Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
By Monday morning, Gabriel's office was falling apart.
Not dramatically.
Not in ways that would make headlines.
In small, irritating ways.
His coffee arrived in the white cup.
The one with the chipped rim.
His nine o'clock meeting was scheduled for nine-thirty.
Two executives arrived without the documents they needed.
A courier delivered confidential contracts to the wrong department.
And someone had booked a lunch meeting with a man Gabriel had specifically forbidden from entering the building.
At eleven, Gabriel summoned Yolanda.
“Where's the revised shipping agreement?”
Yolanda looked terrified.
“I thought Ms. Bennett had—”
“She's not here.”
“I know, sir.”
Gabriel stared.
Then asked, “Who has her files?”
Yolanda swallowed.
“She's transferring them according to the transition plan.”
“What transition plan?”
“The one she emailed Friday.”
Gabriel opened his inbox.
There it was.
A detailed handover document.
Forty-seven pages.
Color-coded.
Cross-referenced.
Every pending task accounted for.
Every password transfer documented through approved channels.
Every appointment explained.
At the bottom was a note.
Please ensure the next assistant is given sufficient training. The position requires more than calendar management.
Gabriel stared.
Then laughed once.
Without humor.
Clara had prepared for her departure more carefully than most men prepared for war.
He picked up his phone.
Called her.
Straight to voicemail.
He tried again.
May you like
Nothing.
For the first time, Gabriel Costa understood what it felt like to be ignored.
