The meeting with the directors was scheduled for after 2 p.m. Daniel stood in front of the room ten minutes early. Not only the room but the entire floor seemed deserted. He wasn’t surprised. People like that rarely showed up on time, especially when meeting someone beneath them.

  He heard the sound of heels clicking up the stairs. Turning around, he saw a blonde woman, slightly stocky, with an authoritative face, black glasses, and a black skirt. She walked deliberately, step by step, holding something in her hands.

  “Good afternoon, Daniel,” she said.

  Daniel smiled at her, but she was already looking elsewhere. She brushed past him, opened the office door in front of him, stood in the doorway, and signaled with her eyes for him to enter.

  “Mr. Scott said to wait for him.”

  He’d expected Scott to be late. These people never arrived on time, but he was used to it.

  The office was ordinary. Slightly larger than usual, with a big round table in the center that could seat no more than ten people.

  Max Scott arrived five minutes later.

  “Oh, Daniel. Sorry for being late.”

  His boss walked past him first, shook his hand, then sat down under the smiling gaze of the woman.

  “This is Brooke. She’s starting as a secretary today.”

  Daniel nodded at her. He didn’t know what to say. It didn’t interest him, nor was it his problem.

  “Are we expecting anyone else?” Max glanced at the blonde woman again.

  “Mr. Cole.”

  “He won’t be coming. Personal issues. Anyone else?”

  “No.”

  That was interesting. Daniel was the only one present at the meeting. He could think of at least five other people—higher-ups—who should’ve been there if this was about work. But apparently, it wasn’t. That worried him.

  Max Scott straightened the papers in front of him, as if they needed straightening, then abruptly looked up. He had dark blonde hair and glasses. His face always seemed to carry a smile, even when he was angry.

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  “Daniel, sorry we took your work-from-home day, but we needed to talk about something.”

  Daniel didn’t respond. Instead, he let him continue.

  Max Scott glanced at the blonde woman, who stood expressionless in the corner. Then he lowered his head again, his eyes meeting Daniel’s.

  “I assume you got the invitation to the Historical Park?”

  “Yes.” He was surprised by the direct question. “How do you know?”

  “Come on. I know who’s been invited and figured you’d be on the list.”

  “Yes, Mr. Scott. Two invitations. You must have gotten them too.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” He waved his hand, as if the question annoyed him—or at least that’s how Daniel interpreted it.

  “Exactly, exactly. How’s Emma? That’s your girlfriend’s name, right? Is she excited about the invitation?” The question was odd.

  “Actually, no.” He wasn’t lying. “I won’t be going with her. She wants to, but she’s got commitments.”

  Max Scott started thumbing through the papers in front of him. He wanted to say something but seemed unsure where to start. The blonde secretary watched them with a smile. They always smiled.

  “I see. Have you found someone else to go with?”

  “I’ve got two options.” Daniel was almost certain either Colin or Jasper would agree. But there was no point in naming them. Max Scott probably didn’t care about them specifically. “I’ve got someone to go with.”

  “Look, Daniel, I’ll get straight to the point.” Max Scott placed both palms on the papers in front of him. “We both have other work to do. I need both of your invitations.”

  Daniel leaned back in his chair. He wasn’t so attached to the idea that he’d cling to the invitations like they were irreplaceable, but to have them demanded so bluntly? The sheer audacity made his hands tremble—more from anger than anything else.

  “My invitations?”

  “Look, Daniel. You’re one of the fastest-rising people in the company. A highly valued asset. But I have friends. Very influential friends.”

  It all felt like a threat.

  “And they want to visit the park too, but they don’t have invitations.”

  “If they’re as influential as you say, I’d think Mr. Barnes would gladly get them tickets.”

  “I’m afraid we’ve already spoken to Mr. Barnes, and he refused. The invitations are gone, and they can’t risk adding more people.”

  Daniel realized he had little time to decide, and it’d be better for him to make the right call. The “right” decision now seemed to be handing them over to his boss. He didn’t want to lose his job over some tickets.

  “Look, Dani,” Max Scott suddenly softened, “all the big shots in the country already have tickets. Including me. Even those beneath them have them—undeservedly, if you ask me. But Barnes explained they’ll need support staff there too. So, look, Daniel, you’re support staff.” Max paused to study Daniel carefully, perhaps searching for a flicker of rage on his face. “You’d be a secondary role there.”

  “How do you know that?” It was the only question he could think to ask.

  “See? I know more than you do. That’s why I’m where I am. You’re where you are… Actually, do you want time off for it?”

  He’d have wanted it. But now he wasn’t so sure.

  “Look, I hope you make the right choice.” Max didn’t let him answer. Instead, he smiled, stood up, and left. The secretary stayed where she was. Daniel didn’t move. Truthfully, those invitations weren’t the most important thing to him, but now that there was such a demand for them, they felt more valuable. All this in just a few minutes. Scott was known for his directness, but this… this was too bold.

  The blonde secretary adjusted her glasses, glancing between him and the door. He got the hint and stood up.

  He didn’t wish her a good day as he left.