The official explanation was that he had mismanaged company funds, transferred money into unauthorized accounts, and abandoned the organization when investigators began asking questions.
Thomas Reed was also accused of involvement.
However, before the investigation could be completed, Thomas disappeared.
The company announced that he had left the country.
Daniel died shortly afterward.
Victoria's mother told her that her father had been betrayed by his closest friend.
She grew up believing that Thomas Reed had destroyed her family.
As an adult, she took control of Sterling International and spent years rebuilding its reputation.
She never spoke about Thomas.
She never wanted to hear his name.
And now, twenty years later, the man standing in front of her claimed to know the truth about her father.
Victoria slowly raised her hand.
"Stop."
The guards immediately released Thomas.
She stared at him.
"Say that again."
Thomas adjusted his jacket.
"Your father."
Victoria swallowed.
"What do you know about him?"
Thomas looked down at the briefcase.
"Everything you were never allowed to read."
Victoria's expression hardened again.
"How dare you come here and use my father's memory to get money?"
Thomas shook his head.
"I didn't come for money."
"Then what do you want?"
"Justice."
Victoria laughed bitterly.
"Justice? You disappeared for twenty years."
Thomas nodded.
"I know."
"You left my father to face everything alone."
"I know."
"You destroyed this family."
Thomas looked at her.
"No, Victoria. Someone else did."
She stepped closer.
"Who?"
Thomas opened the brass lock on his briefcase.
"Your mother."
CHAPTER 4: THE BRIEFCASE
Nobody in the lobby moved.
The receptionist stood behind her desk, staring at the old man.
The security officers exchanged uneasy looks.
Victoria felt as though the room had suddenly become smaller.
"My mother died five years ago," she said quietly.
Thomas nodded.
"I know that too."
"Then don't stand here and accuse a dead woman of something you cannot prove."
Thomas opened the briefcase.
Inside were several thick folders, old photographs, handwritten letters, financial reports, and a collection of documents carefully wrapped in transparent protective covers.
He removed a photograph.
It showed three people standing outside a small office building.
A younger Daniel Sterling stood in the middle.
Thomas was beside him.
And a woman stood on the other side.
Victoria recognized her immediately.
Her mother, Margaret.
She had never seen that photograph before.
"Where did you get this?"
"Your father gave it to me."
Victoria stared at the image.
Thomas continued.
"Before everything happened, the three of us were building something together. Your mother was involved in the company's financial administration. She knew where every dollar went."
Victoria looked confused.
"My mother never worked for the company."
Thomas gave a tired smile.
"She did more than work for it."
He removed another document.
It was an old company agreement.
The signatures were faded, but still visible.
Daniel Sterling.
Thomas Reed.
Margaret Sterling.
Victoria recognized her father's handwriting.
She also recognized her mother's signature.
"What is this?"
"The original ownership agreement."
Victoria read the first page.
Her eyes moved across the lines.
Then she stopped.
According to the document, Thomas owned thirty percent of the original company.
Daniel owned forty percent.
Margaret owned thirty percent.
But the official corporate records she had inherited showed a completely different ownership structure.
Her father had supposedly owned nearly everything.
Thomas had been removed.
Margaret's name had disappeared.
Victoria looked up.
"Why isn't this in the company archives?"