THE SECRET SHE WITNESSED

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE HIDDEN ROOM

Amelia arrived at Vale Arts Group the next morning with Daniel's painting carefully wrapped inside her bag.

She had barely slept.

The note hidden behind the frame kept returning to her mind.

Trust no one at Vale Arts Group.

Especially Adrian.

She hated how much those words bothered her.

Not because she trusted Adrian completely.

She didn't.

But because some part of her had begun to believe there was something good behind the guarded man she had met.

And now she wasn't sure whether that belief was foolish.

The receptionist smiled when Amelia approached.

"Good morning, Mrs. Carter."

"Good morning."

"Mr. Vale is expecting you."

Amelia nodded.

She followed an assistant toward Adrian's office.

As she walked through the enormous building, she noticed something unusual.

Employees seemed nervous.

Two women whispered near the gallery.

A man quickly closed a file when she passed.

Something was happening.

And everyone seemed to know about it except her.

The assistant opened the office door.

"Mr. Vale."

Adrian looked up.

His expression softened when he saw Amelia.

"You're early."

"I wanted to speak with you."

He noticed the bag in her hand.

"What did you bring?"

"Nothing important."

Adrian studied her.

She looked away.

"That's not true."

Amelia frowned.

"You seem to know when I'm lying."

"You're not very good at it."

She almost smiled.

"Neither are you."

For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

Then Adrian's expression became serious.

"What happened?"

Amelia placed her bag on the chair.

"Someone called me last night."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"What did they say?"

Amelia hesitated.

"They told me not to trust anyone at this company."

Adrian went still.

"Did they mention me?"

She looked directly at him.

"Yes."

His jaw tightened.

"What exactly did they say?"

"They said I shouldn't trust you."

Adrian looked away.

"And do you?"

Amelia didn't answer immediately.

"I don't know."

For some reason, the answer seemed to hurt him.

He nodded slowly.

"That's fair."

She studied him.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

"Yes."

Her heart sank.

"What?"

Adrian walked toward the window.

"There are things about my company that I haven't told you."

"Because you don't trust me?"

"Because I don't want you involved."

"I already am involved."

He turned.

"I know."

"Then tell me."

Adrian remained silent.

Finally, he said, "Daniel believed someone inside my company was stealing confidential information."

Amelia's eyes widened.

"Who?"

"We never found out."

"Did you suspect someone?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

Before Adrian could answer, his assistant entered.

"Sir, we have a problem."

Adrian turned.

"What?"

"The east archive has been accessed again."

Adrian's expression changed.

"Who authorized it?"

"We don't know."

Amelia watched them.

"What is in the east archive?"

Neither man answered.

That silence told her everything.

"There are secrets in there, aren't there?"

Adrian sighed.

"Yes."

"Daniel's secrets?"

"Some of them."

Amelia stepped closer.

"Take me there."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because it's not safe."

Amelia frowned.

"You just said you don't want me involved, but I'm already involved."

Adrian looked at her.

"This isn't a game."

"I know."

His eyes softened.

"Amelia..."

"Please."

She wasn't asking because she wanted danger.

She wanted answers.

Adrian finally nodded.

"All right."

---

The east archive was located on a lower floor.

Unlike the bright galleries above, this part of the building was quiet.

The hallway contained several locked doors.

Adrian stopped before one.

"This room hasn't been used publicly for years."

"Why?"

"Because some of the company's oldest records are stored here."

He entered a security code.

The door opened.

Amelia followed.

Rows of shelves filled the room.

Old contracts.

Photographs.

Business records.

Art catalogs.

Adrian walked toward a cabinet.

"Daniel's records are here."

Amelia's heart beat faster.

He opened a drawer.

The file was missing.

Again.

"Someone took it."

Adrian looked at the empty space.

Amelia noticed something on the floor.

A small piece of paper.

She picked it up.

There was a handwritten number on it.

17.

"What's seventeen?"

Adrian looked at it.

"I don't know."

Amelia frowned.

"You've never seen this?"

"No."

She looked around.

Then she noticed a painting hanging at the end of the room.

It was old.

Dust covered the frame.

But something about it caught her attention.

She walked closer.

Adrian followed.

"What is it?"

"I don't know."

Amelia studied the painting.

It showed a woman standing outside a large building.

Behind her was a young girl holding a sketchbook.

Amelia stared.

The scene looked strangely familiar.

"Why does this feel like I've seen it before?"

