Chapter 3 - The Secret in the Executive ArchiveCharlotte ran toward the service corridor.
Daniel followed.
Richard shouted after her.
"Charlotte, stop!"
She ignored him.
The scream came again.
A woman.
Terrified.
Then silence.
Charlotte reached the corridor and found a security door partially open.
She pushed through.
The hallway was dark.
Only the red emergency lights illuminated the walls.
"Who's there?"
Nothing.
Then footsteps.
Fast.
Charlotte spun around.
A figure in black emerged from the shadows.
He lunged.
Charlotte ducked.
His shoulder slammed into the wall.
She grabbed his wrist.
He struck her across the face.
She stumbled.
Daniel shouted.
"Charlotte!"
The attacker sprinted away.
Charlotte chased him.
But when she reached the stairwell, the man had disappeared.
On the floor lay a silver keycard.
Charlotte picked it up.
SOLMERE EXECUTIVE ARCHIVE.
Her pulse quickened.
She ran back.
Richard was standing outside the corridor.
He looked furious.
"Give me the card."
"No."
"Charlotte."
"You know what it opens."
He said nothing.
Daniel approached.
"The archive hasn't been accessed in ten years."
Charlotte stared at him.
"Then why was someone trying to stop me from reaching it?"
Daniel didn't answer.
She knew.
They entered the archive.
Rows of locked cabinets filled the room.
At the far end stood a massive steel safe.
Charlotte recognized the engraving immediately.
E.V.
Her mother's initials.
She stepped closer.
There was a fingerprint scanner beside the door.
Charlotte placed her hand against it.
The scanner flashed green.
The safe unlocked.
Richard stepped forward.
"No."
Charlotte turned.
Inside the safe was a brown leather folder.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
The first page was a legal declaration.
She read the first line.
In the event of my death, ownership of Solmere Holdings shall transfer immediately to Charlotte Eleanor Vale.
Charlotte stopped breathing.
The next page contained signatures.
Her mother's.
A notary's.
And Daniel Mercer's.
Charlotte slowly turned toward him.
"You knew."
Daniel's face crumbled.
"I knew your mother intended to transfer the company."
"You said the board controlled everything."
"They threatened me."
"Who?"
Daniel looked at Richard.
Richard said nothing.
Daniel whispered.
"Everyone."
Charlotte flipped through the documents.
Then she found something unexpected.
A video drive.
Attached to it was a note.
Charlotte, watch this alone.
She inserted the drive into the laptop in the archive.
Her mother's face appeared.
Eleanor Vale looked exhausted.
But alive.
Charlotte sat down.
"Mom?"
The recording began.
"My darling Charlotte."
Charlotte's eyes filled with tears.
"If you're watching this, then I'm gone."
Eleanor paused.
"I need you to understand something."
She looked directly into the camera.
"Your father did not die in an accident."
Charlotte froze.
Her father had died when she was six.
Everyone had called it a car accident.
Eleanor continued.
"He was killed because he discovered what the board was doing."
Charlotte covered her mouth.
Richard stood behind her.
His face was unreadable.
Eleanor's voice continued.
"Richard Ashford knows more than anyone."
Richard stepped backward.
Charlotte turned.
He was gone.
She jumped up.
"Where is he?"
Daniel looked toward the door.
"I don't know."
Then the video changed.
Eleanor lowered her voice.
"And there is someone else you must never trust."
Charlotte stared at the screen.
Eleanor said the name.
"Daniel Mercer."
Charlotte slowly turned toward the lawyer.
Daniel went pale.
"But..."
The archive door slammed shut.
The lock engaged.
Charlotte rushed toward it.
Daniel tried the handle.
It wouldn't move.
Then smoke began pouring through the ventilation system.
Charlotte coughed.
Daniel pounded the door.
"Help!"
The smoke thickened.
Charlotte grabbed the emergency phone.
Dead.
Then a speaker crackled above them.
Richard's voice came through.
"You should have stayed gone."
Charlotte stared into the camera.
Richard continued.
"Now everyone dies with the secret."
The ventilation system hissed.
Charlotte grabbed Daniel.
"Move!"
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And somewhere inside the locked archive...
a second door slowly opened.
