The First Investigation
967 Words
The following morning, Harrington Technologies buzzed with an unusual sense of energy.
Employees arrived earlier than usual. Conversations that once revolved around deadlines and quarterly targets had shifted to a single topic.
The new president.
Coffee machines became gathering places for speculation.
"I heard he stayed until almost nine last night."
"My manager said he reviewed reports from every department."
"Someone in Customer Support said he remembered her name after meeting her once."
"Impossible."
"No, Emma told me herself."
The rumours grew with every passing minute.
On the executive floor, Adrian was already seated in the boardroom reviewing the financial reports Graham Bennett had prepared.
The thick file contained every major financial decision made over the past five years.
Adrian turned each page slowly.
He wasn't looking only at the numbers.
He was looking for patterns.
Revenue had increased steadily.
Operating costs were under control.
International expansion had been successful.
Yet something bothered him.
He circled several figures with a black fountain pen.
Daniel, seated beside him, noticed.
"You found something."
Adrian nodded.
"Not something."
"A few things."
Daniel leaned forward.
"What do you see?"
Adrian tapped one page.
"Look at these consulting contracts."
Daniel studied them.
"They're expensive."
"Very."
"But that's not what concerns me."
"What does?"
"They're renewed every year."
"Without competitive bidding."
Daniel frowned.
"You think someone has a preferred supplier?"
"I don't think."
Adrian closed the file gently.
"I verify."
At that moment, the boardroom door opened.
Graham Bennett entered carrying another folder.
"Good morning, Mr. President."
"Mr. Bennett."
Graham placed the folder on the table.
"The latest financial forecasts."
"Thank you."
He noticed the black circles Adrian had drawn on the report.
His eyes narrowed for the briefest moment.
"You've been studying the accounts."
"I have."
"Any concerns?"
Adrian smiled politely.
"Not yet."
The answer was careful.
Too careful.
Graham realised immediately that Adrian had noticed something.
The question was...
How much?
"I've arranged for our procurement director to brief you this afternoon."
"Excellent."
"I look forward to meeting them."
Their eyes met.
Neither man smiled.
For several silent seconds, the boardroom felt less like a meeting room...
...and more like a chessboard.
Each was waiting for the other to make the first mistake.
Richard Harrington, entering moments later, sensed the tension immediately.
"Gentlemen."
Both men turned.
Richard smiled warmly.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Not at all," Adrian replied.
"We were discussing the financial reports."
Richard glanced between them before taking his seat.
"Then I'm sure everything is under control."
Neither Adrian nor Graham answered.
Elsewhere in the building, Lily Carter wheeled her cleaning trolley toward the executive library.
It was one of the quietest places in the company.
Only senior executives used it regularly.
She enjoyed cleaning there.
The smell of old books reminded her of afternoons spent studying with her grandmother when she was a child.
As she dusted the shelves, she noticed one book lying open on a reading table.
It hadn't been there the previous evening.
The title caught her attention.
Leading with Integrity.
She smiled.
"That sounds like something the new president would read."
She carefully closed the book and placed it neatly back on the shelf.
Without noticing, a small handwritten note slipped from between the pages and floated gently to the floor.
Lily bent to pick it up.
She hesitated.
It clearly belonged to someone.
She glanced at the handwriting.
It wasn't a business note.
It was a quote.
"People may forget your decisions, but they'll never forget how you made them feel."
There was no signature.
Only neat handwriting in black ink.
She read it twice before smiling.
"I like that."
Just then, footsteps echoed outside the library.
She quickly placed the note back inside the book.
Adrian entered, carrying a folder under one arm.
He stopped when he saw her.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
She laughed softly.
"I think I'm the one interrupting."
He looked toward the bookshelf.
"I came to return a book."
She glanced at the title in his hand.
"The Psychology of Leadership."
"You've read it?"
"No."
"I've only dusted it."
Both laughed.
The conversation felt effortless.
"So," Adrian asked, "how's your father?"
Lily stared at him.
"You remembered?"
"You told me yesterday."
She smiled.
"He's much better."
"He has another check-up next week."
"I hope it goes well."
"Thank you."
She hesitated before asking,
"What about you?"
Adrian looked slightly surprised.
"Me?"
"You always ask everyone else how they're doing."
"No one asks how you're doing."
He was silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"I'm happy to be home."
It was a simple answer.
But something in his eyes suggested there was far more to the story.
Before either of them could say another word, Daniel appeared in the doorway.
"Mr. President."
"The board is waiting."
Adrian nodded.
"I'll be right there."
He looked back at Lily.
"It was good seeing you again."
"You too, Mr. President."
As Adrian walked away, Daniel glanced briefly at Lily.
He was beginning to understand why Adrian seemed unusually relaxed around her.
She didn't speak to him as the President of Harrington Technologies.
She spoke to him as Adrian.
Sometimes...
That made all the difference.
At the opposite end of the corridor, Charlotte stepped out of the elevator just in time to see Adrian leaving the library.
She also noticed Lily standing inside, smiling to herself.
Charlotte's heart sank.
For the first time, she wasn't afraid that Adrian hated her.
She was afraid...
That he had already found someone who made him happy.
And in another office, Graham Bennett closed the blinds once more.
He had just received a confidential email.
Its subject line contained only four words:
Background Investigation: Adrian Cole.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Now," he whispered,
"let's see what the past has been hiding."
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