The second day was somehow worse than the first.
I arrived at 8 AM, determined to prove myself. My analysis of the Singapore properties kept me up half the night, but I had found something.
The management contracts had a clause that allowed the property managers to inflate maintenance costs. It was small amounts, and spread across months, but it added up to nearly half a million dollars in discrepancies.
Someone was skimming money, and no one had noticed.
I spent the morning compiling evidence, cross referencing invoices with actual work orders. By noon, I had a presentation ready.
"Lulu?"
I looked up to find Rachel standing at my door, two coffee cups in her hands.
"Thought you might need this."
She offered me one. "You've been staring at that screen since you got here."
"Thanks." I took the cup gratefully. "Just… working on something."
"The Singapore properties?"
She sat in the chair across from my desk, crossing her legs. "You flagged them in the meeting."
"Yeah. There's something off about them."
Rachel studied me for a moment. "Can I give you some advice?"
"Sure."
"Be careful." Her voice was low. "Those properties are Vivian's pet project. She personally negotiated those management contracts two years ago."
My stomach sank. "Oh."
"I'm not saying you're wrong, even back then in the meeting." Rachel continued. "Just… thread carefully. Vivian doesn't like being challenged, especially not by someone who's been here less than forty eight hours."
"I'm not trying to challenge her. I'm just doing my job."
"I know."
Rachel stood. "But sometimes, around here, these two things are the same."
She left, and I stared at my presentation.
Vivian's project.
I had a bad feeling about this.
*******
At 3 PM, I knocked on Vivian's door.
She looked up from her laptop, her expression unreadable. "Lulu. Come in."
I entered, clutching my tablet like a shield. "I wanted to update you on the Singapore properties."
"Already?" One perfectly shaped eyebrow rose. "You work fast."
"I found something."
I pulled up my presentation on her monitor.
"The management contracts have a clause that's being exploited. Look at these invoices versus the actual work completed."
I walked her through the numbers, pointing out the patterns, the discrepancies.
Vivian's expression never changed. She listened in silence, her eyes scanning the data.
When I finished, she leaned back in her chair.
"This is… thorough," she said finally.
"Thank you."
"These are serious accusations."
"I'm not accusing anyone," I said carefully. "I'm just presenting the data."
"The data that suggests someone I personally vetted is stealing from us."
Her tone was still neutral, but something cold had entered her eyes.
"I'm not suggesting you made a mistake—"
"Aren't you?"
The air between us froze.
"Ms. Zhang, I'm just doing what you asked. You told me to analyze the portfolio and identify concerns. This is a concern."
Vivian stood, moving to the window. For a long moment, she said nothing.
"Send me everything," she said finally. "All your data, sources, calculations. I'll review it personally."
"Of course."
"And Lulu?"
She turned to face me. "Don't share this with anyone else. Not the team. Not Kevin. No one. Understood?"
"Yes, Ms. Zhang."
"Good. You can go."
I left her office with my hands shaking.
That didn't feel like victory. It felt like I just stepped on a landmine.
*******
My phone buzzed as I reached my office.
Daniel Tan: How's day two?
Me: Complicated.
Daniel Tan: Want to talk about it?
I hesitated. Vivian had said not to tell anyone. But Daniel was the CEO. Surely that didn't include him?
Me: I found something in the Singapore properties. Presented it to Vivian. She… didn't seem happy.
Daniel Tan: What did you find?
Me: Potential embezzlement. Someone's inflating maintenance costs.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Daniel Tan: Send me your analysis.
Me: Vivian told me not to share it with anyone.
Daniel Tan: I'm not anyone. I'm the CEO. Send it.
I attached the file and hit send before I could doubt myself.
Daniel Tan: Good work. This is exactly why I hired you.
Me: Vivian negotiated those contracts. I think I just accused her of making a bad call.
Daniel Tan: You did your job. That's never wrong. Don't let her intimidate you.
Me: Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to work under her.
Daniel Tan: True. But you're stronger than you think. And if she gives you trouble, tell me.
Me: Won't that make things worse?
Daniel Tan: Not if I handle it correctly. Trust me.
I wanted to. God, I wanted to trust him.
But something about this whole situation felt wrong.
Me: Why do I feel like I just walked into the middle of something I don't understand?
Daniel Tan: Because you're smart. And observant. Just keep doing what you're doing. The truth always comes out eventually.
The truth.
What truth was he talking about?
*******
By Friday, the tension was suffocating.
Vivian barely spoke to me all week. When she did, her tone was clipped, professional, and cold.
The team noticed. Rachel gave me sympathetic looks. Marcus avoided me entirely.
Only Kevin remained his cheerful self, bringing me coffee and chattering about office gossip I didn't understand.
"Big company event next month," he said Friday afternoon, perched on the edge of my desk. "Annual gala. Very fancy. All the executives will be there."
"Sounds exhausting."
"It is." He grinned. "But the food is amazing. And the open bar makes up for having to wear uncomfortable shoes for six hours."
"Do I have to go?"
"Oh, absolutely. Everyone in the department goes. It's like… mandatory fun."
He laughed at his own joke. "Plus, you'll finally meet Daniel in person. He always makes an appearance."
My heart did that stupid flip again.
"He'll be there?"
"Of course. He hosts it."
Kevin tilted his head. "You haven't met him yet, have you? That's so weird. He usually meets all new hires personally."
"We've… communicated," I said carefully.
"Via email?"
"Something like that."
Kevin looked like he wanted to ask more, but my phone rang.
"I should take this," I lied.
"Sure! Have a good weekend, Lulu!"
He bounced out, and I stared at my silent phone.
A company gala. Where I would finally meet Daniel again, face to face.
The thought terrified me in equal measure.