Chapter 3: The Name Behind The Offer
The first thing Jayden discovered was that secrets had paperwork.
People could lie.
Documents usually didn’t.
After school, Jayden and Mia went to the public library.
It was the oldest building in Harbor Bay, with dusty shelves and computers that seemed older than they were.
Mia typed quickly.
“Search company records.””
Jayden watched.
“You know how to do this?””
“My mom works with legal documents.””
She shrugged.
“I grew up around boring information.””
Jayden almost smiled.
Almost.
They searched everything connected to Harbor Bay waterfront development.
Several company names appeared.
Most were unfamiliar.
Then one caught their attention.
North Shore Development Group.
Mia clicked.
A list of employees appeared.
Jayden leaned closer.
And there she was.
Caroline Harper.
Former negotiation specialist.
Former employee.
Jayden stared.
“She lied.””
Mia shook her head.
“Not exactly.””
“What do you mean?””
“She never said she didn’t work there.””
“But she hid it.””
Mia nodded.
“That’s worse.””
They continued searching.
Then they found something else.
A meeting record.
Six months ago.
North Shore Development Group had met with several local property owners.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Owen Cole.
Jayden’s stomach tightened.
His father wasn’t just one person they wanted to convince.
He was the last person refusing.
Mia looked at him.
“Your family is the final obstacle.””
Jayden hated that word.
Obstacle.
As if his family wasn’t made of people.
As if their memories didn’t matter.
As if a building and a business could be erased because someone richer wanted it.
A sound came from behind them.
A chair moving.
Both turned.
A man stood near the computer section.
Middle-aged.
Dark jacket.
Watching them.
Jayden recognized him.
Not personally.
But from somewhere.
The company website.
North Shore executives.
Mia whispered.
“That’s him.””
“Who?””
“Daniel Voss.””
Jayden looked at the man.
The CEO of North Shore Development Group.
Why was he here?
Daniel smiled slightly.
Not warmly.
Like someone who already knew the ending of a story.
“You two should be careful with what you dig into.””
Jayden stood.
“You know my family.””
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
“I know everyone in this town.””
“That’s not an answer.””
The man stepped closer.
“Your father is stubborn.””
Jayden’s fists tightened.
“Leave him alone.””
Daniel looked almost amused.
“You sound like him.””
Then his expression became serious.
“Stubborn people often lose the most.””
Mia grabbed Jayden’s arm.
“Let’s go.””
They walked away.
But Jayden stopped at the exit.
He turned back.
“Did you tell Mrs. Harper to hurt me?””
For the first time, Daniel’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Jayden saw it.
A reaction.
A confirmation.
Daniel didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
Outside the library, rain began falling.
Mia looked at Jayden.
“What now?””
Jayden stared toward the harbor.
Toward the place his family had spent decades building.
Then he looked at the video on his phone.
The ruler.
The insult.
The whisper.
Everything connected.
“This isn’t about a teacher anymore.””
Mia waited.
Jayden’s voice became quiet.
“It’s about taking something from my family.””
The rain grew heavier.
Neither of them noticed.
May you like
Because somewhere inside Harbor Bay, powerful people were already making their next move.
And they had no idea the fourteen-year-old boy they underestimated had just started fighting back.
