The CEO Shoved an Elderly Woman Asking for Bread—Then Learned She Owned the Company
Chapter 10
Three days later, Victoria received a call.
It was Michael Whitmore.
“We need to talk.”
She agreed to meet him at a private restaurant.
Michael arrived wearing an expensive watch and a tailored suit.
He sat across from her.
“You’ve been fired.”
“I know.”
“You’re angry.”
Victoria laughed.
“What gave it away?”
Michael leaned closer.
“You’re useful to me.”
Victoria stared.
“What does that mean?”
“There are people who don’t want Margaret controlling the company again.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“You knew?”
Michael smiled.
“Margaret built a wonderful company.”
He took a sip of water.
“She just doesn’t understand modern business.”
Victoria said nothing.
Michael continued.
“Her little investigation will create chaos.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Nothing illegal.”
Victoria laughed.
“You’re talking to the woman who was fired for pushing an old lady.”
Michael smiled.
“You didn’t know she was Margaret.”
“That won’t matter in court.”
“Then don’t let it go to court.”
He slid a folder toward her.
Inside were documents showing irregularities in several company accounts.
Victoria read them.
“What is this?”
“Evidence.”
“Against who?”
Michael leaned back.
“Against Margaret’s management.”
Victoria stared at him.
“You’re trying to frame her.”
“No.”
Michael smiled.
“I’m trying to protect the company.”
Victoria closed the folder.
“You’re lying.”
Michael’s smile disappeared.
“You’ve lost your position. Don’t lose everything else.”
Victoria stood.
“I won’t help you.”
Michael looked up.
“You should think carefully.”
Victoria walked away.
For the first time since being fired, she felt something other than humiliation.
Fear.
But that fear quickly turned into anger.
She returned to her apartment.
Then she opened her laptop.
She spent the next six hours reviewing old company files.
By midnight, she had found something.
A payment.
One of the suspicious transfers had been authorized using her digital credentials.
Victoria stared at the screen.
She had never approved it.
Someone had used her identity.
She whispered:
“Oh, God.”
Then she noticed the date.
The payment had been made two weeks before she became CEO.
Which meant someone had been preparing to frame her long before Margaret arrived.
