Chapter 9: The Friend Who Knew Everything
My father had always told me the most dangerous enemies were not strangers.
They were people who knew your weaknesses.
People who knew where you kept your secrets.
People who knew exactly where to hurt you.
And now we knew someone close to him was involved.
The question was:
Who?
For the first time in my life, I saw uncertainty on my father's face.
Not fear.
But disappointment.
Because betrayal from an enemy was expected.
Betrayal from a friend was something else.
"Who knows about the expansion project?"" I asked.
My father walked toward the window.
"Very few people.""
"Names?""
He thought carefully.
"Emily.""
She immediately looked at me.
"But she would never.""
"I know.""
My father continued.
"My legal team.""
"Your board members.""
He paused.
"And Michael.""
I frowned.
"Who is Michael?""
My father turned around.
"The man who helped me build this company.""
I had never heard that name.
"Your partner?""
"Yes.""
The answer surprised me.
My father had never mentioned him.
"Why?""
His expression changed.
"Because Michael left the company five years ago.""
"What happened?""
My father was quiet.
Then:
"He disagreed with my decisions.""
"What decisions?""
"Charity investments.""
I didn't understand.
My father explained.
"Michael believed the company existed to maximize profit.""
"And you didn't?""
"I believed it existed to create opportunities.""
Two completely different beliefs.
"Did you fight?""
My father nodded.
"But we remained friends.""
That sentence felt strange.
Especially now.
Emily checked something on her computer.
"Mr. Bennett.""
Everyone turned.
"What?""
She looked pale.
"I found something.""
She connected her laptop to the screen.
A list of recent security access.
One name appeared.
Michael Hayes.
My father's face changed.
"No.""
Emily looked at him.
"Sir...""
"No.""
He stepped closer.
"Michael wouldn't.""
I watched my father.
And I understood.
This hurt more than Vanessa.
More than Richard.
Because Michael was not someone who wanted money.
He was someone who knew my father.
Someone who knew his dreams.
Someone who knew everything.
The office door suddenly opened.
A security guard rushed in.
"Mr. Bennett.""
"What happened?""
"We found someone accessing the private archive.""
My father immediately stood.
"Who?""
The guard hesitated.
Then:
"Michael Hayes.""
The room went silent.
"Where is he now?""
The guard looked nervous.
"He left five minutes ago.""
My father grabbed his coat.
"Get the security footage.""
We moved quickly.
The archive room was on the lower floor.
When we arrived, the security team was already reviewing footage.
The screen showed Michael entering.
Older.
Gray hair.
Calm.
He walked directly toward the private files.
Not searching.
Not guessing.
He knew exactly where to go.
Because he had helped create the system.
Then he stopped.
He looked directly at the camera.
Almost like he knew we would watch later.
And then he smiled.
My blood ran cold.
Because that wasn't the smile of someone caught.
That was the smile of someone who wanted us to find him.
The footage ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then my father quietly said:
"He wanted me to know.""
"Know what?""
My father looked at the frozen image of his old friend.
"That this was never about hiding.""
He paused.
"It was about sending a message.""
Emily looked concerned.
"What message?""
My father stared at the screen.
Then his phone rang.
Everyone looked at it.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke for several seconds.
Then my father's expression changed.
"Where are you?""
Silence.
"What do you mean you have my son?""
My entire body went cold.
Everyone in the room froze.
My father lowered the phone slowly.
"Who was it?""
He looked at me.
For the first time in my life...
I saw fear in my father's eyes.
"Michael.""
The room went silent.
"What did he say?""
My father swallowed.
"He said if I want to see the truth...""
He looked toward the door.
"...I need to come alone.""
I felt my heart stop.
Because suddenly, the battle wasn't about money anymore.
It was about family.
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And someone had just threatened the one thing my father valued more than anything.
Me. :::
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