Victor glanced at the card in his hand.
“Perhaps you should investigate that before you start accusing people of negligence.”
Eleanor did not respond to the bait.
“Adrian is occupied. You need to schedule an appointment.”
“I don't need an appointment to discuss a problem I helped create.”
“Then you should be very interested in our current review.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What review?”
Eleanor held his gaze.
“The Osaka acquisition. The historical agreement. The missing custody acknowledgment.”
For a fraction of a second, Victor's face lost its practiced calm.
It was a tiny reaction, but Eleanor saw it.
“You've been digging through old records,” he said.
“We have a legal obligation to investigate a discrepancy that may affect a current transaction.”
“There's no discrepancy. Daniel Bennett made a translation error. The company settled the matter years ago.”
“That's one version of events.”
“It's the documented version.”
“Then you shouldn't have any concerns about an independent review.”
Victor stepped closer.
“Listen carefully. This company has spent twenty years moving beyond that unfortunate episode. We have investors, employees, partners, and a major acquisition depending on our ability to act decisively. Do not let a disgruntled former contractor's daughter turn a routine translation question into a crisis.”
Eleanor's expression remained composed.
“Ms. Bennett has not made any public allegation. In fact, she has been more restrained than many people would be under the circumstances.”
“She's a waitress.”
“And you're a former executive. Neither fact determines whether a document is accurate.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
Before he could answer, Adrian's office door opened.
“Victor,” Adrian said. “Come in.”
Victor gave Eleanor a triumphant glance and entered.
Adrian remained standing behind his desk.
“You weren't invited.”
“I heard there was a problem.”
“You heard correctly.”
“Then I assume you want to hear from someone who understands the history.”
“I want to hear the truth.”
Victor gave a short, humorless laugh.
“The truth is that Daniel Bennett was responsible for a serious mistake, and the company resolved it. I don't know why you're reopening the matter now.”
“Because the current Japanese correspondence references an undertaking that our English summary appears to mischaracterize.”
“That has nothing to do with Daniel.”
“We don't know that.”
Victor placed both hands on the back of a chair.
“Are you going to jeopardize a billion-dollar acquisition because a waitress claims she can read Japanese?”
Adrian felt the old instinct rise in him: defend the hierarchy, defend the deal, defend the idea that the people in the room with the most expensive titles must also possess the most reliable answers.
He recognized the instinct now for what it was.
“No,” he said. “I'm going to investigate a potentially material discrepancy because the people I employ are expected to verify facts before signing agreements.”
Victor stared at him.
“Who has been talking to you?”
“That's not relevant.”
“Of course it's relevant. Someone is feeding you a story.”
“Then the records will tell us whether it's true.”
Victor straightened.
“You should be careful, Adrian. Once you question a settlement, you reopen every liability connected to it.”
“Was the settlement accurate?”
“It was legally approved.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Victor's eyes hardened.
For the first time, Adrian saw not merely irritation but fear.
“Some questions are dangerous because the answers don't stay contained,” Victor said.
“Then it's fortunate we have a legal department.”
Victor moved toward the door.
“Do what you want. But don't expect me to stand by while you destroy this company to satisfy someone who has spent twenty years nursing a grudge.”
He left without waiting for a reply.
Adrian remained still until the door closed.
Then he called Eleanor.
“Find out how he got through security.”
“I will.”
“And make sure his access is suspended immediately.”
“Already done.”
Adrian looked through the glass wall at the city below.
“Did you hear what he said about the settlement?”
“I heard every word.”
“He knew the records existed.”
“Yes.”
“He also knew exactly what the consequences could be.”
Eleanor paused.
“Adrian, I think we need to prepare for the possibility that Victor has been managing this issue from the beginning.”
Adrian's expression darkened.
“Then let's find out what he was protecting.”
At 8:58 a.m., Maya arrived at Blackwood Industries with Rebecca beside her.
She wore a simple black suit, low heels, and her hair in the short natural afro she had worn to work the previous night. There was nothing elaborate about her appearance, but she walked through the lobby without looking at the marble floors, the expensive artwork, or the receptionist who recognized her from the restaurant.
The same building had once held the office where her father had tried to defend his work.
For years, Maya had imagined what it would feel like to enter a place like this. She had thought she would be angry, perhaps frightened, perhaps overwhelmed by the scale of everything.
Instead, she felt clear.
A security officer escorted them to the forty-second floor.
Adrian was waiting outside the conference room. He had removed his jacket and loosened his tie. The tiredness in his face suggested that he had not slept much.