Chapter 4: The Enemy Sitting Beside Me
The photograph remained open on my phone.
I stared at the signature until my eyes started to blur.
I knew that name.
I had seen it on thousands of documents.
Board reports.
Investment agreements.
Annual reviews.
The person I trusted with the future of Bennett Group.
The person who had stood beside me when my father died.
The person who had held my shoulder and told me, “We’ll get through this together.””
Marcus Vale.
My father’s most trusted executive.
My mentor.
My second-in-command.
And according to Daniel’s warning…
The traitor who had always been close.
A cold silence settled over me.
The boutique was still full of people, but I felt completely alone.
“Ms. Bennett?””
Thomas’s voice sounded distant.
I looked up slowly.
The manager was watching me carefully.
“Are you alright?””
I locked my phone.
“Yes.””
It was a lie.
But it was the only answer I could give.
Because the truth was too dangerous to say out loud.
Marcus Vale had spent twelve years earning my trust.
He had helped me rebuild after losing my father.
He had been the person everyone expected me to rely on.
If he was involved…
Then this wasn’t just a business betrayal.
It was personal.
Victoria was still standing nearby.
She noticed the change in my expression.
“You found something.””
I looked at her.
“You seem very interested in what’s on my phone.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“I’m interested because whatever you think you found involves my family.””
“Does it?””
She hesitated.
Only for a second.
But I noticed.
“You know more than you’re admitting.””
Victoria looked away.
“I don’t know anything.””
“Then why are you afraid?””
Her jaw tightened.
“I’m not.””
“Your hands are shaking.””
She immediately looked down.
The moment she realized I was right, anger replaced fear.
“You think you know everything about people.””
“No.””
I put my phone away.
“I think people reveal themselves when they believe they’re in control.””
The words bothered her.
I could tell.
Because she had spent her whole life believing she understood everyone around her.
Until now.
She walked closer.
“You should leave this alone.””
There it was.
Not arrogance.
Not insult.
A warning.
“Why?””
Victoria looked around before lowering her voice.
“Because some things are buried for a reason.””
I studied her face.
“Are you protecting your father?””
Her expression hardened.
“No.””
“Then who?””
She didn’t answer.
That silence told me more than words could.
Before I could push further, my phone rang.
The name on the screen made everyone else disappear again.
Marcus Vale.
For a moment, I simply stared.
Victoria noticed.
“Who is it?””
I didn’t answer.
The phone continued ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Finally, I answered.
“Marcus.””
His familiar voice came through immediately.
“Evelyn.””
He sounded calm.
Too calm.
“I heard about what happened at the boutique.””
Of course he had.
News traveled quickly when powerful people were involved.
“How?””
A brief pause.
“People talk.””
I walked toward the glass entrance, away from the crowd.
“Did they?””
“Yes.””
His voice remained steady.
“Are you alright?””
I looked at my reflection in the glass.
For twelve years, this man had been one of the few people I trusted.
“Why wouldn’t I be?””
“Because someone tried to embarrass you publicly.””
A strange feeling moved through me.
Was he concerned?
Or was he checking what I knew?
“I handled it.””
“I know.””
Another pause.
“You cancelled the Ashford deal.””
My grip tightened.
“You heard quickly.””
“Evelyn, you know how this works.””
“No.””
My voice became colder.
“I know how information moves inside my company.””
Silence.
Only for a second.
But enough.
Marcus noticed my tone.
“What are you implying?””
I looked back at Victoria.
Then at the security guards.
Then at Thomas.
Everyone had a reason to hide something.
“I’m not implying anything.””
“Good.””
His voice softened.
“Because right now, emotions are high. You’ve had a difficult day.””
A difficult day.
That was how he described discovering a possible murder?
I almost laughed.
“Marcus.””
“Yes?””
“Did my father ever tell you about a hidden file?””
The silence on the other end was immediate.
Not long.
Not dramatic.
Just enough.
But enough.
My heart sank.
“Why did you pause?””
“I didn’t.””
“You did.””
He exhaled.
“Evelyn, your father kept many things private.””
“That wasn’t my question.””
Another pause.
Then his voice changed.
Slightly.
“You need to be careful what you’re looking for.””
The exact same warning.
From Daniel.
From Victoria.
Everyone was telling me to stop.
Which meant I was getting closer.
“Why?””
“Because not every secret gives you the answers you want.””
I stared outside at the passing cars.
“Maybe I deserve the truth.””
Marcus became quiet.
Then:
“You’re more like your father than you realize.””
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?””
But he didn’t answer.
Instead, he said:
“I’ll send someone to pick you up.””
“No.””
“Evelyn—”
“I said no.””
The firmness in my voice surprised even me.
For years, Marcus had been the person who guided decisions.
But something had changed.
I no longer knew if he was guiding me…
Or controlling me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said.
Then I ended the call.
When I turned around, Victoria was watching me.
“You don’t trust him.””
It wasn’t a question.
I looked at her.
“Should I?””
She didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
An hour later, I stood inside my father’s old office.
The building had changed many times since his death.
New floors.
New furniture.
New employees.
But this room remained untouched.
Everyone called it a tribute.
A memorial.
I called it unfinished business.
The lights were dim.
Dust covered the old bookshelf in the corner.
The same bookshelf Daniel had mentioned.
I ran my fingers along the wooden frame.
Nothing.
No obvious mechanism.
No hidden compartment.
Just old books.
My father’s favorite novels.
Business journals.
A collection of handwritten notes.
I pulled out the books one by one.
Nothing.
“Come on, Dad.””
My voice echoed through the empty room.
“You were always too clever for your own good.””
I checked the shelf again.
Then I noticed something.
One book was slightly different.
Not newer.
Not older.
Just placed incorrectly.
I pulled it out.
Behind it was a small metal button.
My heartbeat increased.
I pressed it.
A soft click came from inside the wall.
The bookshelf moved.
Slowly.
A narrow space appeared behind it.
Inside was a small black box.
No label.
No lock.
Just my father’s handwriting on the top.
Three words.
*For Evelyn Only.*
My hands trembled.
I opened it.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
A small recorder.
And one envelope.
My name was written across the front.
I picked it up carefully.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
I opened it.
There was only one sentence.
*Don’t open the envelope unless you’re ready to discover who your father was protecting.*
I froze.
Because beneath the message was a photograph.
A photograph taken moments earlier.
Of me standing in my father’s office.
Holding the box.
Someone had been watching me.
Someone was inside the building.
I slowly turned toward the door.
The handle moved.
Someone was opening it.
And then a voice spoke from the darkness.
“Evelyn…”
My blood turned cold.
Because I knew that voice.
It belonged to the last person I expected to see.
Marcus Vale.
May you like
And he was standing there with a look on his face I had never seen before.
Fear.
