Chapter 8: The Enemy Inside the Company
I stared at the signature.
The name beneath it seemed impossible.
For a moment, my brain refused to accept what my eyes were seeing.
“Victor Hale.””
The room went silent.
Captain Harris, who had entered behind Ethan, immediately recognized the name.
“No.””
His voice was barely a whisper.
I looked at him.
“You know him?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Everyone in the company knows him.””
I remembered.
Victor Hale.
Former chief financial officer.
Brilliant.
Charming.
Dangerous.
He had joined the airline twenty-five years earlier.
Back then, he was the kind of person everyone admired.
He could walk into a room full of executives and make them believe he had the answer before they even knew the question.
I trusted him.
That was my mistake.
“What does Victor have to do with this?”” I asked.
Robert looked at me.
“Everything.””
I opened the folder.
Inside were financial records.
Emails.
Private communications.
Years of evidence.
My hands moved slowly through the pages.
“Where did you get these?””
Robert looked uncomfortable.
“I collected them.””
“For thirty years?””
“Yes.””
I looked up.
“Why?””
His eyes hardened.
“Because I knew Victor was dangerous.””
I shook my head.
“You never told me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Before I left.””
I froze.
“What?””
Robert stepped closer.
“You think I disappeared because I wanted to?””
The room became quiet.
“Victor discovered I was investigating him.””
I looked at the documents again.
“He threatened you?””
Robert nodded.
“He knew things about me.””
“What things?””
He looked away.
“My mistakes.””
That answer bothered me.
Because Robert was hiding something.
But before I could push further, Ethan spoke.
“I found Uncle Robert six months ago.””
I turned toward him.
“Six months?””
He nodded.
“I was investigating Victor.””
“Why?””
“Because I started seeing things.””
Ethan looked ashamed.
“Money disappearing. Contracts changing. Investors being manipulated.””
Captain Harris frowned.
“Then why buy the company?””
Ethan looked at him.
“Because Victor forced me.””
I stared.
“What?””
Ethan took a breath.
“He knew about the trust.””
The room became silent.
“He knew if he controlled me, he could control the company.””
I looked at Robert.
“And you?””
Robert looked down.
“I helped him.””
The words were painful.
“Why?””
“Because I thought I could control him.””
I almost smiled.
A sad, empty smile.
“That’s what everyone thinks before they lose.””
Robert nodded.
“I know.””
For the first time, I saw regret on his face.
Real regret.
Not guilt.
Not fear.
Regret.
Ethan moved closer.
“Grandpa, I never wanted to hurt you.””
I looked at him.
“But you did.””
He lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
Maybe there was still something left to save.
Then Laura’s phone rang.
She answered.
“Hello?””
Her expression changed.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“Mr. Bennett…”
“What happened?””
She slowly lowered the phone.
“The board meeting is happening right now.””
I frowned.
“That’s impossible. It was scheduled for tonight.””
“They moved it.””
“Why?””
She swallowed.
“Because Victor Hale is there.””
Everyone went still.
Captain Harris stepped forward.
“How?””
Laura looked at the screen.
“He sent a message to all executives.””
“What message?””
She read it quietly.
“Effective immediately, Arthur Bennett has resigned from all positions within Bennett Aviation.””
Nobody spoke.
Then she added:
“And Victor Hale has been appointed interim chairman.””
My stomach tightened.
“He’s already taken control.””
Robert shook his head.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“He didn’t take control today.””
A pause.
“He took control years ago.””
I looked back at the documents.
The fake signature.
The fake video.
The leaked information.
It wasn’t just an attack.
It was a takeover.
And Victor had planned every step.
Then Ethan’s phone buzzed.
He looked at it.
His face turned pale.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
“Ethan.””
Slowly, he turned the screen toward me.
It was a message.
From Victor.
Three words.
*“Bring him here.””*
I looked at my grandson.
“Bring who?””
Ethan’s hands shook.
“You.””
The room went silent.
“Why?””
Ethan looked at the message again.
Then whispered:
“Because Victor says he wants to show you something.””
“What?””
May you like
Ethan swallowed.
“He says he wants to show you who really owns your airline.””
