Chapter 7
1516 Words
Elena stared at the forged signature for several seconds.
Her name was unmistakably printed at the bottom of the document.
Elena Sinclair.
Below it was a date from two weeks earlier.
A date when she hadn't even been involved in the Madison Heights project.
She looked at Grace.
“Who had access to this?”
Grace shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Find out.”
“I already asked the records department. The document was uploaded through the executive system.”
“Can they tell who uploaded it?”
“They're checking.”
Elena placed the document on her desk.
“Good.”
Grace hesitated.
“There is something else.”
Elena looked up.
“What?”
“Someone is waiting for you in the boardroom.”
“Who?”
Grace's expression was uncertain.
“He didn't give me his name.”
Elena frowned.
“Then how did he get past security?”
“He was already here when I arrived.”
Elena's instincts immediately sharpened.
“Take me there.”
They walked toward the boardroom.
The corridor was unusually quiet.
As they approached the double doors, Elena noticed two security officers standing nearby.
She stopped.
“Who is inside?”
One of the officers answered.
“Mr. Sinclair authorized him.”
“Alexander?”
“Yes.”
Elena pushed open the door.
A man stood near the windows with his back to her.
He was tall, dressed in a dark suit, with silver beginning to show at his temples.
He turned.
Elena recognized him immediately.
“Mr. Mercer.”
Charles Mercer smiled.
“Miss Sinclair.”
She didn't return the smile.
“Why are you here?”
Charles walked toward the table.
“I thought we'd introduce ourselves properly.”
“We already know each other.”
“Socially.”
He gestured toward the chairs.
“I wanted to speak to you privately.”
Elena remained standing.
“I prefer knowing why someone wants to speak to me before I sit down.”
Charles chuckled.
“You're more cautious than your reputation suggested.”
“And you're more comfortable inside my company's boardroom than I expected.”
His smile widened.
“Fair enough.”
Charles Mercer was fifty years old and one of the most successful businessmen in the country.
Mercer Global had competed with the Black Empire for years.
He was charming, polished, and known for making aggressive corporate moves without appearing aggressive.
Elena didn't trust him.
Not even slightly.
“What do you want?”
Charles placed a folder on the table.
“Madison Heights.”
Elena's expression hardened.
“What about it?”
“I'm interested in acquiring a portion of the development.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“You didn't even look at the offer.”
“I don't need to.”
“Why?”
“Because if you wanted to help the Black Empire, you wouldn't be offering to buy part of one of our largest projects.”
Charles studied her.
“You've been here less than forty-eight hours.”
“I've been here long enough.”
He laughed quietly.
“I like you.”
“That makes one of us.”
Charles's smile didn't disappear.
“You're direct.”
“I don't have time for games.”
“Then let's be direct.”
He opened the folder.
“Your company has financial problems surrounding Madison Heights.”
Elena's gaze dropped to the papers.
“Temporary.”
“Perhaps.”
He slid another document toward her.
“And there are concerns about the project's management.”
Elena looked at him.
“Where did you get this information?”
Charles didn't answer.
She picked up the document.
It contained internal financial projections.
Confidential projections.
Her expression changed.
“This is Black Empire property.”
“Information travels.”
“You stole it.”
“I acquired it.”
“From whom?”
Charles smiled.
“You'll have to figure that out.”
Elena dropped the paper onto the table.
“Get out.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“You're dismissing me?”
“Yes.”
“Without considering my offer?”
“Yes.”
Charles studied her for a long moment.
Then he closed the folder.
“You remind me of your grandfather.”
Elena said nothing.
“He was just as stubborn when he was young.”
“I'm not my grandfather.”
“No.”
Charles looked at her carefully.
“You're not.”
He walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped.
“Be careful, Elena.”
She frowned.
“About what?”
“Not everyone who smiles at you in this building wants you to succeed.”
He walked out.
Elena remained still.
The warning bothered her.
Not because it was unexpected.
Because it sounded sincere.
She turned toward the windows.
The Black Empire had been her family's greatest source of power for generations.
Now she was beginning to understand that power came with enemies.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Grace.
We found something.
Elena immediately called her.
“What did you find?”
“The document with your forged signature.”
“What about it?”
“It was uploaded from an executive terminal.”
“Whose?”
Grace hesitated.
“Victor Sinclair's.”
Elena's stomach dropped.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Elena ended the call.
She stared at the boardroom door.
Victor.
Her own family.
She didn't want to believe it.
But the evidence was there.
Elena left the boardroom and headed straight toward Victor's office.
She knocked once before entering.
Victor looked up from his desk.
“Elena.”
She closed the door behind her.
“We need to talk.”
He leaned back.
“About?”
She placed the document on his desk.
“This.”
Victor looked down.
For the first time, his expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“So it is yours.”
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't have to.”
Victor picked up the document.
“This isn't what you think.”
“Then explain it.”
He stood.
“Elena, listen to me.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“Someone forged my signature.”
“I know.”
“Someone uploaded the document through your terminal.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“You think I did it?”
“I think the evidence points to you.”
He shook his head.
“You're making a mistake.”
“Then help me understand.”
Victor looked toward the door.
Then back at her.
“I didn't forge your signature.”
Elena waited.
“But someone used my computer.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
Victor's expression hardened.
“You don't have to believe me.”
He placed the document back on the desk.
“But if you accuse me without proof, you'll make yourself look exactly like what everyone already thinks you are.”
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“And what's that?”
“An inexperienced heiress desperately trying to find someone to blame.”
The words hit harder than she expected.
Victor continued.
“You're being tested, Elena. Everyone knows it.”
He stepped closer.
“And the worst thing you can do is start seeing enemies everywhere.”
Elena held his gaze.
“Maybe.”
She picked up the document.
“But I'm going to find out who did this.”
Victor watched her walk toward the door.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“Be careful who you trust.”
She turned.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Then Elena left.
She returned to her office and shut the door.
Grace was waiting.
“Well?”
Elena placed the document on the desk.
“Victor says someone used his computer.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I don't know.”
Grace looked at her.
“What are you going to do?”
Elena stared at the forged signature.
“Find out who accessed his terminal.”
Before Grace could respond, Elena's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
There was silence.
Then a man's voice came through.
“You're asking too many questions.”
Elena's blood ran cold.
“Who is this?”
“Someone who knows how this company works.”
“What do you want?”
“You to stop investigating Madison Heights.”
Elena's grip tightened around the phone.
“Or?”
A quiet laugh came through the line.
“Or your probation will end before it begins.”
The call ended.
Elena slowly lowered the phone.
Grace stared at her.
“What happened?”
Elena looked toward the city beyond her window.
Someone was threatening her.
Someone inside the Black Empire knew what she was investigating.
And whoever it was knew enough about her probation to know exactly where to strike.
For the first time, Elena understood something.
The challenge wasn't simply proving she could become the heiress.
It was surviving long enough to become one.
End of Chapter 7
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