Chapter 3 - The Boardroom Audit
The silence in the seasonal aisle was deafening.
Clare stared at the silver card in Vance's shaking hands, then at Daniel. Her mind reeled, frantically trying to connect the lonely man sitting in a diner eating cold stuffing with the legendary billionaire titan whose name was carved in stone above the corporate headquarters in downtown Nashville.
"Mr... Mr. Mercer," Vance stammered, his knees visibly shaking. "Sir! I... I didn't know you were visiting today! We weren't notified by regional!"
"Clearly," Daniel said, his dark eyes boring into Vance like drill bits. "Otherwise, you might have pretended to possess basic human decency."
"Sir, Black Friday is stressful—I was merely trying to keep the store standards high—"
"Collect your personal items from your desk, Mr. Vance," Daniel said calmly. "You are suspended immediately pending a full corporate audit of this location."
Vance’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "Suspended? Sir, I've run this location for five years!"
"And for five years, you have managed it through intimidation," Daniel replied coldly. "Arthur."
From the end of the aisle, Daniel’s security driver, Arthur, stepped out from behind a artificial pine tree, accompanied by two corporate regional auditors dressed in sharp charcoal suits.
"Escort Mr. Vance to his office, secure his keys and corporate laptop, and escort him off the property," Daniel instructed.
"Right away, Mr. Mercer," Arthur said, taking Vance firmly by the elbow and steering the hyperventilating manager down the hallway.
Clare stood frozen beside the broom, her hands tight on the wooden handle. "You... you own the company?"
Daniel turned back to her. The cold, ruthless aura of the corporate chairman melted away, replaced by the quiet, gentle man from the diner.
"I do," Daniel admitted softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you last night, Clare. But after three years of people looking at me like a bank account, it was... refreshing to just be 'Daniel working in retail.'"
Clare let out a breathless, disbelieving laugh, leaning against her broom. "You told me you worked in retail!"
"Technically, I do," Daniel smiled faintly. "I just happen to oversee all four hundred stores."
He looked around at the bustling, chaotic retail floor, then back at Clare's exhausted face. He reached out and gently took the broom from her hands, setting it against a display shelf.
"Clare," Daniel said, his tone turning serious. "How long has Vance been treating you and the rest of the staff like that?"
Clare hesitated. "Since he took over three years ago. He cut our health benefits, manipulated the overtime schedules so no one qualified for full-time bonuses, and threatened anyone who tried to report him to HR."
Daniel’s jaw set into iron. He took out his phone and tapped a single speed-dial button.
"Evelyn," Daniel spoke into the phone. "Bring the corporate legal team and HR compliance to the Franklin store immediately. I want a forensic audit of all manager-level accounts, payroll logs, and employee grievance records for the Middle Tennessee region over the last thirty-six months. Start with Robert Vance."
He hung up, looking back at Clare.
"Your shift is over today, Clare," Daniel said warmly. "Go home to Lily. You are taking the rest of the weekend off—with full executive holiday pay."
"Daniel, I can't just leave my coworkers—"
"Your coworkers are getting four extra staff members from regional headquarters within thirty minutes to relieve the pressure," Daniel promised. "And on Monday morning, I want you at corporate headquarters in Nashville."
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Clare blinked. "Nashville? Why?"
Daniel smiled, his eyes twinkling with a warmth she hadn't seen the night before. "Because the Franklin store needs a new Store Director. And I know someone who has six years of experience treating people with respect."
