Billionaire CEO Tested a Delivery Girl—What He Found Changed Everything
Chapter 4
Margaret Carter had worked for Alexander’s grandfather from 1981 to 1994.
She wasn’t an engineer.
She was a financial clerk.
But her file contained something unusual.
She had filed an internal complaint against a senior executive.
The complaint alleged that company funds had been diverted through false construction contracts.
The investigation had gone nowhere.
Margaret resigned.
The executive remained.
Alexander’s stomach tightened.
The executive’s name was Robert Harrington.
His own uncle.
Robert was dead now.
But his son, Richard Harrington, currently sat on the company’s board.
Alexander immediately called Marcus.
“Who was responsible for investigating Margaret’s complaint?”
Marcus searched.
“Your grandfather.”
“And?”
“He closed the investigation.”
Alexander froze.
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“There isn’t a reason in the file.”
Alexander leaned back.
For the first time, he wondered whether his grandfather had been hiding something.
That afternoon, Emily delivered another order.
Alexander was waiting.
“You knew my grandfather?”
She looked surprised.
“No.”
“Your grandmother did.”
Emily stiffened.
“How do you know?”
“I checked company records.”
Her expression hardened.
“You investigated me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because someone is stealing from my company.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“And you thought the delivery girl was the thief?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I thought you might help me.”
She stared at him.
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know you have an engineering degree.”
“That’s not enough.”
“I know you quit a good job.”
Emily looked away.
“That’s none of your business.”
“You’re right.”
He paused.
“But I also know your grandmother filed a complaint against my uncle.”
Emily’s expression changed.
“What complaint?”
Alexander realized she didn’t know.
He showed her the document.
Emily read it.
Her hands began to shake.
“My grandmother never talked about this.”
“Maybe she didn’t want you involved.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Emily sat down.
Alexander waited.
After several minutes, she spoke.
“My grandmother always told me one thing.”
“What?”
“Never trust a powerful man who tells you he’s protecting you.”
Alexander felt the words land.
“Did she say why?”
“No.”
Emily folded the document.
“My grandmother died two years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“She left me a box.”
Alexander looked at her.
“What kind of box?”
“Old documents.”
“Do you still have them?”
Emily hesitated.
“Why?”
“Because your grandmother may have left something connected to the company.”
Emily stood.
“I’ll bring them tomorrow.”
She left.
Alexander watched her go.
He didn’t know whether the box contained answers.
But he knew one thing.
Margaret Carter had spent decades keeping a secret.
And now that secret had somehow led Emily straight into his company.
The next morning, Emily arrived carrying a worn cardboard box.
They opened it together.
Inside were photographs.
Letters.
Receipts.
Old company badges.
And a small cassette tape.
Alexander stared.
“That’s old.”
Emily nodded.
“My grandmother recorded everything.”
They found an old tape player in the archives.
Emily pressed play.
A woman’s voice filled the room.
Margaret.
“If you’re hearing this, I probably didn’t live long enough to explain.”
Emily covered her mouth.
The recording continued.
“I discovered that money was being stolen from Harrington Global. But the theft was bigger than I realized.”
Alexander leaned forward.
Margaret’s voice became quieter.
“Your grandfather knew.”
Alexander froze.
“He knew his brother was involved. But he couldn’t expose him without destroying the company.”
The recording crackled.
“So he created a hidden account.”
Alexander looked at Emily.
“What account?”
Margaret answered from the tape.
“The Harrington Foundation Reserve.”
Alexander’s eyes widened.
He knew the foundation.
Everyone did.
But he had never known about a reserve.
Then Margaret said something that made both of them go silent.
“One day, someone will try to steal that money.”
The recording stopped.
Emily looked at Alexander.
“How much money?”
Alexander didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
The reserve was worth nearly four hundred million dollars.
