“We lose the entire Prague operation’s quarterly revenue,” Aleksandr finishes. He scans the documents, jaw tightening. “Who processed these?”
“Lev’s team. They swear everything was correct when they submitted.”
I watch them work through the problem, my mind automatically cataloging the details I’m overhearing. Invoice discrepancies. Routing codes. Manifest inconsistencies.
Those are patterns I know. Patterns I’ve seen before.
“Can I see?” I ask before thinking better of it.
Both men look at me. Viktor with surprise, Aleksandr with curiosity.
“The documents,” I clarify. “Can I look at them?”
Aleksandr hands me the tablet without hesitation. “Why?”
“I handled this kind of documentation for my family. Shipping manifests, customs paperwork, cross-border logistics.” I scroll through the files, seeing the problem almost immediately. “This isn’t a documentation error. This is deliberate.”
“What do you mean?” Viktor asks.
I pull up two documents side by side. “See these routing codes? They’re valid but outdated. Someone used last quarter’s routing structure instead of current ones. The invoice amounts are correct, but they’re listed in euros when Prague operations switched to crown accounting three months ago. These documents were either prepared by someone who doesn’t know the current systems—”
“Or someone who’s deliberately using old protocols to trigger flags,” Aleksandr finishes, understanding dawning in his eyes.
“Exactly. Customs isn’t suspicious because of mistakes. They’re suspicious because someone made this look deliberately wrong.” I highlight three more discrepancies. “If you resubmit using current routing codes, convert currency properly, and update the manifest dates, it clears. The original problem was manufactured.”
Silence fills the office.
Viktor stares at me. “How did you—”
“I spent years managing my family’s auction house logistics. International sales, cross-border shipping, customs documentation for high-value items.” I hand the tablet back to Aleksandr. “You fix these three things, the shipment clears, but you have a bigger problem.”
“Which is?” Aleksandr’s watching me with an intensity that makes my skin warm.
“Someone in Lev’s team either doesn’t know current protocols, or they’re sabotaging deliberately. Either incompetence or malice, but both are security risks.”
Aleksandr’s expression hardens. “Viktor, resubmit the corrected documents. Then audit Lev’s entire team. I want to know who processed this and why they used outdated systems.”
“Yes, sir.” Viktor glances at me one more time before leaving.
When we’re alone, Aleksandr leans back in his chair, studying me. “That was impressive.”
“It was basic pattern recognition.”
“It was expertise I didn’t know you had.” He stands, crosses to where I’m sitting. “What else can you do that I don’t know about?”
“Lots of things, probably. You never asked.”
“I’m asking now.”
I consider how much to reveal. How much power to claim in a world where power is currency.
“I can trace financial patterns across multiple accounts. Identify shell company structures. Predict supply chain vulnerabilities. Read auction catalogs and know within thousands what items will actually sell for.” I meet his eyes. “My family didn’t value those skills. But I have them.”
Something shifts in his expression. “Tomorrow. There’s a meeting about restructuring our Eastern European operations. I want you there.”
“As what, your wife sitting quietly in the corner?”
“As someone who sees patterns others miss. As an asset I’ve been criminally underutilizing.” He pulls me to my feet, hands settling on my waist. “Unless you’re not interested.”
