Chapter 12: The Secret Clause
Thomas chose the location carefully.
An abandoned construction site.
The first one we ever worked on together.
The place where Bennett Construction began.
When I arrived, the sun was setting behind the unfinished buildings.
Concrete walls.
Steel beams.
Dust in the air.
Everything looked exactly the way it had twenty years ago.
Except we weren’t the same people anymore.
Thomas stood near the entrance.
Older.
Tired.
But still confident.
“You came.””
I stepped closer.
“You wanted the contract.””
He smiled.
“Straight to business.””
“You don’t get to act like this is a normal meeting.””
His smile disappeared.
“Fair.””
For a moment, we just looked at each other.
Two people who had built something together.
Then destroyed it.
“You think I betrayed you,” Thomas said.
“You did.””
He nodded.
“Maybe.””
That answer surprised me.
“Maybe?””
“Yes.””
He looked around.
“But you betrayed me first.””
I shook my head.
“We’re still talking about this?””
“Yes.””
“Thomas, I gave you half my company.””
“No.””
His voice sharpened.
“You gave me a title.””
I stared at him.
“And what did you want?””
He stepped closer.
“I wanted you to admit I was the reason you succeeded.””
I almost laughed.
“Is that what this is about?””
“You still don’t understand.””
“No.””
I looked at him.
“I understand perfectly.””
His expression hardened.
“Then open the contract.””
I reached into my jacket.
The original Riverside Tower agreement.
The one document that changed everything.
I opened it.
“I know this contract.””
“No, you don’t.””
I looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Thomas pointed.
“Page twelve.””
I turned the pages.
My eyes moved across the text.
Then stopped.
A clause.
A clause I had never noticed.
I read it again.
Then again.
My hands went still.
Because the contract contained a condition.
A hidden ownership clause.
One that transferred future project rights.
Not to Bennett Construction.
Not to me.
To Thomas.
“What is this?””
His expression changed.
“You signed it.””
I looked at him.
“I never saw this.””
“That’s not my problem.””
My heart started racing.
“Did you add this?””
“No.””
“Then who did?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
And that silence was worse.
“Thomas.””
He looked away.
Finally, he said:
“I wasn’t the one who put it there.””
The wind moved through the empty construction site.
For the first time that night, Thomas looked afraid.
“Then who?””
He looked directly at me.
“The person who has been controlling this entire situation.””
I stepped closer.
“Who?””
Thomas opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
A sound came from behind us.
A car door closing.
We both turned.
Someone had arrived.
Someone who should not have known where we were.
Someone who had followed me.
Thomas whispered:
“You brought them here?””
“I didn’t.””
The figure walked out of the shadows.
And when I saw the face, my entire body went cold.
Because the person standing there was the last person I expected.
The person who had been helping me uncover the truth.
The person I trusted most.
Emily.
May you like
And Thomas looked at her and said:
“You finally decided to show him.””
