She pointed toward the entrance.
"Take him outside. I don't want this kind of disturbance in the lobby."
The security officers approached Thomas.
And that was when the entire situation began to change.
CHAPTER 2: THE WOMAN IN THE WHITE SUIT
Victoria had never liked surprises.
She especially disliked surprises that happened in front of employees, investors, and visiting clients.
That morning was important.
A major investment group was scheduled to arrive within the hour to discuss a possible acquisition. The board had already approved the preliminary negotiations, and Victoria wanted everything to appear perfect.
The unexpected appearance of a disheveled stranger was the last thing she needed.
"Ms. Sterling," the receptionist whispered, "he insists that you know him."
Victoria turned sharply.
"Do I look like I have time to entertain strangers?"
The receptionist lowered her eyes.
Thomas watched the exchange.
"Victoria, I understand that you are busy. But this is important."
She looked at him with visible irritation.
"Listen carefully. I don't know who you are, and I don't care what story you are planning to tell me. This is a private business building."
Thomas nodded slowly.
"You're right. It is private."
He looked around the lobby.
"Although there was a time when it was supposed to be something very different."
Victoria frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Thomas did not answer immediately.
Instead, he placed the briefcase on the marble floor.
The sound echoed through the lobby.
Several employees turned their heads.
One of the security officers reached for his radio.
Victoria took a step backward.
"What is inside that?"
"Documents."
"What kind of documents?"
"The kind that should have been read a long time ago."
Victoria gave a frustrated sigh.
"Enough."
She pointed toward the doors.
"Remove him."
The guards took Thomas by the arms.
But the elderly man did not struggle.
He simply looked at Victoria.
"You're making the same mistake again."
Victoria's expression changed.
"What did you say?"
Thomas raised his right hand and pointed toward her.
"You're still making decisions without knowing the truth."
The words unsettled her.
For a brief moment, Victoria stared at his face.
There was something in his eyes.
Something she remembered from a time when she was very young.
But before she could place it, the guards began escorting him toward the entrance.
Then Thomas lifted his old leather briefcase.
"Before you send me away, perhaps you should look at what I brought."
Victoria shook her head.
"I don't have time."
Thomas looked at her one last time.
"Then you may lose the only chance you have to discover what happened to your father."
Victoria froze.
The lobby became silent.
Her father had died twenty years earlier.
At least, that was what she had always been told.
CHAPTER 3: A NAME SHE HAD NOT HEARD IN YEARS
Victoria's father, Daniel Sterling, had once been the heart of Sterling International.
He had founded the company with almost nothing.
In the beginning, it was a small engineering and construction business operating from a rented office. Daniel worked long hours, sometimes sleeping at the office because he could not afford to hire enough employees.
His closest friend and business partner was Thomas Reed.
Together, they built the company.
Daniel handled engineering and operations.
Thomas managed financial planning, negotiations, and investment strategy.
They trusted each other completely.
For years, their partnership seemed unbreakable.
But when Victoria was twelve, everything changed.
Daniel disappeared from the business after a major financial scandal.