Chapter 9: The Employee Who Was Paid to Betray Me
Nobody moved.
Richard stared at his phone like it was something dangerous.
Like touching it would change everything.
Daniel extended his hand.
“Give me the phone.””
Richard hesitated.
That hesitation told us enough.
“Richard,” I said.
My voice sounded different.
Colder.
“Who is it?””
He looked at me.
And I saw guilt.
Real guilt.
“I’m sorry.””
Those two words hurt more than I expected.
Because apologies only came after the damage was done.
I stepped back.
“You knew.””
Richard swallowed.
“I didn’t know everything.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
My voice cracked.
“I’m tired of hearing that.””
He lowered his head.
“I knew your father’s name.””
Silence.
“I knew who you were.””
My hands curled into fists.
“For three years?””
He nodded.
“For three years, you watched me work here.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
“Protect me?””
I pointed at my uniform.
“From what? Knowing I owned the place where I spent every day cleaning tables?””
Richard looked ashamed.
“I was told not to tell you.””
“By Victoria?””
He didn’t answer.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Answer her.””
Richard finally nodded.
“Yes.””
Victoria immediately spoke.
“Richard, be careful.””
Everyone looked at her.
The warning in her voice was obvious.
Richard noticed too.
And something inside him changed.
Maybe he realized she wasn’t going to protect him.
Maybe he realized he was already exposed.
“I was told to make sure Emily stayed away from company decisions.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because if you discovered the trust, everything would change.””
Daniel looked at Victoria.
“Exactly.””
Richard continued.
“I was paid to keep an eye on you.””
My chest tightened.
“Paid?””
He nodded.
“Every month.””
“By who?””
Richard looked at Victoria.
Nobody needed him to say it.
The answer was already there.
Victoria looked furious.
“You ungrateful man.””
Richard laughed sadly.
“Ungrateful?””
He pulled out his phone.
“You threatened my family.””
Everyone froze.
“What?””
Richard looked at me.
“She didn’t just pay me.””
He looked at Victoria.
“She controlled me.””
Victoria’s expression changed.
“Don’t.””
Richard ignored her.
“She told me if I ever revealed the truth, she would make sure I lost everything.””
Daniel took the phone from him.
He read the messages.
His face darkened.
“This is enough.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Give me that.””
“No.””
Daniel held the phone away.
“Not this time.””
My father looked at me.
“I’m sorry.””
I turned toward him.
“For what?””
“For leaving you.””
The honesty almost broke me.
I wanted to hate him.
It would have been easier.
But standing there, seeing the pain on his face, I realized something.
Everyone had made choices around me.
Everyone had decided what I could handle.
Everyone had treated me like a child.
Except I wasn’t a child anymore.
I was the person they had all been afraid of.
Andrew gathered the documents.
“We need to leave.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
His expression became serious.
“Because if Victoria knows the evidence is missing, she’ll do anything to get it back.””
My father nodded.
“He’s right.””
Then the restaurant doors suddenly locked.
Everyone looked toward the entrance.
Richard checked the control panel.
“That’s impossible.””
Daniel frowned.
“What?””
Richard looked terrified.
“The security system was manually activated.””
My father’s face changed.
“No.””
A loud sound came from upstairs.
A drawer opening.
Footsteps.
Someone was inside the office.
Andrew looked toward the staircase.
“We’re not alone.””
I felt my heartbeat increase.
Then a voice came from above.
A voice I recognized.
A voice I never expected.
“Emily.””
I looked up.
Victoria smiled.
Not with fear this time.
With victory.
“You wanted the truth?””
She slowly walked down the stairs.
“Fine.””
She held a file in her hand.
“But before you judge me…”
She placed it on the table.
“…you should know what your father did the night he disappeared.””
My father’s face went completely white.
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And then I saw what was written on the cover.
*POLICE REPORT: MICHAEL CARTER — SUSPECT IN MISSING PERSON CASE*.
