CHAPTER 2 – THE SECRET HIS FATHER TOOK TO THE GRAVE
Nobody moved.
Ryan stared at the leather portfolio.
"No."
"This has to be fake."
The CEO calmly opened the folder.
"It was signed this morning."
"Approved unanimously by the board."
He handed Ryan the first page.
Ryan's hands began to shake.
Transfer Agreement.
Majority Voting Shares.
Owner:
Emily Carter.
Ryan looked up.
"My father built this company."
Emily nodded.
"He did."
"And before he died..."
"He asked me to protect it."
The room erupted.
"What?"
"Protect it from who?"
Ryan laughed bitterly.
"Stop lying."
"My father barely knew you."
The CEO finally spoke.
"Actually..."
"She worked directly for him."
Ryan frowned.
"As an assistant."
"No."
The CEO smiled.
"As his successor."
Every executive gasped.
Emily looked around the room.
"For five years..."
"I wasn't learning how to be your wife."
"I was learning how to run this company."
She turned toward Ryan.
"Every department."
"Every factory."
"Every overseas office."
"I visited them all."
"You thought I was taking business trips because I loved working."
She shook her head.
"I was preparing for today."
Ryan's confidence crumbled.
"He would've told me."
Emily's eyes filled with disappointment.
"He planned to."
"But your father discovered someone was stealing from the company."
"He delayed the announcement."
Ryan froze.
"What are you talking about?"
The CEO pressed a remote.
The large screen behind him lit up.
A forensic audit appeared.
Unauthorized transfers.
Luxury purchases.
Offshore accounts.
Millions missing.
The CEO spoke quietly.
"The theft began three years ago."
Ryan swallowed.
"Who did it?"
The CEO looked directly at him.
"You did."
The room exploded.
The woman in the red dress stepped backward.
"No..."
Ryan shouted,
"This is insane!"
Emily calmly removed another document.
"Every transfer required two approvals."
"You forged one."
"The second belonged to your father."
She paused.
"He never signed them."
"He was already dead."
Complete silence.
Ryan's knees nearly gave out.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
"Actually..."
"He knew."
Everyone turned.
An elderly man walked inside carrying a small metal box.
Ryan's eyes widened.
"Mr. Harris?"
His father's longtime attorney.
The old lawyer held up the box.
"Your father left instructions."
"Only to be opened if Ryan ever betrayed the company."
He placed the box on the table.
"And today..."
May you like
"It finally belongs to Emily."
End of Chapter 2...
