Chapter 2

I read the sentence again, If anything happens to me keep Soren Calder away from my daughter. My father's handwriting and my father's warning.

And Soren Calder was standing three feet away from me. “What happened between you and my father because am not leaving until you tell me," Soren didn't answer, I looked at him, he let out a short breath, “you're supposed to start work Monday,” my grip hardened around the paper, “did my father hate you and why did he write this?” Soren's eyes dropped to the note, “because he had a reason.”

I stared at him, “you expect me to believe that?” His calmness irritated me more than an argument would have, I pushed the paper toward him. “Then tell me what you do know. ”Soren picked it up, “my father and yours were partners.”

“You said they worked together," I asked.

He sat up properly closer, “they did more than that.” I waited, but he didn't continue, “that's it?”

He leaned back to his sit again, “for today," I almost laughed, “there's nothing normal about today.” His eyes met mine, for a moment, neither of us spoke, then Soren placed the note back on the desk. “Take the job, Nyla.” My name sounded different coming from him and too familiar, I ignored that, "why,"

“Because if you walk away, you'll never know why your father wrote that,” that stopped me. I picked up my portfolio. “Monday.” Soren nodded, I reached the door.

“Nyla.” I looked back, his expression had changed, just enough to make me pay attention. “Don't show that note to anyone because I don't know who else knows about it.” I stared at him, “what does that mean?” Soren's face closed again, “monday, nine o'clock.” Then he turned away, I left before he could say anything else, but his warning followed me all the way downstairs.

By Monday morning, I'd convinced myself of three things. One, I needed this job, two, Soren Calder was hiding something and three I was going to find out what it was.

I arrived at Calder Developments at eight forty-five, the receptionist directed me to the twenty-first floor, where the project team was already waiting. A woman in her forties stood at the end of the conference table. “I'm Mara Ellis, project director.”

Her eyes moved briefly over me and not impressed. “Your office is down the hall. You'll be working directly with Mr. Calder and the design team.”

 She handed me a file, I opened it while walking, the first page showed the development site, I stopped. This wasn't a simple residential project, the plans covered an entire block.

Luxury apartments, commercial spaces, a hotel, underground parking, gardens, and a public plaza, my pulse quickened. This was the kind of project architects waited years to touch.

“What do you think?” I looked up, Mara was watching me. “It's too crowded.” Her eyebrows rose, “excuse me?” I pointed at the plan. “The eastern side,” she stepped closer. “The plaza?”

I nodded slowly, "yes, there's too much happening around it, the traffic flow will become a problem.” Mara stared at me for some seconds, my instincts tells me she is thinking exactly what I had just said, “Mr. Calder approved the design.” I walked a little bit closer, “then Mr. Calder approved the wrong design.”

A few people around the table looked up, I realized too late, that I had probably just criticized the CEO on my first morning, Mara's mouth tightened. “You've been here ten minutes.”

I looked up t Mara, "and I've already found the problem.” A voice came from behind me, “have you?”

I stopped, I didn't need to turn around. Soren,  I faced him. He wore a dark suit again, his expression giving away nothing, his eyes moved from me to the plans. “You think the eastern plaza is wrong and why?”

I pointed to the drawing, “too much pedestrian traffic crossing the service entrance during peak hours, deliveries will block access.” Soren walked toward the table, “where would you move it?” I reached for a pencil, “here,”  as I marked the western side. “This gives the plaza a direct connection to the main road without interfering with the hotel entrance.” Soren studied the plan and didn't speak, then he looked at me. “That's not the original design.”

I hesitated, “I studied the proposal before I came here,” that wasn't entirely true, I had studied the current proposal, but something about the plan had bothered me since I saw it. Soren took the pencil from my hand. “Come with me.”

He walked out, I looked at Mara she shrugged, then I followed, we entered a smaller conference room, Soren opened a cabinet and pulled out a large rolled drawing. He placed it on the table, “Original plans,” my heart stopped as I moved closer, the paper was old, the design was different and  I recognized my father's handwriting in the corner immediately.

