The Billionaire CEO Slipped “HELP” on a Napkin—Then a Single Dad at Table 15 Saw It
Chapter 5
Daniel dropped to the floor.
Victoria screamed.
Michael’s chair fell sideways.
Another shot struck the wall.
“Get down!”
Daniel crawled toward Emma’s backpack.
He had brought it because he hadn’t wanted to leave anything behind.
Inside was a small flashlight.
He switched it on.
The beam cut through the darkness.
Richard was gone.
Michael was still tied up.
Victoria crawled toward her brother.
“Are you okay?”
Michael nodded.
“I’m fine.”
Daniel reached him.
“Can you stand?”
“Not with these restraints.”
Daniel searched the floor.
He found a piece of metal.
He worked on the restraints.
Victoria whispered:
“Who’s shooting?”
Daniel looked around.
“I don’t know.”
Another shot.
This time, it came from the upper level.
Daniel spotted movement.
Someone was running along the catwalk.
He grabbed a metal pipe.
Then he heard a voice.
“Daniel!”
It was Richard.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Daniel shouted back:
“You threatened my daughter!”
Richard’s voice echoed.
“You still don’t understand what you’ve discovered.”
“I understand enough.”
“No.”
Richard laughed.
“You think this is about stealing a company?”
Daniel looked at Victoria.
Richard continued.
“Your father built Sterling Global using money that didn’t belong to him.”
Victoria froze.
“My father?”
“Ask her.”
Richard’s voice became louder.
“Ask Victoria where the original capital came from.”
Victoria looked horrified.
Daniel turned toward her.
“What is he talking about?”
Victoria shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Richard laughed.
“She doesn’t know.”
He disappeared into the darkness.
Daniel freed Michael.
They moved deeper into the warehouse.
Michael looked at Victoria.
“He’s lying.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Dad told me.”
Victoria froze.
“Our father told you?”
Michael nodded.
“He knew this day would come.”
Daniel stared at them.
“What did your father know?”
Michael looked toward the old offices.
“He knew the company wasn’t built the way everyone believed.”
They entered an office.
Michael found a locked cabinet.
Inside were old documents.
One contained a handwritten note from Victoria’s father.
If my children ever discover the truth, they must find the man who sat at Table 15.
Daniel stared.
“Table 15?”
Victoria looked at him.
“That’s where you were sitting.”
Daniel felt a chill.
The note was twenty-two years old.
Her father had predicted that someone would eventually sit at Table 15.
Michael continued reading.
The person who sees the napkin will become the final witness.
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“Your father knew this would happen.”
Victoria nodded.
“How?”
Before anyone could answer, the warehouse speakers turned on.
Richard spoke.
“Because Thomas Sterling planned all of this.”
Daniel looked up.
“Your father is alive?”
Victoria’s face went white.
Richard laughed.
“Not only is he alive.”
A screen illuminated.
An old man appeared.
Victoria gasped.
“Dad?”
Thomas Sterling looked directly into the camera.
Then he said:
“Daniel Brooks, I’m sorry.”
Daniel stared.
“Why does he know my name?”
Thomas answered before anyone else could.
“Because your father and I were partners.”
Daniel froze.
“My father?”
Thomas nodded.
“And your father left you something.”
