Chapter 14: The Last Betrayal
The moment Ryan said those words, my mind went through every person I trusted.
Employees.
Executives.
Friends.
People who had watched me build everything.
Someone inside my company had been feeding Richard information.
Someone close enough to know my private decisions.
My personal schedule.
My weaknesses.
I returned to the office the next morning.
The same place where my dream started.
But now every hallway felt different.
Every person felt like a question.
James reviewed the employee records.
Olivia searched through old company files.
Emily stayed home with Lily.
I wanted her away from all of this.
She had already suffered enough.
Then James found something.
"Michael.""
I walked over.
"What?""
He turned the screen toward me.
A list of confidential files.
Access history.
One name appeared repeatedly.
My assistant.
Claire.
I froze.
"No.""
James looked at me.
"Michael.""
"I know she helped them.""
"But?""
I looked at the screen.
"She didn't have access to everything.""
Olivia leaned closer.
"Someone gave her permission.""
James clicked another file.
A senior authorization code.
Mine.
Except...
I never created it.
The code belonged to an executive account.
A person with authority above Claire.
There were only three people who had that level of access.
Me.
My father.
And...
I stopped.
"No.""
James looked at me.
"What?""
I stared at the name.
The name attached to the account.
My mother.
She had access.
But why?
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A familiar voice spoke.
"Michael.""
I froze.
"Mom?""
Her voice was shaking.
"I need to tell you the truth.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why now?""
"Because Richard will destroy everyone if I don't.""
I looked at James.
"Where are you?""
She gave me an address.
A small house outside the city.
When I arrived, my mother was waiting.
No makeup.
No expensive clothes.
Just someone who looked exhausted.
"I know you don't forgive me.""
I stood silently.
"You're right.""
She nodded.
"I deserve that.""
For once, she didn't defend herself.
"I helped Richard.""
I looked away.
"I know.""
"But not for the reason you think.""
I looked back.
"What reason could possibly make this better?""
She wiped her eyes.
"When your father started working with Richard, I tried to stop him.""
I frowned.
"Then why did you sign the documents?""
"Because Richard threatened us.""
"Us?""
She nodded.
"He knew something about your father.""
I waited.
"Something that could destroy him.""
I crossed my arms.
"What?""
My mother opened a drawer.
Inside was an old photograph.
My father.
A younger Richard.
And another man.
A man I didn't recognize.
"This is where it started.""
I looked at the picture.
"Who is the third person?""
My mother whispered:
"Your grandfather.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
She nodded.
"The company wasn't started by your father.""
My breath stopped.
"What are you saying?""
She placed another document on the table.
"Your grandfather created the foundation.""
I looked at the paper.
Then I saw the name.
Not Richard.
Not my father.
Mine.
"My grandfather left something for you.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
Her eyes filled with fear.
"Protection.""
I frowned.
"Protection from who?""
My mother looked toward the window.
May you like
Then whispered:
"From the family you were born into.""
