Single Dad Applied to Be the CEO’s Assistant — Then She Read His Resume
Chapter 5
Ethan and Amelia went to the private server room.
The breach had been precise.
Only Atlas files were affected.
Nothing else.
Someone had not stolen the data.
They had copied it.
Then erased the originals.
Amelia asked:
“Can we trace it?”
“Maybe.”
Ethan examined the logs.
The attacker had used an internal credential.
He looked at the access records.
The credential belonged to Martin Cole.
Amelia’s face hardened.
“It’s him.”
“Not necessarily.”
“How can you still defend him?”
“I don’t.”
“Then why hesitate?”
“Because the access pattern is wrong.”
She waited.
“The credential was used from inside the company.”
“Yes.”
“But the person wasn’t.”
“What?”
Ethan pointed to the timestamp.
“The credential was used while Martin was in the boardroom.”
Security footage confirmed it.
Martin had not left.
Someone was using his identity.
Amelia stared.
“So someone can duplicate credentials.”
“Yes.”
“Then anyone could be the attacker.”
“Yes.”
They continued.
Ethan found a hidden connection.
The system had copied the data to a private server.
He traced it.
The server belonged to a shell company.
The company was registered to…
Sterling Family Trust.
Amelia froze.
“My family?”
“Yes.”
“Who controls it?”
She checked.
Her grandmother.
Margaret Sterling.
Amelia called her immediately.
No answer.
She tried again.
Nothing.
“What does this mean?”
Ethan looked at the documents.
“Your family may have known about Atlas.”
“My father?”
“Maybe.”
“Then why hide it from me?”
“I don’t know.”
Amelia sat down.
Her father had been dead for six years.
She had spent those years trying to understand him.
Was he protecting her?
Or hiding something from her?
Ethan understood the feeling.
His own father had hidden things.
He said:
“Sometimes parents leave secrets because they think they’re protecting their children.”
Amelia looked at him.
“Do you believe that?”
“I used to.”
“And now?”
“I’m not sure.”
The private server suddenly sent an alert.
A file appeared.
OPEN ME.
Amelia clicked.
A video opened.
Her father appeared.
Older.
Tired.
Alive.
The recording had been made shortly before his death.
“Amelia.”
She stopped breathing.
“If you’re watching this, then something has gone wrong.”
Richard Sterling continued.
“I created Atlas because I believed speed could save lives.”
“Then people began changing it.”
“I tried to stop them.”
He looked toward the camera.
“But I couldn’t trust the board.”
Amelia’s eyes filled with tears.
“Someone inside the company was selling access.”
Her father gave a name.
“Martin Cole.”
Amelia froze.
Ethan watched her.
But the video continued.
“However, Martin is not the person you should fear.”
Richard paused.
“You should fear the person who controls the trust.”
The recording ended.
Amelia stared at the screen.
“My grandmother.”
Ethan said nothing.
Her phone rang.
This time, Margaret answered.
“Amelia.”
“Grandmother.”
A pause.
“I know.”
“Know what?”
“That you found the recording.”
“Why did you hide it?”
“Because your father wanted you protected.”
“From whom?”
Margaret’s voice was quiet.
“From your own family.”
Amelia froze.
“What does that mean?”
Margaret replied:
“Come home.”
The call ended.
Amelia looked at Ethan.
“I’m going.”
He nodded.
“I’m coming.”
She frowned.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because someone just told you your family is dangerous.”
He looked at her.
“I’m not letting you walk into that alone.”
