Joneb read Marta's message several times.
I DON'T REMEMBER ARMAND VELASCO.
He placed his phone on the table and stared at it.
Only a few hours earlier, the woman had agreed to meet him. She had even warned him not to bring anyone. Now she was claiming that she did not remember the very person he wanted to ask her about.
He wanted to call her, but something stopped him.
Orven's warning returned to his mind.
Do not believe everything Marta tells you.
Joneb picked up the phone and typed a response.
Ma'am, are you certain? You mentioned that you knew Mr. Velasco.
He waited.
No reply.
He tried calling.
The number rang twice before the call was rejected.
Joneb placed the phone down.
Something was happening to Marta.
He could not prove it, but he was becoming increasingly convinced that her sudden change of mind was not ordinary.
The following morning, he went to work as usual.
He tried to concentrate on his assigned tasks, but the messages remained in his thoughts.
At around nine, the personnel officer approached his desk.
“Joneb, the supervisor wants to see you.”
He stood.
“Is it about the appointment?”
“I believe so.”
He entered Mr. Valder's office.
The supervisor was reviewing a document.
“Sit down, Joneb.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Mr. Valder placed the document in front of him.
“I have good news.”
Joneb waited.
Joneb felt his chest tighten.
“Approved, sir?”
“Yes. The appointment is being prepared.”
He looked at the document.
His name appeared at the top.
The position title was correct.
The salary grade was higher.
Everything looked official.
But the metal seal in his pocket began to warm.
He glanced at Mr. Valder.
“May I review the entire document?”
“Of course.”
Joneb examined the pages.
There was a recommendation, a certification, and a draft appointment.
The appointment itself had not yet been signed by the authorized official.
At the bottom of the draft was a date.
It was dated two weeks earlier.
Joneb frowned.
“Sir, may I ask why this is dated two weeks ago?”
Mr. Valder looked at the page.
“Administrative preparation.”
“But the selection process was still ongoing at that time.”
“It's only a draft.”
Joneb nodded.
He turned to the next page.
There was a certification stating that all applicants had been properly evaluated.
He remembered the unresolved issue with his service record.
“Sir, was my service record already verified?”
“Personnel has addressed that.”
“May I see the verification?”
Mr. Valder's expression became serious.
“Joneb, are you planning to accept the appointment or not?” Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“I'm grateful for the recommendation, sir. I just want to ensure the documents are complete.”
The supervisor closed the folder.
“You have been working here for years. You should know that these things take time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then let the process continue.”
Joneb returned to his desk.
He was happy about the recommendation, but he could not ignore the inconsistencies.
A draft appointment dated before the completion of the selection process.
A certification that appeared to contradict the unresolved service record.
And a suspicious signature that he had not placed on any document.
He opened his drawer.
The transparent sheet Elyra had given him was still there.
He placed it beside the appointment draft.
Nothing happened.
He took out the metal seal.
A faint line appeared along the document's lower edge.
He carefully placed the transparent sheet over it.
A hidden sentence emerged.
APPOINTMENT SUBJECT TO PRIOR AGREEMENT.
Joneb leaned back.
He had seen enough.
Someone had prepared an appointment document that appeared to be connected to an agreement made before the official process.
But who had made that agreement?
And why was his name being used?
That afternoon, he received another message from an unknown number.
YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN WHAT YOU ASKED FOR. DO NOT ASK WHAT IT COSTS.
Joneb deleted the message.
Then he looked at the promotion document.
For years, he had wanted an opportunity like this.
Now that it was finally within reach, he was beginning to wonder whether the opportunity had ever truly been intended for him.