CEO Made Her Nephew Lead Mechanic Over a Single Dad—Then the Whole Crew Walked Out
Chapter 11
Nathan knocked three times.
Mason opened the door.
“What happened?”
Nathan entered quickly.
“Ronan knows.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Knows what?”
“Everything.”
“What does everything mean?”
Nathan placed the briefcase on the table.
Inside were documents.
Hundreds of them.
Contracts.
Bank transfers.
Insurance reports.
Recorded calls.
And one photograph of Claire’s father meeting Ronan.
Claire stared.
“My father.”
Nathan nodded.
“He made a deal.”
“What deal?”
“To protect you.”
Claire looked confused.
“He gave Ronan control of several service centers.”
“Why?”
“In exchange for time.”
“Time for what?”
“To build a case.”
Nathan opened another folder.
The evidence showed that Ronan had been using shell companies to manipulate the automotive parts market.
He wasn’t trying to buy Bennett Automotive because he wanted the company.
He wanted its supplier network.
He wanted to create a monopoly.
Her father had discovered it.
Then tried to stop him.
“Why did you bury the brake report?”
Nathan lowered his head.
“I was scared.”
“You nearly let my father die.”
“I know.”
“You helped my father.”
“I also failed him.”
Claire stared.
Then she saw another document.
A final agreement.
It had her father’s signature.
At the bottom:
Transfer control to Claire Bennett upon discovery of evidence.
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“He knew I’d find it.”
“He hoped you would.”
She looked at Mason.
He stood quietly.
Her father had trusted him.
And she had pushed him away.
“I owe you an apology,” she said.
Mason shook his head.
“You’ve given me one.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“I humiliated you.”
He didn’t answer.
“I chose Tyler because he was family.”
He looked at her.
“That wasn’t the part that hurt.”
“What was?”
“You stopped believing I was honest.”
Claire swallowed.
“You were.”
“Yes.”
“And I wasn’t.”
Mason smiled faintly.
“You were trying to protect your family.”
“I was wrong.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
The honesty made her almost laugh.
“You could lie once in a while.”
“I don’t see the point.”
She smiled.
Neither moved.
Then Nathan interrupted.
“Ronan is coming.”
Mason turned.
“How long?”
“Less than an hour.”
“Why?”
“He wants the briefcase.”
Claire closed it.
“He’s not getting it.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Then we need to move.”
“No.”
Mason looked at Claire.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking I have a company board meeting tomorrow.”
“And?”
“I’m going to put the entire truth on the table.”
Mason nodded.
“Good.”
“They’ll try to stop me.”
“They probably will.”
“Then we’ll need proof.”
Nathan opened a final file.
Inside was a recorded conversation.
Ronan.
Nathan.
Claire’s father.
Ronan’s voice was unmistakable.
If Bennett doesn’t sell, I’ll make his company unsafe.
Then another voice.
Claire’s father.
You’ll never get it.
Ronan laughed.
Then I’ll make his daughter watch it collapse.
Claire stopped the recording.
Her hands were shaking.
Ronan had been planning this for years.
And now he had one final target.
Her.
Mason stepped beside her.
“We end it tomorrow.”
She looked at him.
“Together?”
He nodded.
“Together.”
Emma walked into the room.
She looked at the adults.
“Are you fighting bad guys?”
Mason smiled.
“Something like that.”
Emma pointed at Claire.
“She should stay here.”
Claire looked at the little girl.
“Why?”
“Because Daddy smiles when you’re here.”
Mason groaned.
Claire laughed.
Nathan smiled for the first time.
Even in the middle of the crisis, the house felt like something Mason had not experienced in years.
Family.
But outside, a black SUV had stopped at the end of the street.
Ronan had found them.
And he was no longer waiting.
