Chapter 6: The Secret Inside the Company
The woman standing in the doorway looked completely calm.
That was the first thing Rebecca noticed.
Everyone else looked nervous.
Confused.
Afraid.
But she looked prepared.
She wore a dark green suit.
Her silver hair was perfectly styled.
And she carried a leather handbag that looked more expensive than most people's cars.
Henry stared at her.
“Eleanor.””
The woman's lips curved slightly.
“Hello, Henry.””
Nobody spoke.
Rebecca looked at Thomas.
He looked shocked.
Mia whispered, “Who is that?””
Thomas answered quietly.
“Eleanor Bellamy.””
Rebecca froze.
Bellamy.
Another Bellamy.
Henry's sister.
Eleanor walked into the showroom like she belonged there.
Because she did.
Henry's expression was unreadable.
“You weren't invited.””
“No.””
She looked around.
“But apparently I was needed.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“How did you get in?””
Eleanor smiled.
“I still have access.””
Henry's eyes narrowed.
“Not for long.””
That smile disappeared.
For the first time, Eleanor looked irritated.
“Always dramatic.””
Henry laughed once.
“Dramatic?””
He pointed toward the agreement.
“Someone is attempting to sell my company.””
Eleanor glanced at the document.
Then at Greg.
Then back at Henry.
“Is that what you think?””
Thomas looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
Eleanor placed her handbag on the counter.
“It means you are looking at the wrong problem.””
Henry stared at her.
“Then explain.””
She sighed.
“You always did prefer confrontation before facts.””
Henry stepped closer.
“Facts.””
Eleanor nodded.
“Fine.””
She looked around.
“The company is not being sold.””
Nobody moved.
“What?””
Eleanor looked at Thomas.
“That agreement is not a purchase agreement.””
Thomas frowned.
“I verified it.””
“You verified the file.””
She shook her head.
“You didn't verify the purpose.””
Henry's eyes narrowed.
“Explain.””
Eleanor opened her handbag.
She removed a small envelope.
Not a document.
Not a contract.
Just an envelope.
She placed it on the counter.
“I found this two days ago.””
Henry looked at it.
“From where?””
“My office.””
Thomas looked confused.
“Your office?””
Eleanor nodded.
“Someone left it there.””
Henry didn't touch it.
“What is inside?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“Evidence.””
The word changed everything.
Henry slowly picked up the envelope.
Rebecca watched his fingers.
They were steady.
But his face wasn't.
He opened it.
Inside was a single printed page.
His eyes moved across it.
Then stopped.
“What is this?””
Eleanor answered.
“The reason Daniel Cross knew about the video.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“Someone gave him information.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Eleanor looked around.
“Someone who wanted Daniel to pressure Henry into selling.””
Henry looked up.
“And you know who?””
Eleanor didn't answer immediately.
That silence was enough.
“You do.””
Eleanor looked at him.
“Yes.””
Everyone waited.
Henry's voice became quiet.
“Who?””
Eleanor looked toward the office.
Then toward Greg.
Then back to Henry.
“The person who has been feeding Daniel information…”
She paused.
“Was your assistant.””
Thomas looked stunned.
“My assistant?””
Henry's expression changed.
“My assistant left the company six months ago.””
Eleanor nodded.
“Exactly.””
Rebecca frowned.
“Then how could they still have access?””
Nobody answered.
Then Thomas looked at the computer.
His face changed.
“Remote access.””
Henry turned.
“What?””
Thomas slowly stepped back.
“The assistant didn't lose access.””
A cold silence filled the store.
“They were never removed.””
Henry looked at Thomas.
“You're saying someone who left six months ago still had access to company systems?””
Thomas looked guilty.
“Yes.””
Henry's voice became dangerously calm.
“Who approved that?””
Thomas didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Henry already knew.
Rebecca looked between them.
The company wasn't falling apart because of one rude employee.
It was because cracks had been ignored.
For years.
Henry folded the paper.
“Where is my former assistant now?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“That's the problem.””
“What problem?””
“She disappeared.””
A chill moved through the room.
Thomas asked, “When?””
“Yesterday.””
Henry stared at her.
“And Daniel Cross?””
Eleanor's face became serious.
“He isn't acting alone.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Henry looked at Rebecca.
For some reason, she didn't know why.
Maybe because she had been part of the beginning.
Maybe because he wanted her to understand.
“Rebecca.””
She looked up.
“Yes?””
“This morning, you thought the biggest problem in this store was someone judging a person by their appearance.””
She nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Henry looked at the envelope.
“It was bigger than that.””
He turned toward the entrance.
“The person who sent Daniel that video didn't just want to embarrass me.””
He paused.
“They wanted to destroy everything I built.””
Outside, a black SUV pulled up beside the curb.
Thomas looked through the glass.
His face changed.
“What is it?””
Thomas whispered.
“That's Daniel Cross.””
Henry looked toward the door.
“But he just left.””
The SUV door opened.
Daniel stepped out.
And this time, he wasn't alone.
A second person stepped out behind him.
Rebecca couldn't see their face yet.
Then the person turned toward the store.
And Henry Bellamy went completely still.
Because the person walking through the door was the one name he never expected to see again.
May you like
His own son.
“Michael…” Henry whispered.
