Chapter 6: The Deal That Started Everything
The video loaded slowly.
Every second felt like an hour.
I sat in my office, staring at the screen while Daniel stood behind me.
The footage showed a private room in an old restaurant.
The date was five years earlier.
I recognized the place immediately.
It was the night Michael told me he was leaving the company.
The night he said he wanted a different life.
I watched him sit across from Victoria.
A woman I had trusted.
A brother I loved.
Together.
Planning something.
Victoria spoke first.
“You know he’ll never give you control willingly.””
Michael looked uncomfortable.
“He’s my brother.””
“And that’s why you’re weak.””
I felt my hands tighten.
Even through the old footage, her confidence was obvious.
Michael lowered his voice.
“There has to be another way.””
Victoria leaned forward.
“There is. But you need to stop pretending Richard will choose you over his daughter.””
My chest tightened.
Maya.
The conversation continued.
“We need a reason,” Victoria said.
“Something that makes people question him.””
Michael looked away.
“I won’t hurt Maya.””
Victoria smiled.
“No one said anything about hurting her.””
The video paused.
I stared at the screen.
My mind was racing.
They had been planning something for years.
But why wait until now?
Daniel answered before I asked.
“Because of the trust.””
I looked at him.
“What changed?””
“When Maya turned eight, part of the trust became accessible.””
My stomach dropped.
They weren’t after my company.
They weren’t after my estate.
They were after Maya’s future.
I stood up.
“I’m going to the police.””
Daniel nodded.
“You should.””
“But?””
He looked at the screen.
“You need to understand something.””
“What?””
“Victoria knew about the cameras.””
I frowned.
“That makes no sense. The footage proves everything.””
“Exactly.””
Daniel pointed at the paused image.
“Look at her.””
I looked closer.
Victoria was staring directly toward the camera.
Not accidentally.
She knew.
“She wanted you to find this.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Why?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
My phone suddenly buzzed.
A message.
From Victoria.
I opened it.
*You finally found the old footage.*
My blood ran cold.
Another message appeared.
*Now you understand why your brother was never on your side.*
Then a third.
A photograph.
Maya.
Standing outside the school gate.
Taken that morning.
My entire body froze.
I called the number immediately.
Victoria answered.
Her voice was calm.
Almost cheerful.
“Hello, Richard.””
“Where is my daughter?””
A soft laugh.
“Relax. She’s perfectly safe.””
“You stay away from her.””
“Still giving orders.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What do you want?””
For the first time, Victoria sounded honest.
“I want what was always supposed to be mine.””
“You’re insane.””
“No, Richard.””
A pause.
“I’m patient.””
I heard movement behind her.
Then a man’s voice.
Michael.
“Richard, please listen.””
My heart sank.
“You’re both together?””
Neither answered.
Victoria continued.
“Tomorrow morning, you will sign the documents transferring temporary control of your estate and company.””
“And if I refuse?””
The line went quiet.
Then she whispered:
“Then the world will believe you are the danger.””
The call ended.
I stood there, unable to move.
Because I finally understood the truth.
This was never about tonight.
May you like
Tonight was only the beginning.
And the person I trusted most had helped them build the trap.
