The Missing Heir(76)

                “If I may, sir?”

                “Yes?”

                “You haven’t asked about Samuel Henderson.”

                “That’s because I don’t want to know.”

                Bartholomew was silent for a moment. “Very good.”

                “Is that a problem for you?”

                “Not at all.”

                Cole looked through the doorway to the outer office and Bartholomew’s desk. “Give me the lay of the land here.”

                Bartholomew moved to stand beside him. “You’ve seen reception, and my desk is right there. The office to your right is the president’s. Max isn’t using it, because he already has an office on this floor. Around the corner to your left is Roth, next to him is Julius, and Sidney is around the corner from the president’s office. The east boardroom is next to Sidney, and the west meeting room is next to Julius. After that, you’re through reception to the director’s offices and the executive lunch room.”

                “Is everyone in today?”

                “As I understand it, yes.”

                “Thank you, Bartholomew.” Cole exited the office and made his way to the elevator in the reception area.

                Under Sandra’s veiled curiosity, he pressed the button for seven. He could well imagine the conversations and speculation would start the second the door closed behind him. That was good. He wanted people to wonder.

                On the seventh floor, he took a left then a right, quickly finding Amber’s office.

                Her door was open, and he was taken aback by the small size. She sat at her desk, head down, writing on a financial sheet.

                “There’s an adding error on report sixteen,” she said without looking up, obviously hearing him arrive. “I know we have to pull the soft commitments in manually, but we need to make sure the formulas are—”

                She spotted Cole in the doorway. “Sorry.” His presence seemed to fluster her. “I assumed you were my assistant.”

                “Nope.” He walked in.

                She sat up straight and set down her pen. “You’re here.”

                “I’m here.” He glanced around. “More to the point, you’re here.”

                “I’m usually here.”

                “This is your office?”

                “It is.”

                “So the office of the assistant director of finance?”

                “That would be me.”

                He braced himself on the desk across from her. “Not anymore.”

                She drew back. “Have I been fired?”

                “Promoted. Or haven’t you been paying attention?”

                “Being temporarily nominated as guardian is not a promotion.”

                “You’re chair of the board.”