Chapter 8: The Choice That Changed Everything
I stopped thinking.
I stopped hearing the alarms.
All I saw was the screen.
My mother.
Standing inside the guest residence.
Looking confused.
Looking afraid.
“Mom.””
I ran toward the exit.
Marcus grabbed my arm.
“Malik, wait.””
“Let go.””
“If you run out there, you walk straight into him.””
“My mother is there.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“You don’t know what it feels like watching someone you love become a target because you tried to help.””
Marcus released my arm.
Because he understood.
Maybe better than anyone.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Victor.””
Her voice echoed through the speakers.
“What do you want?””
Victor laughed.
“Still direct. I missed that.””
“You’re using my family to force me.””
“No.””
A pause.
“I’m reminding you that every choice has consequences.””
Daniel stepped toward the microphone.
“You’re done, Victor.””
The screen shifted.
Victor saw him.
For the first time, his smile disappeared.
“Daniel.””
“You thought I was gone.””
“I thought you were smarter than this.””
Daniel’s face hardened.
“You destroyed my life.””
Victor leaned closer to the camera.
“No.””
His voice became colder.
“You destroyed your own life when you decided you were better than everyone else.””
I hated how calm he sounded.
People like Victor didn’t need to scream.
They believed they were already winning.
Marcus moved quickly toward the security panel.
“I can override the building system.””
“How long?””
“Five minutes.””
“That’s too long,” I said.
Marcus looked at me.
“Then we need to buy time.””
Evelyn looked at the screen.
“Victor.””
Everyone turned.
She spoke slowly.
“If this is about money, you can have it.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Mom, no.””
She ignored him.
“If this is about control, you already have enough.””
Victor smiled.
“There she is.””
“The woman who thinks she can fix everything.””
Evelyn’s face remained calm.
“But you know what you never understood?””
“What?””
“People are not machines.””
Victor said nothing.
She continued.
“You can replace equipment. You can replace buildings. You can replace money.””
Her eyes hardened.
“But you cannot replace trust once people see who you really are.””
For the first time, Victor looked uncertain.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Then the screen went black.
The alarms stopped.
Everyone froze.
Marcus checked the system.
“He cut the connection.””
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
Marcus looked toward the elevator.
“It means he’s coming here.””
The building suddenly felt too quiet.
Then the elevator bell rang.
Nobody moved.
The doors opened slowly.
A man stepped out.
Not Victor.
Someone else.
A security employee.
He walked toward us.
“Ms. Carter?””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Yes?””
The man looked uncomfortable.
“I need you to come with me.””
Marcus immediately moved between them.
“No.””
The employee stopped.
“Sir, I have orders.””
“From who?””
The man hesitated.
Then answered:
“From the board.””
Evelyn’s expression changed.
“The board?””
He nodded.
“They have called an emergency meeting.””
“Right now?””
“Yes.””
Daniel laughed quietly.
“They’re trying to remove you.””
The employee looked down.
“I’m sorry.””
Evelyn stared at him.
Then she looked at me.
“Malik.””
I knew that look.
She had made a decision.
“What?””
“I need you to do something.””
“What?””
She handed me the notebook.
My eyes widened.
“Why me?””
“Because everyone expects powerful people to protect themselves.””
She closed my hand around it.
“But nobody expects a seventeen-year-old mechanic to walk into a room and tell the truth.””
I looked at the notebook.
Then at her.
“What are you going to do?””
She looked toward the elevator.
“I’m going to remind them who built this company.””
Daniel stepped beside her.
“And I’m going with you.””
Marcus nodded.
“I am too.””
I held the notebook tighter.
Then my phone vibrated.
One new message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
My heart stopped.
It was a picture of my mother.
But this time, she wasn’t inside the guest residence.
She was standing outside.
Beside a car.
And next to her was a man I recognized.
Victor Hale.
The message below said:
*You have ten minutes to choose.*
I looked up.
Everyone saw my face.
“What is it?”” Evelyn asked.
I showed them the phone.
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel whispered:
“He doesn’t want the company.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel stared at the picture.
“He wants something else.””
“What?””
May you like
Daniel looked at me.
“He wants Malik.””