I touched the edge of the drawing, “this is his.” I looked at Soren. “Why didn't you show me this on Friday?”

He gave me a bold look, “because you hadn't earned it,” my eyes narrowed. “Everything with you has to be a test?”

“Not everything,” he said. The answer caught me off guard, I looked back at the plan, the original design was cleaner, more open and the eastern plaza I had criticized wasn't there, my father's design had placed it exactly where I had suggested moving it. I stared at the drawing, “why was this changed?” Soren didn't answer, I looked at him, “Soren.”

He remained silent, then I noticed a section of the original plan had been crossed out, not erased and not redesigned, simply marked with a thick black line. I leaned closer, “what is that?”

Soren's expression changed, “nothing, it's an old section of the project.” I stepped closer, "then why was it crossed out?” I asked. Soren stepped closer too, “because it doesn't matter anymore.” I looked up at him, “that sounds like something people say when it matters too much.” His eyes locked with mine, for some seconds, then Soren reached across me and rolled the drawing closed. “Go through the archives.” I stared at him  too long, " you want me searching through old project files on my first morning?”

He kept quiet before answering, "unless you have somewhere else to be.”

I almost smiled, there it was again, that quiet challenge in his voice. “Why the archives?” He handed me the rolled plans.“Find every version of this project from before the redesign.” My fingers held around the plans strongly. “And if I find something?” Soren's eyes held mine, “bring it to me.”

For some seconds I didn't say anything, I realized the man standing in front of me always has command in every of his speech, “why only you"

His expression changed, “because some things shouldn't be discussed in front of the team.” That answer was enough to make my suspicion grow as I turned toward the door.

“Nyla,” I stopped. “Don't go looking for things that aren't there.” I looked back, a smile almost touched my lips. “Then you shouldn't have given me the original plans.” I walked out before he could respond.

I had come to Calder Developments to build the biggest project of my career. Instead, I was already digging through my father's past, and somehow, I knew Soren Calder was hoping I wouldn't find what I was looking for.

The archives were colder than the rest of the building, rows of cabinets filled the room, each marked with years and project numbers. I dropped the old plans onto the nearest table and looked around, this was where Soren had sent me to find something he claimed didn't matter, I almost laughed, he was terrible at lying.

I opened the first cabinet, nothing. The second held old contracts, the third contained planning reports from years ago, I kept going, after nearly twenty minutes, I found the original project number, my pulse picked up. I pulled out the first file, then another and again, most of them were routine, site surveys, planning approvals, budget reports and design revisions.

I was about to put the last one back when a loose sheet slipped between the pages, I caught it before it hit the floor, there was no company logo, no project number, just a date, eight years ago. The year my father died, I stared at it and turned it over, nothing, I unfolded it, three lines were written across the page.

Project suspended.

Reason: Confidential.

Further instructions from S.C.

My heart started beating faster, S.C. Soren Calder, I read the lines again, why had Soren been giving instructions on my father's project eight years ago? I reached for my phone, then stopped. He had specifically told me not to show the note to anyone and I didn't know who I could trust. 

so I slipped the paper inside my notebook instead, I went back to the file, a photograph fell out, I picked it up. My father stood beside a younger man, I recognized my father immediately, the other man was harder to place, then I saw his eyes, Soren. He looked different, younger and less guarded and smiling.

I stared at the photograph, I had never seen my father with him, never seen this picture, never even heard his name. I turned it over, a date was written on the back, June 14. I slipped it into my notebook. Then I heard footsteps, I stopped, my entire body became still immediately, someone was coming down the hallway. I quickly closed the file, the door opened, Mara stepped inside, “what are you doing?” I kept my expression neutral, “working.”

Her eyes moved over the files scattered across the table, “Mr. Calder asked you to search the archives?” I looked up at Mara as my heart keep pounding but I maintained for her not to notice the the heartbeat and the fear, "yes.”

