Chapter 5: The Deal That Never Ended
I barely slept that night.
Not because of the restaurant.
Not because of Derek.
Not even because of Michael.
Because of one question that kept repeating in my mind.
How long had Thomas been watching me?
The next morning, I arrived at Bennett Construction before sunrise.
The building was almost empty.
That was how I preferred it.
Quiet mornings were where decisions were made.
I walked through the lobby carrying the same old jacket from the night before.
The receptionist smiled.
“Morning, Mr. Bennett.””
“Morning, Sarah.””
She looked surprised.
“Early day?””
“Always.””
I took the elevator to my office.
Waiting inside was Emily.
She had a stack of documents on my desk.
“You didn’t sleep.””
It wasn’t a question.
“Neither did you.””
She smiled slightly.
“Fair.””
I looked at the papers.
“What did you find?””
She pushed the first file toward me.
“Thomas didn’t disappear after selling his shares.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“He created another company.””
I opened the file.
Reed Holdings.
Created four months after he left Bennett Construction.
“That doesn’t prove anything.””
“No.””
Emily pushed another document forward.
“This does.””
I read the page.
A list of investments.
Small companies.
Suppliers.
Construction firms.
My stomach tightened.
“He’s been buying pieces of businesses connected to mine.””
Emily nodded.
“Exactly.””
I looked through the pages.
Thomas wasn’t attacking me directly.
He was building something around me.
A net.
“What about Michael?””
Emily sighed.
“That’s where it gets complicated.””
She opened another folder.
“Michael wasn’t just taking money.””
“What else?””
“He was sharing information.””
I stared at her.
“What information?””
“Customer contracts. Vendor negotiations. Expansion plans.””
For a moment, I didn’t speak.
Because betrayal from a stranger was easy.
Betrayal from someone you trusted was different.
Thomas knew everything about me.
He knew every weakness.
Every strategy.
Every dream.
He knew because I had shared it with him.
I walked to the window.
Chicago stretched below me.
The city where I had started with nothing.
“I trusted him.””
Emily stayed quiet.
Then she said:
“People like Thomas are good at making trust feel like a business decision.””
I turned.
“What do you mean?””
“They don’t ask for trust.””
She paused.
“They make you feel smart for giving it.””
I looked back at the documents.
She was right.
Thomas never forced his way into my life.
I invited him.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A familiar voice replied.
“Daniel.””
I froze.
Thomas.
After six months of silence.
“Thomas.””
“Long time.””
I looked at Emily.
She immediately understood.
“Where are you?””
He laughed softly.
“Still direct. I always liked that about you.””
“I asked where you are.””
“A restaurant.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Which one?””
“Funny.””
A pause.
“Your restaurant.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Why are you there?””
“I wanted to talk.””
“You could have called yesterday.””
“I wanted to see your reaction.””
My jaw tightened.
“You set this up?””
“No.””
His voice became calm.
“I didn’t need to.””
“Then explain.””
A quiet laugh.
“Daniel, you still think this is about one waiter insulting you.””
I said nothing.
“It isn’t.””
“Then what is it about?””
Another pause.
Then Thomas said:
“It’s about proving you were never the reason Bennett Construction succeeded.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
“You think people followed you because of your vision.””
His voice became colder.
“They followed money. Resources. Connections.””
I walked back to my desk.
“You’re wrong.””
“Am I?””
A pause.
“Come to the restaurant tonight.””
“Why?””
“Because I want to show you something.””
I looked at the documents.
“Where?””
“Your office.””
I froze.
“What?””
Thomas lowered his voice.
“Check your security system.””
The call ended.
For a moment, I didn’t move.
Then Emily spoke.
“What did he say?””
I looked at her.
“He said he wants me to check the security system.””
Her face changed.
“Why?””
I grabbed my laptop.
“Because he’s either bluffing.””
I opened the security portal.
“Or he’s already inside.””
The screen loaded.
And the last recorded login appeared.
My heart stopped.
Because the person who accessed my system wasn’t Thomas.
May you like
It was someone who worked for me.
Someone I trusted.
