She Fell in Love With a Worker — Unaware He Was the Millionaire Architect and Owner!
Chapter 9
The fire changed the investigation.
Security footage revealed someone had entered the building using an executive access card.
The card belonged to Richard.
But Richard denied being there.
Daniel suspended him immediately.
The board demanded an explanation.
Alex demanded an emergency vote.
Daniel refused.
“This company is not being taken over by fear.”
The meeting became heated.
One director accused Daniel of hiding information.
Another demanded he step down until the investigation was complete.
Daniel listened.
Then stood.
“You want me out?”
The room went silent.
He placed a folder on the table.
Inside were copies of every fraudulent transaction.
Every shell company.
Every suspicious invoice.
Every transfer linked to Richard.
The board members stared.
“I’ve been investigating for weeks.”
One director spoke.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because someone here was involved.”
Daniel’s eyes moved across the room.
“I didn’t know who.”
Then Emma walked in.
Everyone looked at her.
She held a document.
“I know.”
Daniel turned.
“Emma?”
She placed the document on the table.
“This is the original land purchase agreement.”
A board member frowned.
“What does this prove?”
Emma pointed to the signature.
“The buyer isn’t Richard.”
Daniel looked closer.
The buyer was a private investment fund.
And the fund was controlled by one person.
Alex Sterling.
Daniel looked at Alex.
Alex’s face hardened.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Emma shook her head.
“No.”
She turned to Daniel.
“The land is worth ten times more if the community project fails.”
Daniel understood.
Alex wasn’t stealing because he wanted the company.
He wanted the land.
He planned to destroy the Eastwood project, buy the neighborhood at a discount, and sell it to a luxury developer.
Richard was helping him.
But then who had fired the mystery investor funding the shell companies?
Daniel looked at the final transaction.
The money came from another company.
A firm owned by his father.
Daniel’s father had been dead for five years.
That was impossible.
Or it meant something worse.
Someone had been using his father’s old trust.
Emma noticed his expression.
“What is it?”
“My father’s account.”
“Your father is dead.”
“I know.”
They traced the trust.
The beneficiary was not Alex.
It was Richard.
And the trustee was someone Daniel had trusted for years.
His father’s former lawyer.
Thomas Reed.
Daniel felt sick.
Thomas had handled the family’s legal affairs since Daniel was a child.
He had been at his father’s funeral.
At his mother’s bedside.
At every major company deal.
He had helped Daniel inherit the business.
He had also helped create the trust.
Daniel called him.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then Thomas sent a message.
We need to talk. Alone.
Emma looked at Daniel.
“Don’t go alone.”
“I have to.”
“Why?”
“Because if he knows what I found…”
Daniel stopped.
Emma understood.
“He’s dangerous.”
“Yes.”
She took his hand.
“Then I’m coming.”
Daniel looked at her.
“This isn’t your fight.”
“It became mine.”
He smiled.
“That’s what scares me.”
