A LOVE TO REMEMBER

Chapter Five: A Desperate Mission

… Victor led me to a quiet room in the warehouse far from prying ears

I sat in the dimly lit room, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Victor Russo had been sitting across from me for what felt like hours, though it had only been a few minutes. My mind was racing, desperate for answers, but dreading what I might hear. I had come here hoping to find something—anything—that could help clear my father’s name after he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for crimes he didn’t commit.

Victor finally spoke, his voice low and calculated. “Tessa, your father’s downfall wasn’t just bad luck or coincidence. He was deliberately targeted.”

My heart pounded in my chest. “Who did this to him?”

He leaned in, his eyes narrowing. “It was Mr. Carter, Joe’s uncle.”

I froze. “Mr. Carter? But… he’s been helping me! He gave me leads and contacts to try and clear my father’s name.”

Victor scoffed, shaking his head. “He played you, Tessa. He knew you’d trust him because of your relationship with Joe. That’s exactly why he’s so dangerous. He’s been working behind the scenes to cover his tracks while making sure you’re chasing ghosts.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Mr. Carter, the man who had always been a trusted family friend and now Joe’s uncle, was the one behind everything?

“But why?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Why would he do this?”

“Power,” Victor said simply. “And control. Your father’s success was a threat to his own ambitions. By eliminating your father, he could gain influence over the entire business landscape that your father had a hand in. Thompson Holdings and the affiliates have a lot riding on the success of their science ventures, including sustainable energy projects. With your father out of the way, Mr. Carter stands to benefit the most.”

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. The betrayal was overwhelming. “How do I prove it?”

Victor leaned back, his gaze intense. “You’re going to need solid evidence, something that ties him directly to the setup. But he’s careful. You’ll have to get close to him, earn his trust even more than you already have, and find out where he’s hidden his dirty secrets.”

“But how can I do that?” I asked, feeling helpless. “He already knows me.”

Victor’s expression hardened. “You’ll need to go undercover. Get close to him in a way that he won’t suspect.”

***

That night, I called my younger brother, Timmy, over video chat. He was still in college, and I hated dragging him into this, but I needed his help. His face appeared on the screen, looking concerned.

“Tessa, what’s going on? You look stressed.”

“I am, Timmy,” I admitted, taking a deep breath. “I found out something terrible today. It’s about Dad… and Mr. Carter.”

Timmy frowned. “Joe’s uncle? What about him?”

I explained everything Victor Russo had told me. Timmy’s expression shifted from concern to anger as I spoke.

“So, Mr. Carter is the one who set Dad up?” Timmy said, disbelief and fury in his voice. “That lying—”

“I know,” I interrupted, trying to stay calm for both our sakes. “But if we’re going to clear Dad’s name, I need to get close to Mr. Carter and find the evidence that ties him to the setup.”

“How are you going to do that?” Timmy asked, his voice filled with worry. “You can’t just walk into his office and start snooping around.”

“I know,” I said, biting my lip. “I’m going to have to go undercover. Mr. Carter doesn’t know you, Timmy. But with your help, I can create a disguise and infiltrate his company as someone else. I need you to help me become someone new—someone Mr. Carter won’t recognize.”

Timmy’s eyes widened. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”

“I have to be,” I replied, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me. “It’s the only way to get the evidence we need. If I can get close to him as a new employee, I might be able to find something that can clear Dad’s name.”

Timmy nodded, determination in his eyes. “Okay. We’ll make this work. We’ll start with changing your appearance—hair, clothes, everything. We’ll come up with a backstory that Mr. Carter won’t question.”

“Exactly,” I said, relieved that Timmy was on board. “I’ll need a new name, too. Something that sounds trustworthy but not too suspicious.”

Timmy thought for a moment. “How about Thomas Lawson? It’s close enough to our last name that you won’t slip up, but different enough that he won’t connect it to you.”

“Thomas Lawson,” I repeated, testing it out. “I like it. And if I get a job in his department, I can start looking for anything that ties him to the setup.”

“Just be careful, Tessa,” Timmy said, his voice filled with concern. “If Mr. Carter is as dangerous as Victor says, you can’t take any chances.”

“I know,” I replied, trying to sound braver than I felt. “But we don’t have a choice. We have to do this for Dad.”

***

The next few days were a blur of preparations. Timmy guided me through transforming my appearance. We cut my hair short, dyed it a darker color, and I practiced speaking in a lower, more confident tone. We even worked on my mannerisms, making sure I could pass as “Thomas” without arousing suspicion.

“You look pretty convincing,” Timmy said during one of our video calls. “But remember, it’s all about confidence. If you believe it, others will too.”

“Got it,” I said, adjusting my new clothes. “Thanks for helping me with this, Timmy. I couldn’t do it without you.”

“Just be careful,” he said, his voice filled with concern. “And keep me updated.”

“I will,” I promised.

Finally, the day came. I walked into Thompson Holdings, where Mr. Carter worked, my heart pounding. With my new identity as Thomas Lawson, I had secured an interview for a position in Mr. Carter’s department. This was my chance to get close and find the evidence I needed to clear Dad’s name.

I took a deep breath and approached the receptionist. “Hi, I’m Thomas Lawson. I’m here for an interview.”

The receptionist smiled and directed me to Mr. Carter’s office. As I walked in, I saw him sitting at his desk, looking up with a welcoming smile.

“Thomas, right? Please, have a seat,” he said.

“Thank you, Mr. Carter,” I said, sitting down and hoping my disguise would hold up.

The interview went smoothly, and by the end of it, Mr. Carter was impressed.

“Welcome to the team, Thomas,” he said, shaking my hand. “We’re glad to have you.”

“Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down,” I replied, my mind racing with the possibilities ahead.

As I left the office, I felt a mix of fear and determination. This was my chance to uncover the truth and clear my father’s name. And with Timmy’s help, I knew I could do it.