Chapter 10 - The Betrayal No One Expected“Fiona!”
She dropped the gun.
“I didn't shoot her!”
Security lights flashed on.
Clara was bleeding from the shoulder.
Fiona ran toward her.
I stepped between them.
“Don't move.”
“Blake, please!”
“You had the gun.”
“I found it!”
“Then why were you here?”
Fiona looked at Clara.
“She contacted me.”
I turned toward Clara.
“You knew Fiona?”
Clara nodded weakly.
“She found my records.”
“How?”
“She wasn't working for her father anymore.”
I looked at Fiona.
“You lied to me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Everyone says that.”
Fiona's face crumpled.
“Your father told me to find Clara.”
I stared.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
I looked at Clara.
She didn't deny it.
Then Dad arrived.
He walked into the warehouse surrounded by security.
His eyes found Clara.
For the first time in twelve years, they stood face to face.
Neither spoke.
Then Clara whispered,
“You should have come looking.”
Dad looked devastated.
“I did.”
“You stopped.”
“I was threatened.”
“You were afraid.”
“Yes.”
That single admission changed everything.
Clara explained what had happened.
She hadn't disappeared voluntarily.
She had gone underground after discovering the syndicate had infiltrated Henderson Meridian.
Someone inside the company was feeding them information.
She suspected Arthur Vale.
But there had been another person.
Someone with direct access to my father.
Someone who knew every security protocol.
Someone who could forge his signature.
The room became silent.
“Who?” I asked.
Clara looked at my father.
Then at me.
“Margaret.”
I turned.
Margaret Hale stood frozen.
“No.”
Dad stared at his attorney.
“Is it true?”
Margaret didn't answer.
Security moved toward her.
She suddenly pulled a small device from her coat.
The building's doors slammed shut.
Every light turned red.
“Don't touch me.”
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
“You think this is about George?”
She smiled.
“George is a pawn.”
I felt cold.
“Then who controls you?”
Margaret laughed softly.
“No one controls me.”
She pressed the device.
Every monitor in the room activated.
A live video appeared.
Arthur Vale.
He sat in an unknown room.
Beside him was Fiona's younger brother.
Tied to a chair.
Fiona screamed.
“Ethan!”
Arthur looked into the camera.
“Good evening, Mr. Henderson.”
Dad stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
“Your company.”
Dad laughed.
“You've spent twenty years trying.”
“And tonight you handed me your greatest weakness.”
Arthur looked directly at me.
“Your son.”
The feed ended.
Margaret moved toward the emergency exit.
Security tackled her before she reached it.
But the damage was done.
The entire system had been compromised.
Arthur controlled something.
Something inside Henderson Meridian.
Something capable of destroying the company from within.
I looked at Clara.
“How do we stop him?”
She stared at me.
“You don't.”
“What?”
“You stop the person above him.”
“Who?”
Clara looked at my father.
Then whispered a name I had never heard before.
“Victor Ashford.”
Dad's expression changed.
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“He died twelve years ago.”
Clara shook her head.
“He didn't.”
She looked at me.
“He was at your mother's funeral.”
My stomach dropped.
“Who is Victor Ashford?”
May you like
Clara answered,
“The man who paid Arthur Vale to kill your family.”
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