“Malon, thank you for last night, Nancy said, her wice filledwith gratiate
“No need in thank me “Vesperamplied with a warm smile.
headout first See you at the office” Nancy said before she left the room
A1000 arm_Pominic led the way to the branch office, accompanied by Vespera, Gietand, and two senior executters fimm headquarters who had arrived a few days earlier. The atmosphere at the branch office was tense, with the team en edge eet since they heard abund Dominic’s visit. No one dared to relax, each person wary of a surprise
Nancy had changed into acrisp, all while business, suit, koking sleek and professional. As Domine arrived at the company entrance, she stood by the door with the entire branch management team, awaiting his ariel
“Welcome, Mr. Beid We’re honored to have won here,” she greeted him wommly
(pominic shot her a quick glance. He then tried a tow polite words to the exreathes before heading straight into the meeting mom.
They spent the entire des at the branch office–attending meetings, reviewing performance reports, analyzing financial statements, and assessing the pengress of key projects. For lunch. Nameramanped for them to dine atawell known local restaurant. By evening, she had scheduled a formal dinner with important partners involved in their major
The branch’s assistant general manager and finance manager also joined, filling the private dining room with a table full of executives and stakeholders
After a long day of work, Vespera and Gerend were completely drained. They sat in the lounge area outside the private dining room, finally able to catch the breath “Vespera, did you notice? Ms. Acosta seems like a completely different person today compared to last night,” Gerard commented, indulging in some office gossip. After working together for the past two days, they had become familiar enough that he now called her by her firstname
Stål impressed in her tablet, Vespera didn’t look up. “Last night was personal. Today is business. She knows how to keep the two separate.”
“You’ve just never seen her when she doesn’1”
“Well, whatever’s going on in her personal life is her problem. She and Mr. Reid can sort out their own drama,” Vesperareplied
“You’re still a little shaken up from last night, aren’t you?
“Tod_Honestly, it’s pretty complicated ”
Thinking about Dominic’s comment about not liking women, Vespera couldn’t help but glance at Gerard. As she looked at his refined, scholarly features, her expression grew
“Who are you looking at me like that?” Gmaid asked
Vespera quirky looked away. “It’s nothing” She turned her focus back on her tablet, pretending to be absorbed in her work.
Quneus about what had her so focused, Gerard leaned over for a closer look. He found her going through the factory’s attendance records, payroll documents, and other related
*h there a problem?” he asked.
“Yes. The attendance sheet matches the payroll records, but when I cross–checked with the daily on–site reports in the attachrichts, Lound that the actual number of people persent is always two less–every single day”
That doesn’t sound right. Gepard took the tablet from her and started redwing the datahtmisell.
See the payroll and attendance records lined up, and the daily attendance reports didn’t explicitly state the total headcount, finance wouldn’t usually pay that much attention. Whether planned at quickly es irvinwed in detail, it wasn’t an obvious discrepancy.
With Dominic overseeing a large–scale inspection, it was even less likely be’deatch such a minor detail.
“This shouldn’t be happening.” Vespera said “The factory has dedicated personnel mukaging recruitment and attendance. The clock–in records show 1,024, employers, but the
- site larak bunt is always 1,001
The only logical explanation is that someone is exploring management looplate to siphon off glost salaries. But who’s behind it and how they’re pulling it often’t figure
hwa “ghosts” have taken over &
dred quickly skimmed through the files apa. ” seems this has been going on for ten years. With the amount converted to dollas, these two “ghest
this to go unnoticed for a decade, date must be somente inside the company involved. A scheme like this couldn’t last long without internal collusion” “We should indonu Mr Head, but he’s scheduled in attend the gownusent business stammil Benkot kw..”
How about this *I’ll head to the factory tones and try to track down these ‘ghost employees‘ machi ”
“Good”
Jest then, someone stepped out of the private room. Upon overheating the sweation, alat menace crossed their face
Chapter At
Chupter д
ner concluded, Dersdale still seemed peate the composed His poe was sharp and focused, and his steps were straty and assisted
che handed Vespera and terand his keyrand and asked them to settle the hill, it became painfully clear he was thoroughly intricated.
Though not as drink as she had been the night before, Nowy quickly caught up with him, tugging at his arm “How about coming to my place? than the wine you enjoy.”
(“No Huanks,” Borinic replied flatly, dismissing her without a second thought,
As he walked down the hallway, his foot caught in an uneven patch in the carpet, and he stumbled before Vespera and Gerard could react, Nancy quickly stepped forward, arms ivide open, ready to catch him.
But just before she could teach him, Dominic reached back. Vespera was yanked forward, crashing directly into Nancy’s arms. Their faces were only inches apart
Vespera stood there, shnoed Had she really just become Dominic’s personal crash pa
Nancy Trade for a moment, her expression darkening. Did he really just use his secretary as a human shield instead of letting her catch him?
Fuming the stormed off as soon as they exited the restaurant
Vespera, however, didn’t have the luxury of walking away. She had only been in this job for three days–quitting wasn’t an option yet.
Once they got into the car, she finally noticed a dull ache in her knee. Looking down, she saw a deep bruise already forming–dark purple, with tiny flecks of blood beneath the
adalla
immt have happened when Dominic yanked her earlier. His leg had been absurdly hard.
