Chapter 6: The Enemy Behind the Desk
The photograph shook between my fingers.
Not because it was old.
Not because it was unexpected.
Because of the person standing beside Adrian.
Victor Salazar.
My chief financial officer.
The man who had sat beside me for ten years.
The man who knew every number in my company.
Every investment.
Every account.
Every weakness.
I had trusted him with information I wouldn't even share with some family members.
And now his face was staring back at me from a photograph hidden by my mother's final warning.
*Do not trust the person who tells you they are helping you.*
I read the sentence again.
Then again.
My mind refused to accept it.
"That's impossible.""
The words left my mouth before I realized I had spoken.
Adrian stood behind me.
For once, he wasn't smiling.
"You still don't understand, do you?""
I turned sharply.
"Don't pretend you knew.""
"I knew enough.""
"You worked with him.""
His expression changed.
Not denial.
Not surprise.
Something closer to frustration.
"Yes.""
The admission hit harder than I expected.
"You and Victor?""
Adrian nodded slowly.
"Years ago.""
My jaw tightened.
"So this was always the plan?""
"No.""
His answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
I stared at him.
"Then explain.""
He looked at the photograph.
"When you removed me from the company, Victor was the only person who still believed I deserved what I lost.""
"You mean he believed you deserved money you tried to steal.""
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"There it is.""
"What?""
"The same thing you've always done.""
I frowned.
"You betray me, and somehow I'm the villain?""
"No.""
He stepped closer.
"You decide the story before hearing the truth.""
The room went quiet.
Behind me, I heard Isabella moving.
I looked back.
She was standing near the doorway, watching all of us.
Too young to understand every detail.
Old enough to understand she was surrounded by adults who had lied.
I lowered my voice.
"Not in front of her.""
Adrian glanced at my daughter.
Then looked away.
For the first time, he seemed uncomfortable.
"She shouldn't have been involved.""
I almost laughed.
"You don't get to say that.""
My voice became colder.
"Not after using her fear.""
He didn't respond.
Because there was nothing he could say.
I turned back to the photograph.
"Why did my mother have this?""
Adrian looked at the picture.
"Because your mother knew Victor wasn't who he claimed to be.""
"How?""
"She investigated.""
"My mother?""
A strange sadness crossed his face.
"Your mother was smarter than both of us.""
That was the first thing Adrian said that sounded honest.
My mother had always been observant.
She noticed things nobody else did.
When I was young, she used to tell me:
"People reveal themselves when they think nobody is watching.""
I never forgot those words.
I just forgot to apply them.
Especially to people I loved.
I looked at Beatriz.
She was still standing near the doorway.
Silent.
Watching.
"Did you know about Victor?""
She looked at me.
"No.""
I studied her.
"You're telling the truth?""
A painful expression crossed her face.
"Yes.""
"How can I believe anything you say?""
She looked down.
"You can't.""
The answer surprised me.
Because it was the first honest thing she had said all night.
"I know what I did.""
Her voice became quieter.
"I know what I took from you.""
I looked at Isabella.
"No.""
Beatriz followed my eyes.
"I know.""
For a second, I saw a mother who understood she had failed.
Not a wife.
Not an accomplice.
A mother.
But understanding the damage didn't erase it.
I turned away.
"Where is Victor now?""
Nobody answered.
Then Adrian spoke.
"At your company.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"He has been preparing for this moment.""
"What moment?""
"The moment everyone believes you are unstable.""
I stared at him.
"Why would anyone believe that?""
Adrian looked at the photograph.
"Because Victor has been building a story.""
A cold feeling moved through me.
"What story?""
He looked directly at me.
"That you are losing control.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Explain.""
"Your company board has received reports.""
"Reports about what?""
"Your behavior.""
I laughed once.
"You're joking.""
"No.""
Adrian shook his head.
"He documented every mistake. Every angry meeting. Every decision you made without approval.""
I stared at him.
"Those were business decisions.""
"Exactly.""
He stepped closer.
"Taken out of context, they become evidence.""
My stomach sank.
"Evidence of what?""
Adrian's voice lowered.
"That you are no longer capable of running the company.""
The room went silent.
I thought about every meeting I had missed.
Every late night.
Every time I chose work over home.
Victor had been there.
Watching.
Recording.
Waiting.
Then I remembered something.
Three months ago.
A meeting in Barcelona.
Victor had suggested a temporary restructuring plan.
I rejected it.
He had smiled and said:
"Of course, Daniel. You're the boss.""
At the time, I thought it was respect.
Now I realized it might have been patience.
He wasn't fighting me.
He was waiting for me to destroy myself.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
I looked down.
A message.
From my company security team.
I opened it.
My blood went cold.
*URGENT: Board meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning. Emergency vote regarding CEO authority.*
I stared at the screen.
Tomorrow.
They were moving fast.
Too fast.
Adrian watched my face.
"You see?""
I looked at him.
"You knew.""
"Yes.""
"And you didn't warn me.""
His expression changed.
"I tried.""
"When?""
"Through Beatriz.""
My eyes moved to my wife.
She looked away.
I felt something crack inside me.
"You knew?""
She whispered:
"Not everything.""
"Enough.""
She closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
I couldn't believe it.
"You knew Victor was involved?""
"I knew Adrian was looking for the contract.""
"That's not what I asked.""
She stayed silent.
And silence was an answer.
I stepped away from her.
"You knew.""
"I was scared.""
The words came out broken.
"Of him.""
She looked at Adrian.
"Of what he would do.""
I looked at Isabella.
"And you let our daughter live through this?""
Tears appeared in her eyes.
"I thought I could control it.""
The sentence made me angry.
"You thought you could control a man planning to steal my company?""
"I thought I could protect Isabella.""
"You failed.""
She flinched.
Because it was true.
Before she could answer, a loud noise came from outside.
A car engine.
Everyone froze.
Adrian looked toward the window.
"He's here.""
I looked at him.
"Who?""
His face became serious.
"Victor.""
My heart dropped.
"How do you know?""
Adrian didn't answer.
He just looked toward the front entrance.
Then my phone rang.
The screen showed an unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice came through.
Calm.
Professional.
Familiar.
"Daniel.""
I didn't speak.
Victor continued.
"I know you're home.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"How?""
A pause.
Then:
"Because I've been watching your house for months.""
My blood ran cold.
"You planted cameras?""
"No.""
His voice was almost amused.
"Someone else did.""
I looked at Adrian.
Then Beatriz.
Then Isabella.
Victor continued.
"Actually, Daniel, I owe you an apology.""
"For what?""
"Your wife wasn't supposed to find out this way.""
My heart stopped.
"What are you talking about?""
A soft laugh.
"She was only supposed to deliver the contract pages.""
I looked at Beatriz.
She went completely still.
Victor continued.
"But then your daughter found them first.""
The room became silent.
I felt every muscle in my body tense.
"Victor.""
"Yes?""
"If you touch my daughter—"
He interrupted.
"Daniel.""
His voice became colder.
"You still don't understand.""
A pause.
"The contract pages were never the thing I wanted.""
I looked at Isabella.
"Then what?""
The answer came quietly.
"I wanted the person who knew where they were hidden.""
My blood turned to ice.
Because there was only one person who knew.
One person who had moved them.
One person who had been protecting the truth.
My daughter.
Victor spoke again.
"And now, Daniel...""
May you like
The line crackled.
"I need Isabella.""
