Chapter 11: The Attack That Changed Everything
The attack came that night.
Not with lawyers.
Not with investors.
Not with a board vote.
It came through the news.
I was sitting with Lily when my phone began ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Then nonstop.
Richard.
Claire.
The communications department.
Everyone.
I knew something was wrong.
I picked up.
“Richard?””
His voice was urgent.
“Turn on the news.””
I grabbed the remote.
The headline appeared instantly.
*GRAND REGENT FACES MAJOR LAWSUIT OVER SAFETY VIOLATIONS*
I froze.
“What is this?””
“We’re investigating.””
The report continued.
Anonymous sources claimed The Grand Regent had ignored safety concerns for years.
There were documents.
Photos.
Statements.
It looked convincing.
Too convincing.
“Where did they get this?””
Richard was quiet.
“Some of it is real.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
“Some maintenance reports are legitimate.””
I closed my eyes.
Another weakness.
Another failure.
The company had problems.
And now someone was using those problems as weapons.
“This is Marcus.””
“Yes.””
“He wants the public to lose trust.””
Richard agreed.
“He’s trying to destroy the company’s value before making his move.””
I looked at Lily.
She was watching me.
“Daddy?””
I forced a smile.
“Everything is okay.””
But she knew.
Children always know.
Later that night, I sat alone in my office.
The world believed The Grand Regent was failing.
Employees were scared.
Investors were nervous.
And somewhere, Marcus Whitmore was waiting.
Then I noticed something.
A small detail in the report.
A date.
I checked the original documents.
My eyes narrowed.
The leaked information came from before Daniel changed the systems.
Someone had mixed old problems with new accusations.
They weren’t exposing the truth.
They were manipulating it.
I called Claire.
“Find the source.””
“We’re already trying.””
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“Find the person who created the story.””
An hour later, she called back.
“We found something.””
“What?””
“The reporter received information from an anonymous account.””
“Can you trace it?””
“We can.””
Minutes later, she sent me the information.
The account belonged to a private consulting company.
A company connected to Marcus Whitmore.
I smiled slightly.
Not because I was happy.
Because now he had made a mistake.
He wanted war.
Now he had given me proof.
The next morning, I called a press conference.
Everyone told me not to.
My advisors warned me.
“Don’t appear defensive.””
“Don’t give them more attention.””
But I knew something.
Silence allows lies to grow.
I stood in front of cameras outside The Grand Regent headquarters.
Reporters shouted questions.
“Mr. Vance, is the company in trouble?””
“Did management hide safety issues?””
“Is your nephew involved?””
I waited.
Then I spoke.
“Yes.””
The crowd became silent.
“Yes, we have problems.””
That surprised them.
“But the difference between us and others is that we will not hide them.””
I explained the failures.
The mistakes.
The changes being made.
Then I revealed the evidence connecting the false reports to outside interference.
The room erupted.
By admitting our flaws, we took away their weapon.
Because honesty is stronger than perfection.
After the press conference, Richard smiled.
“That was risky.””
“Yes.””
“It worked.””
I looked outside.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“It started.””
Because I knew Marcus.
He would not stop.
That evening, I received a message.
Unknown number.
One sentence.
*You should have accepted my offer fifteen years ago.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*Now I’ll take everything you refused to give me.*
I deleted nothing.
I saved everything.
Because this wasn’t just a threat.
May you like
It was evidence.
And I was about to use it.
