Engineering. They’d come into focus five years earlier when the company seemed to emerge out of nowhere to take the lead in most of the large engineering projects across the state, and soon after that in surrounding states as well. Ethan had been head hunted by them almost twelve months ago, but they were talking about a partnership. The company had grown so quickly there was plenty of opportunity for partners and one of the things Ethan had asked for when he joined the team was that they consider a fast track to partnership in the firm. He’d taken a pay cut for the opportunity and the board had met only last month to discuss it. According to his boss, it wouldn’t be long before he’d receive the offer. Still, if clients were hesitant because of these rumours, whatever they were, he’d have to deal with them sooner or later, even if they were only the grumblings of jealous rivals.
“Rumours?” he asked, taking a sip of his espresso.
Sam shrugged. “You know how it goes — Mammoth has grown so fast, no one can believe it could’ve happened organically.”
“What does that mean?” Ethan’s brow furrowed.
“I don’t know… I only heard the rumours; I didn’t say I started them.” He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his cheeks pinking. “But there are questions, people have questions, about how Mammoth managed to land those state government contracts in its first year of operation when others have tried for years… I’m sure it’s nothing. Look, if you send me through the contract, I’ll sign it. I trust you, Ethan. If you say it’s all above board, then I believe you.”
“It is… I’ve been with Mammoth for almost two years and all I can say is the team works hard, and we’ve had some good luck.”
Sam’s lips pursed. “Okay then.” He reached out a hand and shook Ethan’s. “Looking forward to it, mate. Give me a call and we’ll get things moving.” He downed the last of his coffee and stood to his feet. “See you soon.”
The steel doors dinged shut behind Ethan and he found himself in the lift alone. That never happened in a building with thirty floors. Well, rarely anyway. He enjoyed the solitude, momentary as it might be. Soft music floated around him as the lift rose through the building and his thoughts drifted to home. He’d lived in the city ever since he moved away from home, from Emerald Cove and the only life he’d known, to study at university at the age of eighteen. Ten years later, he missed the relaxed coastal lifestyle, the surf, the golden sand, and his family.
The doors swung open and he stepped into the office. Hard, polished concrete floors, cubicles decorated in slate grey and black, and industrial light fixtures gave the place a half finished, trendy look that didn’t lend itself to ease or comfort, but Ethan had grown used to the place. He strode along a wide concrete aisle, vaguely aware that the buzz of conversation was more hushed than usual. He glanced over a row of cubicles. One woman stood at her desk, one hand pressed to her forehead as she stared out of a floor to ceiling plate glass window, a phone pressed to her ear. In the printer room, a man shuffled papers into a shredder, it’s churning momentarily blocking all other noise. Another woman ran into the room behind him, waiting in line for the shredder, one foot tapping with impatience.
He frowned. This wasn’t the usual scene. Generally, he walked into the office to find casual conversation, meetings being held over egg shaped desks, laughter, coffee… what was going on?
His own desk was located in a cubicle up against one of the many windows that made up one long wall of the office. He slid into his chair and flicked on his computer. The flashing light of the message button on his phone caught his attention and he pressed the receiver to his ear, held it there with his shoulder, while he logged on.
“Ethan, this is Sam, I just left you and got a call from my boss. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to back out of the deal we made, mate. I’m sure you’ll hear why soon enough. Good luck to you. Call me when you’re out of this mess.” The sound of the dial tone buzzed in his ear.
What mess? What was he talking about?
The next message was from his own boss, Chester Vancroft. The man’s thick