, the cold ambition that had fueled him for months finally drowning out the last remnants of his guilt.
“Because it’s already in motion,” he said, his voice devoid of hesitation. “And by the time she realizes the truth, I’ll be the one holding the keys to her family’s empire.”
- Writer
