Chapter 7: The Woman They Blamed
I stared at the woman standing at my front door.
For three years, I had believed she was the reason my company almost collapsed.
For three years, I had believed the rumors.
I believed she betrayed me.
I believed she tried to destroy everything we built.
Her name was Olivia Grant.
She was my former business partner.
The person who had helped me create my company from a small office into a nationwide brand.
Then one day, millions disappeared.
A lawsuit appeared.
And every piece of evidence pointed toward her.
I had cut her out of my life.
I had watched her leave the company with nothing.
Now she was standing in my house, telling me my father stole her plan.
I stepped aside.
"Come in.""
Olivia entered slowly.
She looked around at the damaged living room.
The empty dinner plates.
The marks on the floor.
Her expression changed.
"They actually did it.""
Emily looked at her.
"You knew?""
Olivia nodded.
"I knew they were capable of it.""
I turned toward her.
"Start explaining.""
James closed the door behind him.
"We need the whole story.""
Olivia sat down.
Three years of anger.
Three years of confusion.
All of it came down to this moment.
"I never stole from you, Michael.""
My jaw tightened.
"I saw the documents.""
"No.""
She shook her head.
"You saw documents your father wanted you to see.""
The room went quiet.
She opened her bag and pulled out a folder.
"I discovered Ryan was creating fake contracts through a hidden company.""
She placed the folder on the table.
"Exactly like the one you found yesterday.""
I opened it.
Inside were old records.
The same company name.
The same account numbers.
But the dates were from three years earlier.
My stomach turned.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Olivia looked away.
"I tried.""
"What happened?""
She took a breath.
"Your father stopped me.""
I stared at her.
"How?""
"He threatened to expose private information about my family.""
Emily frowned.
"What information?""
Olivia looked down.
"My younger brother had a medical debt. Your father offered to pay it.""
I understood immediately.
"And then he used it against you.""
She nodded.
"He told me if I didn't leave quietly, my brother would lose everything.""
I looked at the documents again.
"So the lawsuit?""
"Fake.""
"The evidence?""
"Manipulated.""
"The money?""
"Transferred by Ryan.""
My hands tightened.
Everything I believed was a lie.
James picked up one of the papers.
"This changes everything.""
Olivia looked at me.
"Not completely.""
I looked up.
"What do you mean?""
She reached into her folder and pulled out a small envelope.
"This is why your father wanted control of your company.""
I opened it.
Inside was a property agreement.
A land purchase.
My company had recently acquired a massive piece of property in Texas.
A location everyone thought was valuable.
But I never understood why my father cared about it.
Until I saw the hidden clause.
The land wasn't valuable because of what was built on it.
It was valuable because of what was underneath.
Mineral rights.
Worth hundreds of millions.
My father wasn't trying to take my company.
He was trying to take the future.
Emily covered her mouth.
"They knew.""
I nodded.
"They knew before I did.""
A phone buzzed.
Everyone looked toward the sound.
It was my phone.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke.
Calm.
Cold.
"You finally found the truth.""
I stood up.
"Who is this?""
A small laugh.
"You really don't recognize me?""
I looked at Olivia.
Her face changed.
She knew the voice.
"Michael," she whispered.
"Don't hang up.""
The voice continued.
"Your family is only the beginning.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"What do you want?""
The man paused.
Then said:
"The same thing I've wanted for three years.""
The line went silent for a moment.
Then he added:
"Your company.""
The call ended.
I looked at Olivia.
"Who was that?""
She didn't answer immediately.
And that scared me more than anything.
May you like
Finally, she whispered:
"That was the man who financed your father's plan.""
