CEO Made Her Nephew Lead Mechanic Over a Single Dad—Then the Whole Crew Walked Out
Chapter 9
Ronan Vale entered Bennett Automotive the next morning.
He didn’t ask permission.
He didn’t need to.
His company owned enough of the debt to control the building if the bank called in the loans.
Claire met him in her office.
“You’re not welcome here.”
He smiled.
“That’s never stopped me before.”
“You’ve been financing our competitors.”
“I invest where I see opportunity.”
“You’ve been buying our suppliers.”
“Business.”
“You’re trying to force us into bankruptcy.”
“I’m trying to buy a company.”
Claire crossed her arms.
“You’re not getting it.”
Ronan looked at her.
“Your father said the same thing.”
Claire froze.
“You knew him.”
“Very well.”
“You were behind the accident.”
Ronan smiled.
“That’s a serious accusation.”
“I have evidence.”
“You have an old mechanic’s photographs.”
“Mason is more than a mechanic.”
Ronan’s expression hardened for the first time.
“Yes.”
Claire noticed.
He was afraid.
“Why are you afraid of him?”
“I am not.”
“You should be.”
Ronan leaned closer.
“Your father made a mistake.”
“What?”
“He trusted the wrong people.”
Claire stared.
“You mean Nathan.”
“I mean everyone.”
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Your nephew knows more than he thinks.”
Claire’s stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?”
Ronan smiled.
“Ask him what he was doing the night your father crashed.”
He left.
Claire immediately called Tyler.
He didn’t answer.
She found him at his apartment.
He opened the door.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“Where were you six years ago?”
His face changed.
“What?”
“The night my father crashed.”
Silence.
Tyler looked away.
“I was with my father.”
“Doing what?”
“I don’t remember.”
“You were twenty-two.”
“I said I don’t remember.”
Claire stepped inside.
“Ronan Vale just threatened me.”
Tyler swallowed.
“What did he say?”
“He said you know more than you think.”
Tyler sat down.
Finally, he spoke.
“My father made me drive that night.”
“Drive where?”
“To your father’s warehouse.”
Claire stared.
“Why?”
“He said it was family business.”
“What happened?”
“We met Ronan.”
Her heart pounded.
“You met him?”
“Yes.”
“What did he want?”
“I don’t know.”
“Tyler.”
He looked at her.
“He had a contract.”
“What contract?”
“A purchase agreement.”
“For the company?”
“Yes.”
“Why would my father sign?”
“He refused.”
“What happened?”
Tyler’s face went pale.
“Your father tore it up.”
Claire whispered,
“And then?”
“My father argued with him.”
“What did Ronan do?”
“I left.”
“Why?”
“Because my father told me to.”
Claire stood.
“Did you sabotage Mason?”
Tyler looked at her.
“Yes.”
She froze.
“Why?”
“Because my father told me.”
“Did you alter the vehicle?”
“No.”
“Did you damage the diagnostic equipment?”
“Yes.”
Claire stared.
“Why?”
“I thought if Mason left, no one would uncover the past.”
“You ruined the company.”
“I know.”
“People lost their jobs.”
“I know.”
“Customers lost trust.”
“I know.”
Claire’s voice broke.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Tyler looked down.
“Because he told me if I did, I’d lose everything.”
“Everything?”
“My father’s protection.”
She shook her head.
“Tyler, you already lost yourself.”
He started crying.
For the first time, Claire saw him not as her arrogant nephew.
But as a frightened man who had spent years trying to become worthy of a father who never believed he was enough.
Then Tyler said something that made her blood run cold.
“My father wasn’t working for Ronan.”
Claire stared.
“Then who?”
Tyler looked toward the window.
“He was working for your father.”
