Single Mom Practiced Her Interview in the Elevator — Unaware the Man Was the CEO!
Chapter 10
Andrew had not spoken to Emily since Mark’s funeral.
He had blamed her for Mark’s death.
He had refused to attend Sophie’s birthday.
He had disappeared from their lives.
Now he was sitting across from Daniel Rhodes in a photograph.
Emily couldn’t breathe.
“He told me Mark’s death was my fault.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Did he know about Northstar?”
“I don’t know.”
Noah enlarged the photograph.
Andrew was holding a folder.
Daniel was pointing toward something inside it.
“What is that?”
Emily stared.
A marriage certificate.
No.
A birth certificate.
No.
She couldn’t tell.
Then Ethan zoomed in.
It was an old insurance document.
The beneficiary was Andrew Carter.
But the policyholder was Mark.
“Why would Mark name him?”
Emily shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Then another document appeared.
A payment.
Andrew had received three hundred thousand dollars from Sterling Advisory six months before.
Emily sat down.
“Maybe he was involved.”
Ethan didn’t rush to judgment.
“We need proof.”
That evening, Andrew called Emily.
“Come alone.”
She hesitated.
“Why?”
“I know who killed Mark.”
Her heart stopped.
“Where?”
“Old train station. Eight p.m.”
She told Ethan.
He wanted to send security.
Emily refused.
“If he really knows…”
“We go together.”
Andrew had asked for her alone.
But Ethan stayed nearby.
Emily met Andrew on the platform.
He looked older.
Tired.
“Why are you here?”
“To tell you the truth.”
“About Mark?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
Andrew looked away.
“Mark knew he was being watched.”
“By whom?”
“Daniel.”
Emily’s pulse raced.
“He was threatened.”
“With what?”
“Your daughter.”
Emily froze.
Andrew continued.
“Mark was going to expose Northstar.”
“Then why didn’t he?”
“Because they had a photograph of Sophie leaving school.”
Emily’s hands shook.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because he was trying to keep you alive.”
She closed her eyes.
Andrew looked ashamed.
“I helped them.”
“What?”
“I gave Daniel information.”
Emily stepped backward.
“You betrayed Mark.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“They threatened Sophie.”
“You’re her uncle.”
“I know.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“I thought if I cooperated, they’d leave her alone.”
Emily stared at him.
“Did you kill Mark?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
Andrew looked toward the dark platform.
“Daniel Rhodes.”
A train passed in the distance.
Then Andrew said the name that changed everything.
“Mark wasn’t killed because of the money.”
Emily whispered,
“Then why?”
“Because Mark found the real owner of Northstar.”
“Who?”
Andrew looked directly at her.
“Gerald Sterling.”
Emily’s face went blank.
“Ethan’s father?”
“Yes.”
“But he died.”
Andrew shook his head.
“He didn’t create the operation.”
“Then what did he do?”
“He handed control to someone else.”
“Who?”
Andrew looked terrified.
“Someone Ethan trusts.”
Before he could say the name, a car screeched outside.
Andrew grabbed Emily.
“Run!”
A gunshot shattered the window.
Security rushed toward them.
Andrew fell.
Emily screamed.
Ethan ran onto the platform.
Andrew was still alive.
But before losing consciousness, he whispered:
“Don’t let Ethan go into the executive floor.”
