CEO Ordered a Single Dad’s Locker Opened in Front of Everyone—Then One Discovery Changed Everything
Chapter 6
Elena stopped the recording.
“No.”
David looked at her.
“We need to hear the rest.”
“No.”
She stood.
“My father trusted Marcus.”
“He did.”
“Marcus was involved.”
“Yes.”
“He can’t have been working for someone else.”
David remained calm.
“The recording says otherwise.”
Elena looked at the red box.
“Who else knew about Project Haven?”
David opened the documents.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Richard Whitmore.
Elena’s uncle.
Her father’s younger brother.
He had served on the company’s board for more than twenty years.
He was also the man who had raised Elena’s younger cousins after her father’s death.
“He’s family,” Elena whispered.
David nodded.
“That doesn’t make him innocent.”
Elena sat down.
Her memories came flooding back.
Richard had been at the hospital when her father died.
He had handled the funeral arrangements.
He had encouraged her to trust Marcus.
He had advised her not to investigate the company’s old records.
And he had been the one who convinced her to sell several properties inherited from her father.
Elena looked at David.
“Those properties.”
“What?”
“They were transferred to a development company.”
“Northbridge?”
She nodded.
David opened the records.
The company that purchased the properties was owned by a shell corporation.
That shell corporation was owned by another.
And the final beneficiary was—
Richard Whitmore.
Elena covered her mouth.
“He took my father’s property.”
David nodded.
“And probably a lot more.”
She stared at the papers.
“Why would my father trust him?”
“He may not have.”
They played the rest of the recording.
Robert’s voice returned.
“Richard knows about the money.”
The tape crackled.
“He believes I am hiding the evidence in the company archives.”
A pause.
“He is wrong.”
David leaned closer.
“The real evidence is protected by two people.”
Elena looked at him.
Robert continued.
“One is my daughter.”
The recording paused.
“The other is Daniel Reed’s son.”
David’s eyes widened.
“Our fathers planned this.”
“Yes.”
“They knew they might die.”
“Yes.”
“And they chose us?”
“They did.”
The tape ended.
Elena sat in silence.
Then her phone rang.
Richard.
She answered.
“Uncle?”
His voice was gentle.
“Elena, I heard about the incident at the office.”
“I’m fine.”
“I was worried.”
“Were you?”
A pause.
“What does that mean?”
“Did you know about Project Haven?”
Silence.
Then Richard sighed.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Elena’s heart sank.
“You do know.”
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
“Not over the phone.”
“Why?”
“Because your office isn’t safe.”
Elena looked at David.
Richard continued.
“Come to my house tonight.”
She ended the call.
David shook his head.
“Don’t go.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
Elena looked at him.
“He’s my uncle.”
“And someone has already tried to scare you.”
“I need answers.”
David stared at her.
“Then we go together.”
