Chapter 13 - The Last Partner
Owen traced the photograph to a private security contractor.
The payments came from one of Vanessa’s shell companies.
But Vanessa was in custody.
So someone else still had access.
Damian’s CFO, Richard Cole, volunteered to help.
He had worked beside Damian for eleven years.
Trusted completely.
Almost family.
That was why Elena noticed him.
At a meeting the next morning, Richard looked at the photograph.
“Professional lens.”
“Probably taken from across the street.”
Elena watched his fingers.
There was black ink on his thumb.
The exact kind used by the old-fashioned fountain pen that had written on the photograph.
Maybe coincidence.
Then Richard said something worse.
“Whoever did this knows Mia’s bedroom faces west.”
Elena stared at him.
Nobody had mentioned which bedroom was Mia’s.
Damian saw her expression.
“What?”
Elena looked at Richard.
“How did you know?”
His face barely changed.
“Know what?”
“That Mia’s room faces west.”
Silence.
Richard smiled.
“I assumed.”
“No.”
Elena stood.
“You didn’t.”
Richard reached inside his jacket.
Owen moved first.
But Richard wasn’t reaching for a weapon.
He pulled out a flash drive.
“You’re smarter than Vanessa said.”
Damian’s voice became cold.
“You.”
Richard laughed.
“Me.”
For years, Richard had fed Charles internal financial information.
Vanessa had been recruited later.
The marriage was meant to put someone inside Damian’s personal life while Richard controlled the company side.
Charles was the architect.
Richard was the insurance policy.
“And the greenhouse?”
Damian asked.
Richard shrugged.
“Charles panicked.”
“The driver?”
Richard’s smile vanished.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Owen stepped forward.
Richard raised the flash drive.
“This contains copies of every illegal authorization tied to your name.”
“Destroy me and they go public.”
Damian studied him.
“You think I care?”
“You should.”
“Shareholders will run.”
“The company could collapse.”
Hundreds of employees.
Factories.
Pensions.
Families.
Richard knew exactly where to press.
Damian looked at Elena.
She understood.
Vanessa had mocked Mia because she believed money determined human value.
Charles believed control did.
Richard believed fear did.
Damian reached for the drive.
Then stopped.
“Release it.”
Richard blinked.
“What?”
“Send everything.”
“You’ll lose billions.”
“Maybe.”
“Your board will remove you.”
“Maybe.”
Richard stared.
Damian stepped closer.
“But you will never own me by threatening what I’m afraid to lose.”
Richard’s confidence cracked.
Police entered from the adjacent room.
Owen had been recording everything.
Richard was arrested.
Cross Industrial stock fell seventeen percent the next morning.
Three board members resigned.
News outlets called Damian reckless.
Investors demanded his removal.
May you like
And at noon, the board scheduled the vote that could end his career.
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