Page 147 of Mario
A brisk knock sounds at my door.
Then, without waiting for an answer, the door opens.
I look up, expecting one of my brothers or sons. The only ones who would walk into my office without waiting for an invitation.
A man steps inside as if this is any office. As if he has been invited.
I lift one brow.
The audacity is impressive.
Unwise, but impressive.
He is familiar in the vague way many employees are familiar to me. Mid-forties. Brown hair going thin at the temples. Narrow face. Expensive yet ugly tie.
I place him after a moment.
Peter Hanley.
Senior Logistics Compliance Manager under Ricardo’s division. Oversees regulatory documentation for domestic transport, warehouse certifications, and vendor shipment records.
He has been with the company since before I bought it and it became Conti Enterprises.
“Mr. Conti,” he says, shutting the door behind him. “I apologize for coming in directly, but I need to speak with you.”
I look at the closed door.
Then back at him.
“Do you?”
He takes two steps closer to my desk, irritation swirling around him. Completely oblivious.
Like a small animal wandering into the territory of a predator.
“Yes. It’s about Ms. Murray’s access audit.”
I set my pen down, already making plans to contact Ricardo and have this taken care of.
But I say, “What of Ms. Murray’s access audit?"
“Sir, she revoked my access to the executive travel calendar, the leadership compensation summaries, and the security incident archive.”
I stare at him.
For a moment, I think I must have misheard him.
Surely, no one would come to me for something so… petty and small.
And yet, here he stands.
In my office. As if he has every right to be here.
“And?” I respond.
“And,” he says, as if I have somehow failed to grasp the severity of the crisis. “Those systems are essential to my role.”
I lean back in my chair.
