Chapter 6 - Isabella Wonders
618 Words
Isabella didn’t believe rumors.
She verified them.
That was one of the reasons Jacob trusted her.
One of the reasons she had earned her place beside him.
And one of the reasons she refused to ignore what she had heard that morning.
Ashley Ashe Jones.
The name repeated itself in her mind as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the finance department.
The Ashe family.
It couldn’t be true.
If Ashley really belonged to that family, Jacob would have known.
Wouldn’t he?
The elevator doors opened.
The finance floor looked different today.
Too quiet.
Too careful.
People were whispering again.
And once more—
they stopped when they saw her.
Isabella walked directly toward the glass office at the end of the hallway.
Mr. Chen, the company’s senior financial controller, looked surprised when she entered.
“Miss Rivera,” he said politely. “Is everything alright?”
“I need to review the investor agreement from five years ago,” Isabella replied calmly.
Mr. Chen hesitated.
“That agreement isn’t part of your department.”
“I know,” Isabella said. “It’s part of the company’s survival history.”
Mr. Chen didn’t respond immediately.
Which meant something was wrong.
“Is there a problem?” Isabella asked.
Mr. Chen adjusted his glasses slightly.
“That agreement requires executive authorization.”
“I have executive authorization,” Isabella replied.
Mr. Chen looked uncomfortable.
“From Mr. Jones?”
“Yes.”
That wasn’t entirely true.
But she knew Jacob wouldn’t object.
At least—
he wouldn’t have objected yesterday.
Mr. Chen studied her for a moment longer.
Then he opened a locked drawer.
Inside was a thin file.
Too thin for something that had saved the company.
He placed it carefully on the desk between them.
“This is all we’re authorized to share,” he said quietly.
Isabella opened it.
The first page confirmed what she already knew.
Emergency investment approval.
Five years ago.
Same week the company nearly collapsed.
Same week Jacob thought everything was over.
She turned the page.
Then she stopped.
Investor authorization:
Ashley Ashe Jones
Isabella stared at the name.
Not Ashley Jones.
Ashley Ashe Jones.
The middle name wasn’t a middle name.
It was a family name.
A legacy name.
A business empire name.
“This can’t be correct,” Isabella said quietly.
Mr. Chen didn’t answer.
Instead, he slid another document toward her.
Board confirmation signature.
David Ashe.
Isabella’s stomach tightened.
The Ashe family hadn’t just invested in Jones Holdings.
They had saved it.
She closed the file slowly.
“Why didn’t anyone tell Mr. Jones?” she asked.
Mr. Chen looked surprised.
“You mean he doesn’t know?”
Isabella didn’t answer.
Because suddenly—
she wasn’t sure what Jacob actually knew anymore.
Mr. Chen lowered his voice slightly.
“The Ashe family never publicizes their investments,” he said carefully.
“They prefer influence without attention.”
Influence without attention.
Isabella understood what that meant.
Ashley hadn’t married into Jacob’s company.
She had been protecting it.
Supporting it.
Possibly controlling it.
The entire time.
“Does anyone else know about this?” Isabella asked.
Mr. Chen hesitated.
“The board does.”
Of course, they did.
Which meant something else had already changed inside the company.
Something bigger than rumors.
Something official.
Isabella stood quickly.
“Thank you,” she said.
But her voice sounded different now. Sharper.
More controlled.
Because for the first time since the charity gala.
She realized something dangerous.
Ashley hadn’t just lost her marriage last night.
She had lost her patience.
And if Ashley Ashe Jones decided to step forward now.
Everything inside Jones Holdings would change.
Including Jacob’s future.
- Writer
