Chapter 9 - SARAH’S FATHER
Sarah disappeared from work after the gala.
Not physically.
She simply stopped accepting shifts.
Arthur noticed.
Marcus told him.
“She thinks the catering company will fire her.”
“Why?”
“She created a scandal involving a major client.”
Arthur stared at him.
“She stopped a poisoning.”
“Yes.”
“And thinks she’ll be fired?”
Marcus shrugged.
“She works hourly.”
That answer bothered Arthur more than he expected.
He asked Sarah to meet.
She arrived wearing jeans and a gray sweater.
No uniform.
Arthur thanked her again.
Then offered a reward.
Sarah immediately said no.
Arthur frowned.
“Why?”
“Because then people will say I did it for money.”
“They already say whatever they want.”
“I know.”
“Still no.”
Arthur almost smiled.
Then he asked.
“Why did you recognize that something was wrong so quickly?”
Sarah hesitated.
“My dad worked security.”
“Where?”
“Vale Quantum.”
Arthur went still.
“What was his name?”
“Thomas Miller.”
Arthur knew the name.
Thomas had worked facilities security seven years earlier.
He was terminated after accusing a senior executive of bypassing vendor-access controls.
Arthur remembered signing the final HR authorization.
“Who was the executive?”
Sarah looked at him.
“Miles Davenport.”
The room became quiet.
“My dad said Mr. Davenport was moving people through restricted areas without logging them.”
“HR said Dad was paranoid.”
“Then he got fired.”
Arthur felt sick.
“Why didn’t he appeal?”
“He did.”
“Bellamy handled it.”
Of course.
Arthur stared at the floor.
Miles.
Bellamy.
Again.
“What happened to your father?”
“He died two years ago.”
“Cancer.”
“He never got over losing that job.”
Arthur swallowed.
“I signed the termination.”
Sarah looked surprised.
“I know.”
That hurt more.
“You knew?”
“My dad kept everything.”
Arthur expected anger.
Sarah only looked tired.
“He never blamed you personally.”
“He said people at the top usually see what the people under them decide to show.”
Arthur almost wished she had blamed him.
It would have been easier.
Sarah continued.
“That’s why I record things.”
“I learned nobody believes the person without the title unless there’s proof.”
May you like
The sentence stayed with him.
Sarah had saved Arthur because years earlier, his own company failed to believe her father.
