"Then why did you threaten me this morning?"
Eleanor froze.
Daniel continued.
"You told me people like me were replaceable."
Eleanor looked away.
"I was angry."
"Why?"
"Because you challenged me."
"About a package."
"Yes."
Daniel nodded.
"That's what I don't understand."
Eleanor looked at him.
"What?"
"If you were protecting the company, why did you need to hide the phone?"
She said nothing.
Marcus leaned forward.
"That's the question."
The room became silent.
Eleanor finally whispered,
"Because the phone contained something else."
Marcus's expression changed.
"What?"
She looked at him.
"Names."
"Whose names?"
"People who were involved."
Marcus frowned.
"Executives?"
Eleanor nodded.
"Some."
"Who else?"
"Government officials."
Daniel stared.
Marcus became very still.
"Explain."
Eleanor took a breath.
"The investors who loaned the money weren't ordinary investors."
"Who were they?"
"They were connected to people who wanted control of Sterling."
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"Competitors?"
"Not exactly."
"Then who?"
Eleanor looked at the door.
"People who buy companies when they are weak."
Marcus understood.
"Private raiders."
"Yes."
Daniel listened.
Eleanor continued.
"They wanted Sterling."
"Why?"
"Because of the technology division."
Marcus frowned.
"Our patents."
"Yes."
"What technology?"
"Artificial intelligence systems."
Daniel looked surprised.
Eleanor nodded.
"Sterling developed software that could transform logistics."
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"That's why the mailroom matters."
Daniel didn't understand.
"Why?"
Marcus explained.
"Because our logistics system was being tested through the mailroom."
Daniel remembered.
The unusual packages.
The changing addresses.
The strange labels.
He suddenly understood.
"Those packages were part of the test."
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
"Then why hide them?"
Eleanor said,
"Because someone was stealing the data."
Marcus stood.
"Who?"
Eleanor looked at him.
"I don't know."
Marcus stared.
"You don't know?"
"No."
"Then who had access?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"Several executives."
Marcus looked at the lawyers.
"Investigate every one of them."
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Except him."
Daniel looked surprised.
"Why me?"
"Because you already passed the test."
"What test?"
Marcus smiled.
"The only one that matters."
"What?"
"Whether you can be trusted when nobody is watching."
Daniel didn't know what to say.
The meeting ended two hours later.
But the investigation had only begun.
Marcus asked Daniel to remain.
When everyone else left, the room became quiet.
Marcus sat across from him.
"Are you comfortable?"
Daniel laughed.
"Not really."
Marcus smiled.
"Good."
Daniel looked at him.
"Why did you choose me?"
"I didn't."
"What?"
"My father did."
Daniel frowned.
"Your father?"
Marcus nodded.
"Before he died, he created a list."
"What kind of list?"
"Employees he believed had integrity."
Daniel was confused.
"Why?"
"Because he knew one day Sterling might be threatened from within."
Daniel looked at the table.
"And my name was on it?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"You were recommended by your supervisor."
"Mr. Harris?"
"Yes."
Daniel smiled.
"He never told me."
"He wasn't supposed to."
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Why?"
"Because the moment people know they're being tested, they stop behaving naturally."
Daniel laughed.
"So I've been tested for eleven months?"
Marcus smiled.
"Not exactly."
"What then?"
"You've been observed."
Daniel shook his head.
"That's worse."
Marcus laughed.
"Maybe."
Then Marcus reached into his pocket.
He removed a small black card.
He placed it on the table.
Daniel picked it up.
It had only one line.
DANIEL PARK
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Daniel stared.
"What is this?"
"Your new position."
Daniel laughed.
"No."
Marcus smiled.
"Yes."
"I work in the mailroom."
"Not anymore."
"I don't have a college degree."