Eleanor's face changed.
"Where?"
"In the mailroom."
"Give it to me."
Daniel hesitated.
"Mr. Blake's name is on it."
"I know."
"Shouldn't I give it to him?"
"I said give it to me."
Daniel looked at her.
She extended her hand.
He gave her the phone.
She looked at the screen.
Her face went pale.
For a second, Daniel saw something he had never seen before.
Fear.
Then she recovered.
"Go."
Daniel turned.
"Wait."
He stopped.
Eleanor looked at him.
"You didn't see anything."
Daniel nodded.
"Of course."
"And you didn't read anything."
Daniel said nothing.
"Did you?"
"No."
"Good."
She walked away.
Daniel returned to the elevator.
But this time, he didn't leave.
Something felt wrong.
The phone had contained messages about a transfer.
A secret meeting.
And Eleanor's name had appeared.
Daniel wasn't curious because he wanted trouble.
He was worried because he knew Sterling International had been facing financial problems.
Employees had been whispering about layoffs.
Several departments had been frozen.
Two executives had resigned unexpectedly.
And now someone was secretly discussing a transfer.
Daniel returned to the mailroom.
His supervisor looked at him.
"You okay?"
Daniel nodded.
"I think so."
Mr. Harris smiled.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
Daniel looked at him.
"Have you ever had the feeling something big is happening?"
Mr. Harris laughed.
"At this company?"
"Yes."
"Every day."
Daniel smiled.
Then the elevator doors opened.
A man stepped out.
He was tall.
Black.
Early fifties.
He wore a dark navy suit.
No tie.
His expression was calm.
Two lawyers followed him.
Daniel recognized him immediately.
Marcus Grant.
Founder and chairman of Sterling International.
The man who had built the company thirty years earlier.
The man who had stepped away from daily operations five years before.
The man whose name was still powerful enough to make executives nervous.
Marcus looked around.
Then his eyes landed on Daniel.
He smiled.
"Daniel Park?"
Daniel was surprised.
"Yes, sir."
Marcus walked toward him.
"You remember me?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"Good."
Marcus held out his hand.
Daniel shook it.
Marcus smiled.
"I've been looking for you."
Daniel frowned.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Marcus glanced at the lawyers.
"Because someone told me you are the most honest employee in this building."
Daniel didn't know what to say.
"Who said that?"
Marcus smiled.
"Someone who knows."
Then he looked toward the elevator.
"Has Eleanor been here?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Yes."
Marcus's expression changed.
"What happened?"
Daniel looked down.
"Nothing."
Marcus studied him.
"Daniel."
"Yes?"
"Look at me."
Daniel looked up.
"Did she treat you badly?"
Daniel remained silent.
Marcus understood.
He sighed.
"She did."
Daniel nodded.
Marcus looked toward the executive floor.
"Of course she did."
One of the lawyers whispered,
"Mr. Grant, we should proceed."
Marcus nodded.
Then turned to Daniel.
"I need your help."
Daniel looked surprised.
"Mine?"
"Yes."
"What can I do?"
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Tell me everything that happened this morning."
Daniel hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because I trust your judgment."
Daniel looked at the mailroom.
Then back at Marcus.
He told him.
The package.
The argument.
The phone.
The messages.
The strange instructions.
Marcus listened without interrupting.
When Daniel finished, Marcus asked,
"Did you read the messages?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"It wasn't my phone."
Marcus smiled.
"That's why you're here."
Daniel looked confused.
Marcus continued.
"You followed the rules even when someone more powerful told you not to."
Daniel said nothing.