Too Close

Sophia had never been good at leaving things alone.

It was one of her worst qualities.

Possibly her most useful one.

She wasn’t sure.

At the moment, however, she was beginning to suspect it might get her fired.

She sat at her desk, staring at the files she had just sent Adrian.

Employee complaints.

Turnover reports.

Altered records.

Nathaniel Cross.

And now—

a warning.

You should have stopped her sooner.

Sophia read the message again.

Then frowned.

“Who is her?”

Claire looked over from the other side of the desk.

“You.”

Sophia looked up.

“I know that.”

“Then why are you asking?”

“I’m trying to understand why someone would threaten me.”

Claire stared at her.

“Because you’re investigating something you shouldn’t?”

Sophia considered that.

“That’s possible.”

“That’s the answer.”

“But it’s not a very satisfying answer.”

Claire sighed.

“You need a hobby.”

“I have one.”

“What?”

“Finding problems.”

“That’s not a hobby.”

“It is if you’re talented.”

Claire shook her head.

Sophia looked back at the screen.

There was something bothering her.

Not the threat.

Not exactly.

It was the wording.

Now they know she’s looking.

Not someone knows.

They.

Sophia slowly sat back.

“Claire.”

“What?”

“How many people know about my investigation?”

Claire’s expression changed.

“Besides you?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Vale.”

“Anyone else?”

“I don’t know.”

Sophia stared at the screen.

“Neither do I.”

She opened the turnover files again.

Then the employee complaints.

Then the confidential review.

Her eyes moved across the documents.

Something connected them.

She could feel it.

She just couldn’t see it yet.

⸻

Adrian stood alone in his office.

Sophia’s files were spread across his desk.

He had read everything twice.

Nothing explained why Nathaniel Cross had disappeared from the company records.

Nothing explained Project Laurent.

And nothing explained why Elena’s name kept appearing around the same dates.

September 14.

The same date connected to the photograph.

The same date Nathaniel had entered the company.

The same date that kept appearing in documents someone had clearly tried to erase.

Adrian rubbed his forehead.

His phone remained beside him.

Silent.

For now.

A knock sounded.

He looked up.

Sophia entered carrying two coffees.

“I come bearing caffeine.”

Adrian looked at the cups.

“Why?”

“Because you look like you haven’t slept.”

He stared at her.

Sophia immediately corrected herself.

“Not that I was checking.”

“You were.”

“I have eyes.”

“You use them too much.”

She put one coffee on his desk.

“It’s not poisoned.”

“I didn’t think it was.”

“Good.”

She turned to leave.

“Sophia.”

She stopped.

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

She looked back.

For a moment, neither said anything.

It was a simple thing.

Two words.

Yet Adrian rarely said them.

Sophia’s expression softened.

“You’re welcome.”

She started toward the door.

Then turned around.

“Actually—”

Adrian’s expression immediately became wary.

“What?”

“Why does Nathaniel Cross bother you?”

Silence.

Sophia winced.

“That was probably the part where I should have left.”

“Probably.”

She nodded.

“Okay.”

She walked toward the door again.

Then stopped.

“One more question.”

“Sophia.”

“Last one.”

“What?”

“Who is Elena to you now?”

Adrian went still.

Sophia immediately raised her hands.

“Forget I asked.”

She left.

The door closed.

Adrian stared at it.

For some reason, the silence she left behind felt different from the silence before she entered.

He looked down at the coffee.

Then, despite himself, smiled faintly.

“Impossible woman.”

⸻

Sophia returned to her desk.

Claire looked up.

“How did that go?”

“I asked too many questions.”

“Again?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing.”

Claire smiled.

“Then why are you smiling?”

Sophia’s smile disappeared.

“I’m not.”

“You were.”

“No.”

“You absolutely were.”

Sophia looked at her computer.

“I brought him coffee.”

Claire raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“Because he looked exhausted.”

“That sounds suspiciously nice.”

Sophia frowned.

“He’s my boss.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“He’s also a human being.”

Claire smiled.

“Of course.”

Sophia pointed at her.

“Don’t make that face.”

“What face?”

“That face.”

“I’m not making a face.”

“You are.”

Claire laughed.

Sophia shook her head.

“I’m not interested in him.”

Claire blinked.

“I didn’t say you were.”

Sophia froze.

“…Right.”

Claire’s smile widened.

Sophia turned back to her computer.

“Please stop talking.”

“Gladly.”

⸻

An hour later, Sophia found something.

She stopped typing.

Her eyes narrowed.

There it was.

A discrepancy in the dates.

An employee complaint had been logged on September 13.

The employee had officially resigned on September 16.

But the final turnover report listed the resignation as voluntary.

Sophia opened the original complaint.

The words were short.

I was instructed to alter the European operations figures.

Sophia’s eyes widened.

She read the next line.

When I refused, I was told my position would be reviewed.

She scrolled.

The complaint had been closed two days later.

No investigation.

No response.

Just—

Resolved internally.

Sophia stared at the screen.

“That’s not resolved.”

She immediately printed the document.

Then she stopped.

Adrian had told her not to investigate alone.

Technically, reading documents wasn’t investigating.

Probably.

She picked up the printout.

Then headed toward his office.

She stopped outside his door.

Her hand hovered over the handle.

She remembered his warning.

You’re supposed to stop investigating alone.

Sophia looked down at the paper.

“Technically, I’m bringing evidence to my boss.”

She knocked.

“Come in.”

She entered.

Adrian looked up.

“What now?”

Sophia held up the paper.

“I found something.”

“Of course you did.”

She placed it on his desk.

“An employee was ordered to alter European operations figures.”

Adrian’s expression changed.

He read the complaint.

Then looked at her.

“Where did you find this?”

“One of the archived complaints.”

“You were told to stop.”

“I wasn’t investigating.”

“You printed it.”

“I was bringing it to you.”

“You went looking for it.”

Sophia hesitated.

“…Maybe.”

Adrian stared at her.

She gave him a small, unapologetic smile.

“I told you. I have a problem.”

He looked back at the document.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then—

“Stay here.”

Sophia blinked.

“What?”

“I want you to go through every archived complaint connected to European operations.”

She smiled.

“I knew you needed me.”

Adrian looked at her.

Sophia’s smile faded.

“I mean professionally.”

“I know.”

A pause.

Then, unexpectedly, Adrian’s mouth curved slightly.

“You’re terrible at making things less awkward.”

Sophia stared at him.

“You’re the first person to notice.”

He almost laughed.

Almost.

And for one brief second, the tension in the room changed.

It wasn’t romantic.

Not really.

Just warm.

Unexpected.

Something neither of them seemed prepared to acknowledge.

Sophia cleared her throat.

“I’ll get the files.”

She turned.

“Sophia.”

She looked back.

“Be careful.”

The amusement disappeared from her face.

She nodded.

“I will.”

She left.

Adrian watched the door close.

Then his eyes returned to the complaint.

His phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

He looked down.

A photograph appeared.

It showed a file.

PROJECT LAURENT

Below it was a handwritten note.

Ask Sophia what she found on September 14.

Adrian’s expression hardened.

He looked toward the door Sophia had just walked through.

Someone wasn’t simply watching her.

They were using her.

And Adrian suddenly understood something he didn’t like at all.

Sophia Bennett hadn’t stumbled into the mystery.

Someone had led her there.