Adrian examined the signature.

"Elena Vale."

"Your mother?"

He nodded.

Amelia stepped back.

"She painted this?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"Twenty years ago."

Amelia looked at the girl in the painting.

"Who is she?"

Adrian stared.

"I don't know."

Amelia touched the frame.

Then something clicked.

She remembered the symbol on Daniel's painting.

The silver circle.

It was carved into the bottom corner of this painting too.

She turned toward Adrian.

"That symbol."

He looked.

His expression changed.

"Where did you see it?"

"On Daniel's painting."

Adrian became completely still.

"You have his painting?"

Amelia realized her mistake.

She hadn't meant to reveal it.

Adrian's voice softened.

"Amelia."

She looked away.

"Someone left it with me."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

He stepped closer.

"What did they tell you?"

"Nothing."

"You're lying again."

She looked at him.

"I don't know who to trust."

Adrian nodded.

"Then trust your instincts."

The words surprised her.

"You aren't going to take it from me?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because if someone wanted you to have it, there's a reason."

He looked at the old painting.

"And I think we're finally beginning to understand what that reason is."

---

That afternoon, Nadia and Maggie sat together in the school art room.

Their teacher had placed their drawings on a table.

"Both of you have remarkable talent."

Maggie smiled.

"Thank you."

Nadia looked at her friend.

"We practice together."

The teacher nodded.

"There is an art foundation offering scholarships to young artists."

Nadia's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Maggie looked at Nadia.

"We should apply."

Nadia smiled.

"Definitely."

Neither girl knew that the foundation belonged to Vale Arts Group.

---

That evening, Amelia returned home.

Nadia ran toward her.

"Mummy!"

Amelia hugged her.

"How was school?"

"Wonderful."

Maggie followed behind her.

"We have exciting news."

Amelia smiled.

"What happened?"

Nadia held up a form.

"There is an art scholarship."

Amelia read it.

Her eyes stopped at the logo.

VALE ARTS FOUNDATION.

Her heart tightened.

"What?"

Nadia smiled.

"Mr. Vale's company is sponsoring it."

Amelia stared at the form.

The same company connected to Daniel.

The same company she had dreamed of working for.

The same company now appearing in every part of her life.

"Mummy?"

Amelia forced a smile.

"It's a wonderful opportunity."

Nadia hugged her.

"I knew you'd say yes."

Amelia looked at Maggie.

"And you're applying too?"

Maggie nodded.

"Of course."

Amelia smiled.

"Then I'll help both of you."

---

Later that night, Amelia sat alone.

She opened Daniel's painting.

She carefully removed the frame.

This time, she searched every corner.

Nothing.

Then she remembered the number.

17.

She turned the painting over.

Behind it was a tiny mark.

17.

Her heart began racing.

She carefully pressed the mark.

A small compartment opened.

Inside was a folded piece of paper.

Amelia unfolded it.

Her breath caught.

There was a list of names.

Five names.

The first four were unfamiliar.

The fifth wasn't.

ADRIAN VALE.

Amelia stared at the name.

Then she noticed something written beneath it.

HE DIDN'T KNOW.

She frowned.

Didn't know what?

Before she could think further, another line appeared.

THE REAL ENEMY IS SOMEONE HE TRUSTS.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Adrian.

Amelia hesitated before answering.

"Hello?"

His voice was quiet.

"Amelia, where are you?"

"At home."

"Lock your doors."

Her heart began beating faster.

"Why?"

"I just discovered something."

"What?"

Adrian took a breath.

"Someone inside my company has been monitoring you."

Amelia stood.

"Who?"

"I don't know yet."

She looked at Daniel's hidden note.

Then Adrian said:

"And Amelia..."

"Yes?"

"Whatever you found, don't tell anyone."

Her eyes widened.

"How do you know I found something?"

There was silence.

Then Adrian answered:

"Because I'm looking at the same message."

Amelia froze.

"What?"

Adrian's voice dropped.

"The person who sent you that note just sent me one too."

"What does it say?"

A pause.

Then:

STOP LOOKING FOR DANIEL'S KILLER, OR AMELIA WILL NEVER KNOW WHO SHE REALLY MARRIED.

The call ended.

Amelia stood motionless.

She looked at Daniel's photograph.

For the first time, she wondered whether the husband she had loved had been hiding a life she knew nothing about.

And somewhere inside Vale Arts Group, someone was watching both her and Adrian.