He turned and walked toward the restaurant entrance.
Victoria watched him disappear.
Then she smiled and returned to her phone.
She believed she had won.
She was wrong.
CHAPTER 4: THE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Outside the restaurant, Edward entered a black sedan waiting near the entrance.
His driver, Michael, opened the door.
"Everything all right, sir?"
Edward sat down.
"Yes, Michael."
"Did the meeting go as planned?"
Edward looked at the folder resting on his lap.
"Not exactly."
Michael glanced at him through the mirror.
"Should I take you home?"
"Not yet. Take me to the office."
The driver nodded.
As the car moved through the city, Edward took out his phone and called someone.
"Daniel?"
A calm male voice answered.
"Good evening, Mr. Harrison."
"Have you finished reviewing the documents?"
"Yes, sir."
"And?"
Daniel paused.
"The situation is worse than we initially expected."
Edward closed his eyes.
"How much?"
"We identified unauthorized payments totaling approximately 4.2 million dollars. There are also several suspicious property acquisitions connected to companies controlled by Ms. Reynolds."
Edward looked out the window.
"Can you prove that she personally approved the transactions?"
"We have her electronic signatures, email correspondence, and bank authorization records."
"Anything else?"
"Yes. We discovered that she has been negotiating the sale of two company subsidiaries without informing the board."
Edward's expression hardened.
"To whom?"
"An investment group registered overseas."
"Who owns it?"
"That's what we're investigating."
Edward was silent.
After several seconds, he said:
"Prepare everything for tomorrow's meeting."
"Should we notify Ms. Reynolds?"
"No."
"Understood."
Edward ended the call.
He leaned back against the seat.
For years, he had considered Victoria almost like a daughter.
He had watched her grow from an uncertain young graduate into a powerful executive.
He had defended her when other board members questioned her judgment.
He had even ignored several warning signs because he believed she deserved another chance.
But there was a limit.
And Victoria had crossed it.
CHAPTER 5: THE WOMAN WHO THOUGHT SHE HAD WON
The following morning, Victoria arrived at the company headquarters shortly after nine.
She stepped out of her luxury vehicle wearing a cream-colored designer coat.
Two employees greeted her.
"Good morning, Ms. Reynolds."
"Morning."
She walked into the executive elevator without stopping.
Her assistant, Jessica, followed.
"Good morning. You have a meeting with the legal department at ten."
"Cancel it."
"They said it's urgent."
"Then tell them I'll speak to them later."
Jessica hesitated.
"There was also a message from Mr. Harrison's office."
Victoria stopped.
"What message?"
"He requested an emergency board meeting for this afternoon."
Victoria laughed.
"Of course he did."
"Should I confirm attendance?"
"Yes."
"Would you like me to prepare the presentation?"
Victoria considered it.
"No. Just tell everyone that I will be there."
Jessica nodded.
As the elevator doors closed, Victoria opened her phone.
She sent a message to a contact saved as Martin.
HE'S STARTING TO ASK QUESTIONS. WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY.
A reply arrived almost immediately.
THE TRANSFER IS READY. WE CAN COMPLETE IT TODAY.
Victoria typed:
DO IT BEFORE THE MEETING.
She put the phone away.
For months, she had been preparing to take control of Reynolds International.
Her plan was simple.
She would transfer the company's most valuable assets into a separate investment structure.
Then she would present the board with a restructuring proposal that made her appear indispensable.
Edward would be portrayed as an aging founder unable to adapt to modern business.