Chapter 6: The Person Who Wanted Everything
The Morales Foundation conference room had never felt so tense.
Naomi sat at the table with the documents spread in front of her.
Richard stood near the window, watching cars move through the city below.
For once, he was not thinking about business.
He was thinking about a child.
A child who had been judged before anyone knew his story.
“Who tried to access the trust?”” Naomi asked.
Richard turned.
“I don’t know.””
“You were involved with the company that controlled these records.””
“Yes.””
“Then find out.””
Her voice was calm.
But firm.
Richard nodded.
“I will.””
Naomi looked at him carefully.
“Why?””
The question surprised him.
“Why what?””
“Why are you helping?””
Richard looked at the broken airplane sitting on the table.
“Because I finally understand something.””
“What?””
“I spent years protecting my reputation.””
He paused.
“But there are some things more important than looking successful.””
Naomi said nothing.
She wanted to believe him.
But trust was not something a person could buy with one apology.
Especially not after what happened to Elijah.
Later that afternoon, Richard contacted his company’s legal department.
He requested every archived document connected to Samuel Carter.
Within hours, a report arrived.
And it revealed something unexpected.
The person who accessed the trust information had used an old Caldwell Industries employee account.
A name appeared on the screen.
*Victor Hale.*
Richard stared.
“No.””
His lawyer looked confused.
“Do you know him?””
Richard nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
Richard looked at the name.
“Someone I thought I could trust.””
Victor Hale had been Richard’s business partner for fifteen years.
He handled company acquisitions, financial decisions, and private negotiations.
He was the person Richard called when problems appeared.
The person who always knew what was happening.
The person who had helped Richard build his empire.
Richard immediately called him.
Victor answered after the first ring.
“Richard.””
His voice sounded relaxed.
“Interesting timing.””
“Where are you?””
A pause.
“Why?””
“Because I need to ask you something.””
Victor laughed.
“That usually means trouble.””
Richard looked at the report.
“Did you access Samuel Carter’s trust records?””
Silence.
Only for a second.
But Richard noticed.
“Yes or no?””
Victor sighed.
“Where did you get that information?””
“That is not an answer.””
Victor’s tone changed.
“Richard, be careful.””
Richard frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means you are suddenly asking questions about things you ignored for years.””
Richard gripped the phone.
“You knew.””
Another silence.
“You knew about Samuel.””
Victor did not deny it.
“I knew enough.””
Richard felt anger rise.
“Enough to hide it?””
“Enough to protect this company.””
Richard stared out the window.
“No.””
His voice became quiet.
“You protected yourself.””
Victor laughed.
“Don’t pretend you care now.””
The words landed.
Because part of Richard knew there was truth in them.
“You saw Samuel as a problem,” Victor continued.
“You saw him as someone who could threaten everything we built.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“And Elijah?””
Victor said nothing.
That silence answered everything.
Richard ended the call.
Minutes later, he arrived at Naomi’s office.
She immediately noticed his expression.
“What happened?””
Richard placed the report on the table.
“We found the person.””
Naomi read the name.
“Victor Hale?””
Richard nodded.
“Do you know him?””
“No.””
Richard looked troubled.
“He was my partner.””
Naomi understood immediately.
“He knew.””
“Yes.””
“And he tried to take Elijah’s trust?””
Richard nodded.
Naomi stepped away from the table.
“Why?””
Richard looked at the documents.
“Because that trust was connected to the original company shares.””
Naomi froze.
“What shares?””
Richard answered quietly.
“The shares Samuel should have received.””
The room went silent.
“If the trust was activated, Elijah would inherit a portion of the company.””
Naomi stared.
“How much?””
Richard looked at her.
“Enough to change the balance of power.””
Before Naomi could respond, the office door suddenly opened.
Elijah stood there holding his repaired wooden airplane.
“I made it better.””
Both adults turned.
He smiled.
“I fixed the wing.””
Naomi immediately walked toward him.
“Elijah…”
But he looked at Richard.
“Mr. Caldwell?””
Richard knelt.
“Yes?””
“Are you still sad about the airplane?””
Richard looked at the boy.
A child who had every reason to hate him.
But didn’t.
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
Elijah smiled.
“Good.””
He held up the airplane.
“Because my mom says broken things can still become something special.””
Richard looked at the repaired toy.
Then at the documents about Samuel.
And he realized something.
The airplane was not the only thing someone had tried to break.
A family legacy had been damaged too.
And somewhere outside that office, Victor Hale was preparing his next move.
Because a message appeared on Richard’s phone.
May you like
From Victor.
*“You should have left the past buried. Now I’ll make sure everyone knows what you really did.””*
