The Unveiling

**Chapter Seven**

I leave my office and head toward the conference room. When I arrive, everyone is already seated, waiting expectantly.

To

My heels click on the floor as I make my way to the table. All eyes shift on me. I won't lie, I am a bit anxious 

“Good Morning everyone. I am Marie Smith” I smile, “I am Marie Smith. I won’t be discussing for so long because I am still new here” my eyes search around, but I can't find Nancy.

“Within yesterday and today, I have gone through the ongoing project and I wouldn’t like to say things about it but before I dive into that, dos anyone have anything to say?....”

I pause when the door swings open, it was an unexpected interruption. Nolan who had told me he wouldn't be coming.

My heart skips a beat as he moved forward..

“I am sorry for interrupting, but this meeting is canceled”

I stand, unsure of how to react. The first meeting I'll be holding is canceled. I watch how the room becomes empty.

As soon as the last person leaves, I slip out quietly, deciding to go to Nolan’s office for an explanation.

Just before I reach the door, I hear voices. Nolan and... Nancy? My hand hovers over the door handle, but something stops me. Their voices are tense. I lean in closer, straining to hear.

“Nolan, I can't just watch you place the girl who doesn't even know anything above me. It won't be possible”

“You should be fine now. It has been canceled and now you can take over it like you want”

“So what were you thinking before?”

“Because I know her capabilities, I know what she can handle, I know. We shouldn't run this because of a selfish reason. Nancy, we both know you aren't capable of what you are doing, one of the reasons the company isn't moving forward”

“I am not stopping you from doing whatever you want. Yes, but be ready to spread out the secret to the world”

My eyes wide open in shock as I hear that, “What's the secret about?” 

I can hear her heels clicking on the floor like she was leaving, then I quickly knock to avoid them noticing that I  overheard their conversation.

None of them respond, then I knock again.

“Come in” Nancy says.

I open the door then I meet both of them standing. Nancy standing like she's fighting with someone and Nolan leaning against the wall.

“Marie, is everything alright?” Nolan asks.

I nod, I can't even tell him what I want to say after hearing everything from the door.

“Then why are you hear?” Nancy asks codly

“I….I….I thought” I stammer.

“Mrs. Robinson or what do you say your name is? This is not a place you can be coming at your convenience? Okay?”

Nolan walks towards me, “Marie” he calls, “Take a deep breathe, everything is okay”

“Why did you call off the meeting?”

Sillence.

I look to Nolan, silently begging he'd say something-to explain what I had just heard, but there is no expression. 

"We had to cancel it…. For internal reasons”he says quietly and his voice is measured. "I'll explain later." 

But it's not enough. I can feel the tension between them, the weight of whatever secret they're hiding. And I cannot shake off the feeling that I am being kept in the dark. 

I nod, unable to say anything else, and turn to take a step back toward the door-desperate to get out before I unravel completely in front of them.

 "Marie," Nolan calls just as my hand touches the doorknob.

 "We'll talk later." 

I nod once more, but I never turn back. My mind reeling as I make my way out of the room, all I can think is-what are they keeping from me? And why do I get this feeling that I am in over my head?

Every step feels like a heavy burden on my legs as I approach my desk and it all begins to speed through my head.

The way Nancy threatened him. the way Nolan looked at me-as if he was holding back something huge, something would shatter it all. **What is this secret?** What could be so awful that Nolan would cancel an important meeting just to get her to keep quiet?

I try to focus on the work facing me, but I am unable to. My fingers rest on the keyboard, not making a single move. All I can think about is that conversation.

**"We both know you aren't capable of what you're doing, one of the reasons the company isn't moving forward."**

His words still echo in my mind: Something happened before I joined? A scandal? Fraud? Or something worse? My stomach churns at just the thought of it.

**What did she mean by 'spreading the secret to the world'?**

I lean back in my chair, looking up at the ceiling. New, hardly ever scratched the surface, and already I have come across something so dangerous.

I need to know. But how? Am I supposed to confront Nolan? Ask him point-blank about the past? Would he even tell me the truth after what I overheard? And what if he does? Will I regret knowing?

My heart runs a gatto through possibilities. There is something dark here, just beneath the surface. And somehow, I feel like I'm already being pulled to it.

I shake my head, clearing it, but it doesn't help. I heard this already and I can't pretend like nothing happened.

 I need to find out what happened-the real reason this company is what it is today. 

How do I look into something like this without painting a target on my back? 

My phone vibrates on the desk, pulling me from my thoughts. A message from Nolan: "Marie, can we talk after hours?" 

I hold my stare on the screen and my hands begin to shake. He knows, I think. He knows I heard something I wasn't supposed to hear. And now, whatever happens next feels like I'm about to step into something far more dangerous than I ever anticipated.