Chapter 25
The meeting Arianne scheduled did not happen immediately.
That was the first mistake Marcus Hale made.
He assumed delay meant hesitation on her part. That silence meant reconsideration. When nothing followed her notice, no clarification, no correction, and no visible response, he relaxed.
The approval stalled again, and this time without pretense.
At the end of the week, he stopped waiting for confirmation. He started to create it.
He grew comfortable far too quickly. By the second delayed approval, he no longer pretended it was caution. Now, the timing was more intentional.
There were late responses, misplaced confirmations, and documents returned with entire sections flagged for additional review.
Arianne watched the patterns closely but said nothing.
She didn’t correct him in public. Instead, she let the delays accumulate and let their effects ripple across departments.
When someone asked her a question, she answered calmly and directed them back down the chain.
She let the pressure build until everyone had to notice it.
Marcus grew bolder.
He began cc’ing additional parties under the guise of transparency. Each message carried the same subtext: this decision is not settled.
With every message, he placed himself one step further outside his authority.
It didn’t take long before Franz noticed it.
“This wasn’t in the framework,” he said, staring at the file Arianne had given him.
“No, it wasn’t,” she affirmed.
Franz gave her an assessing look.
“Do you want me to intervene p>
Arianne shook her head. “No. Not yet p>
She appreciated Franz’s concern, but this was something she could handle just fine.
Franz studied her for a moment, then closed the folder. “Alright. I’m sure you have a plan p>
He trusted her judgment—something Marcus hadn’t accounted for.
Marcus himself scheduled the next meeting and made attendance mandatory.
Arianne arrived on time.
Marcus was already speaking when she walked in. He stood confidently at the head of the table, as if he were in charge. He noticed her and paused for a moment, but then continued as if nothing had changed.
Arianne took her seat without interrupting.
Several eyes shifted toward her. Marcus noticed and smiled, feeling satisfied.
She waited until he finished.
“Which approvals are you referring to?” she finally asked.
Marcus clasped his hands together.
“All integration-related directives issued this week,” he said with confidence.
“But that isn’t within your purview,” Arianne calmly pointed out.
He chuckled, thinking Arianne felt threatened by now.
“With respect, neither is issuing them p>
Everyone fell silent.
Franz narrowed his eyes, but remained silent.
Arianne looked at Marcus head-on. “You’re delaying cross-departmental integration p>
Marcus merely shrugged. “I’m ensuring compliance p>
“By rerouting approvals without disclosure p>
He brushed her question aside as if it were insignificant.
“Transparency benefits everyone, Ms. Summers p>
Arianne hummed, then nodded. “Then let’s be transparent then p>
She turned to Lucas. “Were you informed of the rerouting before it occurred.
Lucas didn’t hesitate to answer, telling her no.
She then looked at compliance. “Were you consulted before the pause p>
Again, the answer was no.
The smile on Marcus’s face faltered.
“I assumed p>
“You assumed authority you don’t have, Mr. Hale,” Arianne said.
Her tone didn’t rise. It didn’t need to.
It was enough to remind everyone of Marcus’s position within the company.
“This framework,” she continued, tapping the document in front of her, “was circulated and acknowledged. You’re listed as an executing party, Mr. Hale, not a gatekeeper p>
Marcus opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute her words.
Arianne didn’t press further. Not yet.
“Since there appears to be confusion,” she said, standing from her seat, “I’ll be scheduling a clarification meeting p>
Marcus stiffened. “With whom p>
“With everyone who needs to be present,” she replied, giving him a pointed look.
That evening, Gio brought her the final confirmation.
Marcus had formally requested an executive freeze, submitted under his name, citing authority he did not possess.
He had left a paper trail—another mistake on his end.
Arianne read the document once, then set it aside.
He hadn’t just delayed approvals. He had overreached.
“It appears it wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this,” Gio told her. “A similar thing happened when Alexander Rochefort was already in an executive position p>
Arianne’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“When?” she asked.
Gio checked the timestamp on his tablet.
“A couple of years ago. During the first phase of the Rochefort expansion. Mr. Hale attempted to slow approvals then, too, using the same tactics he’s doing now p>
“Did it work p>
“No,” Gio replied, “Alex overruled him within a week p>
Alex hadn’t needed to prepare. His authority alone had been enough.
Arianne nodded once. That explained Marcus’s confidence.
He assumed that power worked the same way for everyone.
He hadn’t succeeded back then, but he learned something.
Delay created noise. Noise created doubt. And doubt, which he believed, could weaken authority.
This time, he was counting on hesitation.
“He escalated,” Gio continued. “Each time, just enough to appear procedural. Never enough to draw attention p>
“And now?” Arianne asked.
“Now,” Gio replied carefully, “he’s done it under his own name p>
Arianne leaned back in her chair.
That was the difference.
She didn’t say anything for a long moment. Gio waited, already familiar with the way she processed information. Not through reaction, but alignment.
“Prepare the documentation,” she finally said. “Every instance. Every rerouted approval. Every copied party p>
Gio’s lips curled up.
“I already did,” he replied. “Legal flagged three violations p>
She took the folder from him, a little impressed by how efficient he was. She skimmed the first page.
Marcus Hale had not only exceeded his authority. He had even created a trail that would prove intent.
Arianne closed the file.
“Schedule the meeting as soon as possible,” she said.
Gio paused. “All parties p>
“Legal. Compliance. Executive oversight p>
“Yes p>
He hesitated. “Mr. Hale will attend p>
“He will,” Arianne said calmly.
“And Dominic?” Gio asked.
Arianne looked up at him then.
“No,” she said. “Not yet p>
She wasn’t interested in the shadow. Not today.
This was about the man who thought he could hide behind it.
That night, the meeting notice went out.
Mandatory attendance.
No agenda.
No explanatory notes.
By morning, the whispers had changed.
They no longer questioned her authority. They questioned her timing.
Arianne arrived at the office early. She looked over the documents one last time, not for reassurance, but because she valued precision.
When she got up, she adjusted her cuffs and reached for her coat.
There would be no raised voices today.
No explanations were offered beyond what was necessary.
Marcus had mistaken silence for uncertainty.
She would correct that misunderstanding.