She Was Just a Beautiful Food Vendor… Until a Rich Businessman Set His Eyes on Her—And This Happened
Chapter 4
Alexander’s investigation uncovered a chain of transactions that had been buried beneath layers of corporate paperwork.
The building had been purchased by Reed Properties.
But the purchase had been arranged through a shell company.
That company had received funding from another company.
And that company was connected to Victor Hale.
Alexander stared at the documents in his office.
Victor.
His former partner.
The man he had trusted for twenty years.
Daniel stood beside him.
“You think Victor forced her father out?”
“I think he wanted the building.”
“Why?”
Alexander pointed toward the map.
The property sat directly beside what was now one of the city’s most valuable restaurant districts.
At the time, nobody had cared.
Victor had.
“He knew this neighborhood would become valuable.”
Daniel frowned.
“Then why didn’t he just buy the building?”
“Because Thomas Bennett refused to sell.”
“So he manufactured the eviction.”
Alexander nodded.
“Possibly.”
“That’s a serious accusation.”
“I know.”
Meanwhile, Maya continued running her food cart.
She refused to let the investigation consume her life.
But something had changed.
Alexander began helping her.
Not financially.
At least not directly.
He would stop by in the mornings.
Sometimes they talked for ten minutes.
Sometimes an hour.
They learned about each other.
Maya discovered that Alexander hated coffee.
He preferred tea.
He couldn’t cook anything beyond scrambled eggs.
He had never learned how to use public transportation.
And despite his wealth, he hated expensive restaurants.
“I like food that tastes like somebody actually made it,” he told her.
She laughed.
“You sound like my father.”
“Maybe he was right.”
Maya smiled.
One rainy evening, Alexander arrived at the cart without an umbrella.
“You’ll get sick.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re standing in the rain.”
“I’ve survived worse.”
Maya handed him a towel.
“You are a strange man.”
“I’ve been told.”
He smiled.
Then he looked at her.
“Maya.”
“Yes?”
“If I prove that my company was responsible for what happened to your father…”
She waited.
“What will you do?”
“I don’t know.”
“You deserve the truth.”
“I know.”
Alexander looked away.
“I owe you that.”
Maya studied him.
“You didn’t do it.”
“No.”
“But you’re trying to fix it.”
“I’m trying.”
She smiled faintly.
“That’s something.”
They stood quietly beneath the awning.
Rain hit the pavement.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Alexander reached toward her hand.
He stopped before touching it.
Maya noticed.
She didn’t move away.
But neither of them said anything.
The next morning, everything changed.
Alexander received a call from his legal department.
They had found the missing inspection file.
And inside it was a handwritten note.
Only seven words.
Victor ordered the building to be cleared.
Alexander stared at the note.
Then he looked at the date.
It had been written the day before Thomas Bennett was evicted.
Someone had known exactly what was happening.
Someone inside Reed Properties.
And the handwriting belonged to a man Alexander had trusted for years.
