He Lent His Laptop to a Girl for an Interview — Unaware She Was the Disguised CEO!
Chapter 4
Olivia spent the next several days learning the company from the bottom up.
She visited warehouses.
Sat with customer-service employees.
Joined a loading crew for one morning.
Talked to junior accountants.
Nobody knew she was the CEO.
Nobody treated her differently.
And she saw everything.
Managers taking credit for other people’s work.
Employees hiding mistakes.
People afraid to challenge executives.
But she also found good people.
Workers who stayed late.
Supervisors who helped new employees.
And Ethan.
He never treated her like a subordinate.
He answered her questions.
He showed her how the company worked.
He even introduced her to employees he’d worked with for years.
One afternoon, Olivia asked him,
“Why do you stay here?”
Ethan looked at the warehouse.
“Because I believe the company can be better.”
“And if it can’t?”
“Then I’ll leave.”
She nodded.
“That simple?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not afraid?”
“I’ve been afraid before.”
“Of what?”
“Losing something important.”
She looked at him.
“What did you lose?”
“My father.”
Olivia softened.
“I’m sorry.”
“He taught me never to work somewhere just because the paycheck is good.”
She smiled.
“I like him already.”
Ethan laughed.
Meanwhile, Olivia’s investigation found something alarming.
The procurement contracts Ethan had questioned were tied to a private consulting firm.
The firm belonged to Daniel Reeves.
Chief Financial Officer.
Olivia couldn’t believe it.
She had met Daniel twice.
He seemed professional.
Reliable.
But the money trail was clear.
Someone was paying him through a shell company.
She needed evidence.
That afternoon, Ethan entered her office.
“We need to talk.”
She closed the file.
“About what?”
He placed the flash drive on her desk.
“Fraud.”
Olivia looked at it.
“Where did you get this?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Can I see it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if you’re involved, I’ll know.”
She stared.
Then smiled.
“You’re cautious.”
“I have to be.”
Olivia nodded.
“Fair.”
She looked at the flash drive.
“I’m not involved.”
Ethan studied her.
“You’re lying about something.”
Olivia’s heart skipped.
“What makes you say that?”
“You don’t behave like a new employee.”
She froze.
Ethan smiled.
“I don’t know who you are.”
“Good.”
“But I know you’re hiding something.”
She looked at him.
“So are you.”
He smiled.
“Fair.”
For the first time, they understood each other.
Neither knew the other’s secret.
But both knew there was one.
