There was a pause. I know that surprised him. Clare rarely remembered anything that wasn't written on a quarterly report. I'll make it quick, she said. Daniel pulled into the underground garage.
20 minutes later, he entered the executive floor. Almost every office was dark. The building felt abandoned except for Clare's. She stood beside a wall of windows staring at the city. On the desk behind her sat a small red gift box.
Daniel noticed it immediately. What's that? Clare looked over for Lily. You forgot to take it. I didn't forget.
She picked up the box. I couldn't decide whether she should have it. Daniel waited. Clare opened the lid. Inside was a small silver compass.
Lily's initials were engraved on the back. Her father gave me one when we first met. Clare said Daniel didn't respond. She closed the box. I'm selling the house.
He looked at her. What? After Christmas. Clare placed the box on the desk. Lily doesn't know.
Daniel studied her face. Why? Clare's fingers pressed against the edge of the box. "Because I may lose the company." That changed everything.
Daniel had heard rumors. A private equity firm had been circling Hartwell Technologies for months, but Clare had always dismissed them. Now she looked exhausted. "They're forcing a vote," she said. "Tomorrow morning."
"Who?" "Three board members. They want me out." "Why?" "Because the company's most profitable division is under investigation."
"Daniel fr" frowned. "That division isn't yours." "No." Clare looked toward him, "But everyone thinks it is." She handed him a folder.
Inside were financial reports. Someone had been moving money through a chain of shell companies. Millions and the signatures approving several transfers belong to Clare. Daniel stared at the pages. "These are forged."
I know. "Then go to the police." I did. He looked up. Clare's expression was unreadable.
They said the documents look authentic. Daniel flipped another page. His eyes stopped. A vendor name. Then another.
Then another. He knew those companies. They had appeared in routine maintenance contracts at the Hartwell headquarters. Daniel had noticed them because he handled building logistics. "You've seen something," Clare said.
Daniel slowly closed the folder. "Maybe. Tell me." "Not here." Clare stared at him for the first time that day.
She looked afraid. Then the lights went out. The entire executive floor went black. Clare froze. Daniel immediately moved toward her. ""Stay here."" A backup light flickered on.
Then Daniel heard footsteps in the hallway. Slow measured. Someone was coming. Clare whispered. Daniel, he raised one finger.
"Quiet." The footsteps stopped outside the office. A shadow passed beneath the door, then disappeared. Daniel waited. 10 seconds.
20. Nothing. He opened the door. The hallway was empty, but something had been left on the floor. A Christmas card.