Chapter 19
The second issue appeared two days later.
It arrived not as a report, but as a casual remark at the end of a meeting. It was almost an afterthought, delivered while people were already gathering their things.
The meeting room had already begun to empty. Chairs shifted back into place, and screens dimmed as attention drifted elsewhere.
“The vendor confirmation is still pending,” the project lead said. “We’ll follow up tomorrow p>
No one looked concerned.
“Which vendor?” Franz asked. He was still seated, waiting for Arianne to gather her things so they could leave together.
“Logistic partner,” the man replied. “They’re saying the contract needs another review on their end p>
“That happens,” someone commented. “We’ll just have to wait p>
No one lingered on the comment.
The meeting moved on, but Arianne didn’t. Her silence immediately caught Franz’s attention. Her words from the last two days replay in his mind.
She remained seated, her fingers resting lightly on the table, eyes on the notes in front of her.
When the discussion shifted to another topic, she didn’t interrupt. The gears on her mind were already turning, tuning out the discussion around her.
“How long has it been pending?” Arianne asked a moment later, earning everyone’s attention.
The project lead checked his phone. “Three days p>
“And before that p>
He hesitated. “It cleared internal review quickly. The delay came after p>
“After what?” Arianne asked.
“After legal sent it out p>
She nodded once. “Which review was requested p>
“Standard verification,” he shrugged. “Nothing unusual p>
Arianne did not respond immediately. She remained still, as if waiting for the rest of the room to reach the same conclusion she already had. No one else seemed inclined to look closer.
Instead, she glanced at Gio, who was already opening a new file on his tablet.
“Pull the timeline,” she said.
Screens were checked again.
The path appeared on the screen with dates and notes.
Arianne leaned forward slightly, her eyes never leaving the screen.
“This cleared compliance on time,” Arianne said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Then stalled p>
“Yes,” the project lead confirmed. “But that’s external p>
“Not entirely,” Arianne replied. “It was flagged before it left.
Lucas frowned. “That’s the standard language. A request for additional confirmation p>
“From whom?” Arianne asked.
“Regulatory liaison,” Lucas replied.
Someone chuckled, as if amused by the coincidence. However, those who were listening shared the same sentiment.
“Same department as last time p>
Arianne didn’t smile.
“Show me the last approval we rerouted,” she said.
Gio placed a second timeline beside the first.
The two approval paths looked different at first glance, branching through separate departments and names. It was only when they were viewed together that the similarity emerged—subtle, precise, and easy to miss if one wasn’t looking for it.
Different departments. Different projects. Different documents.
But the delay appeared in the same place.
“These aren’t separate,” she stated.
Someone reached for their tablet again, scrolling back through earlier pages as if searching for reassurance.
The room fell quiet.
“They look unrelated,” the project lead said carefully.
“They are on the surface,” Arianne replied. “They aren’t in practice p>
Lucas leaned closer to the screen. “Are you saying this is systemic p>
“I’m saying the same kind of delay is appearing at the same stage,” Arianne said. “Across different approvals p>
Someone shifted in their seat.
“If this continues,” the compliance officer said slowly, “we won’t miss one deadline. We’ll miss all of them p>
No one responded. The implication didn’t need reinforcement.
Arianne looked up. “How many approvals go through this path p>
The answer came after a brief calculation. “Most p>
The implication settled heavily.
“But this doesn’t mean someone is blocking us,” Franz said, measured. “It could be procedural p>
Arianne didn’t contradict him.
“It could be,” she nodded and closed the files. “Which is why we’re not fixing it yet p>
Her words drew attention. The decision was settled at the table. Not agreement, but as acceptance.
The project lead frowned. “We can reroute this one, too p>
“Yes,” Arianne said. “And the next. And the next after that p>
She paused and glanced at the project lead. “But that tells us nothing p>
Franz studied the two timelines. “What do you want to know p>
“How far it spreads,” Arianne said without hesitation before turning to Gio.
“Track every approval that slows at this stage. Just the record p>
Gio nodded and noted her request. “Understood p>
Lucas hesitated. He looked at Arianne with curiosity.
“But Ms. Summers, that increases risk,” he commented.
Arianne glanced at him. “It clarifies it p>
She stood and gathered her notes.
“We act when we know what we’re dealing with p>
No one argued, but each of them had already their own opinions.
Later in the corridor, Franz caught up with her. They left the room together. Behind them, the meeting resumed at a different pace, quieter, as if the conversation had shifted onto a track no one could quite step off.
“You’re letting it continue?” he asked.
“For now,” Arianne replied, before handing the papers she had to Gio.
“What if it worsens?” Franz asked.
As much as he was grateful for Arianne’s help, he didn’t want to involve her in the company’s problems.
“Then it proves what it is p>
Franz considered that, but Arianne was treading into dangerous water.
“You know your role will come into question, right p>
“Yes,” Arianne said calmly.
’And that doesn’t concern you?” he frowned.
“It does,” Arianne said with honesty. “But not as much as acting blindly.
Franz hesitated, then said nothing. I
“Someone is testing the system,” he came to the conclusion. “And you are allowing them p>
Arianne simply nodded.
She didn’t need to say why.
The delays weren’t meant to stop her. They were meant to measure her.
Someone wasn’t blocking her path.
They were watching how she moved.