Chapter 4: The Man Who Wanted the Store
The front doors opened five minutes later.
Daniel Cross walked in like he owned the place.
That was the first thing I noticed.
Not his expensive suit.
Not his polished shoes.
Not the confident smile.
It was the way he entered.
Like every room was already waiting for him.
He was probably in his late forties.
Tall.
Perfectly groomed.
A silver watch covered his wrist.
The kind of watch that announced its price before anyone asked.
Behind him walked two assistants carrying tablets.
Henry watched him approach.
No smile.
No greeting.
Just observation.
“Henry Bellamy.””
Daniel smiled.
“Still making surprise visits.””
Henry's expression remained flat.
“Daniel.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“Mr. Cross.””
Daniel nodded.
“Thomas.””
Then his eyes moved around the room.
They landed on me.
For a second, he smiled.
Not kindly.
Like he had already decided what role I played.
“So this is the employee everyone is talking about.””
My stomach twisted.
Henry looked at him.
“Everyone?””
Daniel reached into his jacket.
Thomas immediately stepped forward.
“No recording devices in the showroom.””
Daniel smiled.
“Relax. I'm not here to cause trouble.””
He looked at Henry.
“Actually, I'm here because I might have done you a favor.””
Henry said nothing.
Daniel walked closer.
“I received a message this morning.””
“What message?””
Daniel glanced toward me.
“A customer sent me footage of an employee humiliating an elderly man in your own store.””
Rebecca felt her face burn again.
Henry's voice hardened.
“An elderly man?””
Daniel smiled.
“You know what I mean.””
“No.””
Henry stepped forward.
“I know exactly what you are trying to do.””
Daniel's smile faded slightly.
“And what is that?””
“Use my employee's mistake as a weapon.””
Daniel shrugged.
“Is it a weapon if it's true?””
Nobody answered.
Daniel looked around.
“Let's be honest. This is a serious problem.””
Thomas narrowed his eyes.
“You don't work for us.””
“No.””
Daniel smiled.
“But I've been studying Bellamy & Cross for months.””
Henry stared at him.
“Why?””
Daniel's smile returned.
“Because companies reveal themselves during moments like this.””
He looked at the display cases.
“The public doesn't care about your advertisements.””
Then he looked at me.
“They care when someone gets exposed.””
I felt sick.
Because I knew what he meant.
The video.
My worst moment.
Reduced to thirty seconds.
No explanation.
No context.
Just me telling an old man to leave.
Daniel turned back to Henry.
“Your company is vulnerable.””
Henry laughed quietly.
“Because one employee acted badly?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
He pointed around the room.
“Because everyone saw it.””
Thomas looked angry.
“You came here to negotiate.””
Daniel smiled.
“Of course.””
He looked at Henry.
“I came here to make an offer.””
Henry's eyes narrowed.
“For my company?””
“Yes.””
The store became completely silent.
Daniel adjusted his jacket.
“After today's incident, your board will ask questions.””
Henry said nothing.
“Investors will worry.””
Still nothing.
“Customers will lose confidence.””
Henry looked at him.
“You think you know my company because you saw a video?””
Daniel smiled.
“No.””
He leaned closer.
“I think I know your company because someone inside it gave me proof.””
That sentence changed the room.
Henry's face became serious.
“Someone inside?””
Daniel nodded.
“Someone who understands that change is coming.””
Thomas looked around.
“Who?””
Daniel smiled.
“I think you know.””
Nobody moved.
Henry slowly turned toward Greg Price.
Greg immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Henry stared at him.
“I didn't say anything.””
Greg's face went pale.
Daniel noticed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Rebecca watched the exchange.
Something was happening.
Something bigger than me.
Something bigger than my mistake.
Henry looked at Daniel.
“Who sent you the video?””
Daniel smiled.
“Does it matter?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever recorded it and sent it to you wasn't trying to fix a problem.””
Henry's voice became colder.
“They were trying to create one.””
Daniel's smile disappeared for the first time.
Only slightly.
But Henry noticed.
“So tell me.””
Henry stepped closer.
“Who wanted me to see my own employee fail?””
Daniel looked around the store.
Then at Greg.
Then back at Henry.
“I think you should ask your employees that question.””
The tension became unbearable.
Then Daniel turned toward the entrance.
“We'll talk soon.””
Henry didn't stop him.
But before Daniel reached the door, he paused.
“Oh, and Henry?””
Henry looked over.
Daniel smiled.
“Check your boardroom records.””
Thomas frowned.
“Why?””
Daniel opened the door.
“Because someone has already started selling your company.””
Then he walked out.
The door closed behind him.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Henry turned slowly.
“Thomas.””
“Yes, sir?””
“Get me every internal transaction from the last six months.””
Dalton nodded.
“And the board meeting records?””
“All of them.””
Henry looked toward Greg.
Greg looked terrified.
Rebecca noticed something.
He wasn't afraid of being fired.
He was afraid of being discovered.
Henry picked up the folder again.
Then he looked at the first page.
The page with my name.
But now, somehow, my mistake no longer felt like the biggest secret in the room.
Because someone had been using this store.
Someone had been planning something.
And as Henry Bellamy walked toward the private office, Thomas received an email notification on his laptop.
He opened it.
His face changed.
“Sir…”
Henry stopped.
“What is it?””
Thomas slowly turned the screen toward him.
“I think you need to see this.””
Henry looked down.
And the first line of the email made everyone in the store freeze.
*CONFIDENTIAL: FINAL PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR BELLAMY & CROSS — AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE REQUIRED.*
Underneath it was a name.
May you like
A name that made Henry's expression turn from anger…
to disbelief.
