CHAPTER 5 — The Man Everyone Believed Was Dead Walked Into Grace's Office
Three days later, Grace officially returned as CEO.
Employees welcomed her with applause.
Many apologized for believing Ethan's lies.
Grace accepted none of the flowers waiting in her office.
Instead, she asked for every company archive dating back fifteen years.
Late that afternoon, her assistant announced an unexpected visitor.
"A gentleman says he knew your father."
"Send him in."
The elderly man walked slowly with a wooden cane.
Grace stared in disbelief.
She knew that face.
Victor Hale.
Her father's closest business partner.
The man who had supposedly died in a private plane crash twelve years earlier.
Victor smiled sadly.
"I've been waiting a long time to meet you."
Grace whispered,
"You're supposed to be dead."
"So was your father."
He placed a leather journal on her desk.
"This belonged to him."
Inside were handwritten notes, ownership maps, and a final letter.
If you are reading this, Grace, someone inside our circle betrayed us.
Never trust the board.
Especially not the one who smiles the most.
Grace turned the next page.
There was a list of names.
Almost every current board member appeared on it.
Including several people who had just congratulated her that morning.
Victor looked toward the office windows.
"They're already watching this building."
Grace felt a chill run through her body.
"Ethan stole your company."
Victor shook his head.
"No."
"He was hired to steal something much bigger."
Before Grace could ask another question...
Every computer screen in the building suddenly went black.
May you like
One sentence appeared across every monitor.
WE KNOW WHO HAS THE JOURNAL.
