Chapter 11

ELEVEN

Z y leaned back in his leather chair, his golden-flecked eyes fixed on Vince's increasingly concerned expression. The younger man's frustration was palpable, a sharp contrast to the sleek, modern office surrounding them.

"I don't understand," Vince said, his impeccably tailored suit as crisp as ever despite the long day. "We had a clear timeline for the new project. The team has been working overtime to meet our milestones. Why the sudden delay?"

Zy exchanged a quick glance with Adonis, who stood silently by the door, before responding. "We're reassessing all our project timelines, Vince. It's nothing personal, just a necessary step to ensure we're allocating resources efficiently."

Vince's brow furrowed, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. "But, sir, the current work schedule - it's slowed significantly. The team is concerned about meeting our deadlines. Is there a problem with our performance?"

Zy's tiger stirred restlessly within him, sensing the tension in the room. He kept his voice calm and measured, years of boardroom negotiations coming into play. "Not at all. Your team's work has been exemplary as always. This is a company-wide reassessment, affecting all departments."

"I see," Vince said, his tone professional but tinged with disappointment. "It's just... we've made such progress on the AI integration. The team was really looking forward to moving to the next phase. Is there any way we can continue some aspects of the project while you conduct your reassessment?"

Zy felt a pang of guilt. Vince's passion for his work was evident, and under normal circumstances, he would have applauded such dedication. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, Vince. Let's schedule a meeting next week to discuss which elements of the project can proceed. For now, use this time for code review and optimization."

Vince nodded, standing and smoothing down his jacket. "Understood, sir. I'll inform the team. We'll make the most of this... unexpected downtime."

As the door closed behind Vince, Zy let out a long breath. Adonis moved to take the now-vacant seat, his expression thoughtful.

"He's not happy," Adonis observed.

Zy snorted. "Understatement of the century. But it can't be helped. Where are we on the review of his work?"

Adonis pulled out a tablet, scrolling through data. "Still ongoing. Nothing conclusive yet, but we're being thorough."

Zy nodded, his mind racing. The lack of evidence against Vince was both reassuring and frustrating. Part of him hoped they were wrong about their suspicions, that Vince's dedication was as genuine as it appeared.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Corbett, Zy's younger cousin, poked his head in, his usual mischievous grin in place.

"Hey, cuz, got a minute?" Corbett asked, sauntering in without waiting for an answer. "Just ran into Vince in the hallway. He seems pretty swamped lately. Thought maybe I could lend a hand with some of the projects?"

Zy forced a smile. "Thanks for the offer, Corbett, but I think we've got it covered. Best stick to your current projects for now."

"If you're sure," Corbett said, his tone casual. "Just trying to be a team player, you know?"

After Corbett left, Adonis turned to Zy, his expression neutral. "Back to Vince's work?"

Zy nodded, refocusing on the task at hand. They had a mystery to solve, and right now, all they could do was keep digging. As he turned back to the data on his screen, Zy couldn't help but hope that their suspicions would prove unfounded. But until they knew for sure, they had to keep looking.