Chapter4
1270 Words
Chapter 4 The Unveiling Begins
Daniel stared at the email on his screen, he looked it again. He became dumbfounded. Hid eyes blinked rapidly.
“Could it be Peterson shaking hands with Victor.? He asked but to nobody
His stomach churned, anger and disbelief mixed up in him in equal measure.
Claire walked in. “Mr. Carter, Chris wants an update.”
Daniel closed the email. “Tell him to meet me in the conference room. Now.”
Minutes later, Chris was seated across from Daniel, a tablet in hand.
Daniel slid his laptop toward him. “This just came in. Anonymous. Take a look.”
Chris examined the photo. His expression changed. “Peterson and Steele. This complicates things.”
Daniel’s voice was calm and cold. “Is it real?”
Chris nodded. “Looks legitimate. I’ll verify, but it’s a solid lead.”
“Then focus on him,” Daniel ordered. “I want everything—calls, emails, transactions. If he’s the mole, I need proof.”
Chris shook his head and took a second look at the images. “You sure about this? If we push too hard and he’s innocent…”
Daniel interrupted. “Do it. I can’t afford to wait.”
Chris stood. “Alright. But tread carefully. If Peterson senses we’re onto him, he could cover his tracks—or worse.”
As Chris left, Daniel sat back, his thoughts racing. Peterson had been his right hand for years. Could he really be working with Victor?
The intercom buzzed. “Mr. Carter, Peterson wants to see you.”
Daniel hesitated. “Send him in.”
Peterson walked in, his usual calm disposition. intact. “Daniel, I’ve been reviewing the merger progress. We need to finalize some numbers before the board meeting.”
Daniel studied him, searching for any hint of deception. “Sit.”
Peterson raised an eyebrow but obeyed. “Something wrong?”
“Tell me about Steele,” Daniel said bluntly.
Peterson looked surprised. “What about him?”
“He’s been circling this merger like a vulture,” Daniel said. “You’ve worked with him before. Anything I should know?”
Peterson frowned. “Steele’s a snake, but you already know that. Why bring this up now?”
Daniel’s voice was steady. “Because he’s making moves. And I need to be sure no one on my team is helping him.”
Peterson’s eyes narrowed. “Are you accusing me of something?”
“I’m asking questions,” Daniel said evenly.
Peterson leaned back. “If you think I’m involved, just say it. But I’ve been loyal to you for years, Daniel. I’ve built this company with you.”
Daniel didn’t flinch. “Loyalty is proven, not claimed.”
Peterson stood abruptly. “If you’re doubting me, maybe I should step back until you figure out who your friends are.”
“Sit down,” Daniel ordered, his tone icy. “This isn’t over.”
Peterson hesitated, then stormed out.
Claire appeared in the doorway. “Should I follow him?”
Daniel shook his head. “No. Let Chris handle it.”
The tension in the room was suffocating. Daniel stood up unconsciously, took few steps to no direction in particular.
His phone buzzed, jolting him from his thoughts. He looked at the screen. It was Amelia.
He answered immediately. “Amelia.”
Her voice was calm but urgent. “Daniel, can we meet now? There are loose ends we need to tie up about this merger.”
Daniel took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. “What kind of loose ends?”
“Not over the phone,” she said firmly. “This is serious. You must come alone.”
“Alone?” Daniel asked, worriedly.
“Yes. No assistants, no bodyguards,” she insisted. “I suggest we meet at our usual place.”
Daniel’s pulse quickened. Their “usual place” was a quiet café near the Hudson, where they had shared countless private conversations during their marriage. The thought unsettled him.
“Amelia, what’s this about?” he pressed.
“There are new developments,” she said. “Victor might not be working alone. I can’t explain everything until we meet. Trust me on this.”
He hesitated, her words gnawing at his already frayed nerves. Finally, he relented. “Alright. Give me thirty minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting,” she said before the line went dead.
Daniel grabbed his coat, his mind racing. Amelia’s urgency was unlike her. It meant something significant had surfaced, something she didn’t trust to discuss over the phone.
The café was quiet, the midday crowd sparse. Daniel spotted Amelia seated in a secluded corner. She looked poised, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of tension.
He approached quickly, pulling out a chair across from her. “What’s going on?”
She leaned forward, her voice low. “I’ve been looking into Victor’s activities. He’s not just targeting the merger. He’s digging into your company’s old contracts.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“He’s searching for leverage,” she said. “Something he can use to derail the merger or discredit you.”
“That’s not news, Amelia,” Daniel said. “Victor’s always looking for dirt.”
She shook her head. “This is different. He’s focusing on a deal from five years ago—your acquisition of Western Tech.”
Daniel froze. Western Tech had been a sensitive acquisition, one that had pushed ethical boundaries in its early stages.
“Why Western Tech?” he asked, his voice sharp.
“I’m not sure yet,” Amelia admitted. “But he’s contacted people who were involved in the deal. Some of them might be talking.”
Daniel clenched his fists. “And you’re telling me this now?”
“I only just found out,” she said defensively. “One of my team members flagged unusual activity in Victor’s accounts. He’s making payments to people connected to Western Tech.”
Daniel leaned back, processing her words. If Victor was digging into Western Tech, he wasn’t just playing games—he was preparing for war.
Amelia continued, her tone serious. “There’s more. I have reason to believe someone inside your company is feeding him this information.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened. “Peterson.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure?”
“No,” Daniel admitted. “But he’s acting suspicious. And now this…”
Amelia nodded. “It fits. If Peterson’s the leak, Victor would have a direct line to everything—old deals, merger plans, all of it.”
Daniel’s mind raced. “Chris Meyers is already investigating. If Peterson’s involved, we’ll find out soon.”
“You need to be careful,” Amelia warned. “Victor doesn’t play fair, and if Peterson’s working with him, it’s only a matter of time before they strike.”
Daniel looked her in the eye. “What aren’t you telling me, Amelia?”
She hesitated, then leaned closer. “Victor approached someone on my team. He tried to bribe them for insider details on the merger.”
“Did they take it?”
“No,” she said firmly. “But it means he’s desperate. And desperate men are dangerous.”
Daniel exhaled, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “This merger is turning into a battlefield.”
“It’s more than that,” Amelia said softly. “Victor wants to destroy you, Daniel. He won’t stop until he does.”
Daniel nodded, his resolve hardening. “Then we hit him first.”
- Writer
