The Contract That Was Never Meant to Reach the CEO
Chapter 2
Ethan kept his expression neutral.
The manager, Robert Vance, pointed toward a chair.
“Sit.”
Ethan sat.
Robert studied him.
“You said you’re looking for a used sedan.”
“That’s right.”
“Credit okay?”
“Not great.”
Robert smiled.
“We can work with that.”
Ethan looked through the office window.
Maya was back at her desk.
Two salespeople were whispering nearby.
Robert lowered his voice.
“Look, Daniel, if your credit isn’t perfect, we have ways of making the numbers work.”
“What kind of ways?”
“Packages.”
“Optional?”
Robert smiled again.
“Everything is optional.”
Ethan knew that wasn’t true.
He had spent years teaching his regional managers that transparency was one of Cole Automotive’s core principles.
But he’d also learned something during his undercover visits.
The best way to discover how a company really worked was to pretend you didn’t understand it.
“Can I think about it?”
“Of course.”
Robert slid a form across the desk.
“Just sign here so we can begin the financing process.”
Ethan glanced at it.
The authorization contained language allowing the dealership to submit applications to multiple lenders.
Normal.
But attached behind it was another page.
A service agreement.
It contained charges Ethan knew customers were being told were mandatory.
He didn’t sign.
“I’ll come back tomorrow.”
Robert’s smile disappeared.
“Why?”
“I want to compare prices.”
“You’re not going to find a better deal.”
“Maybe.”
Ethan stood.
Robert followed him to the door.
“You know, Daniel, people who waste our time don’t get the same deal when they come back.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Good to know.”
He walked out.
Instead of leaving, he went to the employee parking lot.
Maya was there ten minutes later.
She stopped when she saw him.
“You followed me?”
“I need to ask you something.”
She looked around.
“About the contract?”
“Yes.”
Maya hesitated.
“I shouldn’t have let you see it.”
“Who is transferring ownership?”
“I don’t know.”
“Whose signature is on it?”
She looked at him.
“Yours.”
“I didn’t sign it.”
“I know.”
Ethan’s voice became quiet.
“Then who did?”
Maya swallowed.
“That’s the problem.”
She opened her car door.
Before getting in, she whispered:
“There are two sets of books.”
Ethan froze.
“What?”
“The numbers headquarters receives aren’t the numbers we actually operate with.”
“How long?”
“At least a year.”
“Who knows?”
“Everyone who has survived here longer than six months.”
“And nobody reported it?”
Maya laughed bitterly.
“To whom?”
Ethan didn’t answer.
She looked directly at him.
“Mr. Cole.”
His heart stopped.
She knew.
Maya stepped closer.
“I recognized you the moment you walked in.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I wanted to know whether you came here to punish people…”
She glanced toward the dealership.
“…or finally listen.”
