Chapter 8: The Ghost in the Company
Nobody moved.
The video continued playing.
The face on the screen remained frozen.
My entire world shifted.
Because I knew him.
Everyone knew him.
Daniel whispered the name first.
“Victor Hale.””
I stared at the screen.
Victor.
My father’s former business partner.
The man who supposedly died in a boating accident twelve years ago.
The man whose company shares had been absorbed after his death.
The man whose disappearance allowed my father to take full control of Bennett Technologies.
Except he wasn’t dead.
He was sitting beside Margaret.
Planning my downfall.
“That’s impossible,” Daniel said.
My father didn’t answer.
He looked devastated.
Not shocked.
Devastated.
“You knew?””
I turned toward him.
My father closed his eyes.
“Not like this.””
I stepped closer.
“Then explain.””
He looked at the screen.
“Victor and I built the first version of Bennett Technologies together.””
I knew the story.
Or what I thought was the story.
“Then he betrayed you.””
My father nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“But he died.””
My father looked at me.
“That was the lie.””
The words felt unreal.
“Why?””
“Because Victor wanted control.””
My father walked toward the desk.
“He created fake debts. Manipulated investors. Tried to force me out.””
“And you exposed him?””
“I tried.””
He looked at the floor.
“But Margaret helped him escape.””
I looked back at the video.
Everything connected.
The company theft.
My mother’s death.
My accident.
Brooke.
Chad.
All of it.
But one question remained.
“If Victor was alive, why hide for twelve years?””
My father looked at me.
“Because he was waiting.””
“For what?””
My father’s expression darkened.
“For you.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Me?””
“You were the reason he lost everything.””
I shook my head.
“I was a child.””
“Not then.””
He pointed at the screen.
“When you rebuilt the company, you created something Victor never could.””
I stared.
“Trust.””
My father nodded.
“He wanted to destroy your reputation, not just your business.””
I looked at Brooke.
She looked broken.
The video continued.
Margaret spoke again.
“The accident will make everyone believe Ethan is finished.””
Victor smiled.
“And Brooke?””
“She’ll do what she always does.””
My fists tightened.
The video ended.
No more answers.
Only silence.
Brooke wiped her eyes.
“I didn’t know.””
I looked at her.
“I believe you.””
The words surprised both of us.
“But that doesn’t erase what you did.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
Daniel closed the laptop.
“We need to report this.””
“We will.””
I picked up the drive.
“But first, we need more.””
Everyone looked at me.
Victor had spent twelve years hiding.
He had built an entire operation around secrets.
I wasn’t going to beat him by reacting.
I was going to expose him.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
“Ethan Bennett.””
A voice responded.
A man’s voice.
Older.
Calm.
The same voice from the video.
Victor.
“Congratulations.””
My blood went cold.
“You’ve been watching.””
“I’ve been waiting.””
“Where are you?””
He laughed softly.
“You always were impatient.””
I tightened my grip.
“You destroyed my family.””
“No.””
His voice became colder.
“Your family destroyed itself.””
I looked at my father.
Victor continued.
“You want answers?””
“Yes.””
“Then come alone.””
I said nothing.
“Bring the drive.””
I stared at the device in my hand.
“How do I know this isn’t a trap?””
“You don’t.””
A pause.
Then:
“But if you want to know why your father really disappeared…”
My heart stopped.
Victor continued.
“Ask him what happened the night your mother died.””
The call ended.
Everyone looked at me.
My father looked away.
May you like
And that was when I knew.
There was still something he hadn’t told me.
