Chapter 58: One Seat Empty

By the end of Elias Navarro’s trial week, Alexander had reached an inconvenient conclusion.

He liked all three finalists.

Just not equally.

Marco was excellent in motion.

Daniel was exceptionally dependable.

But Elias understood something the other two hadn’t quite mastered.

Driving an executive wasn’t really about driving.

It was about making dozens of small obligations disappear before the passenger ever had to think about them.

Fuel.

Routes.

Parking.

Traffic changes.

Vehicle maintenance.

Whether the west entrance to a building closed after seven.

Joe had spent years making those things invisible.

Elias appeared capable of doing the same.

On the final day, Joe rode with each candidate personally.

He sat in front.

Alexander stayed in the rear and let the older man conduct what he called the examination.

Marco lasted seven minutes before Joe said:

"Stop trying to impress me."

"I’m not."

"You took that turn because you wanted me to know you knew it."

Marco glanced toward him.

"...Maybe."

"Don’t."

"Yes, sir."

"I’m not sir."

"Yes, Mr. Suarez."

Joe sighed.

Daniel performed almost flawlessly until Joe deliberately changed their destination midway through the drive.

"Take us to Palmer instead."

Daniel hesitated.

"The schedule says Vance Tower."

"I know."

"Has Mr. Vance approved the change?"

From the back seat, Alexander said:

"I have now."

Daniel immediately changed direction.

Joe wrote something on his clipboard.

Daniel glanced sideways.

"Should I be worried?"

"Probably."

For Elias, Joe did something different.

Nothing.

Ten minutes passed.

Then fifteen.

Twenty.

Eventually, Elias glanced toward him.

"You’re waiting for me to make a mistake."

Joe smiled.

"Am I?"

"Yes."

"Does it bother you?"

"No."

"Good."

Several minutes later, a motorcycle cut abruptly in front of them.

Elias braked, gave it extra distance, and continued without sounding the horn.

Joe looked sideways.

"No comment?"

"About?"

"That idiot."

Elias shrugged.

"Calling him an idiot won’t move him."

Alexander looked up.

Joe wrote something down.

That evening, the applicants met inside one of Vance Holdings’ smaller conference rooms.

Alexander thanked all three candidates and confirmed they’d be paid exactly as agreed for their trial periods. They would keep their resumes on active file for one year. If they needed another driver and were available and interested, HR would call them.

Then Joe gave his final comments.

Marco talked too much.

Daniel relied too heavily on procedure.

Elias knew how to disappear while doing his job.

When the meeting ended, the candidates left.

Joe remained.

"Navarro."

Alexander looked up.

"You too?"

"He fits you."

"That’s a disturbing way to phrase it."

"You know what I mean."

Alexander did.

"Marco’s faster."

"And talks enough for three people."

"Daniel is probably more disciplined."

"And you’ll drive him into an early grave the first week you change your schedule six times."

Alexander gave him a look.

Joe grinned.

"And the two wore cologne as if they were body lotion."

"You noticed it too."

"So that leaves you with..."

"Elias."

A pause.

"Unless the final background report gives you a reason not to."

The following morning, Joe fetched Alex twenty minutes earlier than usual.

"Are retireables this early?"

"Making every day count."

The initial background check arrived on Alex’s table along with a cup of coffee.

Alexander opened the file expecting confirmation of everything he’d already reviewed.

Employment history.

Family background. Information on parents, spouse, children, or next of kin.

Residences.

Driving record.

Financial checks.

Medical results.

Hobbies, sports, and other non-driving skills.

References.

Nothing remarkable.

Then he reached the investigator’s addendum.

He stopped.

An old maintenance company where Elias had once worked had later been absorbed into a subsidiary connected to Sebastian Group.

That alone meant little.

Companies changed ownership all the time.

Then Alexander read the next paragraph.

During that employment period, Elias had listed an emergency contact.

Maribel Ortega.

The investigator had traced her employment history too.

Nearly eighteen years.

Not with Sebastian Group.

Inside the Sebastian household.

More specifically...

Victoria Sebastian’s.

Joe read over his shoulder.

"Could be coincidence."

"It could."

"You’re going to ask him?"

Alexander looked toward the file.

Nothing proved Elias had lied, nor proved anyone had sent him.

He’d honestly disclosed his former employers.

His references checked out.

His finances were clean.

The connection could’ve meant absolutely nothing.

But the man was applying for a position that would place him inside Alexander’s car, near his schedule, his family, and conversations most employees would never hear.

That made nothing worth verifying.

Alexander’s phone buzzed.

A message from HR.

Mr. Navarro is downstairs for the final interview.

Joe looked at him.

"Still hiring him?"

A few minutes earlier, Alexander would’ve answered yes.

Now he closed the background report.

"Send him up."

Elias Navarro was already on his way up when Alexander received the final background report.

That left very little time for speculation.

Perhaps that was better.

Alexander read the highlighted section once more before setting the tablet down.

Across from him, Joe remained unusually quiet.

"You’re still interviewing him?"

"He’s already in the elevator."

"That wasn’t what I asked."

Alexander glanced at him.

Joe folded his arms.

"If the connection bothers you enough to disqualify him, decide before he walks through the door."

"It bothers me."

"But?"

"Knowing someone who worked for Victoria Sebastian isn’t a crime."

Joe nodded.

That was exactly why he’d asked.

Alexander wasn’t interested in punishing someone for a connection that might be entirely innocent.

The problem was simpler.

Elias Navarro was applying for a position built almost entirely on trust.

And the woman he’d once listed as his emergency contact had spent nearly eighteen years inside Victoria Sebastian’s household.

That required an explanation.

Nothing more and nothing less.

While waiting for the applicant through the guest elevator.

Joe wondered how extensive the background check was when he first became Alejandro’s driver. Or was there ever a background check until Alexander took the reins?

"Sir, what did you find on me before I became your driver?

"Seriously, you’re asking me that now?"

"Just curious, who helped you decide?"

"Just one person in particular."

"Who?"

"Alejandro."

"Dad’s words were enough to tell me you’re the best fit, and he wasn’t wrong."

"I’m touched."