Chapter 4: The Man In The File
1311 Words
Eliora's POV
Eliora spent the entire night reading about Darwin Vale.
By morning, she had filled several pages with notes.
Darwin Vale, thirty-two years old.
CEO of Vale Holdings.
One of the youngest billionaires in the country.
His company controlled investments in construction, technology, logistics, and real estate.
The articles about him were even more interesting.Ruthless.
Calculating.
Impossible to negotiate with.
A businessman who never lost when there was something worth fighting for.
Eliora closed the laptop.
"Wonderful.
"
She had been married to one complicated man.
Now her new job required her to investigate another.
Her phone rang.
Mira.
"Please tell me you slept.
"
Eliora looked at the clock.
"I did.
"
"How long?"
She hesitated.
"Two hours.
"
"Eliora.
"
"I'm fine.
"
"You sound exhausted.
"
"I have a job now.
"
"Which you apparently got after one interview.
"
"I know.
"
"That's strange.
"Eliora stared at Darwin's photograph on her laptop.
"Very.
"
"What did you find out?"
"His company is huge. His reputation is worse.
"
"Then stay away from him.
"
Eliora laughed.
"That's difficult when my boss wants me to investigate him.
"
There was silence.
"Are you sure about this?"
Eliora looked around the small apartment.
She had spent the previous night thinking about her future.
Going back to Gavin was no longer an option.
She needed her own money.
Her own career.
Her own identity.
"I'm sure.
"
---
Atelier was already busy when Eliora arrived.
She expected Zoe to give her a desk and some introductory documents.
Instead, Zoe was waiting for her in the conference room.
"Sit.
"
Eliora took the chair opposite her.Zoe placed a thick folder on the table.
"Everything you need is inside.
"
Eliora opened it.
"How long has Atelier been competing with Vale Holdings?"
"Twenty years.
"
Eliora looked up.
"Twenty?"
"Longer than you've been alive.
"
That caught her attention.
"What started the rivalry?"
Zoe's expression hardened.
"That's not your concern.
"
"Then why am I investigating him?"
"Because I need to know what he's planning.
"
Eliora studied her.
"You hate him.
"
"I don't hate Darwin.
"
Zoe paused.
"I hate what his family did.
"
Eliora wanted to ask what that meant, but Zoe had already pushed another document toward
her.
"These are his current projects.
"
Eliora scanned them."There's a major development in the eastern district.
"
"Yes.
"
"What's Atelier's interest?"
"We want the contract.
"
Eliora frowned.
"And Darwin?"
"He wants it too.
"
"So you want me to find a weakness.
"
"I want you to find an advantage.
"
Eliora closed the file.
"Understood.
"
Zoe stood.
"You'll meet him tomorrow.
"
Eliora's eyes widened.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes.
"
"Where?"
"Vale Holdings.
"
Eliora's stomach tightened.
She wasn't sure why.
She had spent the entire night looking at Darwin's photograph, yet the thought of meeting him
in person made her nervous.
Zoe walked toward the door."Eliora.
"
"Yes?"
"Whatever you do, don't tell him you're investigating him.
"
Eliora nodded.
"I won't.
"
"And don't underestimate him.
"
"I won't.
"
Zoe stopped at the door.
"Darwin notices everything.
"
Then she left.
Eliora stared at the closed door.
She had a feeling that warning meant more than Zoe was saying.
---
The next afternoon, Eliora stood in front of Vale Holdings.
The building towered above her.
She adjusted her jacket and took a deep breath.
This was just work.
Nothing more.
She walked inside.
The receptionist checked her identification and made a call.
"Mr. Vale is expecting you.
"
Eliora's heartbeat quickened.
She stepped into the elevator.The doors closed.
As the elevator climbed, she tried to calm herself.
Then the doors opened.
A man was standing at the end of the hallway.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit.
He was looking down at his phone.
Then he looked up.
Eliora stopped.
Her breath caught.
It was him.
Darwin Vale.
The man from the photograph.
But seeing him in person was different.
Much different.
His eyes met hers.
And something changed in his expression.
For a fraction of a second, he looked stunned.
Then the emotion disappeared.
Eliora walked toward him.
"Mr. Vale?"His gaze remained fixed on her.
"Yes.
"
"I'm Eliora Gavin. I'm here on behalf of Atelier.
"
His jaw tightened.
"Eliora.
"
The way he said her name made her pause.
"You know me?"
Darwin stared at her for another second.
Then he looked away.
"No.
"
Eliora frowned.
"You just said my name.
"
"I read your file.
"
She wasn't convinced.
He extended his hand.
"Welcome to Vale Holdings.
"
Eliora shook it.
The moment their hands touched, a strange sensation ran through her.
A flash appeared in her mind.
A little boy.
A little girl.
Rain.
Smoke.A hand gripping hers.
Then a voice.
Don't let go.
Eliora pulled her hand back.
Darwin noticed.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes.
"
She forced a smile.
"I'm fine.
"
Darwin studied her face.
He knew that expression.
He had seen it before.
Years ago.
A frightened little girl standing in the rain.
A girl who had looked at him with the same eyes.
He had searched for her for years.
And now she was standing in front of him.
Older.
Different.
But unmistakably her.
The girl who had disappeared from his life had finally found her way back.
Except there was one problem.She didn't remember him.
Darwin turned away before she could see the emotion in his eyes.
"Come with me.
"
Eliora followed him into his office.
The room was large, elegant, and surprisingly quiet.
Darwin gestured toward the chair.
"Sit.
"
She did.
He sat opposite her.
"Why are you here?"
"Atelier sent me.
"
"I know that.
"
His eyes narrowed.
"What do you want?"
Eliora smiled professionally.
"I'm here to discuss the eastern district development.
"
"Only that?"
"Of course.
"
Darwin leaned back.
He knew she was lying.
He also knew Atelier had not sent her merely to discuss a development project.
But he was curious.
Very curious.So he decided to play along.
"Fine.
"
He opened a file.
"Let's discuss business.
"
For the next hour, Eliora asked questions.
Darwin answered some.
Avoided others.
And deliberately gave her information he knew was false.
Eliora took notes.
She didn't notice his small smile.
When the meeting ended, Darwin stood.
"I'll have someone show you out.
"
Eliora gathered her things.
At the door, she turned.
"Mr. Vale.
"
He looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Have we really never met before?"
Darwin's expression froze.
For the first time, Eliora saw something vulnerable behind his cold eyes.
Then it disappeared.
"No.
"He lied.
Eliora nodded slowly.
"Right.
"
She walked out.
The door closed.
Darwin remained standing in silence.
He walked to his desk and opened an old drawer.
Inside was a faded photograph.
Two children stood beside a broken wooden fence.
The girl was smiling.
The boy was holding her hand.
Darwin touched the photograph.
"I finally found you.
"
He looked toward the door Eliora had just walked through.
"But why don't you remember me?"
His phone rang.
Darwin answered.
"Yes?"
His assistant's voice came through.
"Sir, should we give Atelier the information you provided?"
Darwin's eyes darkened.
"No.
"
He looked at the closed door."Give them exactly what I told her.
"
"But sir, that's false information.
"
"I know.
"
He ended the call.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
If Atelier wanted to spy on him, he would let them.
He would give them exactly what they wanted.
Because there was something far more important than discovering why Eliora was there.
He wanted to know who had sent her.
And why the girl from his past had suddenly appeared in his life at the exact moment his family
was under attack again.
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