CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
601 Words
Chapter Forty-Four
The following morning, Briella was already in her office when Clara entered carrying a neat stack of files. “These are the updated client briefs, ma’am. I flagged a few inconsistencies in the draft Grace circulated yesterday.”
Briella’s pen stilled. She looked up, curiosity flashing in her eyes. “Inconsistencies?”
Clara nodded, her voice low but steady. “Yes. A few figures didn’t match the internal reports. If the board had signed off on that version, we would have been at a serious loss.”
Briella sat back in her chair, lips pressing into a thin line. Her instincts had been right. “Good work, Clara. Quietly put a full comparison together. I don’t want any of this getting leaked prematurely.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Clara gave a small, confident nod and left.
Moments later, Marcellus appeared in her doorway, his tie loosened as though he’d been in deep thought all morning. “You’re in early again.”
Briella allowed a faint smile. “So are you.”
He stepped in, closing the door behind him. “About yesterday… you were sharp. I didn’t catch it, but you did.”
“That’s why we’re a team,” Briella replied simply. “But Marcellus, you need to watch Grace more carefully. She’s slipping, and I don’t like the pattern I’m seeing.”
Marcellus frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s been with me for years. I trusted her.”
Briella’s eyes didn’t soften. “That’s exactly what makes her dangerous.”
Before Marcellus could reply, a knock interrupted. The door opened, and Grace herself entered, her expression polished as ever. “Mr. Cedric, Ms. Tristan—there’s a representative from Harrison & Co waiting downstairs. They requested an unscheduled meeting.”
Briella’s brows arched. “Unscheduled?”
“Yes,” Grace said smoothly. “They insisted it was urgent. I can handle it if you’d like.”
Briella’s tone sharpened. “No. I’ll handle it.”
For a split second, Grace’s smile faltered. She bowed her head politely and stepped aside.
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Downstairs, the representative from Harrison & Co seemed confused to even be there. “We didn’t request this meeting,” he said after pleasantries were exchanged. “In fact, I was surprised when your secretary called me last night.”
Briella’s eyes flicked sharply. “My secretary? Which one?”
He hesitated. “Grace.”
Marcellus stiffened beside her, realization dawning. Briella leaned forward, her voice controlled. “What exactly did she say to you?”
The representative glanced between them nervously. “She claimed there was a change in contract terms. That you wanted to renegotiate certain clauses before the quarter closed. I didn’t understand—it seemed unlike you.”
Briella’s jaw clenched, but she forced a polite smile. “Thank you for clarifying. We’ll investigate this misunderstanding immediately.”
The man nodded, clearly eager to leave the tension behind.
---
Back in the elevator, Marcellus’s voice was tight. “She’s making moves behind our backs. If he had signed anything—”
“He didn’t,” Briella cut in firmly. “And that’s all that matters for now. But Marcellus… your secretary just tried to sabotage us.”
The elevator dinged open. Grace was waiting at the top floor, a stack of papers in her arms, her face the picture of innocence.
Briella’s gaze locked on her, cold and unwavering. “Grace. In my office. Now.”
For the first time, a flicker of unease crossed Grace’s features. She nodded silently and followed.
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✨ End of Chapter Forty-Four ✨
- Writer
