Chapter 4: The Enemy We Shared
I stared at Maya as if I had never met her before.
Not because I doubted her.
Because I suddenly realized there was an entire part of her life I knew nothing about.
Six months ago, someone had tried to destroy her company.
And she had never said a word.
“Maya,” I said quietly.
“What happened?””
She looked around the table.
Not everyone deserved the answer.
Especially not everyone sitting there.
My father noticed her hesitation.
“Maybe we should continue this privately.””
My mother immediately looked offended.
“Privately? After everything that has happened tonight?””
My father turned toward her.
“Rochelle.””
The tone in his voice made her stop.
He rarely spoke to my mother like that.
And when he did, everyone listened.
Maya closed the folder.
“There’s no point hiding it anymore.””
She looked at me.
“My company lost a major contract six months ago.””
I frowned.
“You told me you chose not to renew it.””
“I told you I didn’t want to discuss business.””
“That’s not the same thing.””
Her expression softened.
“I know.””
That hurt more than anger would have.
Because Maya wasn’t defending herself.
She was admitting she had kept something from me.
“What happened?”” I asked.
She took a slow breath.
“A competitor received private information about our upcoming project. They knew our pricing strategy, our timeline, even details that only a few executives had access to.””
My father leaned forward.
“And you think the same person leaked our donor information?””
Maya nodded.
“I think it’s possible.””
Corinne crossed her arms.
“Wait. So you’re saying someone targeted your company and our foundation?””
“Yes.””
“And you just happened to appear at our gala with money?””
Maya looked at her.
“I didn’t just appear.””
Corinne went quiet.
Maya’s voice remained calm.
“I was invited because your father asked for help.””
That was the first time all night I saw Corinne lose confidence.
She looked at my father.
“You asked her?””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
My mother’s face changed.
“You knew?””
“I knew the foundation needed support.””
“And you didn’t tell me?””
My father looked tired.
“Because I knew you would judge her before understanding her.””
The words hit harder than shouting.
My mother looked away.
I watched Maya.
She had stood there for hours while my family questioned her background, her clothes, and whether she belonged.
And she had never once used her power to embarrass them.
She could have.
She chose not to.
My father picked up the document.
“There’s one problem.””
Everyone looked at him.
“The person who leaked the information had access to both organizations.””
My stomach tightened.
“Both?””
My father nodded.
“The foundation and Maya’s company.””
The room became silent.
Because that meant the person wasn’t a stranger.
They were close.
Very close.
My mother slowly looked around the table.
“No.””
Nobody answered.
Then my father’s assistant appeared near the entrance.
“Mr. Hawthorne?””
My father turned.
“Yes?””
The assistant looked nervous.
“There’s something you need to see.””
He handed him a small envelope.
My father opened it.
His expression changed instantly.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
He just passed the paper to me.
It was a photograph.
A security image.
A person entering the foundation office three nights before the gala.
The person’s face was partially hidden.
But I recognized the clothing.
The watch.
The posture.
My heart dropped.
Because it was someone I had grown up with.
Someone who had smiled at me earlier that evening.
Someone who had toasted my engagement.
I looked at my father.
“Are you sure?””
He nodded.
“We checked three times.””
Maya looked at the photograph.
Then she whispered:
“That’s the same person who had access to my company’s files.””
I looked at her.
“Who?””
Maya didn’t answer immediately.
Her eyes moved toward the ballroom.
Toward the crowd.
Toward my family.
May you like
Then she said:
“The person standing beside your mother right now.””
