"Good. Then we can focus on the facts."
She opened a folder.
"Your father has returned after more than twenty years. He claims to have been the original investor, but the documentation is incomplete."
Michael remained silent.
Victoria continued.
"Now there are questions about whether he has any legal ownership rights. If he does, every major corporate decision made during the last two decades could potentially be challenged."
One director raised his hand.
"Is that legally possible?"
James Whitmore answered.
"We are reviewing the original agreement. There are unresolved questions, but no conclusion has been reached."
Victoria nodded.
"And that uncertainty is dangerous."
Michael leaned forward.
"What exactly are you proposing?"
Victoria looked directly at him.
"Until the investigation is complete, I believe your father should be prohibited from entering company property or accessing corporate records."
Michael's expression hardened.
"On what grounds?"
"To protect the company."
"From my father?"
"From potential legal exposure."
Michael shook his head.
"You are making accusations without evidence."
Victoria's voice became colder.
"Perhaps because you are too emotionally involved to recognize the danger."
Michael stood.
"Let me make something clear. My father has never demanded money from this company. He has never threatened anyone. And he has never attempted to interfere with my leadership."
Victoria crossed her arms.
"Then why is he suddenly here?"
Michael paused.
"Because he wanted to bring his son lunch."
A few directors looked uncomfortable.
Michael continued.
"Apparently, that was enough to make someone in this building believe he was a threat."
Victoria's face reddened.
"Are you suggesting I did something wrong?"
"I'm asking you to explain why you submitted an anonymous complaint accusing an innocent man of extortion."
The room became silent.
Victoria's eyes widened.
"That accusation is completely unfounded."
James opened his laptop.
"We traced the complaint to an internal network connected to the operations department. The investigation is ongoing."
Victoria looked toward Daniel Reeves.
He avoided her eyes.
Michael noticed.
"Mr. Reeves, do you know anything about this complaint?"
Daniel shifted in his chair.
"I was not involved in submitting it."
Michael studied him.
"Are you certain?"
"Absolutely."
Victoria suddenly stood.
"This meeting is becoming unproductive."
Michael gestured toward her chair.
"Please sit down. We aren't finished."
But Victoria picked up her documents.
"I will not remain here while my integrity is questioned."
She walked out.
As the doors closed behind her, James quietly approached Michael.
"Sir, there's something else."
"What?"
"We found evidence that someone accessed the old corporate archive last night."
Michael frowned.
"Who?"
James looked at his tablet.
"Victoria Harrington's executive account."
Michael slowly sat down.
"She's looking for something."
James nodded.
"And I think we should find out what it is before she does."
That evening, Michael returned to his father's house.
Thomas was sitting in the living room, reading an old newspaper.
When Michael entered, he noticed a thick envelope on the table.
"What's that?"
Thomas looked up.
"Something I received several days ago."
Michael picked it up.
There was no return address.
Only Thomas's name.
"Have you opened it?"
Thomas nodded.
"Yes."
Michael removed the letter.
The handwriting was old and slightly uneven.
He immediately recognized the signature.
Richard Cole.
Dear Thomas,
I have waited too long to write these words.
For years, I convinced myself that silence was the same as protection. I told myself that if I kept the truth hidden, you would somehow suffer less.
I was wrong.
Daniel's death was not simply a tragic accident. Before that night, I had received a report warning that the truck involved had serious mechanical problems.
I knew the warning existed.
I also knew that the company responsible for maintaining the vehicle had repeatedly failed safety inspections.
I should have stopped the vehicle from operating.
I should have reported the problem.
Instead, I allowed the truck to remain in service because I was afraid of losing a major contract.
I will carry that decision for the rest of my life.
There is another reason I am writing.
After Daniel's death, someone within the organization destroyed several documents connected to the incident. I tried to recover them, but I discovered that the person responsible had influence over the company's senior management.
I was afraid to expose that person without evidence.
Thomas, if anything happens to me, please look for the original maintenance report. I believe it was hidden in the old archive under the name Project Northstar.
I am sorry.
Richard.
Michael slowly lowered the letter.
"Project Northstar?"
Thomas nodded.
"That name sounds familiar."
"Do you know where the documents are?"
Thomas thought for a moment.
"Richard once told me that he kept important records in a private storage facility. He didn't trust the company archive."