Chapter 12 - The Basement
They returned to the headquarters after midnight.
The building was almost empty.
Security recognized Emily.
Not because of her status.
Because the court order had changed everything.
She was no longer simply Daniel's wife.
She was a protected party.
Mark carried the authorization.
Eleanor walked beside them.
They reached the basement.
The elevator stopped below the registered lowest floor.
Emily looked at the display.
“There isn't supposed to be another level.”
Eleanor smiled.
“There is.”
The doors opened.
A corridor stretched ahead.
At the end stood an old steel door.
Eleanor removed a key from her coat.
Emily stared.
“You had that all these years?”
“Yes.”
The door opened.
Inside was a small archive room.
Boxes covered every wall.
One box sat alone on a table.
Emily's name was written across it.
She opened it.
Inside was a recording.
Her father's voice filled the room.
Emily immediately recognized it.
“If you're hearing this, then Daniel has broken the agreement.”
Emily closed her eyes.
Her father's voice continued.
“I hoped you would never need this.”
He explained that the company had been protected through a series of trusts.
But he had deliberately left one final condition.
If Daniel ever attempted to remove Emily from the company, the controlling interest would transfer.
Not to Emily.
Not to Daniel.
To the person her father had chosen as the ultimate safeguard.
Emily looked at Eleanor.
“Who?”
Eleanor shook her head.
“I don't know.”
The recording continued.
“The name will only be revealed when the court confirms the breach.”
Mark whispered,
“That means the court hearing.”
Emily nodded.
Her father's voice continued.
“Until then, protect the account.”
The recording stopped.
Silence.
Then footsteps echoed outside.
Eleanor looked toward the door.
Someone was coming.
Mark turned off the lights.
The footsteps stopped.
A voice spoke from the corridor.
“Emily.”
Daniel.
Emily stepped toward the door.
Mark grabbed her arm.
“Don't.”
Daniel continued.
“I know you're in there.”
Emily said nothing.
“I know about Eleanor.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Daniel's voice became softer.
“Emily, please.”
She almost answered.
Then Daniel said something that changed everything.
“You don't know what your father did.”
Emily stared at the door.
“What did he do?”
Daniel answered.
“He didn't build this company for you.”
A pause.
“He built it because he was afraid of someone else.”
Emily looked at Eleanor.
Eleanor's expression had changed.
Daniel continued.
“Ask your aunt why she disappeared.”
Emily whispered,
“Why?”
Daniel replied,
“Because she wasn't protecting you.”
The lights suddenly came on.
Daniel was gone.
But the door was unlocked.
On the floor outside was an envelope.
Emily picked it up.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed her father.
Eleanor.
And another person.
A young man Emily had never seen.
May you like
On the back were four words.
THE REAL HEIR IS ALIVE.
