Single Dad Was Dared to Dance With the Cold CEO — Then She Whispered Something Unforgettable
Chapter 5
They spent the next two days reading Laura’s notebook.
Most of it seemed ordinary.
Names.
Dates.
Meeting locations.
Short comments.
But Laura had created a pattern.
She wasn’t recording financial amounts.
She was recording relationships.
Who reported to whom.
Who approved what.
Who suddenly changed departments.
Who resigned without explanation.
Victoria understood the system.
“She wasn’t looking for stolen money.”
Daniel looked up.
“What was she looking for?”
“Who controlled the people moving it.”
At the back of the notebook was a list of six names.
Five were former executives.
One was still at Sterling Logistics.
Richard Cole.
Daniel stared at the page.
Victoria said nothing.
“She’s been dead three years.”
“I know.”
“Richard is still here.”
“Yes.”
“And you’ve been investigating him.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Because I wasn’t sure.”
“Now?”
Victoria pointed to the last page.
Laura had drawn a circle around one sentence.
The person at the top isn’t the thief. He’s the shield.
Daniel frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Victoria noticed something.
A line underneath.
Blue Room. Thursday. 11:00 p.m.
Daniel looked at her.
“Do you have a Blue Room?”
“Every office building has rooms with stupid names.”
“Does yours?”
She nodded.
“The old headquarters does.”
“Why Thursday?”
“Tonight is Wednesday.”
Daniel stared at the clock.
They looked at each other.
“11:00 p.m. tomorrow,” Victoria said.
They returned to the old headquarters after hours.
The building was mostly empty.
Victoria used her security access to enter the lower floor.
Daniel followed.
The Blue Room was an unused conference room.
Nothing unusual.
A table.
Six chairs.
Dust.
Then Daniel noticed the ceiling panel.
“Look.”
Victoria removed it.
Behind it was a small camera.
Someone had been using the room for secret meetings.
They checked the system.
The recordings were partially corrupted.
But one file remained.
It showed Richard Cole entering the room with another man.
The man’s face was hidden.
Daniel leaned closer.
Then the person turned.
Daniel recognized him.
His stomach dropped.
It was Michael Hayes.
His own younger brother.
Daniel hadn’t spoken to Michael in almost two years.
Michael had disappeared after taking out a large business loan.
“What is he doing here?”
Victoria looked at him.
“Do you know him?”
“That’s my brother.”
The video continued.
Richard handed Michael an envelope.
Michael looked nervous.
Then he said something.
The audio was faint.
Victoria enhanced it.
“I told you I don’t want Daniel involved.”
Daniel stepped back.
“What?”
The video ended.
Silence filled the room.
Victoria looked at him.
“Your brother knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That you were being used.”
Daniel called Michael.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then his phone received a message.
Don’t trust Victoria.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Victoria saw it.
“Who sent that?”
“I don’t know.”
Another message arrived.
She is the reason Laura died.
Daniel’s blood ran cold.
He looked at Victoria.
For the first time, doubt entered his mind.
And Victoria saw it.
She didn’t defend herself.
She simply whispered,
“You’re going to have to decide whether you trust me.”