Mara's face has frowned completely as I stared at her, she gave me an angry side look, “for what?”

My entire body is shivering, but she didn't notice as I answered bodly, "old versions of the development plans,” her eyes stayed on me for a second too long, “did you find anything?” The question came too quickly and I noticed it, “not yet.”

She nodded, “good.” My suspicion sharpened, “why is that good?” Mara's expression shifted, “I meant it's good that you're doing your job.” She picked up one of the files, I reached for it first. Her hand stopped, for one second, we stared at each other, then she released it, “Mr. Calder needs you upstairs.”

She turned toward the door, I grabbed my notebook before leaving, I looked back at the table, the files were still there. But something had changed, I wasn't searching for information anymore, I was searching for a reason. 

Soren was standing by the windows when I entered his office, he didn't turn around, “you found something,” It wasn't a question. “How do you know?” I asked. He sat down leaning back on chair, "you've been in there for forty minutes and you're usually faster.”

 I looked at Soren, this man has been busy watching the time, how does he know I have been there for forty minutes, he must be very observant. Soren finally turned, his eyes dropped to the notebook in my hand, then  back to me. “What did you find?” I walked toward his desk. “Why din't you tell me?” his expression changed immediately. “I asked you a question.”

I dyed silently, why is this man asking me questions as if he's trying to interrogate me, “and I'm asking you one.”

He finally stood up walking around, he gave a small knock on the desk, “Nyla.” There was a warning in his voice, I ignored it. “Who is S.C.?”  

 Soren's jaw tightened, "where did you see that?”  I watched him carefully trying to get his attention or have I really offend him, but it didn't matter anymore because I really want to hear him talk, “In an old project report.” He came around the desk, “what report?” I took out the loose sheet, his eyes immediately went to it, for the first time, I saw something close to alarm. He took the paper from my hand, I watched him read it, “where did you find this?”

 I became so scared because of the harsh tone in his voice, “the archives,” I said. Soren leaned on the desk, “you shouldn't have taken it,” my eyebrows lifted. “Why?” He folded the paper, “because it's not part of the project.”

I stared at him, “then why was it in the project file?” He didn't answer as I stepped closer. “Eight years ago, my father's project was suspended.” Soren looked at me, “where did you get that information?”

I looked down,“the report.” His gaze dropped to the paper again, “who suspended it?” I looked at him, “that's what I'm asking you.” His silence told me enough, “you did, then who is S.C.?” Soren stared at me, I waited for a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer, finally he said, “My father.”

I blinked twice, “what?” He looked around before starting over again, "my father was S.C.” The answer knocked the air out of me, I looked down at the report, then back at him, “so your father ordered the project suspended, and why?”

Soren's face changed angrily, “because your father died.” I looked at him for some seconds, “what does his death have to do with the project?” he looked away, that familiar silence returned, “Soren.” his eyes came back to mine, “your father wasn't working alone,” I stared at him again, “who was he working with?” Soren didn't answer, I waited, his eyes shifted toward the old report in his hand, “that's what I'm trying to find out,” I frowned, “you don't know?”

I knew he knows everything am talking about but it might not be all, and that wasn't what I had expected, “you knew my father, you worked with him.”

“My father did,” he replied. “And you knew about the project, then how can you not know?”

He looked down as if he was trying to recall some forgotten things, “because eight years is a long time,” his voice was quieter now, “people disappear, records disappear and sometimes, the truth disappears with them.” I studied his face and noticed something closer to regret, before I could ask another question, his phone rang. Soren glanced at the screen his face changed, "what?

I watched him listen, he said nothing for several seconds, then his eyes moved to me, “don't touch anything in the archives. ”I watched his face carefully, “what happened?” he ended the call,  “someone broke into the archives.” I stared at him, my heart began pounding, “were they looking for something?” Soren's eyes stayed on mine, “no.

He stayed for a while without saying anything and that pause frightened me more than the answer, “they were looking for you.”