The Singapore documents were ready by Wednesday.
Eve had put the travel folder together efficiently. Flights. Hotel. Meeting schedule. Contact list for the overseas office. Everything Ethan would need in order and labeled clearly.
She set it on his desk during his morning call and left before he finished.
Back at her desk she pulled up her personal phone.
Four missed calls from Kelvin.
She called back.
He picked up on the first ring.
"You've been avoiding me," he said.
"I've been working," she said.
"Same thing at this point," he said. "What do you have."
She kept her voice even.
"He runs a tight operation. Information doesn't move loosely around him. Speed controls access and Ethan controls Speed."
"That's not new," Kelvin said.
"I know," she said. "I'm building toward something. It takes time."
"You have less of it than you think," he said. "The people above me are getting impatient Eve. They want movement."
"Rushing this will blow the whole thing," she said.
A pause.
"Singapore," Kelvin said.
She stilled.
"You know about that," she said.
"I know everything," he said. "Use it. New environment. He'll be away from his usual structure. People talk more when they're away from home."
"I'll handle it," she said.
"Make sure you do," he said.
The call ended.
She put the phone away and sat quietly for a moment.
Then the office door opened and Ethan stepped out with the travel folder in his hand.
"Good work," he said. Not looking up from it.
"Thank you sir," she said.
He flipped to the meeting schedule page.
"The Wednesday morning slot," he said. "Move it to Thursday. I want Tuesday evening free."
"Of course," she said. "Any reason for Tuesday?"
He looked up.
"I know a place in Singapore," he said simply. "Good food. Quiet." A pause. "You should eat somewhere decent when you travel."
She looked at him.
"You're telling me my dinner plans," she said.
"I'm telling you mine," he said. "You're welcome to join."
He went back into his office.
The door closed.
Eve sat at her desk.
She looked at her phone.
Then at his closed door.
Then she opened the travel documents and moved the Wednesday meeting to Thursday without another word.