“I need five minutes,” Daniel said suddenly, standing.
Michael’s smile tightened. “Everything okay?”
“I need to take care of something.”
Richard frowned. “There’s nothing left to discuss.”
“Five minutes,” Daniel repeated, already walking out.
He caught up with Elena in the hallway.
“You—come with me.”
She hesitated, then followed him into a break room. Daniel shut the door.
“Talk,” he said. “And make this make sense.”
“I overheard conversations,” Elena said quietly. “Things no one else did.”
“Who’s behind it?”
“Grayson—and your partner,” she said, voice shaking before steadying. “The contract transfers hidden debt to your company. Once you sign, you take the fall.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What’s your name?”
“Elena.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“Eight months. Nights.”
“If this is a lie,” he said evenly, “you’re fired.”
“I understand,” she replied. “But I couldn’t stay silent.”
He turned toward the glass wall. New York City pulsed below, but everything felt still.
“Do you have proof?”
“Yes. Documents. Recordings.”
“Seven tonight. Bring everything.”