*Ding*
The door of the elevator closed on the two refreshed men who looked to have had enough fun. Alex glanced at Gawain beside him, and looked down at his legs hidden within his pants before smiling:
"You are not far from recovering to your peak, are you? You took on a V9 wall today, and a V10 is not that far away."
Gawain smiled slightly. He also looked down, but only for a glance, before turning to Alex:
"You are right, but I am surprised you are not leaving the sports center with any new company. You were flirting with quite a few women with your gaze earlier."
Alex paused, then raised his eyebrows with a casual smile:
"Let's see about that later."
It was Gawain's turn to raise his eyebrows. He gave his friend a deep look, but at that moment, the elevator arrived at its destination.
*Ding*
He glanced at the underground parking lot outside, then looked at Alex:
"See you later. And try not to be too reckless just because something is bothering you."
Alex smiled without denying Gawain's words, and casually promised:
"I will try. See you."
He pressed the button of a new destination, then waved at the blond as the door closed. Now alone, his smile took on a calm hue. He put his hands in his pockets and looked up at the display above the door where the digits were flickering as the lift went in the opposite direction.
*Ding*
A few seconds later, the cabin stopped and its door opened again. The notification pulled Alex's thoughts back. He looked down from the display panel and, looking outside, his smile regained its liveliness. He stepped out, dashing and charming like usual, his smiling eyes appreciating the sights along the way as he made his way to the end point of the floor.
The mall was shaped a bit like a donut, if only looked at from inside, with the middle space large, but somewhat empty, just like the roof above, as if reserved for something. The walkways of each floor, taken together, were like a spiral going upward, with its end point seeming like the end of the whole mall, and there, there was a big shop, one that looked like a dead end, but also like a mystery box. The place looked poised to arouse curiosity, to make one wonder whether it was truly the last stop of the journey or if it was hiding access to somewhere beyond, to parts unknown of this self-contained small world, somewhere even the elevators couldn't go.
Above the shop, visible above its wide entrance, visible from any path leading to it, was a phrase, a name, 'End Point: Remembrance', brought to life with artistry, softly shimmering with a glow that was obvious but not harsh, capable of attracting gazes but also easily ignored, whether its appearance… or its meaning.
Alex glanced over the railing, taking in the interior of the artificial world with a deep smile, then, without pausing, glanced up, then strode directly into the bright shop. Designed to look spacious despite the dozens of tables that should have made its interior crowded, the shop was illuminated softly by the lights from the ceiling, but also from the sides. And at the side, left of the entrance, was a long counter where a waitress was picking up a plate full of orders when she caught sight of him. The surprise that appeared on her face didn't last for more than a moment before it turned into a bright smile that accompanied a cheerful greeting:
"Boss! Good morning!"
Alex smiled, and replied in kind:
"Morning, Gaelle!"
_ _ _
_ _ _
*Knock~ knock~ knock*
The sound resounded in the large office standing above the majority of the city, its echoes soft but obvious amidst the simple but tasteful modern decor. From deep inside, a calm voice came in reply:
"Come in."
The large door of the office was pushed open, and Leyna came in, in an office outfit consisting of a jacket over a blouse on top and a knee-length pencil skirt below, their matching color just deep enough to add an elegant intensity to her bearing. Her hair was styled to add some sharpness to her look, enhancing her professional image.
Carrying a clipboard she held against her chest, she walked to the left, her gait, measured and elegant, producing rhythmic echoes as her stiletto hit the polished floor. Her steps carried her past the sitting area built around a coffee table as light streamed in through the windows overlooking the modern cityscape, a sight whose breadth seemed contagious, before she arrived at the desk at the furthest back where she stopped.
Waiting for a while for the mature woman with short red hair on the other side to finish reviewing the document she was holding, Leyna pulled out another stack of documents from her clipboard which she placed down on the desk when Grace raised her lake green eyes to her.
"Chairwoman, the activities reports for the last month."
Grace closed the folder in her hand and put it at the side, and picked up the reports. She calmly went through the information inside, the ruffling of the pages she was turning the only sound that remained inside the large office. Her eyes followed the numbers speaking on the white papers, her face remaining without any fluctuation until she was done.
It was then that Leyna broke the silence, her voice calm, but her words heavy:
"Following your instructions, I went through the previous months too. Their activities reports present the same incongruities."
Grace's only reaction was a question in a flat tone:
"Since when?"
Leyna couldn't hide her emotions like her godmother, but she kept her calm to reply:
"The beginning of this year."
"Who?"
"The COO and the CFO, mainly."
"Marten?"
This time, Leyna paused, before she nodded:
"Yes, chairwoman, your brother-in-law, Director Marten. I'm sorry I didn't notice earlier."
"He is the Investment Director of the Group. He has the right to make those decisions, and it is normal for you to miss some details when he doesn't want to make things obvious."
Grace's calm answer made Leyna take a deep breath, before she spoke again, a little hesitant:
"Then, during the next quarter's board meeting…"
Grace looked up at her assistant. She calmly took in the latter's reaction, then lowered her head to close the reports and reply as she placed them to the side, as if they were no more important than the usual daily reports:
"It is still a month away. Till then, we will see. For now, no need to worry. What is your opinion regarding the mall? You said you would go there for a look today."