Chapter 13: The Enemy Inside My Company
I spent the entire night awake.
Not because I was afraid.
Because I was finally seeing the pattern.
For years, I believed my story was simple.
I was the poor girl who worked hard, fought through obstacles, and built something impossible.
But the truth was more complicated.
People had been moving pieces around me long before I knew there was a game.
My father.
Lauren’s father.
Michael.
Even Daniel.
Everyone had held part of the truth.
And somehow, I was always the last person to know.
The next morning, I arrived at Bell & Bloom before sunrise.
The restaurant was empty.
No customers.
No music.
No conversations.
Just the quiet hum of refrigerators and the smell of fresh bread from the kitchen.
The same place where I had cried during the first year.
The same place where I had celebrated every small victory.
I ran my hand along the wooden counter.
I built this.
Not them.
Me.
The thought gave me strength.
Then Daniel walked in.
He stopped when he saw me.
“Maya.””
I turned.
“Close the door.””
He did.
For once, he looked nervous around me.
Not because he feared me.
Because he knew he had lost my trust.
“I found something else.””
I looked at him.
“About who is inside my company?””
He nodded.
“I checked access records.””
“And?””
He placed a folder on the counter.
“The person leaking information had access to financial reports, expansion plans, investor communication, and employee records.””
I opened the folder.
There were names.
Executives.
Managers.
Employees.
My eyes moved down the list.
Then stopped.
No.
Not possible.
Daniel watched my reaction.
“Maya…”
I looked up.
“It’s impossible.””
“I thought so too.””
The name sat there.
Clear.
Undeniable.
Rachel Collins.
My chief operating officer.
The woman who had been with me since the second restaurant opened.
The woman who knew every decision before anyone else.
The woman who cried with me when we lost our first major supplier.
“No.””
Daniel sighed.
“I know.””
“She wouldn’t.””
“She already did.””
I looked at him.
“Do you have proof?””
He hesitated.
“Yes.””
That word hurt.
Because I had spent years believing I was surrounded by people who believed in me.
And now every answer led to another betrayal.
Daniel handed me a USB drive.
“Emails. Transfers. Communication with Michael.””
I stared at it.
“Why?””
“I don’t know.””
“Find out.””
Daniel nodded.
Before he left, he stopped.
“Maya.””
I didn’t look at him.
“I’m sorry.””
I remained silent.
“I know saying sorry doesn’t fix anything.””
“No.””
“But I need you to know something.””
I finally looked at him.
“What?””
“Your mother was right about one thing.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She always said you were stronger than anyone realized.””
My eyes burned.
Because my mother believed in me.
Even when nobody else did.
That afternoon, I called Rachel.
“Can you come to my office?””
Her voice was cheerful.
“Of course. Is everything okay?””
“Yes.””
I ended the call.
Ten minutes later, she walked in.
“Maya.””
She smiled.
The same smile I had seen for years.
I wondered how many times someone could smile while hiding the truth.
“Sit down.””
She noticed my expression.
“What happened?””
I placed the folder on the desk.
She looked at it.
Then at me.
Her smile disappeared.
“Where did you get that?””
The question came too quickly.
Not denial.
Recognition.
I leaned back.
“So you know what it is.””
Rachel said nothing.
“Rachel.””
She closed her eyes.
“Maya, listen.””
“No.””
I pushed the folder toward her.
“Not another explanation.””
Her shoulders dropped.
“I didn’t want this.””
I laughed softly.
“Everyone says that.””
“I was trying to protect myself.””
“From what?””
She looked at me.
“From ending up like you.””
The words shocked me.
“Like me?””
“Yes.””
Her voice became emotional.
“You built everything yourself, and look what happened.””
She pointed around the office.
“Everyone wants something from you. Everyone expects something from you.””
I stared.
“So your solution was to help them take it?””
“No.””
“Then explain.””
Rachel looked down.
“My father worked for Lauren’s father.””
Another connection.
Another secret.
“He forced me.””
“Your father?””
She nodded.
“He told me if I didn’t cooperate, he would destroy my career.””
I was quiet.
Because for the first time, I saw the same fear I had seen in Lauren.
Different person.
Same prison.
“But you still chose.””
Rachel looked at me.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
“I did.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I made the wrong choice.””
I wanted to hate her.
Maybe part of me did.
But I understood something.
People could be victims and still cause harm.
Both could be true.
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
Rebecca.
My lawyer.
I answered.
“Maya, you need to get here immediately.””
“What happened?””
Her voice was serious.
“The Northbridge meeting has been moved.””
“When?””
“Tomorrow.””
I froze.
“That’s impossible.””
“No.””
Rebecca paused.
“Someone requested an emergency vote.””
“Who?””
Silence.
Then:
“Michael Carter.””
I looked at Rachel.
Then at the documents.
May you like
The final move had already started.
And tomorrow morning, everyone who wanted my company would be sitting at the same table.
