Chapter 8 - 2009
Oscar hated the year 2009.
He had buried it so deeply that even remembering the number made his stomach tighten.
But now he had no choice.
He began telling Jared what he remembered.
The company was struggling.
Richard Vale had offered to invest.
Oscar had refused.
Then someone began buying his debts.
Every time Oscar solved one problem, another appeared.
His suppliers demanded payment.
His clients canceled contracts.
His bank changed its terms.
He believed it was bad luck.
Then Margaret discovered the truth.
Someone was deliberately destroying the company.
Oscar admitted he had confronted Richard.
Richard denied everything.
Then one night, Oscar received an offer.
Sell the company.
Walk away.
Keep his family safe.
Oscar accepted.
But Margaret didn't.
She believed selling would not end anything.
She was right.
A week later, she died.
Jared sat silently.
"You knew."
Oscar shook his head.
"I suspected."
"You never told me."
"I wanted you to have a life."
Jared's voice cracked.
"You let me believe she died in an accident."
"I thought the lie would protect you."
Jared looked at him.
"Did it?"
Oscar couldn't answer.
Lauren stepped closer.
"There's something else."
Oscar turned.
Lauren held up the ledger.
"The company wasn't sold."
Oscar frowned.
"What?"
"The documents show that the sale was never completed."
Jared stared.
"Then what happened?"
Lauren pointed to the final page.
"The company was transferred."
"To whom?"
The name had been covered with black ink.
Someone had deliberately erased it.
Beverly examined the page.
"This wasn't done recently."
Jared asked, "Can you recover it?"
"Maybe."
She carefully examined the paper.
Then she noticed something.
"The ink is only on top."
"What does that mean?"
"The original writing might still be underneath."
Jared leaned closer.
Beverly placed the page beneath a specialized scanner.
A faint outline began appearing.
Letters slowly emerged.
Everyone watched.
The name became visible.
Jared's face went pale.
The company had been transferred to an entity registered under the name:
Margaret Blake.
Oscar whispered, "That's impossible."
May you like
Jared looked at Lauren.
His mother had apparently owned the company after her death.
