Chapter 7: The Name Above Them All
For the first time since entering the waiting room, Malik stopped looking at the evidence and looked directly at Richard.
“The board chair gave the instruction?””
Richard swallowed.
“That is what Ashley claims.””
“And what do you claim?””
“I need to see the statement before I can respond.””
Julia Bennett, the independent investigator, placed a copy on the reception desk but kept her hand on the original.
“You'll receive an opportunity to respond through the investigation. For now, I need to establish whether the documents are authentic and whether anyone attempted to interfere with Daniel Reed's complaint.””
Richard adjusted his expensive charcoal jacket.
“I have cooperated with every request.””
“Then this should be straightforward,” Julia replied.
Around them, applicants sat motionless beneath the bright afternoon sunlight. The glass walls reflected their faces, multiplying the expressions of concern and disbelief.
Ashley remained in the adjoining meeting room with her attorney. Through the glass, Malik could see her leaning forward, speaking with her hands clasped tightly together.
He turned back to Julia.
“Who is the board chair?””
“Victoria Sterling,” Julia answered.
“She has served on the board for eleven years and became chair four years ago.””
Richard interrupted.
“Victoria has built this company into what it is today. We shouldn't jump to conclusions because someone produced an old email.””
Malik's expression remained steady.
“Nobody is jumping to conclusions. We're following the evidence.””
Richard lowered his voice.
“Malik, I understand that you're upset about what happened this morning, but this investigation could damage hundreds of employees if it becomes public.””
“Those employees deserve a company that can withstand scrutiny.””
“And if the allegations prove false?””
“Then the evidence will establish that, too.””
Richard looked toward the executive door.
“I think Victoria should be contacted before this goes any further.””
Julia shook her head.
“The board chair will be notified through the appropriate procedure. She will not be permitted to influence the investigation.””
Richard's face tightened.
“You don't understand the relationships involved.””
“That's precisely why we're documenting them.””
Malik opened his notebook.
“Julia, I want a complete timeline. Start with Daniel's complaint, then identify every person who accessed, reviewed, altered, or removed related records. Include the original interview scores and every subsequent revision.””
“Understood.””
“And contact the candidates affected by those decisions. Offer them a confidential opportunity to provide information.””
Julia nodded.
“I'll have the team begin today.””
Richard stared at Malik.
“You're treating this as though the entire organization is corrupt.””
“No,” Malik replied.
“I'm treating it as though the organization needs to find out whether its safeguards failed.””
A brief silence followed.
Then Malik added, “Those are very different things.””
The distinction appeared to unsettle Richard more than an accusation would have.
At the reception desk, Denise cleared her throat.
“Mr. Malik, there's another message from the security team.””
Malik walked toward her.
“What have they found?””
Denise turned the monitor so he could read the report.
The technical team had recovered part of the original complaint attachment from an archived backup. It included a spreadsheet comparing candidate evaluations across three departments.
The entries showed that several candidates had received strong technical scores, only to be rejected after a second review. In multiple cases, the final notes cited vague concerns about cultural compatibility or executive presence.
Malik studied the dates.
“Who approved these final changes?””
Denise pointed to the column.
“Different people. But the last approval on every disputed case came from the Office of the Board Chair.””
Richard's face hardened.
“That doesn't establish Victoria's personal involvement. Her office handles administrative approvals for dozens of departments.””
“Agreed,” Malik said.
“Which is why we'll identify who actually made each decision.””
Julia took photographs of the screen for the case file.
Then she paused at the final row.
“There's something else.””
“What?”” Malik asked.
“This candidate wasn't simply rejected. Their application was removed from the searchable archive altogether.””
“Name?””
Julia enlarged the entry.
“Jordan Ellis.””
Malik felt a familiar tension settle across his shoulders.
“Do we know why?””
“Not yet. But the original record shows that Jordan was recommended unanimously by the interview panel.””
Richard stepped closer to the monitor.
“Jordan was applying for a senior strategy role.””
“Were you involved in that decision?”” Malik asked.
“I was informed of it.””
“Did you review the candidate's qualifications?””
“Yes.””
“And what was your conclusion?””
Richard looked at the report.
“I don't remember the details.””
Malik closed his notebook.
“Then we need to recover them.””
Before Richard could respond, the executive door opened.
A young man in a navy suit emerged carrying a leather portfolio. He looked around the waiting room, spotted Richard, and walked directly toward him.
“Mr. Hale, Ms. Sterling is asking for an update.””
Richard straightened.
“Tell her the investigation is ongoing.””
“She wants to speak with Mr. Malik immediately.””
Malik looked at the newcomer.
“What's your name?””
“Peter Collins. I'm an assistant in the board chair's office.””
“Did Ms. Sterling ask you to deliver a message?””
Peter hesitated.
“Yes.””
“What was it?””
Peter glanced at Richard before answering.
“She said the company has a reputation to protect, and she expects this matter to be handled quietly.””
Julia immediately wrote down the statement.
Malik kept his eyes on Peter.
“Did she tell you what to say if anyone asked about Daniel Reed?””
Peter's expression changed.
“No.””
“Are you certain?””
Peter tightened his grip on the portfolio.
“She told me that if Daniel's name came up, I should say his departure had been voluntary and that all complaints had been resolved.””
Richard closed his eyes briefly.
Julia looked up.
“Did you know whether that was true?””
Peter shook his head.
“I assumed it was.””
“Did you send that statement to anyone?””
“Yes. I sent it to the recruitment department and the communications team.””
Malik's voice remained measured.
“Please preserve that correspondence and provide it to the investigator.””
Peter nodded.
“Of course.””
Richard turned toward him.
“Peter, did Victoria tell you to send those messages before or after Daniel's complaint was removed?””
Peter looked uncomfortable.
“After.””
“How long after?””
“About a week.””
Richard stared at him.
“You never mentioned that.””
“You never asked.””
The answer came quietly, but it landed like a blow.
Malik watched Richard absorb it.
Then he turned to Julia.
“Please document Peter's statement. Make sure he understands that he can provide information without being pressured by anyone involved in the matter.””
Julia nodded.
Peter remained beside the desk, visibly uncertain.
“Mr. Malik,” he said, “there's one other thing.””
“What is it?””
“Ms. Sterling has called an emergency board meeting for this afternoon.””
Richard's head snapped toward him.
“When?””
“Three o'clock.””
“Why wasn't I informed?””
Peter lowered his eyes.
“Because she said you were no longer authorized to discuss the investigation with the board.””
Richard went pale.
Malik looked at the clock.
Then he looked toward the glass executive door, beyond which the company's leadership was preparing for a confrontation that could no longer be contained.
“Julia,” he said, “please arrange for the independent investigator to attend that meeting, along with counsel.””
“Understood.””
Richard stepped toward Malik.
“You can't walk into that room without knowing what you're dealing with.””
Malik met his gaze.
“Then tell me.””
Richard's lips parted.
For a moment, he seemed ready to speak.
Instead, he looked at Peter, then at the statement bearing Victoria Sterling's name.
Finally, he whispered, “There's a reason Victoria never wanted Daniel's complaint investigated.””
“What reason?””
Richard's eyes shifted toward the waiting room's enormous company logo.
“Because Daniel wasn't the first person to discover the pattern.””
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded sheet of paper.
On it was the name of another former employee.
Someone who had filed a similar complaint three years earlier.
And beneath that name was a handwritten note:
*Ask Malik why the original investigation was stopped.*
Richard placed the paper in Malik's hand.
Then he stepped back.
May you like
For the first time, he wasn't looking at Malik as a superior who could punish him.
He was looking at him as the one person who might finally uncover what had been hidden.
