Chapter 4: The Chairman's Secret
699 Words
Elena sat quietly inside the elegant café, her fingers wrapped around a warm cup of coffee she hadn't touched.
Across from her sat Theodore Blackwood.
The founder of Blackwood International.
The grandfather of the man who had shattered her heart less than forty-eight hours ago.
Neither of them spoke for several moments.
Finally, Theodore broke the silence.
"I know you're wondering why I asked to meet you."
Elena nodded.
"You've made that very clear."
"I don't understand why the chairman of Blackwood International would want to meet a woman your family just threw away."
The old man sighed deeply.
"They threw you away."
"I never did."
Elena frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Theodore reached into his leather briefcase and carefully placed a thick brown envelope on the table.
"I've been waiting years for the right time to give this to you."
Elena looked at the envelope but made no move to touch it.
"What is it?"
"Open it."
Slowly, she picked it up.
Inside were several official documents bearing the seal of Blackwood International.
Her eyes widened as she scanned the first page.
She stopped breathing.
"This..."
She flipped to the next page.
Then another.
Each document confirmed the same unbelievable truth.
"I don't understand."
Her voice trembled.
"There has to be a mistake."
"There isn't," Theodore replied calmly.
"The shares listed in those papers legally belong to you."
Elena stared at him in disbelief.
"Twenty-five percent of Blackwood International?"
"How is that possible?"
Theodore leaned back in his chair.
"Five years ago, when Adrian was still struggling to keep the company alive, I watched someone work harder than anyone else."
"You."
"You never asked for recognition."
"You never demanded a salary equal to your contribution."
"You simply loved my grandson."
Elena lowered her eyes.
"I wasn't helping because I wanted money."
"I know."
"That's exactly why I trusted you."
The chairman folded his hands.
"My late wife saw the same thing."
"Before she passed away, she changed her will."
"She believed one day this family would need someone with integrity."
"And she chose you."
Tears gathered in Elena's eyes.
"I don't deserve this."
Theodore smiled gently.
"You've already earned it."
Just then, Elena's phone rang.
It was the hospital.
She excused herself and answered immediately.
"Miss Hart," the doctor said, "your brother's condition has become unstable."
"We need to begin surgery as soon as possible."
"If we delay much longer..."
The doctor's voice faded.
Elena's face turned pale.
"I'll be there."
She ended the call with shaking hands.
"My brother..."
"He needs surgery."
"But I don't have the money."
Without hesitation, Theodore slid another document across the table.
"This authorizes an advance from your shareholder account."
"There are enough funds to pay for every medical bill."
Elena looked up sharply.
"You'd do that for me?"
"No."
The old man smiled.
"You'll be doing it for yourself."
"The money is already yours."
For the first time in days...
Hope flickered inside Elena's heart.
Across town, Adrian sat in his office, staring at a quarterly report.
Nothing made sense.
Projects were behind schedule.
Important contracts contained mistakes that should never have passed review.
His assistant knocked on the door.
"Sir..."
"What is it?"
"We've received information that Chairman Theodore met with Miss Elena this afternoon."
Adrian slowly looked up.
"What?"
"The chairman spent nearly two hours with her."
Adrian's expression darkened.
"Find out why."
"I want every detail."
Neither Adrian nor Chloe realized...
The first move in a much larger game had already been made.
As Elena and Theodore left the café together, neither noticed the black SUV parked across the street.
Inside, Chloe Morgan lowered her camera after taking several photographs.
A cold smile spread across her lips.
"So..."
"The old man has chosen Elena."
"This is going to be more troublesome than I expected."
She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"It's time to begin."
The call connected.
A deep voice answered.
"I'm listening."
Chloe smiled.
"Make sure Elena Hart never gets the chance to enjoy what she's just inherited."
The line went silent.
A dangerous plan had begun.
And Elena had no idea that accepting Theodore's help had just painted a target on her back.
- Writer
