Chapter 3: Behind the numbers

Aurora stared at her phone. The glow from the screen made her heart race as the subject line of the new email lit up:

From: LeandroSubject: Detailed Review – Flor Dourada

Aurora,Please prepare a summary of your findings for tomorrow's meeting. I want a general overview of any discrepancies, no matter how small. Do it even if there's still a lot to review. You'll be in charge of the prep and must be present at the meeting.L.

She let out a breath of relief. The task was clear: gather every irregularity and put together a concise report. Any differences in approval codes, material quantities, or delivery dates had to be documented—fast.

"But I'll need to go in early... no way I can do all that in just an hour," she muttered to herself, sighing. Having a demanding boss wasn't always a good thing.

She set her alarm earlier and eventually drifted off, thoughts of numbers and spreadsheets filling her mind.

The next morning, Aurora arrived at the Estelaris Group building an hour earlier than usual. The lobby was still quiet, the access gates unused. She rode the elevator to the 26th floor and went straight to her desk, powering up her computer and reopening the spreadsheet.

For the first time, she felt something spark inside her. This was more than just routine—it was her chance to prove herself.

She created columns:

Date

Report Version

Item

Quantity (System)

Quantity (On Site)

Notes

With precision, she transferred her handwritten notes to the digital file, checking invoices, purchase orders, budgets, and every project report. She verified each number, cross-referenced data, and flagged anything unusual with color codes.

Just before 8 a.m., Leandro arrived.

"Morning. How's it going?"

"Good morning. Almost done, just reviewing the last reports."

"Make sure everything's ready by nine sharp," he said, straight to the point.

"Yes, sir."

She finished analyzing and printed the final documents, placing them neatly on the meeting room table.

The oval table had six chairs. Leandro, Aurora, the finance manager, the project engineer, the architect, and the logistics supervisor took their seats.

"Good morning. Thanks for being here," Leandro began, polite but focused.

"Let's go over the project status. What's been done, and what's still pending?"

Aurora projected the spreadsheet on the screen.

"So far, the foundation is completed, masonry work is 70% done, and electrical installations have begun in Block A. The metal structure and roofing for Block B are still pending."

The architect nodded and added:

"We're finalizing the finishing designs, but some specifications from suppliers are still pending. Also, we received a complaint from the client regarding a cost increase."

"Some code adjustments led to extra expenses," the engineer explained.

"It's all in report 31. We had to purchase more steel than originally budgeted."

Leandro took notes and turned to the finance manager:

"How much of the budget has been used, and how much is left for adjustments?"

"About 65% of the total. We still have an emergency reserve, but we'll need to prioritize spending carefully."

"Aurora, confirm that the values in the system match the purchase orders and invoices. Let me know about any discrepancies."

"I'll handle it, sir."

Then he looked to the logistics supervisor:

"Are deliveries on schedule?"

"Yes, sir. We had some minor delays with specialty items, but everything's back on track."

Aurora took the opportunity to ask a question:

"Would you like me to flag any supplier changes, sir? Just to verify the source of materials?"

"Excellent idea," Leandro replied. "Yes, do that."

He turned back to the architect:

"Are there any pending project approvals that could affect future costs?"

"Not at the moment, but I can send you a risk report by the end of the day."

"Perfect. That's all. Meeting adjourned."

"Thank you," they all replied in unison.

Outside the meeting room, Aurora released a long sigh of relief. On the surface, it had been a routine check-in—but their subtle questions had revealed crucial details. The routine was just a disguise.

Back at her desk, she barely had time to settle before Leandro appeared.

"I called in a friend to help us Henrique Albuquerque," he began the moment she shut the door behind her. His tone was firm and decisive, arms crossed and eyes fixed. "We'll meet him during lunch. He works at another firm, and Rafael Collins, the owner, has authorized our visit. He'll help us too. Schedule a business lunch with Rafael Collins. We'll take my car."

Leandro always sounded like he was announcing the next phase of a mission. His stance was rigid, jaw tight, eyes too intense. Around him, any hesitation felt like weakness.

"Yes, sir," she replied, trying to steady her nerves.

At noon, they left together. Sandra, near the printer, eyed them closely. As Aurora passed, she called out:

"Can you give me a hand real quick?"

Aurora paused, glancing at Leandro.

"We've got an important meeting. Figure it out or ask someone else," he snapped without even turning.

Sandra flushed red, but said nothing. Aurora kept her gaze down and followed Leandro to the elevator.

In the car, they sat in the back while his driver drove in silence.

"Henrique is the chief engineer at Collins Construction. He's handled similar situations before," Leandro explained, eyes on the window. "I want him to see what you've prepared and give us a technical take. Rafael's got a sharp nose for discrepancies. If there's something off, he'll catch it."

Aurora nodded silently, heart pounding. It was becoming clearer by the minute—this was bigger than she'd imagined.

"Am I good enough for this? Am I doing it right?" she wondered. But behind the doubt was a flicker of pride. She had worked hard. Deep down, she wanted Leandro to notice—even if he never said it aloud.

Leandro, meanwhile, watched her from the corner of his eye. He wasn't sure if he could fully trust her yet, but her work had been meticulous. And most importantly—discreet.

"She's new, but sharp. That might make all the difference."

The Collins Construction building towered above the Florena skyline. Its glass façade reflected the midday sun, the logo gleaming like a stamp of power.

They were welcomed by the receptionist and quickly shown into a sleek, sunlit meeting room. Within minutes, Henrique Albuquerque walked in—tall, confident, and casually charming.

"Leandro. Good to see you again." He shook his hand, then turned to Aurora. "And you must be the assistant breaking her head over those reports?"

"Yes. I'm Aurora. Nice to meet you," she replied, smiling.

"Rafael will join us in five, but we can start." He pulled out a chair. "Show me what you've got."

Aurora opened her laptop and began explaining the discrepancies she'd found. Leandro listened silently, every detail adding to the puzzle he was building in his mind.

And whatever they uncovered in that room—could change everything.

When Rafael finally walked in, he brought with him a presence that made the entire room shift. Even Leandro stood to greet him with a firm handshake.Aurora watched the three men silently. For a moment, she felt small. But not out of place. No—she was there because she belonged. Because she had earned it.And even though she didn't know exactly what lay ahead… she was ready to face it.