CHAPTER 3: THE MAN WITH THE FLASH DRIVE
Three years later, Sophie Blake walked into Manhattan Capital Partners wearing a navy suit and carrying a portfolio worth nearly two hundred million dollars.
Nobody recognized her.
That was exactly how she wanted it.
After rebuilding her life, she had quietly founded a technology consulting company.
Then another.
Then another.
One successful acquisition became five.
Five became twenty.
By the age of thirty-five, she had become one of the most feared investors in the industry.
Meanwhile, Ethan's company was collapsing.
Revenue was falling.
Debt was exploding.
Investors were running.
The empire he stole was beginning to crumble.
Then came the emergency board meeting.
The one that would save or destroy the company.
Ethan entered the conference room expecting salvation.
Instead, he froze.
At the head of the table sat Sophie.
Alive.
Confident.
Unrecognizable.
And smiling.
The color drained from his face.
The room disappeared around him.
"Sophie..."
Several board members exchanged confused looks.
Ethan looked like he had seen a ghost.
"You..."
She leaned back calmly.
"Hello, Ethan."
His hands began shaking.
"How are you here?"
Sophie smiled.
"The river wasn't as cooperative as you hoped."
The room exploded with confusion.
"What does that mean?" one director asked.
Nobody answered.
Then the conference room door opened.
An elderly man entered carrying a black flash drive.
Sophie's smile disappeared.
Because she recognized him immediately.
The fishing captain who had saved her life.
But why was he here?
The old man placed the flash drive on the table.
Then looked directly at Ethan.
"I think it's time everyone saw what happened before she fell."
The room fell silent.
Because somewhere inside that tiny device...
May you like
was a recording Ethan had spent three years praying nobody would ever find.
TO BE CONTINUED...
