Chapter 5: The Enemy Inside the Company
Emily held the document with shaking hands.
The name at the top stared back at her.
*Richard Hale.*
The company’s vice president.
The man everyone respected.
The man who had personally congratulated her promotion.
The man who always smiled.
“No,” Emily whispered.
Thomas watched her carefully.
“You know him?””
“Everyone knows Richard.””
Her voice became quieter.
“He’s been with Sterling & Crown for fifteen years.””
Thomas nodded.
“And that is why this matters.””
Emily looked at the document again.
“What did he do?””
Daniel, who had joined them near the balcony, answered.
“Your performance reviews were altered.””
Emily looked at him.
“What?””
Daniel opened another file.
“Your first year evaluations were excellent. Customers praised you. Managers recommended you for leadership training.””
He handed her the papers.
“Then suddenly, your reviews changed.””
Emily scanned the pages.
The comments were completely different.
“Poor attitude.””
“Difficult with customers.””
“Not suitable for management.””
She felt sick.
“I thought I earned those criticisms.””
Thomas shook his head.
“You accepted blame for things you didn’t do.””
Emily looked at him.
“Why?””
Thomas’s expression hardened.
“Because someone needed a distraction.””
A cold feeling moved through her.
“What do you mean?””
Thomas looked at the company building outside.
“Sterling & Crown has been expanding quickly.””
Emily nodded.
“Everyone knows.””
“But growth attracts people who care more about power than legacy.””
Daniel sighed.
“Richard wanted control.””
Emily understood.
“You think he wanted your position?””
Thomas nodded.
“Not just your position.””
He pointed toward the city.
“He wants the company.””
Emily looked shocked.
“But he’s already vice president.””
Thomas smiled sadly.
“Some people are never satisfied with being second.””
The next morning, Emily arrived at work early.
She didn’t go to her desk.
She went straight to the executive floor.
Richard’s office door was slightly open.
Inside, he was speaking on the phone.
Emily stopped when she heard her name.
“I told you she was perfect for the role,” Richard said.
A pause.
“No. She’s emotional. Easy to manipulate.””
Emily’s stomach tightened.
She pushed the door open.
Richard immediately turned.
“Emily.””
His expression changed for half a second.
Then the smile returned.
“What brings you here?””
She walked inside.
“You changed my evaluations.””
Richard laughed softly.
“I’m sorry?””
“My records.””
She placed the documents on his desk.
“You changed them.””
Richard looked down.
Then he leaned back.
“You should be careful making accusations.””
Emily stared at him.
“Why did you do it?””
Richard stood.
“You want the truth?””
“Yes.””
He walked toward the window.
“Because people like you are dangerous.””
Emily frowned.
“People like me?””
“People who think kindness matters more than profit.””
His voice became colder.
“This company survived because people like me made hard decisions.””
Emily shook her head.
“No. This company survived because people like my father cared.””
Richard’s face changed.
Just slightly.
But she noticed.
“You knew my father.””
Richard smiled.
“Everyone knew Michael Carter.””
“Then why would you do this?””
Richard turned.
“Because your father made the same mistake you did.””
“What mistake?””
“He believed everyone deserved respect.””
Richard laughed.
“And look where that got him.””
Emily felt anger rising.
“My father was respected.””
“By a few sentimental people.””
Richard walked closer.
“But businesses aren’t built on feelings.””
Emily looked at him.
“No.””
She picked up the documents.
“They’re destroyed by people who think they’re above everyone else.””
For the first time, Richard’s smile disappeared.
“You’re becoming just like him.””
Emily stepped back.
“Maybe that’s a good thing.””
She left the office.
But as she walked away, she heard Richard’s voice behind her.
“You think Thomas Whitmore will protect you?””
Emily stopped.
Richard continued.
“He won’t be around forever.””
She turned.
“What does that mean?””
Richard smiled.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
Emily felt uneasy.
“Know what?””
Richard walked back to his desk.
“That Thomas came here yesterday because he’s preparing for his final decision.””
“What decision?””
Richard looked at her.
“The future owner of Sterling & Crown.””
Emily froze.
“What?””
Richard smiled.
“And you should ask yourself why an old man with billions in assets suddenly became interested in you.””
Emily left without another word.
But his question followed her all day.
Why her?
Why now?
That night, Emily returned home and found something waiting outside her apartment door.
A small package.
No return address.
No name.
Inside was an old photograph.
A photograph of her father.
Standing beside Thomas Whitmore.
And behind them was another person.
Someone Emily had never seen before.
May you like
On the back of the photograph were six words:
*Your father knew the truth.*
