Margaret looked at the message again.
Eleanor had asked her to keep the information confidential.
"Should I call her?"
"Not immediately. Send a short message telling her that we received everything and that she should avoid confronting Richard."
Margaret began typing.
She wrote:
"I have received the recording. Thank you for trusting me. Please do not confront Richard or tell him anything further about the footage. We will preserve it and make sure your safety comes first. My father is grateful, and so am I."
She sent the message.
Then she looked at David.
"We need to find out who that other person was."
David nodded.
"And we need to find the original agreement."
***
At eight fifteen, Richard entered the kitchen.
Eleanor was standing beside the counter, preparing tea.
"Good morning," she said.
He looked at her briefly.
"Morning."
He opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then Richard asked, "Did you sleep well?"
Eleanor turned toward him.
"Not particularly."
"Why?"
"I had a lot on my mind."
He drank some water.
"About yesterday?"
"Among other things."
Richard placed the bottle on the counter.
"You're going to have to stop thinking about it."
Eleanor said nothing.
"I mean it," he continued. "There are things happening that you don't understand. The less you know, the better."
She looked at him.
"That is not reassuring."
"It isn't supposed to be."
He picked up his briefcase.
"I'll be home late."
"All right."
"And Eleanor?"
"Yes?"
"Don't forget what I said last night."
She held his gaze.
"I haven't."
Richard left.
The front door closed.
Eleanor waited until she heard his car pull away.
Then she exhaled.
Her phone vibrated.
Margaret had replied.
Eleanor read the message twice.
She felt a small measure of relief.
At least someone knew what was happening.
She had no idea how far the situation would go, but she knew she could no longer remain silent.
***
Richard arrived at his office shortly before nine.
His company occupied several floors of a modern commercial building. The reception area was decorated with marble, glass, and photographs of charitable events Richard had attended.
His name appeared on a polished metal plaque beside the entrance.
For years, he had taken pride in that name.
It represented everything he had worked to achieve.
But lately, he had begun to feel that the entire structure was becoming unstable.
He entered his office and called his assistant.
"Claire, I need you in here."
A few moments later, a woman in her early thirties entered carrying a tablet.
"Good morning, Mr. Whitmore."
"Close the door."
She did.
Richard walked behind his desk.
"Have you heard anything from Bennett?"
Claire hesitated.
"Not directly."
"What does that mean?"
"Someone from his office contacted the company yesterday asking about the original agreement."
Richard's expression tightened.
"Who?"
"I don't know. The call came through reception."
"What did they say?"
"They asked whether the document was available for inspection."
Richard stared at her.
"Who gave them that information?"
"I haven't found out."
He walked to the window.
"Listen carefully. No one is to release any documents without my authorization."
"Of course."
"That includes copies, electronic files, correspondence, everything."
Claire nodded.
"Understood."
Richard turned.
"Has Daniel contacted you?"
"Not yet."
"Find him."
"Yes, sir."
"And Claire?"
She paused at the door.
"Yes?"
"If anyone asks about Arthur Bennett, tell them the matter is a private disagreement. Nothing more."
Claire nodded again.
When she left, Richard sat down.
He opened his computer and accessed the security system.
The administrator notification was still visible.
Someone had entered the archived recordings.
He checked the access details.
The login had been made through the recovery credentials.
He immediately understood.
Eleanor.
His wife had accessed the system.
But what had she watched?
He opened the recording history.
There were several downloaded segments.
His face darkened.
He clicked the first.
The assault.
Then the conversation before Arthur arrived.
Richard leaned back.
For a moment, he did not move.
The room seemed suddenly smaller.
Eleanor had heard everything.
And if she had heard everything, there was a strong possibility that she had shared it.
He picked up his phone and called her.
She did not answer.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
He sent a message.
"Call me immediately."
Then he contacted Daniel.
The call connected after several seconds.
"Richard?"
"Where are you?"
"At the office."
"Can you come to my office?"
"Is something wrong?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Richard lowered his voice.
"Eleanor has seen the footage."
Daniel said nothing.
Then he asked, "Which footage?"
"All of it."
There was a pause.
"Does she know about the agreement?"
"She heard the conversation."
"Did she copy it?"
"I believe so."
Daniel exhaled.
"Then we have a problem."
Richard stared at the computer screen.
"No, Daniel. We have a very serious problem."
***
Daniel arrived thirty minutes later.
He was a tall man in his late forties, with neatly combed hair and an expression that rarely revealed his thoughts.
He had worked with Richard for almost eight years.
Unlike Richard, Daniel preferred to remain behind the scenes. He handled negotiations, reviewed contracts, and maintained relationships with people whose names rarely appeared in public announcements.
He knew how to avoid attention.
And he knew enough about the company's internal affairs to understand why the recording was dangerous.
Richard showed him the footage.
Daniel watched without speaking.
When the recording ended, he rubbed his chin.
"Did Eleanor send it to anyone?"
"I don't know."
"Have you asked her?"
"She isn't answering."
Daniel looked at the screen again.
"That conversation is not good."
Richard laughed bitterly.
"You think I don't know that?"
"Who else has seen it?"
"Possibly Margaret Bennett."
Daniel's expression changed.
"Arthur's daughter?"
"Yes."
"Then we need to know whether the file has been shared with anyone else."
Richard stood.
"I want it deleted."
Daniel looked at him.
"Deleting it from your system won't solve the problem if Eleanor has copies."
"Then find a way to get them."
Daniel remained silent.
Richard walked around the desk.
"Are you listening to me?"
"Yes."
"Then do something."
Daniel closed the laptop.
"First, we need to understand what she actually has. Second, we need to find out whether Arthur has the original agreement."
Richard looked at him sharply.
"Why would he have it?"
"Because he was asking questions about it."
"He doesn't have the original."
"Are you certain?"